Saturday, October 23, 2004
Fat Cats Get Fatter
Bush quietly signed a nearly $140 corporate tax cut bill yesterday while aboard Air Force One. It's interesting that there was no public signing ceremony. Maybe Bush didn't want to draw attention to his latest corporate giveaways and tax breaks for multinational companies that send jobs overseas.
Even Republican senator John McCain, who is campaigning for Bush, called the measure "the worst example of the influence of special interests that I have ever seen."
Top News Article | Reuters.com
NPR lists the Top 10 Outrages of the Corporate Tax Bill
The Pack Fights Back
After the airing of the hideous new "wolves" ad by the Bush campaign, which reaches new heights of sliminess and scare-mongering (not to mention deceitfulness), the wolfpack--the brethren of yellow dogs--fights back:
WolfpacksforTruth.org: The Real Story on George Bush's "Wolves" Commercial
Friday, October 22, 2004
Yellow Dogs vs. Fraidy Cats
The fearmongering has begun. While Bush and Cheney are trying their best to scare voters into believing that if they vote for Kerry, the US will be attacked by terrorists (a pretty shameful and slimy tactic, even in an election year), the truth is that terrorism has increased on their watch.
First, there is the report from their own State Department, which notes an increase in terrorism post-9/11.
And the following article notes that, according to security experts at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the war in Iraq has strengthened terrorist groups, not weakened them.
"As the IISS says, Iraq serves the purposes of groups like al-Qaeda. The sooner the occupation is ended, the sooner one primary source of terrorism will be shut off. As a threat to Americans, Iraqi resistance will end once the occupation ends.
Then the president, whoever he is, can concentrate on the terrorist source that should have been the focus of our intention all along: al-Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden.
In the second debate, Bush was asked to name three mistakes he'd made. In three weeks, voters have a chance to point out one of them: Never base a campaign on fear. We are not a fearful people."
James O. Goldsborough -- When the only thing that's left is fear
First, there is the report from their own State Department, which notes an increase in terrorism post-9/11.
And the following article notes that, according to security experts at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the war in Iraq has strengthened terrorist groups, not weakened them.
"As the IISS says, Iraq serves the purposes of groups like al-Qaeda. The sooner the occupation is ended, the sooner one primary source of terrorism will be shut off. As a threat to Americans, Iraqi resistance will end once the occupation ends.
Then the president, whoever he is, can concentrate on the terrorist source that should have been the focus of our intention all along: al-Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden.
In the second debate, Bush was asked to name three mistakes he'd made. In three weeks, voters have a chance to point out one of them: Never base a campaign on fear. We are not a fearful people."
James O. Goldsborough -- When the only thing that's left is fear
Sniffing out the facts
Yellow Dogs SNIFF OUT the facts, while Bush supporters SNUFF OUT the facts. A study released today by the Program on International Policy Attitudes concludes that Bush supporters falsely ascribe to Bush positions that are opposite of what he stands for and have a view of Iraq, WMDs, and Al Qaeda that reflect gross ignorance of reality. These findings are similar to an earlier study, which found that of all the major networks, those who got their news from Fox News were the most misinformed about 9/11 and about the reality and rationale for the Iraq war.
PIPA Report
At least this explains why nearly half the electorate is supporting Bush despite his failed policies--it's because large majorities of Bush voters are horribly informed on what his policies actually are. That explains a lot.
The following link to 100 facts also explains a lot and explains why I will be casting my vote for Kerry. Here are just a few facts on 9/11, since that's Bush's main platform:
--The Bush Administration granted the 9/11 Commission $3 million to investigate the September 11 attacks compared to $50 million to the commission that investigated the Columbia space shuttle crash.
--The Bush Administration secured less nuclear material from sites around the world vulnerable to terrorists in the two years after 9/11 than were secured in the two years before 9/11.
--According to Congressional Research Service data, the Bush Administration has underfunded security at the nation's ports by more than $1 billion for fiscal year 2005.
--Vice President Cheney said that Iraq was "the geographic base of the terrorists who have had us under assault for many years, but most especially on 9/11." The bipartisan 9/11 Commission found that Iraq had no involvement in the 9/11 attacks and no collaborative operational relationship with Al Qaeda.
If you are a fact-based rather than faith-based voter, read more here:
100 Facts and 1 Opinion
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
No Tree Left Behind
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Today's Scoop: More 9/11 Cover-ups
So the most secretive administration since Nixon is withholding yet another report--no news there, right? Still, this case is pretty disturbing.
Apparently the Bush administration is suppressing a CIA report on 9/11 until after the election, and this one names names. Here's what an intelligence official who has read the report had to say:
"It is infuriating that a report which shows that high-level people were not doing their jobs in a satisfactory manner before 9/11 is being suppressed. . . . The report is potentially very embarrassing for the administration, because it makes it look like they weren't interested in terrorism before 9/11, or in holding people in the government responsible afterward."
Why the Bush administration gets so much credit from supporters for its handling of 9/11 is beyond me. Here are a few facts:
1. President Bush fought against the creation of the Sept. 11 commission, agreeing only after enormous political pressure was applied by a grass-roots movement led by the families of those slain.
2. Bush refused to testify to the 9/11 commission under oath, or on the record. Instead he deigned only to chat with the commission members, with Vice President Dick Cheney present, in a White House meeting in which commission members were not allowed to take notes. All in all, strange behavior for a man who seeks reelection to the top office in the land based on his handling of the so-called war on terror.
And now this:
The 9/11 Secret in the CIA's Back Pocket
Apparently the Bush administration is suppressing a CIA report on 9/11 until after the election, and this one names names. Here's what an intelligence official who has read the report had to say:
"It is infuriating that a report which shows that high-level people were not doing their jobs in a satisfactory manner before 9/11 is being suppressed. . . . The report is potentially very embarrassing for the administration, because it makes it look like they weren't interested in terrorism before 9/11, or in holding people in the government responsible afterward."
Why the Bush administration gets so much credit from supporters for its handling of 9/11 is beyond me. Here are a few facts:
1. President Bush fought against the creation of the Sept. 11 commission, agreeing only after enormous political pressure was applied by a grass-roots movement led by the families of those slain.
2. Bush refused to testify to the 9/11 commission under oath, or on the record. Instead he deigned only to chat with the commission members, with Vice President Dick Cheney present, in a White House meeting in which commission members were not allowed to take notes. All in all, strange behavior for a man who seeks reelection to the top office in the land based on his handling of the so-called war on terror.
And now this:
The 9/11 Secret in the CIA's Back Pocket
Mr. Sunshine Visits Ohio
Vote for Bush or You'll Regret it!
Cheney warns Ohioans today:
"The biggest threat we face now as a nation is the possibility of terrorists ending up in the middle of one of our cities [Cleveland, Columbus or Cincinnati for sure!] with deadlier weapons than have ever before been used against us — biological agents or a nuclear weapon..."
Meanwhile... Bush had this to say:
"Instead of articulating a vision or positive agenda for the future, the senator is relying on a litany of complaints and old-style scare tactics... With your help on November 2, the people of America will reject the politics of fear and vote for an agenda of hope and opportunity and security for all Americans,"
The Bush-Cheney team mexed their missages today!
Yahoo! News - Cheney: Terrorists May Bomb U.S. Cities
Attack Dog
Cheney vows to Attack U.S. If Kerry Elected!
A pretty funny satire from The Onion.
"If the wrong man is elected in November, the nation will come under a devastating armed attack of an unimaginable magnitude, one planned and executed by none other than myself," Cheney said, speaking at a rally in Greensboro, NC.
The Onion | Cheney Vows To Attack U.S. If Kerry Elected
Monday, October 18, 2004
Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick
It's called diplomacy.
John F. Kerry:
"As President, I will bring back this nation's time-honored tradition: the United States of America never goes to war because we want to, we only go to war because we have to.
I know what kids go through when they are carrying an M-16 in a dangerous place and they can't tell friend from foe. I know what they go through when they're out on patrol at night and they don't know what's coming around the next bend. I know what it's like to write letters home telling your family that everything's all right when you're not sure that's true.
As President, I will wage this war with the lessons I learned in war. Before you go to battle, you have to be able to look a parent in the eye and truthfully say: 'I tried everything possible to avoid sending your son or daughter into harm's way. But we had no choice. We had to protect the American people, fundamental American values from a threat that was real and imminent.' So lesson one, this is the only justification for going to war.
And on my first day in office, I will send a message to every man and woman in our armed forces: You will never be asked to fight a war without a plan to win the peace.
I defended this country as a young man and I will defend it as President. Let there be no mistake: I will never hesitate to use force when it is required. Any attack will be met with a swift and certain response. I will never give any nation or international institution a veto over our national security. And I will build a stronger American military.
We need to make America once again a beacon in the world. We need to be looked up to and not just feared."
Such a refreshing change from the cowboy rhetoric of "dead or alive" or "you're either with us or against us."
No more pussy-footing around
The New York Times endorsement of Kerry for president finally cuts through the crap:
"There is no denying that this race is mainly about Mr. Bush's disastrous tenure. . . ."
And it reminds me again of how Bush truly squandered the opportunity of being a "uniter" and instead divided this country like it has never been divided before:
"The president who lost the popular vote got a real mandate on Sept. 11, 2001. With the grieving country united behind him, Mr. Bush had an unparalleled opportunity to ask for almost any shared sacrifice. The only limit was his imagination.
He asked for another tax cut and the war against Iraq."
And about the war in Iraq, did you know there have been THIRTY U.S. casualties in the past week (and who knows how many innocent civilian casualties)--30 in one week!? You'd never know it from watching the so-called "liberal" media. Here are the statistics: http://icasualties.org/oif/
Here's more on the disastrous and reckless policies of the last four years and the hope that a Kerry administration offers for a better future.
The New York Times > Opinion > John Kerry for President
"There is no denying that this race is mainly about Mr. Bush's disastrous tenure. . . ."
And it reminds me again of how Bush truly squandered the opportunity of being a "uniter" and instead divided this country like it has never been divided before:
"The president who lost the popular vote got a real mandate on Sept. 11, 2001. With the grieving country united behind him, Mr. Bush had an unparalleled opportunity to ask for almost any shared sacrifice. The only limit was his imagination.
He asked for another tax cut and the war against Iraq."
And about the war in Iraq, did you know there have been THIRTY U.S. casualties in the past week (and who knows how many innocent civilian casualties)--30 in one week!? You'd never know it from watching the so-called "liberal" media. Here are the statistics: http://icasualties.org/oif/
Here's more on the disastrous and reckless policies of the last four years and the hope that a Kerry administration offers for a better future.
The New York Times > Opinion > John Kerry for President
Bubba's List
South Knox Bubba compiled a remarkably comprehensive look at Bush's record. It's shocking really. It ought to be REALLY shocking to people who call themselves Republicans.
Looking at Bush's record, I'd be embarrassed to admit it if I voted for the guy the first time, although--with the comfortable cushion of peace and prosperity after eight years of Clinton--I can almost see how people might have thought, "Gee, what's the worst that can happen?"
Well, now we all know what can happen. Bush is a total failure by every possible standard, especially by those measures dear and true to conservatives: no fiscal responsibility, bigger not smaller goverment, less privacy, no economic stability, botched national security, more dependence on foreign energy, etc.
Foreign policy blunders aside, in our consumer driven economy, this is stuff that ought to scare the daylights out of conservatives:
--Bigger government/non-defense discretionary spending up 34% in four years
--More entitlements
--DJIA down 6%, S&P 500 down 17%, NASDAQ down 31% since 2001
--Record high consumer debt
--All time high bankruptcies
--Net loss of jobs
--More people living in poverty
--Record trade deficit
--40% increase in health insurance premiums
--45 Million people without health care. Up 5 million
--Turned $387 Billion annual surplus into a $2 Trillion dollar projected deficit-- $413 Billion this year!
These are facts. So, why are 49% of voters still supporting Bush? I'll tell you why. Because a win this November will prove to Bush supporters that facts don't matter. Bush is a GOOD president who earned a second term, and their vote for Bush in 2000 was not the stupidest vote ever. And that will be true, because a vote for Bush in 2004 would become the stupidest vote ever.
There's a saying in Tennessee... fool me once...
South Knox Bubba
