Richard B. Cheney, will you please go now?

See Dick Lie.

See Men Die.

See Kids Cry.

Don’t Be a Dick.

Though Richard B. Cheney, former Vice President of the United States and complete Dickhead, continues to be the second best recruiting tool the Democrats every had, he’s fast becoming a pariah among his fellow Republicans.  As reported by The Hill.com:

Rep. John Duncan Jr. (R-Tenn.) said, “He became so unpopular while he was in the White House that it would probably be better for us politically if he wouldn’t be so public…But he has the right to speak out since he’s a private citizen.”

Another House Republican lawmaker who requested anonymity said he wasn’t surprised that Cheney has strongly criticized Obama early in his term, but argued that it’s not helping the GOP cause.

He’s not doing the country any good, either.  He should go back to Hell where he came from and leave the country to sort out the mess he and Bush made.

Thought for the day

Talking to Republicans about fiscal policy is like asking Larry Flynt about morality.

The following are irrelevant.

This will come as a shock to some people, but what follows is a list of what I consider political “non-starters” this year. They are issues that are either peripheral to the main discussion, or are dangerous distractions from the real problems that we face as a nation. They are in no particular order, since placing a list of national non-priorities in a hierarchy was nearly impossible. So sit back and prepare to be offended.

• Gay Marriage. Politicians and pundits who bloviate endlessly about this are wasting both time and air. The Republicans and their cronies in the Fundy-Wacko community would love to believe that this is the biggest threat to morality and virtue since the last biggest threat, but in reality it’s a blip on the radar scope. Does it really matter, cosmically speaking, if Peggy wants to marry Sue and Joe and Steve want something more than a “civil union”? No. Does the fate of our nation hinge on preventing such unions from occurring? No. Does it affect my marriage and my children? No. There is an inherent biological component to homosexuality, and being exposed to it does not increase your chances of “becoming gay.” You either are, or you’re not.
• Abortion. Make no mistake about this – I am personally opposed to the practice of abortion, especially the vicious and despicable method of performing late-term abortions commonly known as “partial birth”. I would like nothing more than to see this procedure outlawed, and soon. However, at present, the debate has been stifled by the shouting of bigots and hatemongers on both sides. The extreme left would love to overlook the fact that abortion does, in fact, destroy a human life, and often leaves the (former) parents grieving and in psychological trauma as a result. The extreme right has been desperately trying to ignore the fact that it’s been their policies of “smaller government, less regulation” that have led to wage stagnation, rising costs of living, and people being so desperate that when faced with the expense of a child, abortion seems a more viable option. It’s time to move past the rancour and try to reach some middle ground. It’s the law of the land, so we might as well accept it. Oh, and if it’s going to be an accepted medical procedure, let’s try treating the clinics that perform it like hospitals. Regular inspections of their facilities and medical documentation would be a good start.
• Illegal Immigration. This relative non-issue has been made into a hot-button topic by racists and bloody-minded right wingers across the country looking for someone to blame for problems we’ve pretty much created for ourselves. The real problem isn’t that illegal immigrants are coming across the borders and “taking American jobs”, and it isn’t that terrorists could sneak into the country and pose as plantation workers. Illegal immigration has been a fact of American life for decades, and will continue to be so whether we ignore it, or build a fence, wall, force field, or whatever. Walls won’t keep people out, and it’ll only be a huge waste of money and effort if we build one. No, the main reason our economy is in the shitter is not because of illegal immigrants – it’s because of the unethical and frankly despicable behavior of American corporations that have shipped America’s manufacturing base overseas in the quest for cheaper labor and less regulation. It’s not Jose’s fault you lost your job last year – it’s Joe the CEO’s fault. But it’s easier to blame the brown-skinned person, so that’s what the right-wing wacko racists want you to do.
• Taxes. Once again, it’s time for a reality check. Every year, we get to hear from the usual suspects that the reason the American middle class can’t get ahead is because taxes are too high. Meanwhile, since Bush’s last round of tax cuts, the rich have increased their share of the national wealth from merely stratospheric to astronomical, while middle class wages have actually declined. Check out Robert Reich’s column from yesterday’s New York Times. Anyone who hasn’t felt the effects of rising costs of living and stagnant wages is either rich or not paying attention. So take taxes out of the picture. Americans, in fact, pay the lowest taxation rates of any industrialized nation, and it shows. Our government currently is having to borrow money just to make operating expenses, and has recently voted a stimulus package of hundreds of billions of money from God-knows-where. The dollar is sliding down the toilet compared to other currencies, if this is any indicator. And our government fiddles while Rome burns. What we need is higher taxes, on the upper levels of income.
• The Stimulus Package. So our elected (and one selected) officials finally woke up to the fact that the economy is in deep shit. Good for them. But as I’ve said before, putting $1200 in the pockets of the average American family and hoping it’ll “turn the economy around”, when the real problem is that the family in question isn’t paid enough to live on in the first place, won’t solve the problem. This is irrelevant, pointless, and mostly a waste of time. After all that money’s been spent, or more likely, put in the bank for later, the economy will continue its inexorable slide into oblivion. It took 30 years of Ayn Rand-style cutthroat capitalism to get us in this mess, it’s not gonna be solved overnight. Besides, trusting the lot currently occupying Washington to fix the economy is like finding out the guy that just wrecked your car is also a mechanic, and then taking it to him to get it fixed.
• Ronald Reagan. Why is every Republican candidate trying to run as the next Ronald Reagan? Is it because he was truly a great president, the apotheosis of conservative ideals, or is it because their own merits and abilities are so meager and uninspiring that anyone else looks great in comparison? Please, guys. Reagan was an adequate president. If you can’t run on your own ideas, stay out of the race. Reagan is dead, and good riddance. Try, just once, to be yourselves for a change.
• Bill Clinton. I’m trying to be even-handed here. Yes, Bill Clinton is irrelevant. It’s eight years since his administration sailed into the sunset, and the left still can’t let go of him. Fortunately there’s only one candidate running as the next Bill Clinton. Unfortunately, it’s his wife. She gets the same note that I just sent out to the Republicans – if you can’t run on your own merits, stay the fuck home. Clinton was a mediocre president who got lucky (in more ways than one). He was not a military genius, but he did learn to respect the military he commanded. That’s something Bush II has never learned yet. Besides that, he did commit perjury in front of a grand jury. Granted, it was about an illicit sexual affair with an intern. But perjury is perjury, whether it’s about sex, lies, or videotape. So the impeachment, however frivolous, was well-earned. Oh, and to all you Clinton defenders who keep saying “how could he have” about the intern in question – Monica Lewinsky was a babe then, and she’s a babe now. Get over it.
• George Walker Bush. Well, this pretty much goes without saying. The best we can hope for is that he fades ignominiously into the dustbin of history. Sadly, the messes he’ll leave behind will take years, maybe even decades, to clean up. America, I hope you’ve learned your lesson.
• Republicans. Pasty-faced, rich, middle aged white men are so out this year. GOP, prepare to be PWNED.

Well, that’s all for now. I’m sure there are a lot of other non-issues to discuss, but I honestly don’t feel like it at the moment.

Bush’s Final Address – a WTF Analysis

Like any good, concerned American, I watched the President’s final State of the Union Pack of Lies Address last night. Unlike most, however, I played a “President Bush Drinking Game” to make it more entertaining and easier to swallow. The beer, however, did not prevent me from paying attention to what was being said (and, of course, what wasn’t). I also gave up on it about halfway through, because in his case, beer is the only thing that can help you swallow the Bushit, and also because I ran out of beer and it quickly became too complicated for a proper drinking game.

The rules started out simply enough:

• Every time the President gets applause from the Republicans, take a drink.
• Every time the President gets applause from the Democrats, take two.
• Any time he tells a lie, misrepresents his intentions, or distorts the facts of the results of one of his policies, take a drink (that’s why I ran out of beer)
• If he ever tells the truth about anything, finish the bottle (never happened)
• Every time he says the word “nuke-yoo-ler”, take a drink.

And so forth. Before long there were too many rules to keep up with, and it was easier just to drink the beer.

But at any rate, the game didn’t prevent me from shouting at the television and providing my own on-the spot analysis of the lying, spin-doctoring, weasely claptrap being spewed. Without further ado, here’s my paragraph-by-paragraph “WTF?” take on Bush’s Last Dance:

THE PRESIDENT: Madam Speaker, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens: Seven years have passed since I first stood before you at this rostrum. In that time, our country has been tested in ways none of us could have imagined. We faced hard decisions about peace and war, rising competition in the world economy, and the health and welfare of our citizens. These issues call for vigorous debate, and I think it’s fair to say we’ve answered the call. Yet history will record that amid our differences, we acted with purpose. And together, we showed the world the power and resilience of American self-government.

Thank you for bowing to my every whim. Good doggies! Here’s a biscuit.

All of us were sent to Washington to carry out the people’s business. That is the purpose of this body. It is the meaning of our oath. It remains our charge to keep.

Unless the people want health care, good wages, corporations with a sense of responsibility, etc… in that case they can, as Dick Cheney said, “Go fuck themselves.”

The actions of the 110th Congress will affect the security and prosperity of our nation long after this session has ended. In this election year, let us show our fellow Americans that we recognize our responsibilities and are determined to meet them. Let us show them that Republicans and Democrats can compete for votes and cooperate for results at the same time. (Applause.)

Thanks again for being good little lapdogs. Now keep it up so my party can win this November.

From expanding opportunity to protecting our country, we’ve made good progress. Yet we have unfinished business before us, and the American people expect us to get it done.

I’ve fucked things up royally, but after this year it’s not my problem any more.

In the work ahead, we must be guided by the philosophy that made our nation great. As Americans, we believe in the power of individuals to determine their destiny and shape the course of history. We believe that the most reliable guide for our country is the collective wisdom of ordinary citizens. And so in all we do, we must trust in the ability of free peoples to make wise decisions, and empower them to improve their lives for their futures.

Who am I talking about again?

To build a prosperous future, we must trust people with their own money and empower them to grow our economy. As we meet tonight, our economy is undergoing a period of uncertainty. America has added jobs for a record 52 straight months, but jobs are now growing at a slower pace. Wages are up, but so are prices for food and gas. Exports are rising, but the housing market has declined. At kitchen tables across our country, there is a concern about our economic future.

2 million foreclosures, unemployment at a 10-year high, and the economy in the shitter, and he calls it “uncertainty”? What fucking world does he live in?

Wages are not up, either. Check out this chart:

THE LEGACY OF GEORGE W. BUSH’S PRESIDENCY

In the long run, Americans can be confident about our economic growth. But in the short run, we can all see that that growth is slowing. So last week, my administration reached agreement with Speaker Pelosi and Republican Leader Boehner on a robust growth package that includes tax relief for individuals and families and incentives for business investment. The temptation will be to load up the bill. That would delay it or derail it, and neither option is acceptable. (Applause.) My way or the highway, baby. This is a good agreement that will keep our economy growing and our people working. And this Congress must pass it as soon as possible. (Applause.) Or else. And tomorrow, I will issue an executive order that directs federal agencies to ignore any future earmark that is not voted on by Congress. If these items are truly worth funding, Congress should debate them in the open and hold a public vote. (Applause.)

WTF? The man who has repeatedly abused “signing statements” to ignore laws passed by Congress is now concerned about earmarks? Gimme a break!

Our shared responsibilities extend beyond matters of taxes and spending. On housing, we must trust Americans with the responsibility of homeownership and empower them to weather turbulent times in the housing market. My administration brought together the HOPE NOW alliance, which is helping many struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure. And Congress can help even more. Tonight I ask you to pass legislation to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, modernize the Federal Housing Administration, and allow state housing agencies to issue tax-free bonds to help homeowners refinance their mortgages. (Applause.) These are difficult times for many American families, and by taking these steps, we can help more of them keep their homes.

Maybe this will work. I doubt it. With this guy, it’s always “too little, too late.” Millions of Americans have already lost their homes, and millions more will follow before this can possibly have any effect.

Besides, the Republicans will likely load it up with “earmarks”, which Bush will conveniently ignore.

To build a future of quality health care, we must trust patients and doctors to make medical decisions and empower them with better information and better options. We share a common goal: making health care more affordable and accessible for all Americans. (Applause.) The best way to achieve that goal is by expanding consumer choice, not government control. (Applause.) So I have proposed ending the bias in the tax code against those who do not get their health insurance through their employer. This one reform would put private coverage within reach for millions, and I call on the Congress to pass it this year. (Applause.)

He’ll do and say anything to avoid building a single-payer system like every other industrialized country has. You know, a system that works.

The Congress must also expand health savings accounts, create Association Health Plans for small businesses, promote health information technology, and confront the epidemic of junk medical lawsuits. (Applause.) With all these steps, we will help ensure that decisions about your medical care are made in the privacy of your doctor’s office — not in the halls of Congress. (Applause.)

“In your doctors office” – that’d be a refreshing change, since at the moment they’re made in corporate boardrooms miles away from any hospital, by people completely unqualified to make those decisions.

On education, we must trust students to learn if given the chance, and empower parents to demand results from our schools. In neighborhoods across our country, there are boys and girls with dreams — and a decent education is their only hope of achieving them.

Six years ago, we came together to pass the No Child Left Behind Act, and today no one can deny its results. Last year, fourth and eighth graders achieved the highest math scores on record. Reading scores are on the rise. African American and Hispanic students posted all-time highs. (Applause.) Now we must work together to increase accountability, add flexibility for states and districts, reduce the number of high school dropouts, provide extra help for struggling schools.

Members of Congress: The No Child Left Behind Act is a bipartisan achievement. It is succeeding. And we owe it to America’s children, their parents, and their teachers to strengthen this good law. (Applause.)

NCLB is a complete failure, like everything else this man has done. What self-congratulatory, egoistic bullshit!

We must also do more to help children when their schools do not measure up. Thanks to the D.C. Opportunity Scholarships you approved, more than 2,600 of the poorest children in our Nation’s Capital have found new hope at a faith-based or other non-public school. Sadly, these schools are disappearing at an alarming rate in many of America’s inner cities. So I will convene a White House summit aimed at strengthening these lifelines of learning. And to open the doors of these schools to more children, I ask you to support a new $300 million program called Pell Grants for Kids. We have seen how Pell Grants help low-income college students realize their full potential. Together, we’ve expanded the size and reach of these grants. Now let us apply that same spirit to help liberate poor children trapped in failing public schools. (Applause.)

I thought Republicans were the party of smaller government and fewer government programs. WTF? And if NCLB is such a smashing success, why are children still “trapped in failing public schools?” My brain hurts…

On trade, we must trust American workers to compete with anyone in the world and empower them by opening up new markets overseas. Today, our economic growth increasingly depends on our ability to sell American goods and crops and services all over the world. So we’re working to break down barriers to trade and investment wherever we can. We’re working for a successful Doha Round of trade talks, and we must complete a good agreement this year. At the same time, we’re pursuing opportunities to open up new markets by passing free trade agreements.

So the answer to rising unemployment is to create trade agreements that will ship more jobs overseas. Brilliant!

I thank the Congress for approving a good agreement with Peru. And now I ask you to approve agreements with Colombia and Panama and South Korea. (Applause.) Many products from these nations now enter America duty-free, yet many of our products face steep tariffs in their markets. These agreements will level the playing field. They will give us better access to nearly 100 million customers. They will support good jobs for the finest workers in the world: those whose products say “Made in the USA.” (Applause.)

These agreements also promote America’s strategic interests. The first agreement that will come before you is with Colombia, a friend of America that is confronting violence and terror, and fighting drug traffickers. If we fail to pass this agreement, we will embolden the purveyors of false populism in our hemisphere. So we must come together, pass this agreement, and show our neighbors in the region that democracy leads to a better life. (Applause.)

Trade brings better jobs and better choices and better prices. Yet for some Americans, trade can mean losing a job, and the federal government has a responsibility to help. (Applause.) I ask Congress to reauthorize and reform trade adjustment assistance, so we can help these displaced workers learn new skills and find new jobs. (Applause.)

If you’ve lost your job due to our misguided policies, we have an answer to your problems – start over again at the bottom!

To build a future of energy security, we must trust in the creative genius of American researchers and entrepreneurs and empower them to pioneer a new generation of clean energy technology. (Applause.) Our security, our prosperity, and our environment all require reducing our dependence on oil. Last year, I asked you to pass legislation to reduce oil consumption over the next decade, and you responded. Together we should take the next steps: Let us fund new technologies that can generate coal power while capturing carbon emissions. (Applause.) Let us increase the use of renewable power and emissions-free nuclear power. (Applause.) Let us continue investing in advanced battery technology and renewable fuels to power the cars and trucks of the future. (Applause.) Let us create a new international clean technology fund, which will help developing nations like India and China make greater use of clean energy sources. And let us complete an international agreement that has the potential to slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases. (Applause.)

Finally, something I can agree with. Now if only I thought he was serious. The only people who are truly better off after 7 years of this idiot are the oil companies. Does anyone really think they’ll let anything get between them and the obscene profits they’re reaping with $100/bbl oil?

This agreement will be effective only if it includes commitments by every major economy and gives none a free ride. (Applause.) Except the oil companies. The United States is committed to strengthening our energy security and confronting global climate change. And the best way to meet these goals is for America to continue leading the way toward the development of cleaner and more energy-efficient technology. (Applause.)

Energy security and confronting climate change – does anyone else think he’s serious about this? Didn’t think so. You can just about see the smug smirk trying to get out when he utters these lines.

To keep America competitive into the future, we must trust in the skill of our scientists and engineers and empower them to pursue the breakthroughs of tomorrow. Last year, Congress passed legislation supporting the American Competitiveness Initiative, but never followed through with the funding. This funding is essential to keeping our scientific edge. So I ask Congress to double federal support for critical basic research in the physical sciences and ensure America remains the most dynamic nation on Earth. (Applause.)

“Remains”? Thanks to seven years of anti-science attitudes at the top, America has lost its scientific edge. Besides, why does he keep bringing up these massive government programs? I though he was against government interference. And maybe if taxes had been kept at a reasonable level instead of being slashed at the top, we’d have enough money in the coffers to fund these pet projects. If the “American Competitiveness Initiative wasn’t funded, maybe it’s because there wasn’t any money to fund it with.

On matters of life and science, we must trust in the innovative spirit of medical researchers and empower them to discover new treatments while respecting moral boundaries. In November, we witnessed a landmark achievement when scientists discovered a way to reprogram adult skin cells to act like embryonic stem cells. This breakthrough has the potential to move us beyond the divisive debates of the past by extending the frontiers of medicine without the destruction of human life. (Applause.)

I’d like to see more research in this area. I’m not hopeful, though. The Republicans have done more to hamstring science in the last 30 years than to help it, and their idea of ethics is twisted to say the least. Besides, after killing and maiming over 44000 Americans in 6 years, when did Bush become concerned about human life? Hypocrite.

So we’re expanding funding for this type of ethical medical research. And as we explore promising avenues of research, we must also ensure that all life is treated with the dignity it deserves. And so I call on Congress to pass legislation that bans unethical practices such as the buying, selling, patenting, or cloning of human life. (Applause.)

We must act now to take a clear stance against science fiction!

On matters of justice, we must trust in the wisdom of our founders and empower judges who understand that the Constitution means what it says. (Applause.) If I thought he’d actually read the document, I’d be more impressed. I’ve submitted judicial nominees who will rule by the letter of the law, not the whim of the gavel. Many of these nominees are being unfairly delayed. They are worthy of confirmation, and the Senate should give each of them a prompt up-or-down vote. (Applause.)

One man’s letter is another man’s whim. He wants to replace liberal activist judges with conservative activist judges.

In communities across our land, we must trust in the good heart of the American people and empower them to serve their neighbors in need. Over the past seven years, more of our fellow citizens have discovered that the pursuit of happiness leads to the path of service. Americans have volunteered in record numbers. Charitable donations are higher than ever. Faith-based groups are bringing hope to pockets of despair, with newfound support from the federal government. And to help guarantee equal treatment of faith-based organizations when they compete for federal funds, I ask you to permanently extend Charitable Choice. (Applause.)

They have to, because the government can’t meet its own operating expenses, and FEMA’s been broke-dick since Dumbya took over.

Tonight the armies of compassion continue the march to a new day in the Gulf Coast. America honors the strength and resilience of the people of this region. We reaffirm our pledge to help them build stronger and better than before. And tonight I’m pleased to announce that in April we will host this year’s North American Summit of Canada, Mexico, and the United States in the great city of New Orleans. (Applause.)

What’s left of it.

There are two other pressing challenges that I’ve raised repeatedly before this body, and that this body has failed to address: entitlement spending and immigration. Every member in this chamber knows that spending on entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid is growing faster than we can afford. We all know the painful choices ahead if America stays on this path: massive tax increases, sudden and drastic cuts in benefits, or crippling deficits. I’ve laid out proposals to reform these programs. Now I ask members of Congress to offer your proposals and come up with a bipartisan solution to save these vital programs for our children and our grandchildren. (Applause.)

All conveniently ignoring the fact that most people would be willing to pay higher taxes if they would get better services in return for it. Taxes aren’t the essence of evil Bush and his cronies make them out to be. They’re the price of living in a civilized society.

The other pressing challenge is immigration. America needs to secure our borders — and with your help, my administration is taking steps to do so. We’re increasing worksite enforcement, deploying fences and advanced technologies to stop illegal crossings. We’ve effectively ended the policy of “catch and release” at the border, and by the end of this year, we will have doubled the number of border patrol agents. Yet we also need to acknowledge that we will never fully secure our border until we create a lawful way for foreign workers to come here and support our economy. (Applause.) This will take pressure off the border and allow law enforcement to concentrate on those who mean us harm. We must also find a sensible and humane way to deal with people here illegally. Illegal immigration is complicated, but it can be resolved. And it must be resolved in a way that upholds both our laws and our highest ideals. (Applause.)

Another Republican bugbear. Racists and bigots have been bitching about immigrants taking American jobs for 100 years. It’s no more true now than it was then. The real problem is corporate outsourcing and downsizing.

This is the business of our nation here at home. Yet building a prosperous future for our citizens also depends on confronting enemies abroad and advancing liberty in troubled regions of the world.

Our foreign policy is based on a clear premise: We trust that people, when given the chance, will choose a future of freedom and peace. In the last seven years, we have witnessed stirring moments in the history of liberty. We’ve seen citizens in Georgia and Ukraine stand up for their right to free and fair elections. We’ve seen people in Lebanon take to the streets to demand their independence. We’ve seen Afghans emerge from the tyranny of the Taliban and choose a new president and a new parliament. We’ve seen jubilant Iraqis holding up ink-stained fingers and celebrating their freedom. These images of liberty have inspired us. (Applause.)

He likes it when people of other countries demand freedom and democracy, but not when Americans do the same. Interesting.

In the past seven years, we’ve also seen images that have sobered us. We’ve watched throngs of mourners in Lebanon and Pakistan carrying the caskets of beloved leaders taken by the assassin’s hand. We’ve seen wedding guests in blood-soaked finery staggering from a hotel in Jordan, Afghans and Iraqis blown up in mosques and markets, and trains in London and Madrid ripped apart by bombs. On a clear September day, we saw thousands of our fellow citizens taken from us in an instant. These horrific images serve as a grim reminder: The advance of liberty is opposed by terrorists and extremists — evil men who despise freedom, despise America, and aim to subject millions to their violent rule.

Since 9/11, we have taken the fight to these terrorists and extremists. We will stay on the offense, we will keep up the pressure, and we will deliver justice to our enemies. (Applause.)

I don’t know how he expects to do that, with the military broken and overstretched, and the government bankrupted by wars it can’t win and useless projects it doesn’t need.

We are engaged in the defining ideological struggle of the 21st century. The terrorists oppose every principle of humanity and decency that we hold dear. Yet in this war on terror, there is one thing we and our enemies agree on: In the long run, men and women who are free to determine their own destinies will reject terror and refuse to live in tyranny. And that is why the terrorists are fighting to deny this choice to the people in Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Palestinian Territories. And that is why, for the security of America and the peace of the world, we are spreading the hope of freedom. (Applause.)

We’re spreading the hope of freedom, not actual freedom. Notice the wordplay here?

In Afghanistan, America, our 25 NATO allies, and 15 partner nations are helping the Afghan people defend their freedom and rebuild their country. Thanks to the courage of these military and civilian personnel, a nation that was once a safe haven for al Qaeda is now a young democracy where boys and girls are going to school, new roads and hospitals are being built, and people are looking to the future with new hope. These successes must continue, so we’re adding 3,200 Marines to our forces in Afghanistan, where they will fight the terrorists and train the Afghan Army and police. Defeating the Taliban and al Qaeda is critical to our security, and I thank the Congress for supporting America’s vital mission in Afghanistan. (Applause.)

Of course, by invading Afghanistan and Iraq, we’ve created a permanent enemy, thereby creating a permanent need for war, etc. etc… Nice vicious circle, Georgie boy.

In Iraq, the terrorists and extremists are fighting to deny a proud people their liberty, and fighting to establish safe havens for attacks across the world. One year ago, our enemies were succeeding in their efforts to plunge Iraq into chaos. So we reviewed our strategy and changed course. We launched a surge of American forces into Iraq. We gave our troops a new mission: Work with the Iraqi forces to protect the Iraqi people, pursue the enemy in its strongholds, and deny the terrorists sanctuary anywhere in the country.

The Iraqi people quickly realized that something dramatic had happened. Those who had worried that America was preparing to abandon them instead saw tens of thousands of American forces flowing into their country. They saw our forces moving into neighborhoods, clearing out the terrorists, and staying behind to ensure the enemy did not return. And they saw our troops, along with Provincial Reconstruction Teams that include Foreign Service officers and other skilled public servants, coming in to ensure that improved security was followed by improvements in daily life. Our military and civilians in Iraq are performing with courage and distinction, and they have the gratitude of our whole nation. (Applause.)

The Iraqis launched a surge of their own. In the fall of 2006, Sunni tribal leaders grew tired of al Qaeda’s brutality and started a popular uprising called “The Anbar Awakening.” Over the past year, similar movements have spread across the country. And today, the grassroots surge includes more than 80,000 Iraqi citizens who are fighting the terrorists. The government in Baghdad has stepped forward, as well — adding more than 100,000 new Iraqi soldiers and police during the past year.

While the enemy is still dangerous and more work remains, the American and Iraqi surges have achieved results few of us could have imagined just one year ago. (Applause.) When we met last year, many said that containing the violence was impossible. A year later, high profile terrorist attacks are down, civilian deaths are down, sectarian killings are down.

When we met last year, militia extremists — some armed and trained by Iran — were wreaking havoc in large areas of Iraq. A year later, coalition and Iraqi forces have killed or captured hundreds of militia fighters. And Iraqis of all backgrounds increasingly realize that defeating these militia fighters is critical to the future of their country.

When we met last year, al Qaeda had sanctuaries in many areas of Iraq, and their leaders had just offered American forces safe passage out of the country. Today, it is al Qaeda that is searching for safe passage. They have been driven from many of the strongholds they once held, and over the past year, we’ve captured or killed thousands of extremists in Iraq, including hundreds of key al Qaeda leaders and operatives.

Al Qaeda wouldn’t be in Iraq if we hadn’t invaded in the first place.

Last month, Osama bin Laden released a tape in which he railed against Iraqi tribal leaders who have turned on al Qaeda and admitted that coalition forces are growing stronger in Iraq. Ladies and gentlemen, some may deny the surge is working, but among the terrorists there is no doubt. Al Qaeda is on the run in Iraq, and this enemy will be defeated. (Applause.)

I don’t remember seeing this. There was a tape released, but bin Laden wasn’t very specific on much of anything. Bush must have seen the VH1 “Behind the Terrorism” uncut special.

When we met last year, our troop levels in Iraq were on the rise. Today, because of the progress just described, we are implementing a policy of “return on success,” and the surge forces we sent to Iraq are beginning to come home.

This progress is a credit to the valor of our troops and the brilliance of their commanders. This evening, I want to speak directly to our men and women on the front lines. Soldiers and sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen: In the past year, you have done everything we’ve asked of you, and more. Our nation is grateful for your courage. We are proud of your accomplishments. And tonight in this hallowed chamber, with the American people as our witness, we make you a solemn pledge: In the fight ahead, you will have all you need to protect our nation. (Applause.) And I ask Congress to meet its responsibilities to these brave men and women by fully funding our troops. (Applause.)

Our enemies in Iraq have been hit hard. They are not yet defeated, and we can still expect tough fighting ahead. Our objective in the coming year is to sustain and build on the gains we made in 2007, while transitioning to the next phase of our strategy. American troops are shifting from leading operations, to partnering with Iraqi forces, and, eventually, to a protective overwatch mission. As part of this transition, one Army brigade combat team and one Marine Expeditionary Unit have already come home and will not be replaced. In the coming months, four additional brigades and two Marine battalions will follow suit. Taken together, this means more than 20,000 of our troops are coming home. (Applause.)

Any further drawdown of U.S. troops will be based on conditions in Iraq and the recommendations of our commanders. General Petraeus has warned that too fast a drawdown could result in the “disintegration of the Iraqi security forces, al Qaeda-Iraq regaining lost ground, [and] a marked increase in violence.” Members of Congress: Having come so far and achieved so much, we must not allow this to happen. (Applause.)

In the coming year, we will work with Iraqi leaders as they build on the progress they’re making toward political reconciliation. At the local level, Sunnis, Shia, and Kurds are beginning to come together to reclaim their communities and rebuild their lives. Progress in the provinces must be matched by progress in Baghdad. (Applause.) We’re seeing some encouraging signs. The national government is sharing oil revenues with the provinces. The parliament recently passed both a pension law and de-Baathification reform. They’re now debating a provincial powers law. The Iraqis still have a distance to travel. But after decades of dictatorship and the pain of sectarian violence, reconciliation is taking place — and the Iraqi people are taking control of their future. (Applause.)

The mission in Iraq has been difficult and trying for our nation. But it is in the vital interest of the United States that we succeed. A free Iraq will deny al Qaeda a safe haven. A free Iraq will show millions across the Middle East that a future of liberty is possible. A free Iraq will be a friend of America, a partner in fighting terror, and a source of stability in a dangerous part of the world.

By contrast, a failed Iraq would embolden the extremists, strengthen Iran, and give terrorists a base from which to launch new attacks on our friends, our allies, and our homeland. The enemy has made its intentions clear. At a time when the momentum seemed to favor them, al Qaida’s top commander in Iraq declared that they will not rest until they have attacked us here in Washington. My fellow Americans: We will not rest either. We will not rest until this enemy has been defeated. (Applause.) We must do the difficult work today, so that years from now people will look back and say that this generation rose to the moment, prevailed in a tough fight, and left behind a more hopeful region and a safer America. (Applause.)

We’re also standing against the forces of extremism in the Holy Land, where we have new cause for hope. Palestinians have elected a president who recognizes that confronting terror is essential to achieving a state where his people can live in dignity and at peace with Israel. Israelis have leaders who recognize that a peaceful, democratic Palestinian state will be a source of lasting security. This month in Ramallah and Jerusalem, I assured leaders from both sides that America will do, and I will do, everything we can to help them achieve a peace agreement that defines a Palestinian state by the end of this year. The time has come for a Holy Land where a democratic Israel and a democratic Palestine live side-by-side in peace. (Applause.)

We’re also standing against the forces of extremism embodied by the regime in Tehran. Iran’s rulers oppress a good and talented people. And wherever freedom advances in the Middle East, it seems the Iranian regime is there to oppose it. Iran is funding and training militia groups in Iraq, supporting Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon, and backing Hamas’ efforts to undermine peace in the Holy Land. Tehran is also developing ballistic missiles of increasing range, and continues to develop its capability to enrich uranium, which could be used to create a nuclear weapon.

Our message to the people of Iran is clear: We have no quarrel with you. We respect your traditions and your history. We look forward to the day when you have your freedom. Our message to the leaders of Iran is also clear: Verifiably suspend your nuclear enrichment, so negotiations can begin. And to rejoin the community of nations, come clean about your nuclear intentions and past actions, stop your oppression at home, cease your support for terror abroad. But above all, know this: America will confront those who threaten our troops. We will stand by our allies, and we will defend our vital interests in the Persian Gulf. (Applause.)

Once again, Bush reveals his complete ignorance of the Muslim world. The last thing the people of Iran need is our help. Haven’t we done enough damage over there already? Besides, the “we have no quarrel with you” argument kind of loses its force once bombs start falling on houses and children end up in hospitals with limbs blown off.

On the home front, we will continue to take every lawful and effective measure to protect our country. This is our most solemn duty. We are grateful that there has not been another attack on our soil since 9/11. This is not for the lack of desire or effort on the part of the enemy. In the past six years, we’ve stopped numerous attacks, including a plot to fly a plane into the tallest building in Los Angeles and another to blow up passenger jets bound for America over the Atlantic. Dedicated men and women in our government toil day and night to stop the terrorists from carrying out their plans. These good citizens are saving American lives, and everyone in this chamber owes them our thanks. (Applause.)

Prove it, George. Show us the intelligence. And calling torture “lawful” doesn’t make it right.

And we owe them something more: We owe them the tools they need to keep our people safe. And one of the most important tools we can give them is the ability to monitor terrorist communications. To protect America, we need to know who the terrorists are talking to, what they are saying, and what they’re planning. Last year, Congress passed legislation to help us do that. Unfortunately, Congress set the legislation to expire on February the 1st. That means if you don’t act by Friday, our ability to track terrorist threats would be weakened and our citizens will be in greater danger. Congress must ensure the flow of vital intelligence is not disrupted. Congress must pass liability protection for companies believed to have assisted in the efforts to defend America. We’ve had ample time for debate. The time to act is now. (Applause.)

Message to America: Keep letting us spy on you or YOU WILL DIE! Who’s the terrorist now? Tyrants and dictators have relied on this tactic to secure power for themselves for centuries, and Bush is no different.

Protecting our nation from the dangers of a new century requires more than good intelligence and a strong military. It also requires changing the conditions that breed resentment and allow extremists to prey on despair. So America is using its influence to build a freer, more hopeful, and more compassionate world. This is a reflection of our national interest; it is the calling of our conscience.

Yeah, right. Whatever. Dropping bombs on children always has that effect – a freer, more hopeful, and more compassionate world.

America opposes genocide in Sudan. (Applause.) We support freedom in countries from Cuba and Zimbabwe to Belarus and Burma. (Applause.)

Blah blah blah.

America is leading the fight against global poverty, with strong education initiatives and humanitarian assistance. We’ve also changed the way we deliver aid by launching the Millennium Challenge Account. This program strengthens democracy, transparency, and the rule of law in developing nations, and I ask you to fully fund this important initiative. (Applause.)

Blah blah blah.

America is leading the fight against global hunger. Today, more than half the world’s food aid comes from the United States. And tonight, I ask Congress to support an innovative proposal to provide food assistance by purchasing crops directly from farmers in the developing world, so we can build up local agriculture and help break the cycle of famine. (Applause.)

Blah blah blah.

America is leading the fight against disease. With your help, we’re working to cut by half the number of malaria-related deaths in 15 African nations. And our Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is treating 1.4 million people. We can bring healing and hope to many more. So I ask you to maintain the principles that have changed behavior and made this program a success. And I call on you to double our initial commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS by approving an additional $30 billion over the next five years. (Applause.)

Blah blah blah.

America is a force for hope in the world because we are a compassionate people, and some of the most compassionate Americans are those who have stepped forward to protect us. We must keep faith with all who have risked life and limb so that we might live in freedom and peace. Over the past seven years, we’ve increased funding for veterans by more than 95 percent. And as we increase funding — (applause.) And as increase funding we must also reform our veterans system to meet the needs of a new war and a new generation. (Applause.) I call on the Congress to enact the reforms recommended by Senator Bob Dole and Secretary Donna Shalala, so we can improve the system of care for our wounded warriors and help them build lives of hope and promise and dignity. (Applause.)

Our military families also sacrifice for America. They endure sleepless nights and the daily struggle of providing for children while a loved one is serving far from home. We have a responsibility to provide for them. So I ask you to join me in expanding their access to child care, creating new hiring preferences for military spouses across the federal government, and allowing our troops to transfer their unused education benefits to their spouses or children. (Applause.) Our military families serve our nation, they inspire our nation, and tonight our nation honors them. (Applause.)

How about ending the war so families can be reunited with their children, instead of being sent off on third, fourth and fifth deployments? How about reallocating funds to recruitment from useless and wasteful programs like his stupid Star Wars defense project, so maybe we can have enough people to get the job done without burning people out? How about putting an end to the Army’s practice of misdiagnosing PTSD as a “Personality Disorder” so they can save a few extra bucks by denying veterans’ benefits?

The strength — the secret of our strength, the miracle of America, is that our greatness lies not in our government, but in the spirit and determination of our people. (Applause.) When the Federal Convention (Federal Convention? WTF was that? I thought it was the Constitutional Convention. What a moron.) met in Philadelphia in 1787, our nation was bound by the Articles of Confederation, which began with the words, “We the undersigned delegates.” When Governor Morris was asked to draft a preamble to our new Constitution, he offered an important revision and opened with words that changed the course of our nation and the history of the world: “We the people.”

Blah blah blah.

By trusting the people, our Founders wagered that a great and noble nation could be built on the liberty that resides in the hearts of all men and women. By trusting the people, succeeding generations transformed our fragile young democracy into the most powerful nation on Earth and a beacon of hope for millions. And so long as we continue to trust the people, our nation will prosper, our liberty will be secure, and the state of our Union will remain strong. (Applause.)

Blah blah blah BS BS BS.

So tonight, with confidence in freedom’s power, and trust in the people, let us set forth to do their business. God bless America. (Applause.)

And thank God that’s the last time we’ll have to see your smug, self-satisfied smirk disgracing the halls of Congress. Good night and good riddance.

Ignore the man behind the curtain – thoughts on the Bush Depression

As the American economy continues its weirdly halting-yet-inexorable slide into chaos, tumult and despair, our illustrious “leaders” in the Bush Administration lurch once again into belated quasi-action. This President and his cronies respond to every disaster like a pee-wee soccer team chasing after the ball, in the hopes that one of them will eventually kick it in the goal. Usually it ends up well outside the field, or just outside the goal, with the entire team insisting it went in and the rest of us (as the parents) trying not to look embarrassed. Whether it’s the threat of international terrorism, a category 5 Hurricane, wildfires in California, or avian flu, the response is always both minimalistic and tragi-comic. The end results are not.

Several questions are on everyone’s mind at the moment, mine included. These are important issues that need to be addressed if we’re to survive the crash.

1. Who’s to Blame?

First, who’s fault is it? The fingers of blame are pointing wildly these days, with everyone either trying to identify the culprit(s) or deflect blame from themselves. Democrats want to blame Republicans, Republicans want to blame Democrats, some financial analysts have even said the markets are jittery because they’re afraid the Democrats will win in November. This, of course, is pure bullshit.

The markets have been on the verge of collapse for years. It’s an established fact of both physics and economics that what rises, must eventually fall. And the higher the arc is, the harder the impact will be.

The fact is, the Bush League were rank amateurs and blundering incompetents when it came to nearly every aspect of government. They started a military project we didn’t need and couldn’t afford (Ballistic Missile Defense); they lied to get us into a war we can’t win, that has bankrupted the country, and left our military broken and exhausted; they invaded a country that had destroyed three superpowers before us (Afghanistan – read your history); they gave massive tax breaks that overwhelmingly benefited the top 1% of earners while leaving the rest of us to make ends meet with growing consumer credit debt; they slashed the military budget for personnel and replaced trained, professional soldiers with unreliable, dangerous and expensive mercenaries (Blackwater).

The Bush years saw the greatest increase in both housing costs and consumer credit debt in history. Home prices in many locations doubled in less than five years, while real wages (the income of middle class Americans) grew a measly 3%. Costs of living have skyrocketed thanks to the rising demand and cost of oil (it was $29/barrel when he took over, now it’s over $100/barrel). Wages have not kept pace with inflation. In the ’70s, during the Carter years, we had a name for it – stagflation.

At the same time, the credit industry was also given free rein to take advantage of the American public. In the last five years I’ve noticed a huge increase in two disturbing areas. First, there’s the “Payday Lending” industry, a legalized form of loansharking that allows lenders to make short term loans at interest rates often exceeding 420% APR. This should be illegal, but isn’t. Second, there’s been a proliferation in recent years of consumer credit counseling services. People are strapped by the rising costs of living, and have resorted to credit cards just to make ends meet.

Add to that the rising costs of housing, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

But through it all, the Bush crowd and its loyal cronies at Fox Noise and other propaganda outlets have willfully ignored the problem. Our economy is “strong”, they said. We’re “creating wealth”, they said. And they looked the other way while corporate CEOs shipped American jobs overseas to evade regulation, health care and other costs skyrocketed, and the American middle class, the bedrock of American prosperity, continued its downward spiral into debt and despair.

Tax cuts, wars, and spiraling debt do not create wealth. It’s the road to ruin, for individuals, corporations, and for nations.

2. What do we do about it?

This, of course, is the big question. Now that we’re in the shit, how do we get out of it? The President has convinced Congress that the way to restart the economy is to give you and me $600. Wow. I hardly know where to begin, except to say that I’m sure the local oil company will appreciate it when I use it to pay my heating bill this winter. Oh, wait – according to the IRS, we won’t even see those checks until possibly June or even July. Until then I guess I’m fucked. I hope my kids don’t mind being a little cold this winter.

But wait – there’s another issue here that needs mentioning. The Conservatives that are telling us that the “Stimulus Package” is just what we need to kick-start the economy, are the same people that used to preach the “government doesn’t create prosperity, people do” sermon. Which is it, folks? You can’t have it both ways. If government is the problem when things are going well, does it make sense that it can be the solution when things turn sour?

Also, where’s the money for this going to come from? The war has basically bankrupted the government – it barely has enough funds to cover operating costs – and Bush & Co. refuse to raise taxes on the upper levels of income.

Oh, that’s right. We’re going to borrow it. Again.

So, we’ve got an economy headed straight to the pit of Hell, and a government giving us what amounts to free tickets for the ride. That burning sensation you’re feeling right now is the bile rising in your throat from swallowing seven years of bullshit.

What really needs to be done is for corporate CEOs and shareholders to regrow a conscience and start hiring American workers and paying them what they’re worth, not just what keeps the corporate bottom line at a minimum. Remember the stagflation argument earlier? Well, the people responsible for it will also be the ones least affected by the depression. They need to stop giving themselves huge bonuses and undeserved salaries while laying off workers and cutting pay at the bottom of the corporate ladder. They’re the ones largely responsible for the problem; it’s time they sucked it up and made some sacrifices of their own.

3. What happens next?

So, with all that in mind, what do we have to look forward to in the next few years? After all, it’s not a matter of if, but when, the so-called “Stimulus Package” fails to get the economy back on track.

Let’s be frank – $600 in my pocket, or anyone else’s pocket today, is not going to do squat to reverse the effects of 16+ years of profligacy, hoarding and prodigality.  And I don’t see any positive signs that corporate CEOs are about to regrow the aforementioned conscience.

The way I see it, we’re headed in one of two directions.  Either we all end up on the street, after the rich get richer and buy all the land, houses and apartments for themselves; or we continue to spend ourselves into oblivion, consuming oil at our current ridiculous rates until it all runs out and we all end up dressing like extras in a post-apocalyptic “Mad Max” movie.

Either way, I plan on stocking up on sporting goods.  Best to be ahead of the fashion trends.

But before that happens, we should all march on Washington and demand something constructive be done about it.  We’ll have to march, of course, because who can afford to buy gas these days?

Enough said.  The End is Near!  The Revolution will be televised (and it’ll be on Pay-Per-View)!

Good luck and God bless.

Bush plays politics with kids’ lives, again

As with virtually everything connected to this administration, the question that should be on everyone’s mind is “how much lower can Bush sink?”

The sad saga of the S-CHIP revamp, recounted briefly below, gives a fairly clear answer. The truth is, the depths of this President’s mendaciousness in toadying up to the nation’s plutocracy have yet to be plumbed.

Read on:

Time: Bush Vetoes Kids’ Health Bill (AP)

(WASHINGTON) — President Bush vetoed legislation Wednesday that would have expanded government-provided health insurance for children, his second slap-down of a bipartisan effort in Congress to dramatically increase funding for the popular program.

It was Bush’s seventh veto in seven years — all but one coming since Democrats took control of Congress in January. Wednesday was the deadline for Bush to act or let the bill become law. The president also vetoed an earlier, similar bill expanding the health insurance program.

Bush vetoed the bill in private.

In a statement notifying Congress of his decision, Bush said the bill was unacceptable because — like the first one — it allows adults into the program, would cover people in families with incomes above the U.S. median and raises taxes.

“This bill does not put poor children first, and it moves our country’s health care system in the wrong direction,” Bush’s statement said. “Ultimately, our nation’s goal should be to move children who have no health insurance to private coverage, not to move children who already have private health insurance to government coverage.”

Bush urged Congress to extend the program at its current funding level before lawmakers leave Washington for their holiday break.

Note the third paragraph, specially highlighted for emphasis. This time, he didn’t even have the guts to do it in public. Instead, he pulled a maneuver typical of thieves and assassins everywhere – he stabbed them in the back, in the dead of night.

And why? For the same cowardly, self-serving, toadying excuses as last time. It might actually work, and it would mean higher taxes, maybe this time for the wealthy. And God knows we don’t want the rich to pay their fair share of the country’s upkeep.

Sins and crimes are always committed under the cover of darkness or secrecy.  If Bush was truly proud of this latest betrayal, he’d have done it publicly.

Bush gets his man

And the country gets a giant, mailed fist up the ass.

Mukasey Wins Vote in Senate, Despite Doubts

53 to 40. Can you f***ing believe that? This proves nothing except that blackmail works. Bush basically threatened the Senate with another “recess appointment” of one of his Texas buddies – or someone like it – if they didn’t confirm Gonzales, I mean Mukasey.

Six “Democrats” joined 46 Republicans and one “Independent” to confirm Mook for the post of attorney general. Seven did not vote, of whom five are running for President. That means if 11 Democrats had voted with a conscience instead of submitting to extortion, Bush would now have to resort to his previous tactic of a midnight recess appointment of yet another sycophantically loyal, dangerously incompetent bumbler. Gonzales isn’t doing anything at the moment; maybe he’d be willing to come back.

This is a disaster for both the country and the Senate. In the face of clear and obvious presidential extortion, they caved, and had the nerve to tell us it was for the best. Those of us who grew up during the cold war used to call it “appeasement”. In other words, throwing meat at a tiger in the hopes it will eventually become a vegetarian.

In this case, Bush continues to run the Constitution through the shredder while Congress keeps handing him pages, in the hopes that he might read it before he destroys it.

Mook’s Nomination now at Senate level

The Senate is now reviewing the nomination of Michael Mukasey for attorney general. His confirmation is said to be almost a sure thing, despite growing criticism of his positions on things like civil liberties and torture, and questions about his ability to think, act and speak independently once he assumes the post and Bush is his boss.

At the center of the criticism is Mukasey’s refusal to answer direct questions about whether waterboarding, a so-called “intensive interrogation technique” used by the CIA, the Japanese in WWII, the Nazis, the Spanish Inquisition, and others, should be considered “torture” and therefore illegal under U.S. law and the Constitution.

Mukasey declined to comment, stating that he “hadn’t been briefed on the program.”

Bullshit. I’m willing to bet most of the men and women drilling him on it in the past few weeks hadn’t been briefed, either. But somehow they, and millions of intelligent Americans, know enough about it to form an opinion. What Mukasey displayed in not answering the questions, but engaging in semantic word-wrangling, was not prudence but cowardice.

For the historically ignorant out there, including President Bush and his cronies, here’s a little background: Waterboarding was used by the Japanese against American POWs during WWII. They called it the “water cure.” After the war was over, the officers who used it on our boys were prosecuted by the United States for war crimes.

What’s changed since then? Is there anything that makes it justifiable for us to use it now? I don’t think so.

We’re supposed to be the “good guys.” That means our conduct must be consistently better than anyone we consider ourselves superior to, such as all those tyrants and dictators around the world. If we allow our intelligence operatives to torture prisoners, and engage in meaningless wordplay and logical gymnastics to justify it, then we’re no better than the Kim Jong Ils or Robert Mugabes of the world. We just have more money and better weapons.

We’re supposed to be the “good guys.” That means there are certain things we just can’t get away with doing.  Torture is one of those things.

Nominating an Administration toady as chief law enforcement officer of the nation is another.

We must not become the enemy we are fighting.

Michael Mukasey, Rubber Stamp A.G.

Earlier this week the Senate sat and listened to Michael Mukasey, nominee for Attorney General, split hairs and obfuscate in a desperate attempt to deny what everyone with half a brain already knows – that the so-called “intensive interrogation techniques” used by CIA and other American government operatives are, indeed, torture.

The questions the Senate committee asked related specifically to waterboarding, a torture technique used since the Spanish Inquisition to extract information from uncooperative prisoners (or more likely, just for the fun of it). When asked if waterboarding is constitutional, Mr. Mukasey said this:

”I don’t know what is involved in the technique,” Mr. Mukasey replied. ”If waterboarding is torture, torture is not constitutional.”

The questioner, Senator Whitehouse of R.I., correctly described this as semantics.

Mukasey also said in earlier questioning that the President’s function as Commander-in-Chief might allow him to supersede laws previously enacted by Congress.

This, of course, is complete and utter bullshit. The President’s job as Chief Executive is separate from his function as Commander-in-Chief, and as C.E. he is not above the law, he is merely the man who sees to it the laws are obeyed. No President has, or ever had, the authority or right to circumvent the law. Mr. Bush has exceeded his Constitutional authority and abused the rights and privileges of his office.

Waterboarding is torture, has always been torture, and will always be torture. Here’s a simple test to see if a particular “interrogation method” falls under that umbrella. I’ll keep it simple for any Conservative or Republican readers out there:

If we wouldn’t want our enemies to do it to our troops, it’s probably torture.

If Bush wouldn’t want his own children treated that way, it’s probably torture.

If you wouldn’t want your son or daughter treated that way, it’s probably torture.

If the Soviet Union did it, it’s torture.

If the Khmer Rouge did it, it’s torture.

If the North Koreans did it, it’s torture.

Just because we’re doing it, that doesn’t make it “not torture.”

How’s that sound? Simple enough for you?  Waterboarding is Torture.  Period.  End of discussion.  To suggest anything else is hair-splitting nonsense.  It’s not bullshit, it’s Bush-shit.

Mr. Mukasey has already demonstrated with his hair-splitting semantics that he is completely unqualified to be Attorney General. He claims the administration didn’t pressure him into giving that answer, but I find that hard to believe. He is clearly lacking the independence of thought and critical reasoning needed to be a truly effective A.G.

After Gonzales, the last thing we need in this country is yet another rubber-stamp for the Bush/Cheney agenda.

Pelosi says she’ll hold Bush accountable

In a recent interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would hold the president “accountable” for the time and conduct of the war. Here’s the video of the interview:

Pelosi: We will “hold this administration accountable”

We’ll see. I watched the interview and not once was the word “impeachment” mentioned, by either Ms. Pelosi or Mr. Blitzer. Instead, she will merely continue to throw bills on Bush’s desk and let him keep vetoing them.

That’s what passes for “accountability” these days.

We have a president who has repeatedly obstructed legitimate investigations by ignoring Congressional subpoenas, subverted the Constitution to his own purposes, used the military to settle a personal grudge (at the cost of thousands of lives).

He has repeatedly demonstrated his utter lack of respect for anyone other than himself and his cronies, lackeys and sycophants, and yet Pelosi continues to persist in entertaining the delusion that he “respects her position”.

When she took impeachment off the table at the start of her tenure, she removed a valuable tool of state and weapon in her arsenal against this tyrant. Impeachment is the most valuable check against unitary power Congress has. It’s there for a reason. The founding fathers feared the Executive branch above all others specifically because of its unique capability to concentrate power in one man. They knew what unitary power could do, and set up checks and balances against it.

Bush and Cheney have done everything they can to dismantle that system of checks and balances, and they’ve done it with the active compliance of a largely sycophantic Congress. Now that the opposition party has the majority, it’s time they brought back that system, and used it to full effect.

Bring back impeachment, Ms. Pelosi. Use the tools our founding fathers gave us, and bring an end to this reign of terror.