Sunday, October 22, 2006

Bush Family War Profiteering...It's a Family Tradition

This year Fitz will have more justice packages to put under the tree

Begin the countdown to the expiration of the CIA leak case grand jury on November 6 and the November 7 election.

Fitzmas left us wanting last year, with one tiny Scooter Libby indictment, but look for the special prosecutor to have more justice under the tree this year for you and me...Prissy would like it wrapped with a big red bow please, Fitz!

Dubya and Rove must be sweating profusely these days. The only way they can win the upcoming election is if they cheat. The public knows this, so Prissy is really hoping they aren't going to carry through with such a plan. They are marking themselves as investigation targets, and maybe worse, should they try it.

They have spent years perfecting their methods, however, other people have caught onto their dirty tricks. Lot's of other people. People who are much smarter than these traitors ever dreamed of being.

Prissy couldn't help but snicker when Poppy Bush (41) went on TV to say it bothered him when people called his son "dumb." Well, if he learned all that in college, his Alma maters should be challenged.

For Dubya, scamming his own country is as easy as breathing, you could even say it's in his blood- see below. Prescott Bush- nazi connection

Prescott Bush is from Ohio, Prissy is sorry to say.

Hot Links

Le Monde US: world empire of chaos

In Iraq, the second front in the global war against terror, the US occupation has entered its fourth year with no end in sight. This summer’s escalation of violence has destroyed the optimism that followed the death of the local al-Qaida leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and disproved the claim of the US vice-president Dick Cheney that the resistance was in its “last throes”. >

The head of Marine Corps Intelligence in Iraq concluded in a recent secret report that “the prospects for securing Iraq’s western Anbar province are dim and that there is almost nothing the US military can do to improve the political and social situation”. The number of Americans who have been killed in Iraq has surpassed the number who died in the 9/11 attacks (6).

The severity and complexity of the violence are polarising Iraq’s Sunni and Shia, exacerbating tyranny and escalating anti-US feeling as never before. The Baghdad morgue registered over 1,500 deaths in June and 1,855 during July. In August, despite the deployment of 8,000 US and 3,000 Iraqi soldiers in the capital, the morgue reported 1,526 fatalities, an embarrassing contradiction of the US military’s claim of a 52% drop from July’s figures. Now the Ministry of Heath has taken over body count statistics and morgue officials who divulged the figures have been “retired” (7).

Washington’s three-year war has resulted in two unattractive alternatives. If, as expected, the situation deteriorates further, Iraq “will go under” according to the parliamentary speaker, Mahmoud al-Mashhadani. If by some miracle it survives the current deterioration, the quagmire will render Operation Iraqi Freedom an unwinnable war. In either case, the multiplication of organised insurgencies, resistance groups, death squads, criminal gangs and splintering paramilitary groups is complicating counterinsurgency and reconstruction efforts, the interdependent pillars of any success in Iraq.

Crooks and Liars Bill Maher Smacks Around Some NeoCons

The News, Austraila Bush calls summit amid Pentagon exit reports

US President George W.Bush met top military commanders yesterday to consider possible changes to the administration's Iraq strategy, amid reports the Pentagon is drawing up an exit plan and has held secret talks with the insurgents.

The Pentagon is developing a plan that would set target dates for handing control to the Iraqis. US troops would pull back to their bases, leaving military advisers "embedded" with Iraqi security forces.

Sources suggest troops would be concentrated in the most violent areas of Iraq, such as Baghdad. They could be reinforced with soldiers from pacified regions.

US officials also held talks in Amman, Jordan, last week with insurgent leaders, including the Islamic Army in Iraq, one of the main Sunni militias.

BBC Rice: 'N Korea escalating crisis'

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has accused North Korea of wanting to escalate international tensions over its nuclear weapons programme.

She said she doubted claims that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il had agreed not to carry out a second nuclear test, or that he regretted the first.

Her comments follow media reports that Mr Kim made the pledge to Chinese envoy Tang Jiaxuan when he visited Pyongyang.

Ms Rice is in Moscow for talks expected to focus on the North Korea crisis.

The Coalition casualty count is now 2792.

Salon The implosion of Ken Blackwell

At the moment someone -- and we're not saying it was someone in the Blackwell campaign, though it apparently was a Blackwell fan -- is mounting a challenge to Democratic candidate's Ted Strickland's voter registration, charging that Strickland doesn't live where he says he does. And if that's true, then Strickland could potentially be disqualified as an Ohio voter, meaning, under state law, that he would be ineligible to run for governor.

The person who would ultimately be responsible for deciding whether Strickland is eligible to vote, not to mention run?

That would be Ken Blackwell, Ohio secretary of state ... and Republican candidate for governor.

Think Progress Bush: ‘We’ve Never Been Stay The Course’ Don't watch if he angers you!

During an interview today on ABC’s This Week, President Bush tried to distance himself from what has been his core strategy in Iraq for the last three years. George Stephanopoulos asked about James Baker’s plan to develop a strategy for Iraq that is “between ’stay the course’ and ‘cut and run.’”

Bush responded, ‘We’ve never been stay the course, George!’

From Prissy's friend GEF. Help for voters

1. For those voting Absentee Ballot... DON'T FORGET TO MAKE A COPY OF YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT FOR YOUR RECORDS BEFORE YOU MAIL YOUR ORIGINAL IN... IF YOU'RE REALLY SMART YOU CAN HAVE YOUR COPY OF THE ABSENTEE BALLOT NOTARIZED!!

2. Insider Information on Diebold Voting Machines and Voter Fraud! Amazingly, Diebold makes other products such as ATM machines that do dispense paper receipts. They also make cash registers that print receipts to it's customers. People do ask: Why can I get a receipt for my Slurpee but I can't get a receipt for my Vote ?! This proves that Diebold and other e-Voting companies have an agenda.

3. Empowered at the Polls. Voters and especially minority voters are encouraged to bring Handheld Portable Video Cameras or Voice Recorders to film any disenfranchisement or harrasment outside their polling places. Record any problems runarounds to vote or not being allowed to vote. Record Harrasment or discouragement to vote at the polls. If you're internet savvy you can upload your video or audio to google video or youtube. Don't take the law into your own hands. If you feel you've been wronged, contact an attorney!

4. Watch the News for Exit Polling. Exit polling is a method for gauging voter mindset. Keep a lookout for poll issues. quote: An exit poll is a poll of voters taken immediately after they have exited the polling stations. Unlike an opinion poll, which asks who the voter plans to vote for or some similar formulation, an exit poll asks who the voter actually voted for. Pollsters - usually private companies working for newspapers or broadcasters - conduct exit polls to gain an early indication as to how an election has turned out, as in many elections the actual result may take hours or even days to count. -endquote

The current Poll information is pointing towards 74% of Citizens feel that the GOP is out of touch with issues. This gives one a good indication of voting attitudes. As was the case in the 2004 Election, the Actual votes did not match the exit polling. This is a good indication of Voter fraud and there are lawsuits still pending to attest to those allegations.

Telegraph We were 'arrogant and stupid' over Iraq, says US diplomat

Alberto Fernandez, director of public diplomacy at the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, told the Al-Jazeera news channel: "We tried to do our best, but I believe that there is a great room for strong criticism, because - undoubtedly - there was arrogance and stupidity in US (dealing) with Iraq.

"We should practise some humbleness in the question of Iraq. Undoubtedly - and as the United States did acknowledge - there have been many mistakes in the foreign policy in Iraq."

Mr Fernandez added that the US was ready to talk with all factions in Iraq - except for al-Qa'eda - to try to end sectarian bloodshed.

His remarks came in response to a statement read on al-Jazeera allegedly from a representative of the Ba'ath party - the party of Saddam Hussein - offering to negotiate a US withdrawal from Iraq based on "recognition of the resistance ... as the sole representative of the Iraqi people".

Time Exclusive: Feds Probe a Top Democrat's Relationship with AIPAC

The sources tell TIME that the investigation by Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which has simmered out of sight since about the middle of last year, is examining whether Harman and AIPAC arranged for wealthy supporters to lobby House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi on Harman's behalf. Harman said Thursday in a voicemail message that any investigation of — or allegation of improper conduct by — her would be "irresponsible, laughable and scurrilous." On Friday, Washington GOP super lawyer Ted Olson left voicemail messages underscoring that Harman has no knowledge of any investigation. "Congresswoman Harman has asked me to follow up on calls you've had," Olson said. "She is not aware of any such investigation, does not believe that it is occurring, and wanted to make sure that you and your editors knew that as far as she knows, that's not true... . No one from the Justice Department has contacted her." It is not, however, a given that Harman would know that she is under investigation. In a follow-up phone call from California, Olson said Harman hired him this morning because she takes seriously the possibility of a media report about an investigation of her, even though she does not believe it herself.

A spokesman for AIPAC, a powerful Washington-based organization with more than 100,000 members across the U.S., denied any wrongdoing by the group and stressed that it is not taking sides in regards to the committee assignment. Spokespersons for Justice and the FBI declined to comment.

Mercury News More human remains found at ground zero

City officials said that about 15 more pieces of remains had been recovered, bringing the total to nearly 100 this week.

Upset relatives of some Sept. 11 victims called for a federally led new search for remains in and around ground zero after construction workers discovered bones in one manhole excavated as part of work on a transit hub, officials said.

The 80 bones and fragments found earlier this week ranged from a little less than an inch to 12 inches long, said Ellen Borakove, spokeswoman for the city medical examiner's office. The bones possibly include ribs, arms, legs and vertebra, she said.

The active search for the dead ended at the site in 2002 after a massive cleanup of 1.5 million tons of debris. About 20,000 pieces of human remains were found, but the DNA in thousands of those pieces was too damaged by heat, humidity and time to yield matches in the many tests forensic scientists have tried over the years.

Truthdig After Pat’s Birthday By Kevin Tillman

Editor’s note: Kevin Tillman joined the Army with his brother Pat in 2002, and they served together in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pat was killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. Kevin, who was discharged in 2005, has written a powerful, must-read document.

WaPo How Foley Skirted Rules To Pursue Relationships Former Pages Describe Lawmaker's Advances

The messages were innocent at first. But after the young man moved home, he recalled, Foley started asking about "my roommates, if I ever saw them naked." Within months, the congressman was dangling a job offer, "because I was a hot boy," he said. Two years later, when he contacted Foley for advice on D.C. hotels, the congressman wrote back: "You could always stay at my place. I'm always here, I'm always lonely, and I'm always up for oral sex."

The experience of the young man, now 22, who agreed to recount his interactions with Foley on the condition of anonymity, was characteristic of the way the six-term House member pursued the online relationships that, once revealed, forced him to resign from Congress late last month. No one interviewed for this article could cite any instance in which Foley had sex with a former page. Foley's lawyer, David Roth, declined to comment for this story.

And...

Based on the interviews with pages, who spanned most of Foley's dozen years in the House -- and interviews with parents and former program employees -- the congressman's behavior went unchecked because he operated within accepted norms of the program's culture.

CNN Money Skilling's long shot Despite a last-ditch effort to overturn his conviction, former Enron CEO Jeff Skilling could face 20 to 30 years in prison at his sentencing next week.

More than 4,000 Enron employees lost their jobs when the company declared bankruptcy in December 2001. Many of those workers also lost their life savings and investors lost billions of dollars. Under the law, these victims are allowed to voice their grievances during sentencing, although its unlikely that the judge will make any changes to sentencing based on their statements.

Zamansky said Skilling is likely to receive 25 years in prison - identical to former WorldCom CEO Bernie Ebbers's sentence for orchestrating an $11 billion accounting fraud.

And like Ebbers, Zamansky expects Skilling will likely remain out on $5 million bail pending appeal. Attorneys for Skilling already filed a motion to allow Skilling to remain free until an appeals court renders its verdict.

"If someone isn't involved in a violent crime and there's no real concern about risk of flight, a judge may grant a stay," Zamansky said. "But whether he goes in now or three months from now, he's facing a life sentence."

Robbing the ruthless manner these guys used and looking at a life sentence for it, doesn't make them a flight risk?

Threats Watch.org Rice: No Sign of Kim Jong-Il's 'Regret'

While Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice applauded China’s newly active role in reining in the Kim Jong Il regime, primarily economically by freezing the North’s bank accounts, she expressed doubts about reports of North Korea stepping back from the brink of crisis. While reports circulated and were widely repeated Friday that Kim had apologized to Tang Jiaxuan, China’s former foreign minister, and promised not to carry out further tests, the Secretary of State said that Tang told her of no such development in their meetings.

“Tang did not tell me that Kim Jong-Il either apologized for the test or said that he would not ever test again,” Ms. Rice said. She continued, “The Chinese did not, in a fairly thorough briefing to me, say anything about an apology. The North Koreans, I think, would like to see an escalation of the tension.”

Condi, please continue reading and fire your briefer, they don't tell you anything. NY Sun Report: N. Korea 'Sorry' for Nuke Test, Says No More Tests Planned

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korea showed signs Friday it could be backing away from its nuclear showdown with the world, even as it staged a show of domestic support in Pyongyang, where tens of thousands gathered to laud the country's first atomic test.

Coming under united international pressure, Kim Jong Il reportedly apologized for the Oct. 9 nuclear detonation and said he wouldn't test any more bombs.

Reuters Bush faces political nightmare if Democrats win

"In some ways it would be a nightmare for Bush, but in other ways it could be an opportunity," said Norman Ornstein, a congressional scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

Ornstein said Bush, who denounces Democrats as soft on terrorism, could move toward the political center and reach out to Democrats in his final two years in office to overhaul U.S. immigration laws and the Social Security retirement program, two goals he has failed to accomplish.

But Ornstein said that was unlikely. "I've talked to a lot of people who know him well and are really close to him. I have yet to find one who thinks he will change his modus operandi dramatically," he said.

Democrats deny Republican claims they would try to impeach Bush and remove him from office.

Norm seems like a very nice man who never makes waves, which is one reason Prissy doesn't listen to Al Franken. Birds of a feather.

As for dems not attempting to remove Dubya with impeachment? Dubya and Rover really need to stop wiretapping everyone and using it to make those dems heel on command.

More fodder for Bushie nightmares, from Salon magazine.

Federal judge: White House must release or explain Cheney logs A federal judge in Washington has just told the Bush admnistration that it has until the end of next week either to release two years' worth of logs showing who visited Dick Cheney's home and office or to identify the records and explain why they're being withheld. With midterm elections less than three weeks away, anyone want to hazard a guess as to which choice the White House will make?-- Tim Grieve

Update on Sgt. Ricky Clousing by David Swanson (Hello David;-) Ricky Clousing Stands Up for All of Us

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - A Fort Bragg paratrooper who says he left his military base because he disagreed with the U.S. mission in Iraq was sentenced to three months of confinement after pleading guilty Thursday to going absent without leave.

Sgt. Ricky Clousing, 24, of Sumner, Wash., also will receive a reduction in rank and will forfeit two-thirds of his pay during the time of his confinement before getting a bad conduct discharge. His plea allowed him to avoid a more severe sentence for desertion.

Uncle Sam, that was better than Prissy's fears of what the Army would decide to do. However, it is absurd to lock him up for refusing to follow an illegal order.

Toledo Blade Wife of Noe dangled tape of '04 roast; 2 top Democrats spoke with her, attorney

COLUMBUS - In the months leading to her husband's trial on felony charges that he stole from the rare-coin funds he managed for the state of Ohio, Bernadette Noe held out a tantalizing prospect for Democrats.

It was the videotape of Tom Noe's 50th birthday party roast - a tape that could launch 30-second TV attack ads against GOP candidates like so many shells from a cannon.

The event, held Aug. 24, 2004, at the Holland Gardens dining hall as a fund-raiser for the Lucas County Republican Party, starred U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, Gov. Bob Taft, Auditor Betty Montgomery, and Attorney General Jim Petro - all reminiscing about Tom Noe with a blend of humor and seriousness less than a year before scandal erupted.

Cleveland Plain Dealer Blackwell's legacy looming over race for secretary of state

Brunner, a Columbus Democrat, has campaigned relentlessly against the policies of current Secretary Ken Blackwell, who is running for governor, including questioning his officiating of the controversial 2004 presidential vote tally in Ohio.

"What we have not had in the secretary of state's office is a secretary of state who will really act as the chief elections officer," said Brunner, a former county judge. "Things have sort of evolved to where we kind of have this patchwork of elections procedures in the state."

Hartmann, a Cincinnati Republican, is a quieter campaigner who until recently wondered if he would ever get his opponent's attention - though he figures Brunner will regret focusing so much on Blackwell and not him.

"Everywhere we go, she wants to mention Ken Blackwell's name," said Hartmann, the Hamilton County clerk of courts. "That's her whole campaign strategy, talk about how the '04 election was stolen. But I don't think it's going to work for her."

Keep talking Jennifer, Ken will be the one explaining to do in the end. Bushies will throw him under the buss first, when the election mess goes mainstream and Ohioans realize they lost the right for their vote to count.

Quotes of the Day

Some people are born on third base and go through life thinking they hit a triple.-- Barry Switzer

Anger at lies lasts forever. Anger at truth can't last.--Greg Evans, Luann (comic), September 27, 2003

History is moving, and it will tend toward hope, or tend toward tragedy.--George W. Bush (1946 - )

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. --Bible, 1 Timothy 6:10