More on Iraq....

> If you've been to the gas station lately, you already know that gas prices are going up. According to Bloomberg, oil prices were reported at $110.87 per barrel. The only people who are happy about this are Bush and Cheney's oil friends.

If you drive one of those big SUVs you'll get no sympathy from me. No matter how high gas climbs, my hybrid will be getting 40mpg/city and up to 53mpg/highway.

> Do you know that if you are an Iraqi who wants to open a business in Iraq, the U.S. government will give you $2500 cash to get it started? Have you tried to open up a business here? Have you gotten any handouts from the Bush administration in this country?

> After watching the hearings in the House and Senate I've come to the conclusion that the Iraq war is clearly belongs to Bush and the Republican Party. They wanted it, they love talking about how wonderful it is, and they've continued to support it. While our tax money builds new roads and schools in Iraq, our bridges and schools are substandard. It is time to take the training wheels off the bike and tell the Iraqi people, " See ya!"

> Republican Congressman Patrick McHenry is in a heap of trouble..
Americablog has the story:

McHenry literally endangered the lives of soldiers serving in Iraq by airing video of the Green Zone. VoteVets first called McHenry out on this. The Pentagon had to get involved. It's astonishing what these Republicans will do. McHenry must be held accountable for the breach of security:

If Patrick McHenry wants to tell war stories so badly, he should resign his Congressional seat and go enlist. He's only 32. That way, he could get some training--so that next time he's in a combat zone trying to be a tough guy, he won't be such a bumbling, self-promotional fool about it.

At this point, Patrick McHenry should be censured by his peers in Congress and he should apologize to the troops and their families....

If McCain supports the troops, why won't he support the New G.I. Bill?

Update: Sen. John McCain had another bit of confusion today. At the Senate hearings today, McCain called Al-Qaida a Shia organization. (It is in fact Sunni.) McCain has made this mistake at least 3 other times. Is this an example of his foreign policy experience and knowledge?


Republican presidential candidate, John McCain, says he is for the troops and will fight the war in Iraq for 100 years, if necessary. However, McCain will not support or vote for the New G.I. Bill. Why not? Is this his way of showing his thanks? The RealMcCain and VoteVets have this video which provides details:



Which John McCain should we believe--- the one against tax cuts or the one for tax cuts?

McSame Advocates 100 Years of War=Warmonger

I love listening to Ed Schultz on the radio. Big Ed is a real straight-talking man who will let you know the truth and exactly what he thinks about important issues. As part of a speech given before Obama supporters in North Dakota, Big Ed used the word "warmonger" to describe Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain. That got the McCain campaign in a tizzy, according to the New York Times.

I agree with the use of the term "warmonger" to describe McCain. McCain's comments about keeping the Iraq war going for another one hundred years, makes me think that he is, according to the Free Online Dictionary---

One who advocates or attempts to stir up war.

Free Dictionary Thesaurus: warmonger- a person who advocates war or warlike policies

militarist
war hawk, hawk

McCain's support of a continuous war in Iraq makes me believe he is a 'warmonger.' McCain is supporting Bush's Iraq war and wants to keep it going to continue the Bush policies. He supports the war and doesn't seem to care about the human sacrifices that go along with that war.

Just look at the article in the New York Times about the problems are military men and women are having because of multiple deployments. NY Times:

Army leaders are expressing increased alarm about the mental health of soldiers who would be sent back to the front again and again under plans that call for troop numbers to be sustained at high levels in Iraq for this year and beyond.
Among combat troops sent to Iraq for the third or fourth time, more than one in four show signs of anxiety, depression or acute stress, according to an official Army survey of soldiers’ mental health.....

Check out the NY Times graphic about the deployments and you'll agree that our men and women in uniform have already sacrificed enough.

I think the term "warmonger" aptly defines McCain.

Plenty of Questions

> Did Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry (NC-10th District) call a U.S. soldier a "two-bit security guard"? Watch the video at Think Progress. I wonder how that soldier's family feels upon hearing that their loved one was called a "two-bit security guard" by McHenry.

> Did John McCain refuse to meet with workers to discuss healthcare so that he could go to a $2,300/plate fundraiser dinner?

> What ethics violation happened in Republican Rep. Steve Chabot's office? Read The News Record to find out.

> Why is John McCain still refusing to release his medical records? What is he hiding?

> Which former member of the Bush cabinet was booed when he substituted "Osama" for "Obama"?

Trouble Ahead?

*** Republican Rep. Darrell Issa is in big trouble because of his remarks about 9/11's victims.
NY Daily News:
The California congressman who called the Sept. 11 attacks "simply" a plane crash ran for cover Wednesday under a barrage of ridicule from fellow Republicans, first responders and victims' families.

San Diego GOP Rep. Darrell Issa was under siege for suggesting the federal government had already done enough to help New York cope with "a fire" that "simply was an aircraft" hitting the World Trade Center....

*** Did you see John McCain's latest comments?
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Wednesday he has begun a list of potential vice presidential running mates -- a decision he quipped was especially big "given my age."

....McCain joked to radio talk show host Don Imus that his pick of a potential presidential backup carried extra interest. "I'm aware of the enhanced importance of this issue given my age," he quipped.

The Arizona senator would be the oldest first-term U.S. president if elected....

Does the senator mean that he might be considered too old to be president? Is there something about McCain's health that we should know about?

**** The New York Times has an interesting poll result----
Americans are more dissatisfied with the country’s direction than at any time since the New York Times/CBS News poll began asking about the subject in the early 1990s, according to the latest poll.

In the poll, 81 percent of respondents said they believed “things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track,” up from 69 percent a year ago and 35 percent in early 2002....

This is not a good sign for the Republicans, since John McCain plans to carry on the programs and policies of President George W. Bush.

Why Haven't Romney's Kids Joined the Military Yet????

If the Republicans had their way, there would be a TV game show called, I'm More American Than You!
According to Raw Story, Mitt Romney accuses Democrats, specifically Sen. Barack Obama, of not honoring the flag. What a bunch of crap! If Mitt Romney was so patriotic, why aren't any of his 5 sons in the military? They seem to look quite healthy to me! Does Romney think it is okay for other mothers and fathers to send their sons/daughters to war, but his sons are so special they can't go to the military.

(Note: I attend many, many public events. When the National Anthem is played, less the 30% of the people actually put their hands on their hearts. Does that mean that we are less patriotic, less of an American than Mitt Romney and John McCain? No. Placing one's hand on one's heart is optional.)

I'm soooooooooo tired of these stupid, insulting Republican attacks. Let us get down to basics by asking these Republicans these questions:

1. Which administration is responsible for 2 recessions?
2. Which administration is spying on law-abiding citizens?
3. How many hours did the FBI spend watching/listening/following Elliot Spitzer instead of stopping terrorists?
4. How do the Republicans intend to end the war and bring our 140,000+ men and women in uniform home?
5. How do the Republicans and their candidates plan on lowering gas prices for regular Americans?
6. What has happened to the Republican Abramoff scandals? Are these good American values?
7. Which Republican president stayed in a classroom while our nation was under attack?
8. Ask John McCain about his plans for a national health care plan. (Hint: He doesn't have one.)
9. Why does Karl Rove call Sen. Obama "arrogant"? Is it because Obama is educated and Rove is not? Is Rove jealous of Obama's academic success? Does Rove hate minorities? People from Chicago?

The Republican Party is a bankrupt political party that is more interested in their personal wealth than helping families get health care. They don't care about normal, hard-working Americans who are struggling to feed their families. The Republicans just want to make sure they get their tee time at the country club.

Don't believe the Republican propaganda.

Wednesday's Talking Points

> Public pressure and just bad publicity forced the Wal-Mart to stop seeking money from a former employee who is disabled due to an accident. Apparently, Wal-Mart looked like greedy, heartless jerks to most of America. Mrs. Deborah Shank, who is totally disabled and a Gold Star Mother, will not have to give back money that was to pay for her care in a nursing home. Here is an excerpt from the Southeast Missourian:

The Wal-Mart health insurance plan has dropped its effort to recover the money it spent to care for Debbie Shank of Jackson as intense national publicity created a serious public relations problem for the retail giant.

After Jim Shank, Debbie's former husband, failed to win a U.S. Supreme Court review of the case, he had resigned himself to turning over the remaining $200,000-plus trust fund set up to care for Debbie Shank, who was brain-damaged in a auto wreck in 2000.....

I'm glad for Mrs. Shank.

> Did you ever hear of a group called Physicians for a National Health Program? John McCain is against any national healthcare program. Only the Democrats are for a national plan.

> I watched a little of the congressional hearings on the price of oil. The big shot execs of the oil companies were trying to justify their billions of dollars of profits. I think I saw their noses growing longer the more that they spoke.

> More Americans have been killed in Iraq. ICasualties is reporting that 4012 Americans have died in Iraq. John McCain wants 100 more years of this. Can we honestly say that we can endure the loss of more American lives? Not only are these young men and women dealing with war and physical injuries, many have nightmares and psychological problems when they return home.

> Did you know that John McCain is against the new G.I. Bill? Is that his way of supporting the troops?
Sen. Jim Webb is doing his part to support the bill. Military.com:

...Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., said he adamantly believes the government has a greater obligation to help veterans who served after Sept. 11, 2001. Webb, along with Sens. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J. and Chuck Hagel R-Neb., authored the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act (S 22), which aims to modernize the GI Bill.

"In keeping with the spirit of the original World War II GI Bill, this improved legislation will give this new generation of veterans an educational benefit similar to what the original 'greatest generation' received," Webb said....

What do we have?

>> In case you've missed it, 8 more Americans were killed in Iraq. According to ICasualties, 4011 Americans have died in Bush's war in Iraq. If McCain wins the presidency in November, we'll be in Iraq for at least another four years and there will continue to be Americans killed in Iraq. Is this what you want?

>> According to The Independent, the United States is in a depression. Check out the front page of The Independent---



>>>>> The G.A.O. reports that the Pentagon is spending billions and billions of dollars in overruns.
NY Times:

Inefficient Pentagon management led to cost increases for key weapons programs that often fell short of production goals last year, government auditors said Monday.

In its sixth annual report on selected weapons purchases, the auditors, with the Government Accountability Office, found that procurement costs came in 26 percent above original estimates for 72 major weapons programs in 2007. The office also found that many programs had been delayed or produced fewer weapons than initially planned.

The report attributed the problems to inefficient Pentagon practices, including changes in requirements after weapons development had started, turnover in program management and the use of contractors....

Looks like the defense contractors are running the Pentagon!!!

**** Have you visited the supermarket recently??? Check out the prices of milk, eggs, and fruits/vegetables. Even ice cream has gone up in price. Who should we thank for this mess?

Cold, Heartless Wal-Mart

No matter how low their prices go or how much they claim to help people, stories like this make me cringe.
CNN:
Debbie Shank breaks down in tears every time she's told that her 18-year-old son, Jeremy, was killed in Iraq....
Shank suffered severe brain damage after a traffic accident nearly eight years ago that robbed her of much of her short-term memory and left her in a wheelchair and living in a nursing home.
...Two years after the accident, Shank and her husband, Jim, were awarded about $1 million in a lawsuit against the trucking company involved in the crash. After legal fees were paid, $417,000 was placed in a trust to pay for Debbie Shank's long-term care.

Wal-Mart had paid out about $470,000 for Shank's medical expenses and later sued for the same amount. However, the court ruled it can only recoup what is left in the family's trust....

How difficult would it be for Wal-Mart to just let the remaining money pay for Mrs. Shank's care? Didn't Wal-Mart make billions last year? Is this how Wal-Mart treats employees/former employees?

This kind of behavior on the part of Wal-Mart will keep me out of their stores.

Having My Say

* I've come to the conclusion that it is time for Sen. Hillary Clinton to withdraw from the presidential race. I have admired her work, but she has just become too divisive. If the Democratic Party wants to win the White House in November, we must get things settled now. Senator Barack Obama deserves our party's nomination. Please contact Hillary Clinton's campaign and tell her it is time to close her campaign.

* Republicans are digging up everything that Rev. Wright has said or written. Soon they'll be looking at his compositions from high school. Rev. Wright is not the person running for President. I may not agree with the content of his speeches or articles, but he is an American entitled to free speech.

* John McCain doesn't care that you are losing your house. McCain is not going to do anything about it but hopes you have a great life living in a box on the street with your family.

* A woman was forced to remove her nipple ring with pliers to satisfy the TSA at an airport in Texas. Why do some people within the TSA lack common sense???

* Remember a few months ago when the U.S. State Dept. said that diplomats would have to rotate through Iraq?? I'm sure some of those diplomats who made it to Iraq are sorry they didn't take early retirement.
AP:
The State Department on Thursday told U.S. diplomats in Baghdad to take shelter in reinforced structures amid continuing incoming insurgent rocket fire that has killed two American government workers this week.....

....Due to the continuing threat of indirect fire in the International Zone, all personnel are advised to remain under hard cover at all times. Personnel should only move outside of hard cover for essential reasons. Essential outdoor movements should be sharply limited in duration. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is mandatory for all outside movements.

We strongly recommend personnel do not sleep in their trailers. Night workers should rest inside hardened structures during daylight hours. All personnel are welcome to sleep inside the Palace and at the New Embassy Compound. Limited supplies of cots continue to be available.....

This must be more evidence of Bush's success in Iraq.

Is Bush Listening?

Breitbart on AP:
Behind the Pentagon's closed doors, U.S. military leaders told President Bush Wednesday they are worried about the Iraq war's mounting strain on troops and their families. But they indicated they'd go along with a brief halt in pulling out troops this summer....
.... The Joint Chiefs, who do not command troops but are legally responsible for ensuring the fitness of the forces they provide to commanders, have grown increasingly concerned that the weight of five- plus years of war in Iraq could create severe, long-term problems, particularly for the Army and Marine Corps....
.... Mullen and Gates have said repeatedly that in addition to reducing troop levels in Iraq, they want to shorten tour lengths for soldiers from 15 months to 12 months as soon as possible. A decision to do that is expected, perhaps shortly after Bush reaffirms that the number brigades in Iraq will be cut to 15 by July. The Army calculates that at that point it could drop tours to 12 months and still give units at least 12 months at home to recover, retrain and rearm before deploying again...

Looks like the Bush administration would be happy to keep this war going for many years and John McCain supports doing that. Is this what we want for our country? Do we want our young men and women in uniform to continue to sacrifice their lives and their mental well-being for Bush's war?

I think it is time to tell the Iraqi government that they are on their own.

Another Fine Mess

Just when you thought you'd heard all there is to hear about Ohio Republican scandals, another one hits the fan. Forbes:
Seventeen employees of Ohio's former elections chief must return $80,534 in bonuses and severance payments approved by their former boss as a result of a state audit released Tuesday.

State Auditor Mary Taylor said the payments authorized by former Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, a fellow Republican, were illegal because he did not have the authority to award the additional payments. The individual employees are liable for dollar amounts ranging from $949.68 to $9,704.

Blackwell said Tuesday he would be willing to go to court to challenge the findings...

Not only did Blackwell mess up Ohio voting, he gave away Ohioans tax money to reward his cronies. Ohio Republicans just don't get it.

McCain Wants More War

Bush's War has given us 4,000 American deaths in Iraq. McCain wants more of the same. As we've reached this sad death toll, let us reflect on how we can change our course in this country and Iraq.

ICasualties:

U.S. Deaths Confirmed By The DoD:	3992
Reported U.S. Deaths Pending DoD Confirmation:	8
Total	4000

U.S. Deaths: Self-Inflicted

As reported by the DoD as of 3/1/2008

Self Inflicted	Army	Navy	Marines	Air Force	Total
Died of Self-Inflicted wounds	118	4	23	0	145

Do we really want 4 more years of this under a McCain administration?

Update on DJY Final Episodes

I did receive a response from the Mid-Ohio Time Warner Cable customer service office. Apparently, many people contacted their offices to complain about missing the last episodes of Dae Jo Young. Time Warner will broadcast the last 4 episodes of DJY on channel 24 on March 24th, 25th, 31st, and April 1st starting at 9pm on each of those nights.

At this time, Time Warner Cable has no plans to add any new Asian TV channels (with English subtitles). However, since they seemed to hear viewers about DJY, I'd suggest contacting Time Warner (service@twcmidohio.com or call (614) 481-5050) and let them know you'd like KBS America (w/Eng. subs) or some other similar channels.

I'll Be Unable to Attend That Fundraiser

With Ohio's foreclosure mess hitting many families, it is incredible to see the audacity of the Republican Party.

Dayton Daily News:

President Bush has scheduled a swing through the Miami Valley on Thursday, March 27, including a stop at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.....
......The fundraiser is for Victory 2008, the Ohio GOP's segregated federal account for supporting Republican candidates in 2008 through voter registration, volunteer phone banks, mailings and other grassroots activities.

The invitation says that for $10,000 you can go to a private reception with a photo opportunity. The luncheon reception is $1,000. Those who can't attend but would like to contribute are asked to give $5,000, $2,500, $1,000, $500, $250 or "other."

I won't be attending that function. If I had an extra $5000, I'd give it to a charity that helps families and children. I certainly would not give one penny to have a photo opportunity with Bush or any member of the Republican Party. This type of fundraiser shows how out of touch the Ohio GOP and the National Republican Party has become. I think it is just plain obscene.

While the Republicans are drinking fine wine and chit chatting with President Bush, families in the Miami Valley and throughout the state are trying to figure out how to feed their families, save their home
from foreclosure, and put gas in the car. Once again the GOP and their backers demonstrate their inability to hear, see, or understand the plight of the regular American family.

Breaking News: State Dept. Breached Security of Obama's Passport

Breaking News from Keith Olbermann's Countdown on MSNBC News:
State Dept. employees had breached security information on Sen. Barack Obama's passport file. (Note: Howard Fineman reminded viewers that the administration of former President George H.W. Bush did the same thing to then presidential candidate, Bill Clinton.) Two contract employees were fired, another was disciplined. The security breach happened in January 2008 but Obama's office in Chicago was just notified.

There are lots of questions:
Who told them to do this?
What did they do with the information? Did they give it to someone?
What did Sec. of State Rice know and when did she know it?
When was the White House informed?
Was this done to be used as a dirty trick by the Republicans against Barack Obama?
Why wasn't Sen. Obama notified until now?

I'm sure that they'll be more news on this later.

Missed

Here in central Ohio, Korean drama fans lost their main source of Korean and Asian entertainment when Time Warner pulled the plug early on AZN. (This might not make sense to you if you aren't a fan of Asian TV.) Those of us who had watched 132 episodes of the Korean historical drama, Dae Jo Young, found out that Time Warner would not allow us to watch the last two episodes of DJY.

If you had been a regular viewer of AZN, contact Time Warner Mid-Ohio ( service@twcmidohio.com or call (614) 481-5050) and tell them that you want a similar network that has English subtitles (KBS America is now available to other Time Warner subscribers).

Bush's Approval Rating Tanks

According to a report on CNN, President Bush's approval rating is at a stunning 31%. Seriously, who are those people who still approve of his job? Do they live in a cave? Do they watch only Fox News? Are they complete idiots?

It appears that Vice President Cheney is still trying to start a war with Iran. MSNBC has this:
Retaining his tough stance against Iran, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney said Wednesday that Tehran may have restarted the nuclear weaponization program that a U.S. intelligence report said was halted in 2003.......

Did you notice he said "may have"?

How can we believe anything that comes out of this administration? They lied us into war, about the human and financial costs, and even how long military tours of duty would last. American men and women in uniform have had to deal with improperly protected Humvees, inadequate body armor, poisoned water provided by military contractors, long waits for VA medical care, a lack of awareness for PTSD, etc., etc. Yet they want us believe that John McCain (who doesn't know the difference between the Sunni and Shiite) should keep us in a constant state of war in Iraq.

Isn't it time to change the course of history and vote for someone younger, brighter, with new ideas and plans? Haven't we had enough of this Republican war mantra?

Obama's Speech

If you missed the speech by Sen. Barack Obama, make sure that you check it out. In my humble opinion, it was a great speech that provides us clues about what an Obama presidency would be like. The speech is available on You Tube:

Monday's News Roundup

-- Former U.S. Sen. Howard Metzenbaum's funeral was held yesterday in Cleveland, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. An advocate for civil rights and consumers, hundreds of dignitaries and former constituents attended.

-- Looks like Republicans are creating their lists of possible vice presidential candidates for old John McCain. Some names mentioned are Charlie Crist, Tim Pawlenty, Jim Demint, Mitt Romney, Marsha Blackburn, Joe Lieberman, or Kay Bailey Hutchison.

-- Vice President Cheney and Sen. John McCain visited Iraq to try to bolster the troops. McCain probably had a hard time gaining a kind ear from troops because of his desire to keep troops in Iraq for another one hundred years.

-- The Bush economy is not winning any friends here in Ohio. The high gas prices are making a trip to the grocery store seem like you're in the Twilight Zone. With the prices of milk, eggs, and cereal reaching higher prices everyday, an American family must make a choice on whether to heat the house or eat. We can thank Bush, Cheney, the Republicans, and their big oil friends for these high prices.

-- All eyes are on the stock market today as worldwide markets fall at a rapid pace. Could this be another sign of the genius of George W. Bush----- total economic collapse????? According to CNBC.com, ..Wall Street is posed to tumble at open.

The End is Near for the Independent Record Store

A small independent record store in Westerville, Ohio, will be closing soon. Sour Records, a staple on State Street for many years, will be closing soon. It seems that people today just don't want to buy old vinyls and new/used CDs. If you have a chance to visit the store in person, you'd see a great collection of rare and hard to find items. You can also visit the Sour Records Online Store. Show your support and buy something.

What if nations refused to attend the Olympics in China?

With China's latest attacks on the citizens in Tibet have been horrific. Although China has tried to say that the Dalai Lama started the protests in Tibet, no one outside of China really believes that propaganda. It is the people of Tibet lifting their voices to protest the crushing rule of the Chinese.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation is reporting the following:

The Australia Tibet Council says the International Olympic Committee must make China accountable for what it describes as grave violations of human rights in Tibet....

...The council's executive officer Paul Bourke says China has not honoured the human rights commitments that it made in its bid for this year's Beijing Olympics.

"When the Olympics were awarded to China, they gave certain guarantees about improvements in human rights and media freedom," he said....

The Independent has this-----

.....Chinese authorities in Tibet said 10 people have been killed in riots in the capital, Lhasa, although Tibetan exile groups say that the figure is nearer 25. Security forces in Tibet had locked down the city after days of fires and rock-throwing, but reports from Lhasa yesterday suggested there had been more violence, and that police on the streets were shooting on sight. Eyewitnesses quoted by the Free Tibet Campaign and ITN said that 80 had died.

The Tibetan protests are taking place just five months before the Olympic Games in Beijing, and the whole world is watching to see how China reacts. Tibetan independence activists have made no secret of their intentions to use the games as a platform for their cause, but Beijing is determined not to let unrest in Tibet affect the games. "Anyone who wants to sabotage the games will get nowhere," Beijing's top official in Tibet, Qiangba Puncog, said......

....As governments around the world call for a restrained response, China is taking a tough stance. The regional government offered leniency to rioters if they gave themselves up by midnight on Monday and provided information on lawbreakers. "Those who cover up or shelter the lawbreakers will be punished in accordance with the law," the Xinhua news agency said.....

It is very sad that such a beautiful country is experiencing such tragedy. All that the U.S. can do is ask for "restraint" by the Chinese. It might be that the present administration is afraid to speak a little louder since the Chinese own so much of this country's debt.

So Much For the Surge.....

>There is another article about Anita Miller's painting of Lima Company in the Suburban News.

> While the U.S. spends $12 BILLION/month, generals and commanders resign because they disagree with the President, our American military personnel continue to die in Iraq.
ICasualties:
(http://icasualties.org/oif/)

U.S. Deaths Confirmed By The DoD:	3974
Reported U.S. Deaths Pending DoD Confirmation:	13
Total	3987

>Additional information is coming out about the recent top brass military resignation. Globe and Mail:

The top U.S. military commander running the wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq quit abruptly yesterday after a published report claimed he was fighting off a push by the White House to launch a third war against Iran.

Admiral William Fallon, who headed Central Command, which stretches from the restive Middle East across Iraq and Iran to Afghanistan and Central Asia and is the focus of U.S. President George W. Bush's multifronted war on Islamic extremism, ended a glittering military career in what seemed to be a rift with the President...

But by yesterday, with the cumulative effect of increasingly being seen at odds with the Bush administration, a breaking point was reached. The admiral wanted to quit and neither the White House nor Defence Secretary Robert Gates sought to dissuade him.....

Is this what Bush, McCain, and the rest of Republicans mean when they say to support the troops.....just keep getting our people killed, destroy the inner workings of our military, and bankrupt the country?????

Special Tribute to Lima Company

If you remember deaths of the 14 Marines in August 2005, you'll certainly want to check out a special tribute for Lima Company.

Here is the part of the original article published in the Washington Post, August 4, 2005:

A Marine Reserve company that was known as "Lucky Lima" before suffering heavy casualties in May was hit Wednesday by the deadliest roadside bombing of the Iraq war, a massive explosion that killed 14 Marines and the unit's Iraqi interpreter, according to witnesses and military spokesmen....

...Nine of the dead Marines were members of Lima Company -- part of the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, a reserve unit from Ohio that had been sent to the Syrian border to play a lead role in shutting off the main route for foreign gunmen and suicide bombers entering Iraq....

...As it turned out, Lima Company and the rest of the 25th Regiment were beginning four months in which they would be bombed and ambushed in the grimy Euphrates River towns where U.S. commanders say foreign insurgents had moved freely. During the tour, 16 members of Lima Company have been killed, according to a military spokesman in Columbus, Ohio, 1st Sgt. James Halbig.....

Today's Columbus Dispatch:

....(Anita) Miller's vision will become reality on Memorial Day, when eight life-size canvases depicting 22 Marines and a Navy corpsman go on display. The exhibit will run through Veterans Day in the Statehouse rotunda.

The Lima Company Memorial: A Remembrance of Spirit & Choice has become more than paint on canvas. Family members are contributing pictures and stories about their husbands, sons and brothers. Some visit Miller's studio in Westerville just to hang out as the paintings progress...

...More information about the memorial can be found at www.limacompanymemorial.org. Details about Anita Miller and her work are at www.theartistsroost.com....

According to the Dispatch, the portraits will be displayed at the Ohio Statehouse in downtown Columbus beginning Memorial Day.

Health Issues Haunt McCain

The Republican presumed presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, suffered from bouts of cancer. Voters are wondering what his health status would do to his possible presidency. USAToday has a story about McCain's health problems on the Opinion page:

....If he wins in November, McCain, 71, will be the oldest person elected to a first presidential term. That makes his health a reasonable concern of voters.

In 1999, well before the Republican primaries of 2000, McCain released 1,500 pages of health records, dating to his days in the Navy. Since then, however, he has gotten almost a decade older and, in August 2000, he underwent melanoma surgery. His refusal to release records covering that surgery and subsequent developments is troubling.

From his health history alone, it is clear that McCain is at a heightened risk of a recurrence of melanoma or other types of skin cancer. The New York Times, in a story published Sunday, cited a medical study of his particular category of melanoma that put his 10-year survival odds at about 65% at the time of his surgery. (Having survived at least five years with no known recurrence, his odds have risen substantially.).....

McCain should let the public know exactly what health problems he has faced. As a man over 70, there are many health problems that could arise if he were elected President. With his past history, age, and the pressures of the office, could he handle the day to day challenges of the White House.

They've Got Big Problems

The special election in Illinois might be an example of the problems that the Republican Party will face this year.

1. A Democrat won the special election to fill the empty seat of former Republican Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert. The victor, Democrat Bill Foster, did what many thought impossible just a few months ago-----took the district to the Democratic side.

2. With problems fundraising, the NRCC has experienced major disagreements in their ranks. The campaign money that Republicans have gotten in the past, just has been more difficult to acquire this year. Also, the large number of GOP retirements indicates a lack of interest in their own political party.

3. The presumed Republican nominee for president, John McCain, is a hot-tempered old guy who has endured several bouts of cancer. The religious right wing of the GOP has not totally embraced McCain.

4. The American people might not be interested in voting for a candidate who claims that our military could remain in Iraq for one hundred years.

5. The current recession may create additional problems because McCain claims to know little about the economy. Obviously, he has no plan or expertise on how to get the country out of this downward slide.

6. McCain appears ready to continue the failed policies of the Bush administration.

It is no surprise that the American voters have turned to embrace Barack Obama and the Democrats.

Updates

* You must check out the video/political cartoon by the Washington Post's Ann Telnaes. Using Amy Winehouse's recent song, Cheney and his friend have something to sing. LINK

* Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) is working hard to increase her percentage of missed votes. According to the Washington Post, Pryce has missed 174 votes (13.8%) since January 2007. Since she is not running for re-election, she'd just rather stay in Ohio rather than work for her constituents. Do you think she should return 13.8% of her salary?

* Do you wonder how John McCain's skin cancer and malignant melanoma has been doing since 2001? Riskworld has some info in a link to a Newsweek story:
Arizona Sen. John McCain tells Newsweek that last summer, even though he was a bit scared after he learned that his skin cancer had spread and was malignant melanoma, "I really spent my time trying to keep Cindy [his wife] and the kids calm about it. I'm a little bit of a fatalist, given that my life has been full of narrow escapes. But I didn't want to let it show. My doctors told me we had to act as soon as possible. I was all for that."
It was also in the middle of the presidential campaign. "That was a really hard, frightening time," says Cindy McCain in a joint Newsweek interview, the first time they've spoken about his battle against cancer and how it affected his life and family......

Is he at high risk of having it again?

4 More Years of Bush Policies????

I'm not sure that the American people really want a continuation of the policies, philosophy, the war, and poor economic development that we've had with George W. Bush. In essence, that is exactly what we'd get with John McCain in the White House.

The Chief Source website helped remind me of how John McCain voted on some important issues:

....McCain voted against $100 million to help prevent unintended and teen pregnancies in 2005; the funds would have paid for family planning services and teenage pregnancy prevention programs.....

....John McCain has agreed with and reinforced President Bush's failed abstinence-only sex education programs by opposing legislation that would require lessons to be medically accurate and scientifically-based. Over a billion dollars has been spent on abstinence-only programs under Bush's watch....

• Q: "What about grants for sex education in the United States? Should they include instructions about using contraceptives? Or should it be Bush's policy, which is just abstinence?
• Senator McCain: (Long pause) "Ahhh. I think I support the president's policy."
• Q: "So no contraception, no counseling on contraception. Just abstinence. Do you think contraceptives help stop the spread of HIV?"
• Senator McCain: (Long pause) "You've stumped me."

Republicans in Ohio Should Be Afraid, Very Afraid

If you are a Republican running for office in Ohio, you probably have an upset stomach this morning. Ohio is heading to the Democratic column. In yesterday's primary election, Democratic presidential candidates received a total of over 2,213,000 votes. However, the presidential candidates from the Republican side (AKA Grumpy Old Party) only got slightly over 1,053,000 votes. What does this mean? The people of Ohio are ready for change. Change doesn't mean that Ohioans will vote for a pro-war, Bush-friendly candidate like McCain. It indicates that Ohio is ready to vote for a Democratic president. We've lost too much in the previous Republican Taft administration and the George W. Bush years.

My mother and mother-in-law are both strong Hillary Clinton supporters. I think that their experiences in life, having lived through the Great Depression and World War II, make them cheer for the possibility of a woman in the White House.

My brother enthusiastically voted Democratic in the primary. You may not think that is a big deal, but he previously voted for the "dark side" (Republican) in the last presidential election. He is convinced that we need a Democratic president.

As you look at photos and news reports, count the minorities in the audience at McCain's rallies. There are usually less than 3. By the way, the commentators and reporters need to ask McCain if he has had any additional cancer lesions, since he was diagnosed with it twice previously.

I'd love to see either a Clinton/Obama or Obama/Clinton Democratic ticket. It would truly be historic!

The Republicans Have Nothing to Offer

The Republican Party and their likely presidential candidate have nothing new to offer the American people. As a result, they are busy hanging out with Karl Rove and his robots trying to make up lies about the Democrats.

The Republican smear machine said that it was unpatriotic that Sen. Obama did not have his hand over his heart during the national anthem. I've been to hundreds of public events in my over 50 years, and a majority of people do not put their hands on their hearts during the national anthem. However, 99.9% of Americans put their hands on their hearts to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. As a teacher who spent many years in the classroom, my students and the students of the public schools where I taught did not place their hands on their hearts for the national anthem.

Americans Don't Care If We're in Iraq for 100, 1,000, or 10,000 Years?

Do you ever wonder which Americans Republican John McCain is talking about in the video clip below?
I know I don't want to see our men and women in Iraq for another second.

You Tube McCain:



What would happen if we remain in Iraq with McCain as president? Here is a clue from an editorial in the NY Times:
....Although initially promoted by the Bush administration as a war that could be waged at little expense, Iraq has so far cost America $600 billion, 4,000 dead, and more than more than 29,000 wounded. Thousands of Iraqis have also been killed and injured.

Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel-Prize-winning Columbia University economics professor, and Linda Blimes of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, authors of a new book, “The Three Trillion Dollar War,” estimate America’s real price tag will be $3 trillion when all costs — including compensation, pensions and disability benefits for wounded veterans, and rising oil prices — are factored in.

These staggering outlays are preventing the country from undertaking efforts that would make the United States safer, like going after al Qaeda in Pakistan. It is also sapping the resources needed for critical priorities at home, like improving the quality and availability of health care.....

How can someone claim that they are for fiscal responsibility yet support throwing money into Iraq? I heard in a report on the radio that the Iraq war has already cost us 8 times the cost of World War II. It appears that the only people gaining anything from Iraq are the stockholders of Halliburton.

I've Got Questions!!!!!!

What is really going on at those political rallies for the presidential candidates?

* Why don't we see crowds at the McCain rallies? Why don't the cameras show the people? Have you ever seen so many old white people at a gathering in recent years? Are there any minorities in the Republican Party? Any women under 90?

* According to some recent news items, Sen. Hillary Clinton raised $35 million last month. Sen. Barack Obama brought in $50 million for his campaign during the same time period. How much did John McCain and Mike Huckabee raise last month? Why won't they give us figures? Are they embarrassed because of the paltry amount they've received?

* Did you notice the other day McCain did a little backtracking on his statements about the Iraq war? He said the war would be over soon, but the insurgency would last for years. If he were elected President, would he keep U.S. forces in Iraq because of the continuing insurgency? Is this like President Bush's use of the word "surge" to describe what was really an "escalation" of the war?

I think we need answers to all of these questions.

Cause of U.S. Recession?

With a slowdown in business, the fall of the U.S. dollar, massive layoffs, and foreclosures reaching epidemic proportions, the real cause of the recession is known by many outside of the U.S..

The Australian:
IRAQ WAR 'CAUSED SLOWDOWN IN THE US'

THE Iraq war has cost the US 50-60 times more than the Bush administration predicted and was a central cause of the sub-prime banking crisis threatening the world economy, according to Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz.

The former World Bank vice-president yesterday said the war had, so far, cost the US something like $US3trillion ($3.3 trillion) compared with the $US50-$US60-billion predicted in 2003......

....The war was now the second-most expensive in US history after World War II and the second-longest after Vietnam, he said.

The spending on Iraq was a hidden cause of the current credit crunch because the US central bank responded to the massive financial drain of the war by flooding the American economy with cheap credit....

Just like the Bush administration tried to stop a recent story from airing on 60 Minutes, the White House has worked to keep the truth about the war and so many other things from the American public. Since Republican presidential candidate John McCain has been in lockstep with President Bush, would a McCain administration continue this secrecy and control of the media?

House Republicans Protecting Oil/Gas Friends

>>>Republican Rep. Wally Herger (CA-2nd), according to Open Secrets, has accepted over $93,000 from Oil and Gas Industries. This might be why Herger votes against taxing the obscene profits of the oil and gas industries. Let Herger know that he works for you, not oil and gas corporations with your call/e-mail here.

>>>Republican Rep. Fred Upton (MI-6th), according to Open Secrets, has accepted over $112,000 form Oil and Gas Industries. This might explain why Upton votes to protect the oil and gas companies. Tell Upton you are tired of paying high gas taxes and tired of his defense of oil and gas corporations.

>>>Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn (TN-7th), according to Open Secrets, has received over $63,000 for Oil and Gas Industries. Does Blackburn want to provide cover for oil and gas industries so that she can continue to get those donations? Contact Blackburn here and tell her to get off the oil and gas feed wagon.

Here are some other totals from Republicans
- Republican Rep. Phil English (PA-3rd ) over $171,000 from Oil & Gas (Open Secrets).
- Republican Rep. Paul Ryan (WI- 1st) over $140,000 from Oil & Gas (Open Secrets).

Obviously, these Republicans don't mind that you have to pay high gas prices as long as they get money from their oil friends.

As Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said in her remarks supporting renewable energy program, "....This planet is God's creation and we have a responsibility to keep it....."

Extreeeeeeeeeme Right Wing Radio in Cleveland

I was listening to the Ed Schultz radio show today and Rep. Dennis Kucinich was a guest. Their conversation was about Kucinich's election campaign and how it has become the target of a hate-filled radio station in Cleveland, WTAM. Since I don't live in Cleveland, I'm not familiar with the station, so I decided to visit its website. The things that are said about Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Barack Obama, Rep. Kuchinich are hateful and offensive. If you agree, let them know

Newsradio WTAM 1100
6200 Oak Tree Blvd, 4th Floor
Independence, OH 44131-2510
(216) 520-2600
Talk Show: 216-578-1100
Toll Free: 1-888-723-WTAM
Newsroom: 216-642-4636
Studio Fax: 216-986-WTAM
news@wtam.com

The most disgusting stuff comes from a guy called Bob Frantz ( Bob@wtam.com ). You can check out some of his comments at http://www.wtam.com/pages/bfrantz.html

Dirty Little Secrets In Alabama

Shhhhhhhhh. Don't tell anyone......but there are dirty little secrets in Alabama. If you know someone in Alabama, you might want to let them know that their media is controlled by people who are covering up lies.
This is from The Huffington Post:

......Now, let me tell you what has been going on. As 60 Minutes was putting its show together, the White House put pressure on CBS -- the parent company -- to kill the show. Over the last few days, as word got out that the 60 Minutes show would air tonight, Karl Rove's associates began planting defamatory stories about journalists working on this story (see example here) and attacking the whistle-blower who came forward, Dana Jill Simpson. If you recall, Ms. Simpson testified, under oath, to Congress about Karl Rove's involvement in politicizing the DOJ. What you may not know, however, is that her house mysteriously caught fire and she was run off the road in the weeks leading up to her testimony.....
.......Tonight was something truly unseen in US history. During the 60 Minutes broadcast and ONLY during the Don Siegelman portion -- the screen went black for Huntsville residents and Mobile residents. There are other reports of other locations, but I have not yet confirmed those.....

It appears that Karl Rove, the White House, and the Republican back room smear machine have not only sent an innocent man to prison, Don Siegelman, but their control of the media and the cover up is just plain sickening. It reminds you of the Soviet Union under Stalin and the Nazi propaganda machine.

What other things are being withheld from the good people in Alabama? If you have friends in Alabama, e-mail them a copy of the Huffington Post story and the 60 Minutes story. They'll thank you for it.

Against Advisory Board?

How does a drug get approval? What do you think?

Washington Post:

A drug to treat breast cancer received approval yesterday from the Food and Drug Administration, which went against the recommendation of its advisory panel.

Avastin is already approved for treating lung and colon cancer. The FDA gave preliminary approval to doctors' use of the drug, made by Genentech, to treat breast cancer based on findings that it slowed tumor growth.

FDA approval for late-stage cancer treatments is usually contingent upon data showing that a drug extended patients' lives or improved their quality. Avastin showed neither in a study, according to Genentech.....

In other words, Avastin did not extend lives or revive the quality of life. Why did it get approval? Do you think it had to do with some lobbyists pushing for its approval?

McCain and His Lobbyists

1.Newsweek has more on Sen. John McCain--- A Hole in McCain's Defense.........
Here is a tidbit:

....On Wednesday night the Times published a story suggesting that McCain might have done legislative favors for the clients of the lobbyist, Vicki Iseman, who worked for the firm of Alcalde & Fay. One example it cited were two letters McCain wrote in late 1999 demanding that the Federal Communications Commission act on a long-stalled bid by one of Iseman's clients, Florida-based Paxson Communications, to purchase a Pittsburgh television station......

....But that flat claim seems to be contradicted by an impeccable source: McCain himself. "I was contacted by Mr. [Lowell] Paxson on this issue," McCain said in the Sept. 25, 2002, deposition obtained by NEWSWEEK. "He wanted their approval very bad for purposes of his business. I believe that Mr. Paxson had a legitimate complaint."

....McCain's subsequent letters to the FCC—coming around the same time that Paxson's firm was flying the senator to campaign events aboard its corporate jet and contributing $20,000 to his campaign—first surfaced as an issue during his unsuccessful 2000 presidential bid. William Kennard, the FCC chair at the time, described the sharply worded letters from McCain, then chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, as "highly unusual."

2. Robert Greenwald has something on McCain on YouTube:

3. The following is a cache of the NewsBlog (November 1, 2004):

....The letter, first reported in the Boston Globe, was sent by McCain to the Federal Communications Commission Dec. 10. He bluntly demanded that the FCC vote on an issue involving a Pittsburgh TV station and a major contributor.

The contributor, Paxson Communications, is based in West Palm Beach and is the largest owner of independent television stations. Chairman Lowell "Bud" Paxson co-founded the St. Petersburg-based Home Shopping Network in 1982.

McCain has flown on Paxson planes to campaign events and raised $20,000 from Paxson associates. He oversees the FCC as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee.....

More to follow....

Ties To Lobbyists

The article in yesterday's New York Times was attacked viciously by the right wing nuts. Why do the righties refuse to actually look at the story itself? Did McCain have an overly friendly relationship with a particular lobbyist? Did her good looks and charm allow her to dictate to McCain what she wanted in telecom/communication bills? Did the relationship get telecom/communication groups special advantages?

Last night on MSNBC, right wing tool, Chris Matthews had a hissy-fit. His tirade against the New York Times was sickening. Is Matthews unable to fathom the possibility that media darling McCain did something wrong? Matthews was not acting like a journalist but rather a friend trying to defend a buddy.

Some people may think that the story about McCain will die down. However, I believe that the New York Times story will be the beginning of other investigations and inquiries into how McCain has garnered support from lobbyists.

Don't Go There?

While being interviewed by phone last night on MSNBC, Pat Buchanan advised Democratic candidates and their campaign staffs on how to react to the McCain-lobbyist rumors. Buchanan suggested that it should not be discussed when he said, "Don't go there."

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Don't go there??? Fat chance.

Staten Island Live:
Aides to Sen. John McCain confronted a telecommunications lobbyist in late 1999 and asked her to distance herself from the senator during the presidential campaign he was about to launch, according to one of McCain's longest-serving political strategists.

John Weaver, who was McCain's closest confidant until leaving his current campaign last year, said he met with Vicki Iseman at the Center Cafe at Union Station and urged her to stay away from McCain. Association with a lobbyist would undermine his image as an opponent of special interests, aides had concluded......

....Three telecom lobbyists and a former McCain aide, all of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that Iseman spoke up regularly at meetings of telecom lobbyists in Washington, extolling her connections to McCain and his office. She would regularly volunteer at those meetings to be the point person for the telecom industry in dealing with McCain's office.....

......and this from The New York Times: (This is a very large article and I suggest that you follow the like and read all of it.)

Early in Senator John McCain’s first run for the White House eight years ago, waves of anxiety swept through his small circle of advisers.

A female lobbyist had been turning up with him at fund-raisers, visiting his offices and accompanying him on a client’s corporate jet. Convinced the relationship had become romantic, some of his top advisers intervened to protect the candidate from himself — instructing staff members to block the woman’s access, privately warning her away and repeatedly confronting him, several people involved in the campaign said on the condition of anonymity.....

I wonder how the Republicans will react to these rumors?

Feelings

How do you think Republicans felt when this happened? ---> Duke Cunningham's big time contributor, Brent Wilkes, has finally been sentenced.
Washington Post:

Brent R. Wilkes, a California defense contractor and prominent GOP campaign contributor, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison yesterday for lavishing a Republican congressman with money, prostitutes and other bribes in exchange for nearly $90 million in work from the Pentagon.

Wilkes, 53, was convicted in November of 13 felony crimes including bribery, conspiracy and fraud for giving the gifts to former representative Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.), who is serving an eight-year prison term for accepting millions in bribes from Wilkes and others......

....Wilkes is a Republican Party "Pioneer" who raised more than $100,000 for President Bush's reelection in 2004 and donated -- in concert with his business colleagues -- $656,396 to 64 other Republican lawmakers and the national Republican Party committees in Washington from 1995 through the third quarter of 2005, according to campaign finance records....

How nice.

* Have you noticed the level of excitement at the various political events? People at rallies for Republican presidential candidates are not very emotional. Sure there are cheers, but those cheers are not very loud or enthusiastic. At some McCain events I've seen on TV, the people show as much emotion as someone waiting for the dentist.

However, at rallies for Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama, people are smiling, applauding, jumping up, and shouting for joy. These rallies are loud and crowded.

Why does it matter? If people are enthusiastic for someone, they will contribute time and money, and vote for the candidate. The Democratic candidates are seeing and experiencing voters' devotion and interest in their candidacies. Republican voters just seem dull, dull, dull.

Tonight's Primaries

I was watching MSNBC tonight as they were trying to analyze the results of the Wisconsin primary. Pat Buchanan said something stupid (so what else is new?). Buchanan said that John McCain can capture the people who are voting for Hillary Clinton---senior citizens and white women. Buchanan is wrong.

It would be nice if Pat Buchanan and Joe Scarborough would shut their fat mouths so that the most intelligent person on the panel, Rachel Maddow, could speak.

A Special Photo Album

I was just thinking about those two good buddies, Sen. John McCain and President George W. Bush. Can you imagine the pictures they have in their photo albums?

*** August 29, 2005: While Hurricane Katrina was hitting New Orleans, President George W. Bush and Sen. John McCain are pictured with a cake in honor of McCain 69th birthday (Links: 1. Think Progress, 2. WH.):

Obviously, Bush was too busy with the birthday celebrations to help the people of New Orleans.




**** President Bush and Senator McCain share some time at different rallies (Links: 1.Truthdig, and below 2. AZCentral).








*** And, of course, how can we forget the awesome BFF (best friends forever) bear hug (Link: EDCONE):

WARNING: If you are in Columbus this evening and you see a bunch of old white people,

it probably has something to do with Sen. John McCain having a get-together with some

Republicans. (Don't worry! I won't be anywhere near their location!)

Ohio's Bridges in Trouble

A local TV station, 10TV.com, investigated the problems with the state bridges. According to an investigative report done by Paul Aker, Ohio's bridges are in terrible condition. Here is a tidbit from the report:

.....Drivers have no clue that beneath them a bridge crossbeam vibrates after it divorced its steel base. A corrosive coating of rust appears to be the culprit.

It is part of a $60 to $90 million problem statewide.

A corrosion consultant hired by the Ohio Department of Transportation inspected 500 bridges statewide. The consultant turned up 80 percent, or 300, that proved to have flawed paint jobs, said spokesman Scott Varner....

The construction on the bridges was completed in 2006 during the Taft administration. Surprise. Surprise.

Soldier Forced Out of Hospital to be Deployed

This is what George W. Bush's Iraq War has done to our military:
(Originally posted at ICasualties)

CBS4 Denver:

A Fort Carson soldier who says he was in treatment at Cedar Springs Hospital for bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse was released early and ordered to deploy to the Middle East with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team.

The 28-year-old specialist spent 31 days in Kuwait and was returned to Fort Carson on Dec. 31 after health care professionals in Kuwait concurred that his symptoms met criteria for bipolar disorder and "some paranoia and possible homicidal tendencies," according to e-mails obtained by The Denver Post.

The soldier, who asked not to be identified because of the stigma surrounding mental illness and because he will seek employment when he leaves the Army, said he checked himself into Cedar Springs on Nov. 9 or Nov. 10 after he attempted suicide while under the influence of alcohol. He said his treatment was supposed to end Dec. 10 but his commanding officers showed up at the hospital Nov. 29 and ordered him to leave.....

Let me highlight the following--- ....after health care professionals in Kuwait concurred that his symptoms met criteria for bipolar disorder and "some paranoia and possible homicidal tendencies"---

If this kind of incident was discovered, it probably has happened before but it was not published. According to the news story, last year Fort Carson deployed another 79 soldiers who had similar mental problems. Doesn't this show you the strain that the current administration has put on our military and their families? This is just sad.

Senator Carl Levin (MI-Dem) had additional concerns about this soldier and others who've been forced back into service. Denver Post:

The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee blasted the Pentagon on Wednesday for sending a wounded Fort Carson soldier back to Iraq, questioning whether it had been done to fill depleted ranks.

Citing a Denver Post report, Sen. Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat, asked about an Army captain's e-mail saying that Fort Carson's 3rd Brigade Combat Team had "been having issues reaching deployable strength," and that some "borderline" soldiers were sent overseas.

"Are there shortages in deployment strength that are now causing some of these decisions to be made that otherwise would not be?" Levin asked at a committee hearing.....

I'm glad Sen. Levin is investigating this. It is no wonder that so many of our military have committed suicide or suffer from PTSD.

McCain Offers Something

There is a brand new website that shows exactly what John McCain plans to do: Less Jobs More Wars.

There are three videos that you absolutely must see at Less Jobs More Wars.

Stay Away from Stark County Ohio

When I saw this yesterday, I was outraged at how a woman was treated by the Stark County Sheriff's Department. If you didn't see this story, here it is (CBS News):

.....In Canton, Ohio, a woman claims that that police wrongfully strip searched her.

Hope Steffey had called 911 because she said she'd been the victim of an assault but when police responded, a series of arguments and miscommunications led police to arrest her, reports The Early Show.

They later videotaped her being undressed by male and female officers while pleading with them to stop. She says when all of her clothing was removed, she was then left in a cell for six hours.

The Stark County sheriff denies Steffey's allegations.......

If law enforcement forcibly remove one's clothing, leave a person in a cell naked, isn't that a strip search?

Take Note

You must see the You Tube video titled, john.he.is about John McCain. It is the one of the most popular videos today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gwqEneBKUs

Endorsements

Do these political endorsements surprise me? Not in the least. Does an endorsement make me want to choose one candidate over another? No.
-Right winger Jeb Bush endorsed McCain. Ho-hum. However, is Jeb Bush's endorsement his bid to get the nod to be a Vice Presidential candidate? Just what we need----another Bush.
-Is Mike Huckabee also campaigning for the second spot on the Republican ticket?

One story that needs attention is that Ron Paul said he will not support McCain.
The Chicago Tribune:
.... Paul, a Texas congressman, said he will not back McCain if he is the party's nominee unless the Arizona senator "has a lot of change of heart."
"I cannot support anybody with the foreign policy he advocates, you know, perpetual war. That is just so disturbing to me," Paul said in a Monday telephone interview. "I think it's un-American, unconstitutional, immoral and not Republican."

I wonder which candidate Ron Paul's supporters will vote for in the election if he is not a candidate.

My View From Ohio

MSNBC's David Shuster made an inappropriate comment describing the campaign work that Chelsea Clinton was doing for her mother's presidential campaign. David Shuster is lucky that he didn't say that about one of my daughters because I would have kicked his sorry a** into the next county.

Shuster and his counterpart at MSNBC, Chris Matthews, share the same reporting style. They both talk endlessly and carelessly about other people without showing respect and common sense. Shuster, unfortunately, is a graduate of the University of Mi-----n. Now we know why he behaves as he does.

346 more days?

On this morning's Bill Press radio show, the radio host mentioned that there were only 346 more days left until the end of the Bush administration. However, until then, we have to suffer through the campaigns of John McCain and Mike "holier than thou" Huckabee. Any Republican who believes that McCain, Huckabee, or some other Republican will grab the votes of Democrats, moderates, liberals, and independents, has been smoking some funny cigarettes.

>Both McCain and Huckabee are against a woman's right to choose.
> Huckabee wants to make the USA a Christian nation. Mr. Huckabee obviously has no respect for the Americans who are Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, other religions, or no religion.
> Both McCain and Huckabee want to load the Supreme Court with right wing judges who support businesses over the rights of the American workers.

Have we had enough? You bet.
We've suffered through "Attorneygate," the Abramoff Scandals, the Bob Ney scandal, the outing of a CIA agent, the Libby affair, the lies that started and continue the war in Iraq, our military sent to war without proper body armor, spying on American citizens without warrants, waterboarding, "heckuva job, Brownie," Karl Rove, unprecedented oil prices, Tom DeLay, the Duke Cunningham scandal, a vice president involved in a hunting accident, etc., etc.

McCain, Huckabee, or some other right wing presidential candidate will only bring us more of the same old policies and lies. We owe it to ourselves and our children to vote for change and vote Democratic. Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama are both well-qualified and deserve our respect, our support, and our votes.

Can't Help the Poor?

The Columbus Dispatch:
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield says it no longer can afford to provide managed-care services for Ohio's health insurance program for poor children and families.

The Indianapolis-based company is pulling out of Medicaid's Covered Families and Children program because the rates Ohio pays the managed-care provider are so low that the company is losing money. It will continue to participate in Ohio's Medicaid program for the aged, blind and disabled.

The decision forces 146,000 Medicaid recipients statewide, including about 40,000 in the Columbus area, to replace their Anthem plans. In central Ohio, recipients have two other managed-care plans to choose from....

According to Yahoo Finance, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is part of WellPoint Inc. (WLP). If the key executives of this company gave up a million each, then the poor could get the medical help they need.

Super Tuesday?

> The primary is not being held yet here in Ohio. In other states, it is 'super Tuesday.'

> If you watch Korean dramas on AZN-TV, you might be interested in this:

http://starbulletin.com/2008/02/01/business/engle.html
AZN-TV will no longer exist as of April 9th. Contact your local cable provider and demand a replacement.

> The next time you see a rally for a presidential candidate on TV, look at the audience. Every time I see Republican John McCain at a rally, he is surrounded by OWM (old white men). Are they the only voters interested in his rhetoric? I have yet to hear how McCain will help improve the economy.

> Women are the keys in the upcoming election. Do we want to support Republicans and thereby continue the war, and return to the 1950's for women? I don't think so.

Smart Car News

If you've seen some tiny little cars around the city, I'm probably one of the drivers. I finally got my Smart Car. It is cute and sassy. From what I've heard, Easton will have a local Smart dealership at 4300 Morse Crossing (614 291-2007).

(Pictures from SmartUSA)

So far, I'm getting 42mpg on the highway and about 33 mpg in the city. In the last few days, I've had people waving to me and asking lots of questions. I'm enjoying every moment in my sweet little car.

Bill Kristol Thinks I'm A Problem

He might be correct. Crooks and Liars has this quote from right wing extremist, Bill Kristol:

Look the only people for Hillary Clinton are the Democratic establishment and white women… it would be crazy for the Democratic party to follow the establishment that’s led them to defeat year after year… White Women are a problem - but, you know… we all live with that…

As a white woman, I'm glad that Bill Kristol thinks that I'm a problem. As a matter of fact, I bet that Bill Kristol and his right wing boys club think that all women are problems. Kristol probably would like to go back to the ancient days when women were not permitted to voice their opinions, work outside the home, control their own bodies, own property, or run for high office. My advice to Bill Kristol and the old white men of the Republican Party is this---- Women are not going to go back to the old days. Deal with it.