Giuliani Doesn't Respect Women

Yahoo: Rudy Giuliani made a simple case for his presidential candidacy Saturday to a national convention of Republican women: He's not Hillary Clinton......
"We have a record that's very, very proud and very long of making certain that women participate on a full and complete and equal basis with men," he said.

Giuliani clearly disrespects women. After his divorces, public affair with Judy Nathanson (now Giuliani), he obviously does not honor vows or truthfulness.

Here is something about Giuliani from the LA Times:
......Still, Giuliani's family baggage is laced with the foibles that one would expect to play poorly with Republican women. Giuliani riveted New York City when, while still mayor, he announced during a 2000 news conference that his second marriage was over -- before telling his then-wife, Donna Hanover. Hanover later asked a judge to bar Giuliani from bringing his girlfriend (and now wife) to the New York mayor's official residence, Gracie Mansion, while the family still lived there.

"That whole Gracie Mansion thing leaves a bad taste in your mouth," said Christine Peters of Amherst, N.H....

He sounds like a real sweetheart. Not!

Republicans Don't Need Your Support

Isn't it good to know that some of the Republican candidates for President are not interested in the votes of "certain" people.

Here is an excerpt from the right leaning newspaper, the Cincinnati Enquirer:

The four leading Republican candidates for president can probably get away with snubbing a minority-issues debate in Baltimore as they did this week, since the quest for the GOP nomination is likely to be decided in states such as New Hampshire and Iowa, where black Republicans are few and far between.

But one of the four - Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney or Fred Thompson - is likely to win that nomination. And when they get to key states such as Ohio in the general election, they may find it is minority voters - blacks and Latinos - who are doing the snubbing.

"They are being foolish," Christopher Smitherman, president of the Cincinnati branch of the NAACP, said of the GOP no-shows. "It's a serious mistake not to reach out to everyone. How can African-Americans judge them and their ideas if they don't speak to us?"

They are indeed foolish.

*** Someone should ask Judy Giuliani how many dogs she killed when she demonstrated surgical products in her job for U.S. Surgical Corp. (LINK) Is there someone in the media gutsy enough to ask her the question?

Did you know that Rudy Giuliani thinks his 3rd wife, Judy, is a bio-terrorism expert? You Tube has the video here.

Rush Knows Nothing

Rush Limbaugh is an idiot. Of course, we already knew that. Here is the latest from the mouth of Limbaugh:
(Media Matters)

During the September 26 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Rush Limbaugh called service members who advocate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq "phony soldiers." He made the comment while discussing with a caller a conversation he had with a previous caller, "Mike from Chicago," who said he "used to be military," and "believe[s] that we should pull out of Iraq." Limbaugh told the second caller, whom he identified as "Mike, this one from Olympia, Washington," that "[t]here's a lot" that people who favor U.S. withdrawal "don't understand" and that when asked why the United States should pull out, their only answer is, " 'Well, we just gotta bring the troops home.' ... 'Save the -- keeps the troops safe' or whatever," adding, "[I]t's not possible, intellectually, to follow these people." "Mike" from Olympia replied, "No, it's not, and what's really funny is, they never talk to real soldiers. They like to pull these soldiers that come up out of the blue and talk to the media." Limbaugh interjected, "The phony soldiers." The caller, who had earlier said, "I am a serving American military, in the Army," agreed, replying, "The phony soldiers."

Limbaugh, who never served in the military because of a cyst on his ass, thinks he knows all about being in the military. What Limbaugh doesn't realize is that people are losing real lives even though Bush had phony reason for a war in Iraq.

You Need to Know

Thinking about buying a book? Skip the Jenna Bush one.
USA Today:
...The book is easy to read. It's divided into 102 chapters, some as short as two sentences, and is illustrated with 49 subtle photographs by UNICEF intern Mia Baxter.....
.....The format is an awkward hybrid: not quite an "as-told-to" story but written in the third person. Ana's voice rarely punches through.....

If you really want a good book, keep reading.

> Republican Sen. Larry Craig still hasn't resigned. Huffington Post:
Moments ago, the Senate voted 60-39 to end debate on the Matthew Shepard Act, which expands federal hate crimes laws to include violence based on a victim's sexual orientation, gender, disability, and other factors..... .....Notably, Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) voted against the legislation.

> More on Blackwater---
Hampton Roads:

A congressional investigation has found Blackwater USA at fault on multiple levels in the infamous 2004 Fallujah convoy ambush in which four of its operatives were killed by Iraqi insurgents.

The report, issued Thursday, also accuses Blackwater of repeated efforts to stonewall the investigation, even defying a congressional subpoena at one point.

The release comes at a time when the Moyock, N.C.-based private military company is already facing unprecedented scrutiny because of a Sept. 16 shooting incident involving Blackwater contractors in Baghdad in which at least 11 Iraqis died.....

Blackwater, by the way, has funded James Dobson's group. They contribute money primarily to Republicans and are working as a private army. If you want more information, read Jeremy Scahill's book, Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army.

Plenty of Questions

* There is an outbreak of cholera in Iraq, according to Relief Web. Several deaths have been reported in various regions in Iraq. Has the American media been told not to report this?

* Republican Sen. David Vitter, the right winger with an appetite for prostitutes, has been up to no good.
Raw Story:
In a move ostensibly aimed at providing "better science education" in Louisiana schools, Sen. David Vitter has secured $100,000 in taxpayer dollars to fund an anti-evolution effort spearheaded by a religious group politically connected to the alleged prostitute-soliciting Republican.....

Are Vitter's right wing religious supporters willing to forgive him as long as he is able to get them stuff? Isn't anyone asking if Vitter's propensity for hookers goes against the "family values" of the right wing?

* Has Republican Sen. Larry Craig resigned yet? If I were a man, I would not walk into the same public restroom with him.

* With almost 3800 Americans killed and over 27,000 wounded in Iraq, when will Republicans support a withdrawal bill? Are they waiting until there have been 10,000 Americans killed? Why do Republicans continue to support Bush's never ending war?

Republican Infighting?

It looks like there is trouble in the Republican Party. Carpetbagger Report:
.....The pressure seems to be pushing the House Republican leadership to the breaking point. Burdened by retirements and weak poll numbers, Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and NRCC Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) are apparently fighting vehemently over the party’s 2008 strategy. Apparently, the two have been getting into shouting matches and Cole is threatening to quit.....

Ouch!
Here in Ohio's 15th congressional district, the GOP hasn't even come up with a firm candidate to fill Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce's seat when she retires. Everyone has turned it down. The only Republican person to come forward is a person who is aligned with Ken Blackwell.

By the way, where is Fred Thompson? Is he napping somewhere?

Is the Republican Party for Whites Only????

The latest news about the Republican presidential candidates refusing to attend forums at a predominately African-American university and a Latino-sponsored event, really show that the GOP has moved to the right. Why have these white candidates stayed away from events geared toward minorities? Are these white men so arrogant and clueless that they think they don't need minorities? I think the this sign could be used for the Republican Party. (Source)
The next time you see Giuliani, McCain, Thompson, Mitt, and the other GOP candidates, count how many minorities are in attendance. Shame on the
Republican Party for catering to racism.

Bring Them Home

While the President and the GOP take turns attacking Moveon.org instead
of working on an exit plan for Bush's Iraq war, more of our men and women
in Iraq are being killed and wounded. What message should we send to Bush
and the spineless Republicans? There are three things you can do:
(1) visit Moveon.org and contribute some money

(2) listen to this Bruce Springsteen song "Bring Them Home"

(3) go buy some postcards, mail them to Republicans in the House
and the Senate (and Lieberman!) with a simple message-

END THE WAR

BRING THE TROOPS HOME.

Addresses for Senators HERE.
Addresses for Representatives HERE.

Running Away from Republicans

Some people have had enough. Yahoo News:

Dozens of corporate executives who backed President George W. Bush for re-election in
2004, including some of his top fund-raisers, are now helping Democrats running for president.

John Mack, chief executive officer of Morgan Stanley, Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News
Corp., and Terry Semel, chairman of Yahoo! Inc., are among some 60 executives writing
checks to Democrats such as Senators Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of
Illinois, a review of U.S. Federal Election Commission records shows.......

Deficits, unending war, politics of distraction, sex scandals, failure to respond to Katrina,
etc., etc. have made many people look for leadership in the Democratic Party.

Republicans Playing Games

Senate Republicans are playing games. Rather than support a troop withdrawal plan
or the Webb bill, they'd rather talk about an advertisement by Moveon.org. This
Republican ploy is called the politics of distraction and they've done it before this.
In order to get attention away from the failing Iraq policies of the Bush administration,
the Republicans had a vote on the Moveon.org ad about the "General Betray Us"
advertisement on the floor of the Senate yesterday.

While the Republicans attempt to divert debate away from ending the war, more
Americans are being killed in Iraq. According to ICasualties, 3794 Americans have
died in Bush's Iraq war. That means 3794 Americans will never again be able to hug
their family members again.

With Americans being killed and wounded every single day, all the Republicans have
to offer is distraction, distraction, distraction.

U.S. Ambassador Does Papaya Dance

Perhaps we should send the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines
to work out talks with North Korea. Ambassador Kristie Kenney
appeared on a TV show in the Philippines and did the "Papaya" dance.

Blame the Republicans

Why can't the Senate and the House end Bush's Iraq war?
Blame the Republicans.

Reuters:
Senate Republicans blocked a plan on Wednesday to give U.S. troops in Iraq more home leave, defeating a proposal widely seen as the Democrats' best near-term chance to change President George W. Bush's Iraq strategy. The measure to give troops as much rest time at home as they spent on their most recent tour overseas needed 60 votes to pass in the Democratic-controlled Senate; it received just 56 votes, with 44 against. It had been offered by Sen. Jim Webb, a decorated Vietnam veteran and former Navy secretary. The Democrat said U.S. troops are being "burned out" by repeated redeployments to Iraq, with tours of up to 15 months and less than a year off in between.....

Call/email your senator if his/her name appears in the the previous post (SEE BELOW). Let them know that you are aware that they are enabling this horrible war policy.

Give Them Hell

Time to get to the telephones and make some phone calls!
NY Times:
Senate Democrats fell short late this afternoon in what was seen as their best chance to shift the course of the war in Iraq, in a vote on a measure to require that troops get as much time at home as they spend overseas before being redeployed.

The vote on the measure, offered by Senator Jim Webb, Democrat of Virginia, was 56 to 44 in favor — four less than the supporters needed to prevent a filibuster. The outcome was almost the same as that in a vote on the measure in July, when 56 senators voted in favor and 41 against....

......All the Democrats plus the independent Bernard Sanders of Vermont voted for the Webb proposal and were joined by six Republican senators: Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, John E. Sununu of New Hampshire, Norm Coleman of Minnesota, Gordon Smith of Oregon and Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, both of Maine. And Senator Tim Johnson, the South Dakota Democrat who was ill and absent in July, voted for the Webb measure today.....

Who were the Senators who don't have the backbone to help our troops? Who were Senators who are so controlled by the White House that they refuse to support the mental and physical lives of our military? I am so glad you asked:

(Washington Post:)

Lamar Alexander, Wayne Allard, John Barrasso, Robert Bennett, Kit Bond, Sam Brownback, Jim Bunning, Richard Burr, Saxby Chambliss, Tom Coburn, Thad Cochran, Bob Corker, John Cornyn, Larry Craig, Michael Crapo, Jim DeMint, Elizabeth Dole, Pete Domenici, John Ensign, Michael Enzi, Lindsey Graham, Charles Grassley, Judd Gregg, Orrin Hatch, Kay Bailey Hutchison, James Inhofe, Johnny Isakson, Jon Kyl, Trent Lott, Richard Lugar, Mel Martinez, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, Pat Roberts, Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ted Stevens, John Thune, David Vitter, George Voinovich, John Warner

Joseph Lieberman

Now, my friends, it is time to get to work and tell these senators that you are very unhappy with their vote.
Just recently, Specter and Voinovich indicated that they were not pleased with the continuing war. However, when it comes time to vote Specter, Voinovich, Warner, and others, become spineless.

Make those phone calls!

Conditions Getting Worse in Iraq

Remember last week when President Bush and General Petraeus said that everything was hunky-dorey in Iraq? They were wrong.
UK Reuters:
U.S. civilian officials have been barred from road travel in Iraq outside Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone because of possible attacks after a deadly shooting involving American security firm Blackwater....

....Iraq has said it would review the status of all security firms after what it called a "flagrant assault" by Blackwater contractors in which 11 people were killed while the firm was escorting an embassy convoy through Baghdad on Sunday.....

.....In a statement seen by Reuters and sent to Americans in Iraq, the U.S. embassy in Baghdad said the temporary ban on road travel was imposed to reassess security procedures.....

While it is unsafe for American diplomats to travel in Iraq, our Marines and soldiers are out there risking their lives every single day.

Americans STILL Want a Timetable for Withdrawal

USA Today:....A USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken Friday through Sunday found essentially no shift in views on whether U.S. forces are likely to win the war — two-thirds predict they won't — and if the United States should set a firm timetable to remove troops.

In the days before Petraeus' appearances and President Bush's speech to the nation last week, 60% supported setting a timetable for withdrawal and sticking to it "regardless of what is going on in Iraq at the time."

Now 59% do....

No matter what Bush, Petraeus, and/or Republican right wingers say, Americans want the war over now. Our men and women are dying in Iraq, or returning home with lost limbs, and changed lives. Republican Rep. John Boehner may think that the blood of Americans is a "small price to pay" for Bush's Iraq war, but it is time to bring our military home.

Those members of the House and the Senate who refuse to support a timetable for withdrawal should go on record for the world to see.

Ohio Republicans Out of Touch

>With the death of Republican Rep. Paul Gillmor, some Ohio GOPers are clearing the way for Bob Latta to be the party's nominee in the upcoming special election (BG News). Latta's father once represented the district and now, in keeping with Ohio Republican tradition, Latta will once again run for the seat (even though he lost to Gillmor several years ago by 27 votes).

>Looks like I won't be attending this function (Bucyrus Telegraph Forum):
For tickets, contact any central committee or Republican women member or call 419-562-8922.The annual pork chop barbecue and auction sponsored by the Crawford County Central Committee and the Crawford County Republican Women, will be 5-7 p.m. Saturday at the Crawford County Conservation League, 3477 Ohio 98....
What do you think is the average age of the members? By serving only pork chops, it automatically eliminates certain ethnic groups from joining this group. Isn't that interesting.

>It appears that Republican Rep. John Boehner is still being criticized for his comment that the deaths of Americans is a "small price to pay" for Iraq.

Republican John Boehner

The Horse's Mouth has the video and the text from Republican Rep. John Boehner's appearance on CNN. BLITZER: How much longer will U.S. taxpayers have to shell out $2 billion a week or $3 billion a week as some now are suggesting the cost is going to endure? The loss in blood, the Americans who are killed every month, how much longer do you think this commitment, this military commitment is going to require?

BOEHNER: I think General Petraeus outlined it pretty clearly. We’re making success. We need to firm up those successes. We need to continue our effort here because, Wolf, long term, the investment that we’re making today will be a small price if we’re able to stop al Qaeda here, if we’re able to stabilize the Middle East, it’s not only going to be a small price for the near future, but think about the future for our kids and their kids.

One Task Force Marne Soldier was killed and four were wounded by an improvised explosive device explosion during a dismounted patrol Sept. 14.(1)
But John Boehner said, "It is a small price to pay."

The names of the dead and wounded are being withheld pending notification of the next of kin.
But John Boehner said, "It is a small price to pay."

One hundred and twenty-two members of the Army, Navy, and Marines have died in Iraq of self-inflicted wounds. (2)
But John Boehner said, "It is a small price to pay."

Thirty nine Americans have been killed in Iraq just in the first 16 days of September. (3)
But John Boehner said, "It is a small price to pay."

One hundred and fifty-nine Ohioans have been killed in Iraq.
But John Boehner said, "It is a small price to pay."

One thousand one hundred and forty-seven Ohioans have sustained wounds in Iraq.
But John Boehner said, "It is a small price to pay."

According to ICasualties, 3,781 Americans have been killed in Iraq.
But John Boehner said, "It is a small price to pay."


Call John Boehner's office and let him know that you are offended by his remarks.

Butler County Office 7969 Cincinnati-Dayton Road Suite B West Chester, OH 45069 (513) 779-5400 (513) 779-5315 fax	Miami County Office 12 South Plum Street Troy, OH 45373 (937) 339-1524 (937) 339-1878 fax
Washington, D.C. Office 1011 Longworth H.O.B. Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-6205 (202) 225-0704 fax	Toll-free number Residents of the 8th District of Ohio may use the toll-free number: (800) 582-1001

Rudy and Fred

Rudy Giuliani thinks he is an expert on all things related to terrorism. However, Giuliani skipped all his committee meetings for the Iraq Study Group (ISG) so that he could concentrate making millions and millions of dollars flying around the country on private jets to give speeches to groups. Obviously he didn't care enough to give his time to the ISG.

Here is an excerpt from a CNN report about Giuliani's travel requirements for his speaking engagements:

....Giuliani can command $100,000 for an event. That's how much the Student Speaker's Bureau at Oklahoma State University paid him last March. Plus, another $47,000 for a private jet.

In a contract obtained by CNN, Giuliani's travel requirements were quite specific. The private aircraft must be a Gulfstream IV or bigger. He didn't end up using them, but also requested in the contract were five hotel rooms, including one for Giuliani, that was to be a large two-bedroom nonsmoking suite with a king-size bed on an upper floor with a balcony and view if applicable........

....Years before Giuliani became a candidate, some of his speeches attracted attention, including one to the South Carolina Hospital Association in February 2005. After signing on, the event was changed to a fund-raiser for victims of the tsunami that hit Asia. Giuliani was reportedly paid $100,000 to speak and donated $20,000 of it to charity. A local Republican lawmaker protested.....

I almost forgot. Rudy's third wife, Judi, is a real piece of work. Vanity Fair had the details: ....Around the office of Giuliani Partners, it is said, Sunny Mindel, Giuliani's communications director, spoke of the need for providing an entire plane seat for Judith's "Baby Louis"—a reference to her Louis Vuitton handbag, which sits in solitary splendor on her travels....

Rudy and Judi sound like they deserve each other. Can you imagine those two in the White House???? Heaven forbid!!!!!!!


> Here is a little snippet on Fred Thompson from the New York Times:
...His critics, already pointing to what they call Mr. Thompson’s skimpy Senate record, might find even more ammunition in his campaign schedule. In his second week as an officially declared candidate for the Republican nomination, Mr. Thompson has made a languid three-day swing through Florida ending Saturday with the candidate watching a football game in Gainesville. The pace has kept him on a jumbo air-conditioned bus far more often than he is actually campaigning.

Since Thursday morning, when the tour began, Mr. Thompson has made no more than three campaign stops a day, with long stretches in between. In recent spins through Iowa, he kept a similarly relaxed schedule. Mitt Romney, by comparison, often does six town-hall-style forums a day when in Iowa.....

...Next week, his schedule has no public events at all, limiting his appearances to fund-raisers in Florida, Tennessee and Texas....

You can't really expect Thompson, who is 65, to put in a full workload! (Thompson doesn't look a day over 85!) My gosh, the guy must need plenty of rest to keep up with a young wife and young children.

Fred sounds like the kind of person we don't need for president: too old, too lazy, and afraid to work. We are already suffering with a president who works out twice per day, takes a nap, and is intellectually lazy. We don't need another one.

Noteworthy

The Bush Administration is getting hit from all sides because of its failed policies.
--- Here is a sampling:
Hinessight is quoting Bloomberg.com on some info from former Federal Reserve Chief Alan Greenspan:

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan criticized President George W. Bush for pursuing an economic agenda driven by politics rather than sound policy, with little concern for future consequences.
Soon after Bush took office, Greenspan wrote in a new book, it became evident that the Treasury secretary and White House economists would play secondary roles in decisions on taxes and other issues.....

And the Wall Street Journal has still more on the Greenspan book:
.....In "The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World," published by Penguin Press, Mr. Greenspan criticizes both congressional Republicans and President George W. Bush for abandoning fiscal discipline.....

....Mr. Greenspan, who calls himself a "lifelong libertarian Republican," writes that he advised the White House to veto some bills to curb "out-of-control" spending while the Republicans controlled Congress. He says President Bush's failure to do so "was a major mistake." Republicans in Congress, he writes, "swapped principle for power. They ended up with neither. They deserved to lose."

Many economists say the Fed, by cutting short-term interest rates to 1% in mid-2003 and keeping them there for a year, helped foster a housing bubble that is now bursting....

Isn't it amazing that the Wall Street Journal chooses to run this article on a Saturday when its readership is much lower???

> There is a large Iraq war protest march planned for Washington, DC today. Tens of thousand of people are expected. It will be interesting to see which news networks cover the event.

> Why are Giuliani, McCain, and Romney staying away from a debate at a historically Black college?
The NY Daily News has the story:
.....Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney have all declined to participate in a Sept. 27 debate at Morgan State University, a historically black college in Maryland. Latecomer Fred Thompson still hasn't said yes or no to the debate, which will highlight second-tier GOP hopefuls.

The snubs say the candidates don't care about making a broad appeal to minority voters, charged debate moderator Tavis Smiley, who was slated to go on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" to make his case.

"No one should be elected President of this country in 2008 if they think that along the way they can ignore people of color," Smiley was quoted as saying this week....

Shame on those 3 GOP candidates.

> Rudy Giuliani has spoken out against Hillary Clinton's views on Iraq. However, someone should find out exactly what are Giuliani's views on Iraq. If elected President, how long does Giuliani intend to keep American troops in Iraq??

A Simple Choice

Howard Fineman appeared on MSNBC's Countdown this evening and he basically said that Americans will have a choice in 2008 between the "Stay the Course" Party (the GOP) and the "Withdrawal" Party (the Democrats). The clear distinction should make it easy for Americans. If you'd like to continue Bush's Iraq war for another 10 to 20 years, vote for a Republican. If, however, you think that it is time to withdraw the troops, vote for a Democrat for President. It is a simple choice.