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October 05, 2006
Take Back America
Good midi – jazz piano version – click on the little radio button to play or download and play.
I was going to write a song parody today to spoof the Foley Follies and other distractions that are playing on mainstream media and talk radio, but I suddenly stopped finding it amusing. Dennis Hastert, current (and likely outbound) Speaker of the House announced this afternoon that he was not going to step down after reports that he and other House leadership knew about Foley’s propensity to flirt inappropriately with Congressional pages via instant messages, emails and other communications. So be it. I think Hastert will go down with the ship next month when the voters do one of two things: vote out all the incumbents (the “Throw the Bums Out” movement), or elect mostly Democratic candidates to reclaim the majority in the House and Senate. In either case, Hastert will lose his position as Speaker. We can only hope he loses his reelection bid as well.
Media is seizing on the Foley story because, let’s face it, sex sells and sex with underage boys sells even better. We suffered through months of the sordid Clinton-Lewinsky scandal and embarrassing impeachment proceedings presided by another adulterer (Henry Hyde) that made the Republicans look like even bigger hypocrites than the Democrats. The current finger-pointing and sanctimonious outrage is laughable.
What’s not laughable is that Congress just passed two pieces of legislation that we hope will eventually be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court: the “torture” bill that disregards the Geneva Convention, and the domestic surveillance act. Moments after those horrendous laws were approved, the Foley follies hit the front page. Coincidence? No such thing in politics. This pathetic side show is designed to pander to the sweaty masses who are too lazy or stupid to realize what is happening with salient issues like the war in Iraq, the continuing erosion of our constitutional rights, massive trade deficits, crushing national debt, and daily revelations that the administration lied not only about Hussein’s possession of weapons of mass destruction, but what they knew prior to September 11 about al Qaeda and the plan to attack America.
Fortunately, there are several movements at the grass roots level that are keeping these issues on the forefront. Today, a nationwide walk out called “The World Can’t Wait” occurred in cities across America. Did the mainstream media cover it? I hope so, but I doubt this important event would trump “Foleygate.” The message is clear: we need to take back America from this fascist regime and restore our laws and freedoms, and stop this insanity before there is nothing to defend anymore. God help us.
Comments
Just the latest on King George's despotism:
Posted by: Patrick Henry | October 5, 2006 09:02 PM
The info in that article is outrageous, Patrick.
Nope, nothing re it on the national news last night or tonight. Only Foley Follies.
Posted by: Benjie Franklin | October 5, 2006 09:20 PM
If your name is Robert Johnson, don't try to get on an airplane:
Could they be any more STUPID??!!
Posted by: Patrick Henry | October 5, 2006 09:24 PM
CINCINNATI - The Bush administration can continue its warrantless
surveillance program while it appeals a judge's ruling that the
program is unconstitutional, a federal appeals court ruled
This will be upheld. There is no way it's constitutional.
Wednesday.
Posted by: Patrick Henry | October 5, 2006 09:25 PM
WCW Rally News:
NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- From longtime activists to toddlers, thousands
of protesters clogged streets Thursday afternoon to speak out against
the war in Iraq.
Organized by the group World Can't Wait, the march started at the
United Nations headquarters in midtown Manhattan. The throng of people,
stretching for about five city blocks, closed down a lane of traffic on
Second Avenue as it made its way south to Union Square for a late
afternoon protest.
Some people lay down in the middle of the street while others carried
signs saying ``Expose 9/11'' and ``This war should be over.'' They also
handed out fliers reading, ``Drive out the Bush regime.''
~~~~~~~~~
And across the country on the west coast:
BAKERSFIELD - A local liberal group began protesting President Bush at
10:30 a.m. in downtown Bakersfield Thursday.
"It's the war and beyond. It's highlighting that this is not just
a bloody war, it's an illegal war," said The World Can't Wait
Bakersfield Chapter organizer Jared Thomas. "It's a war of
aggression. Thus far, a war against Afghanistan, a war against Iraq,
and building for a war in Iran that could very well turn nuclear."
It's the same group that protested the In God We Trust event earlier
this year.
Members of the Bakersfield Chapter The World Can't Wait got together
several months ago to plan the local protest.
They said it's part of a mass mobilization that is taking place in
hundreds of cities across the country to speak out against the
President and his policies.
Organizers said they expect thousands of people to turn out on
Bakersfield's streets, and expects the protest to last into the
evening.
Posted by: Patrick Henry | October 5, 2006 09:35 PM
(((sllluuuuuurrppp....gurgl gurgle gurgle....cough))))
bong hit
Pot may be good for preventing Alzheimers:
And it's illegal because...?
Posted by: Timothy Leary | October 5, 2006 09:52 PM
Olbermann ripps Dubya again:
Posted by: Patrick Henry | October 5, 2006 09:56 PM
That's GREAT NEWS for my generation, Tim!
We were always ahead of the curve.
Posted by: Benjie Franklin | October 5, 2006 10:01 PM
It's illegal because of the liquor lobby of course!
Posted by: Ken Kesey | October 5, 2006 10:06 PM
Some dissent in Arizona - good news:
I've never had to show ID before voting.
Posted by: Harriet Tubman | October 5, 2006 10:10 PM
It's all a librul conspiracy theory. Nothing to see here, just move along.
Posted by: Karl Rove | October 5, 2006 10:13 PM
LA Times article on WCW demonstration today:
Posted by: John Paul Jones | October 5, 2006 11:21 PM
Village Voice article on WCW with names of endorsers:
Posted by: John Paul Jones | October 5, 2006 11:27 PM
While the distraction technique is disturbing, particularly in this situation, one cannot undervalue its effectiveness.
In the wild, animals often distract their prey to move in for the kill.
Think of the Venus Fly Trap - a beautiful flower that has a sticky goo and large teeth-like petals that lure the bug and then snap shut and sufficate it.
The deal with Foley IS an issue that needs to be handled in as serious a fashion as any other deviant crime. But as the fly is the prey to the Fly Trap, the Fly Trap does not hunt with one flower at a time.
Awareness will keep the fly who is distracted by the death of the other from becoming a victim itself.
Whenever a major event with selacious facts occurs, step back and look at what else is happening. The petals of the Fly Trap are waiting for you to be distracted.
Posted by: Dr. Frankenstein | October 5, 2006 11:47 PM
Oops! Betsy posted the last one not Dr. Frank.
Posted by: Betsy Ross | October 5, 2006 11:48 PM
Parking lot at Hubs' workplace was half empty today. This place has abt 2000 employees.
I think there are more objectors than we think there are.
Posted by: Johnette Hancock | October 6, 2006 12:07 AM
The distraction technique is alive and well. This administration is wagging the entire country.
Posted by: Martha Bratton | October 6, 2006 03:19 AM
These new policies of George W, will cause major problems all over the globe.
Foreign citizens being nabbed off the streets and held without access to legal aid, will cause outrage and serious problems for American Tourism.
This is even more frightening than Osama's threats. IMO
Good morning
Posted by: Maggie Thatcher | October 6, 2006 04:35 AM
Good morning.
I really enjoy reading Olbermann. He's on a roll, isn't he?
Posted by: Betsy Ross | October 6, 2006 10:43 AM
I used to get a good laugh at the expense of Dubya. Now, I don't find him so funny!
No offence meant. Time to nip him in the bud!
Posted by: Maggie Thatcher | October 6, 2006 10:59 AM
Time for me to hit the road. Literally!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.
Ciao!
Posted by: Maggie Thatcher | October 6, 2006 11:20 AM
Pertinent questions from CrooksandLiars:
Why has the ferocity of your venom against the Democrats, now exceeded the ferocity of your venom against the terrorists?
Why have you chosen to go down in history as the President who made things up?
In less than one month you have gone from a flawed call to unity, to this clarion call to hatred of Americans, by Americans.
If this is not simply the most shameless example of the rhetoric of political hackery, then it would have to be the cry of a leader crumbling under the weight of his own lies.
Posted by: Johnette Hancock | October 6, 2006 12:16 PM
In case you hadn't noticed, he isn't listening. Give it up.
Posted by: syndic | October 6, 2006 12:32 PM
Curious news from the front:
Returning from a recent trip to the region, Sen. John Warner said the military had done what it could, and if after three months the Iraqis have made no progress to calm ethnic violence and hasten reconstruction, then Congress will have to make some “bold decisions.”
Warner did not say what he thinks Congress should do but said all options will be considered. Lawmakers have suggested various remedies, including a timetable to pull out U.S. troops and dividing the country into smaller, independent ethnic states.
Color me still confused, but I'm still back here at "START" where I'm still trying to figure out how we had a right to invade and occupy in the first place.
Now, we have a right to cut them up like a cherry pie and decide who lives where, like Bosnia/Sergovenia/Yugoslovia, Serbia?
What are we, the Soviet Union, now?
Posted by: John Paul Jones | October 6, 2006 12:33 PM
Speaking of "bold decisions," isn't this the same guy who married Elizabeth Taylor (his second marriage, her 5th, I think) and prior to that was married to one of the elite of the elite, a Mellon?
GMAB
Posted by: John Paul Jones | October 6, 2006 12:37 PM
syndic, never give up.
Posted by: Johnette Hancock | October 6, 2006 01:16 PM
I didn't say "give up" but "give it up" (it=lost cause). If you feel so strongly about your cause, you might be more effective talking to people outside your own homogeneous group. Don't you feel like you're preaching to the choir yet?
Posted by: syndic | October 6, 2006 01:36 PM
Well, now that Bob Woodward has made it politically correct to question the administration, which many people have questioned since day one, and many books have been written already indicting the idiots, it's going to be a much bigger choir.
Posted by: John Paul Jones | October 6, 2006 01:42 PM
Syndic, if everyone had just decided it was a lost cause to make a fuss, questioning the real motives behind current events, nobody would be paying any attention to what's really going on.
We'd all have our heads stuck in the sand like Ostriches.
John Paul Jones is right, the choir is growing larger by the hour.
Posted by: Martha Bratton | October 6, 2006 02:23 PM
You apparently haven't read what I wrote. Hashing and re-hashing issues in a closed environment is like talking to yourself. It might make you feel better about your own personal knowledge and beliefs, but it doesn't influence others' opinions about the situation.
If you feel you have a message that is worth presenting to the "unknowing" or "ignorant" or "ostriches" then why not get the message out for the world to see (anonymously, if needed, to protect thyself), recruit others to do it for you, or actively promote others who are already getting their message out.
Posted by: sydic | October 6, 2006 02:36 PM
Um, hello, this is the internet. You know, the World Wide Web. You found it, and many more read here than comment.
It's hard to imagine a better way to communicate with the world.
Posted by: Martha Bratton | October 6, 2006 03:37 PM
FWIW: How (or why) I came to this site has nothing to do with any conspiracy theories purportedly exacted by government leadership.
Having read the postings for a while, it appears to me that the posters are quite willing to share their opinions, and numerous sources (reliable or not) to support them (the opinions). I see no proof of effort by the opiners to go beyond the walls of the blog to place their opinions in a widely respected forum for scrutiny by widely respected public entities.
How about publishing your (their, the) theories in a refereed scholarly journal?
Posted by: syndic | October 6, 2006 04:12 PM
Who would be a "widely respected public entity," for example?
I kinda have to laugh.
Posted by: John Paul Jones | October 6, 2006 04:19 PM
To name just a few:
Social Research: International Quarterly of Social Sciences
Comtemporary Political Theory
Coercive Prevention: Normative, Political and Policy Dilemmas
Contemporary Socialogy
Internations Journal of Sociology
Conspiracy
International Journal of Politics and Ethics
Check out your local University for more open-minded publicly viewed platforms.
Posted by: syndic | October 6, 2006 04:43 PM
I think the readers are my peers, and if you read it and it moves you to action, I've done my job.
Posted by: loretta | October 6, 2006 04:59 PM
You assume this is our only venue? Rather naieve, that. I guess we all fall victim to the ASSumption syndrome occasionally. Perhaps a more pertinent question for you, syndic, would be "Why do our conversations' locations matter to you one way or the other?"
Posted by: Johnette Hancock | October 6, 2006 05:02 PM
www.abovetopsecret.com
Posted by: Johnette Hancock | October 6, 2006 05:05 PM
Interesting WP blog:
Almost alone among the network newscasters, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann is channeling that sensibility. Channeling it -- and amplifying it.
In fact, the increasingly shrill Olbermann is fast becoming the Howard Beale of the anti-Bush era: He's mad as hell, and he's not going to take it anymore.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/04/11/LI2005041100879.html
Posted by: Benjie Franklin | October 6, 2006 05:07 PM
I am involved in two other forums besides this one. I just have to stay under the radar.
Spies, you know.
Posted by: Paul Revere | October 6, 2006 05:10 PM
I'd love to fisk this idiot's philosophies, but he must be an alien. He can't be for real:
Between this whacko and Katherine Harris and other "evangelical" candidates blurring (heck, erasing) the line between church and state, it's no wonder that the Constitution has become bird-cage liner.
Posted by: Paul Revere | October 6, 2006 05:13 PM
If I implied that I think this is your "only venue" it was unintended. I am sure you have other venues, such as the other blogs you mention now and then. It is not apparent that the posters work outside of blogs and similar online forums. I was simply tossing out a little [intended to be friendly] unsolicited advice on how be heard by more people.
Posted by: syndic | October 6, 2006 05:16 PM
I appreciate the friendly advice, syndic. I recognize your nick and the university. Feel free to link my blog everywhere you go!
That's how I find things.
Posted by: loretta | October 6, 2006 05:21 PM
Another one bites the dust:
Posted by: Valerie Plame | October 6, 2006 05:25 PM
Sarcasm traditionally elicits those types of responses, and worse. We all try to tell ourselves , now and then, to reread before we hit that little post button.
Posted by: Johnette Hancock | October 6, 2006 05:26 PM
Helen Thomas on the reincarnation of Henry Kissinger:
Posted by: Amelia Erhardt | October 6, 2006 07:31 PM
My favorite line from the link above:
They seem to forget that "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
Heaven help us.
Posted by: Betsy Ross | October 6, 2006 07:51 PM
Sen. Rick Santorum's ideology is stuck in the 1950's with his ideas on women working outside the home. There are very few families who can afford to exist on one income these days, for one thing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Never before in human history have a majority of children spent at least half their waking hours in the presence of 25 to 35 unrelated children of exactly the same age (and usually the same socio-economic status)..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why would that not be a GOOD thing?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He contradicts himself here, where he states:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It's amazing that so many kids turn out to be fairly normal, considering the weird socialization they get in public schools."
Posted by: Martha Bratton | October 6, 2006 08:26 PM
I WISH my child spent more time with other kids.
I don't see Santorum jumping in with any ideas about improving the economy to the point where families can afford to have a parent stay home with a child, even part time.
Posted by: Axis Sally | October 6, 2006 08:37 PM
Axis Sally, I was looking for exactly the same thing. I figured he'd put his money where his mouth is, so to speak.
If the economy wasn't so bad, more families could manage on one income. The way things stand now, it's not practical for the majority of people.
Posted by: Martha Bratton | October 6, 2006 08:44 PM
I'm also leary of the "women shouldn't have to work outside the home" philosophy. I think more often than not, it's a thinly veiled way of making it more difficult for women to have control of their own lives.
The emphasis Santorum places on enhancing the idea of marriage and making divorce more difficult only reinforce my thoughts on that.
Posted by: Martha Bratton | October 6, 2006 11:41 PM
Chit, I'm leery of the "women have the right to vote" philosophy. It'd be a whole lot easier if I could just absolve my responsibility for the world at large.
Just say no.
Posted by: Nancy Reagan | October 7, 2006 12:20 AM
According the 11 p.m. S.F. news, John Mark Karr showed up at SF's Sacred Heart Elementary School today while classes were in session. (He used to work there.) He peered into a locked door and was stopped by school security.
He was accompanied by two ABC network crew members who drove him there in a limo. Police released him because no crime was commited.
He skipped his attorney's press conference in order to pull this stunt.
Will we see him next on 20/20? GMA? The View?
Posted by: Benjie Franklin | October 7, 2006 03:24 AM
Sounds like a stunt, to me. What the heck are ABC network people doing schlepping this guy around in a limo?
Posted by: Tommy Jefferson | October 7, 2006 09:26 AM
It was a Good Morning America crew. I would love to see that show boycotted because of this stunt. What were they thinking?
Posted by: Pat Henry | October 7, 2006 09:30 AM
Sleazier and sleazier.
Posted by: Johnette Hancock | October 7, 2006 12:40 PM
Once you get to "LIHOP," "MIHOP" is not far behind.
Jersey Girls on latest revelations of more letting it happen on purpose evidence:
I started as a LIHOPper and evolved to MIHOP within a month or so.
Posted by: Susan B. Anthony | October 7, 2006 01:42 PM
Jeb Bush supports Santorum
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, in town for a fund-raiser for Sen. Rick Santorum, had a close encounter with a large group of anti-Republican protesters as he was making his way to the Duquesne Club, Downtown.
He was surrounded by signs that said "Pittsburgh is a Santorum Free Zone," "Honk if you're sick of Rick,"
Posted by: Martha Bratton | October 7, 2006 02:07 PM
I watched a rerun of Santorum's "debate" on Meet the Press and he is nothing but a Bush-Cheney sock puppet.
He's so sickening, I can't believe anyone in PA would elect him so much as dog catcher.
Posted by: loretta | October 7, 2006 02:12 PM
In fact, I think he's insane. Certifiable. LoonyTunes.
Posted by: loretta | October 7, 2006 02:13 PM
Just curious, has anyone read Bob Woodward's new book yet?
I'm on a waitlist, as it seems to have flown off the shelf.
Posted by: Betsy Ross | October 7, 2006 02:14 PM
About Karr going into a school; around here, all visitors are required to sign in at the office before going anywhere on campus. I'm sure he was aware of that, having worked there before.
The network that provided the limo to escort him there and publicity should be ashamed of their participation.
ABC is getting a nasty letter from me.
Posted by: Martha Bratton | October 7, 2006 02:14 PM
Re Rumsfield and ASScroft flying non-commerical after July 2001: On 9/10 or 9/11 our then-mayor Willie Brown was told not to fly that day.
Posted by: Benjie Franklin | October 7, 2006 02:46 PM
Really, who in their right mind would want to save Willie Brown?
Posted by: Martha Bratton | October 7, 2006 03:07 PM
ROLF MAO, Martha!
I believe the person who warned him was in his security detail at SFO.
Posted by: Benjie Franklin | October 7, 2006 09:19 PM
The Foley plot thickens:
Posted by: Martha Washington | October 7, 2006 09:23 PM
Great article:
Mark Foley was chairman of a House caucus on missing and exploited children. This was a party that literally put a pedophile in charge of pedophilia.
Does that have a vaguely familiar ring? It should. It’s the same party that put the oil companies in charge of energy policy, and invited the drug and insurance industries to write the Medicare prescription bill for their own maximum profit. As investigations have revealed, it put lobbyists for polluting industries in charge of environmental protection. So there is a consistent theme here of the fox guarding the chicken coop.
Posted by: Benjie Franklin | October 7, 2006 10:15 PM
Throw the bums out!
Is it customary in every state for the representatives of parties other than Repubs and Dems to be barred from the Gubernatorial debates?
If so, it's a shame. I would have liked to see our Green party and Libertarian candidates debate the issues with Ahhhnold and Angelides.
Posted by: Martha Bratton | October 8, 2006 03:56 AM
Good morning!
More on Foley's secret life.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15178112/site/newsweek/
Posted by: Betsy Ross | October 8, 2006 12:17 PM
Let us not forget to keep an eye on Stage Left.
Foley's an excellent, very convenient distraction from bigger things going on.
Good article, Betsy Ross. Thanks for that link.
Posted by: Martha Bratton | October 8, 2006 02:05 PM