What Are We Doing?

With all that has been said about this war, I have yet to understand fully why we fight. In fact, I fail to see why America finds it acceptable to kill so many innocent civilians under a dehumanized term such as "collateral damage."

Camelot times with Martin Luther King's dreams filled my naive view of the world with good intentions to make the world a better place. So what happened: I grew up.

Never a time has life been so cruel to wake up in a world different from the day before it. Suddenly knowing what this country is truly capable of doing in its righteous arrogance, that, for which some would call genocide, we would be responsible for so much death.

This war in nothing but a show for the military brass, who are bent on making war films for the next generation, complete with the latest "smart ass bombs" that underestimated the damage it causes. So much so, we had to create a category for the people killed by their destruction.

No, I am not worried about the radical Muslims taking over our country. I am more worried about what collateral damage and smart ass bombs has done to civilians.

Joseph

To The Point

In the Iraqi war madness, why did I not hear Al Qaeda's name? Al Qaeda, Bush and his supporters claim, holds the key to the violence in Iraq.

The fighting mounts, and Al Qaeda cannot be found. How long can the Bush administration and its war generals keep this perception of Iraq being the front line on Terror? They seemed to mistake the word terrible with terror. Terrible it is.

I would not want my kid to give his/her life for this civil war that does not represent my freedom or safety. What is really going on?

Joseph

We All Knew Something Was Wrong

Rumsfeld is but one card in Bush's deck. I recall speculating the Bush dynasty would not make it through the second term without being impeached for something we have yet to discover. I still make that claim.

The partisan Congress and Senate Bush enjoyed falsely encouraged his power dynamic. Bush developed an air of invincibility as he pulled right up to edge of illegal tactics with his torture and surveillance tactics. Plenty would say he went over the illegal line.

Now, its apparent Bush as not got a clue on what to do with Iraq. He expects to force the Democrats to take the blame by playing a post election game called "what will the Democrats do."

Well, I am a Democrat, and I can tell you what we should not do. Democrats should not let Bush or the Republicans make them look like fools solving the war problems this president created without the information and intelligence only this administration has been cleared for.

First things first, we need to stop our killing of innocent civilians in the name of "collateral damage." Even I have lost the high level of pride I once held for this country’s military. 600,000 collateral killings are over by about 599,000 because we should not be in Iraq to begin with.

America get ready. This war will not end cleanly. In fact, unless we find away out of this hell soon, we will lose more than pride. I say lets cut our losses and theirs and run. Fast.

Joseph

Win What Thing?

Really "lets win this thing" does not sound like a strategy to me. In fact, I am not sure what "win" constitutes when it comes to Iraq. Nor am I sure what or who "thing" is. I do know this: 603,000 total lives have been lost in the name of "winning this thing," and 600,000 of those who lost their lives get to be called "collateral damage."

I would like to see the American public back the execution of Saddam Hussein for killing between 30,000 to 60,000 Iraqi people for whatever reason, without coming to the conclusion we have did worse in the name of "winning this thing."

All loss of life has one thing in common: it's over. This country and other countries that seem to hold their military objectives above humane responsibility have missed a very important consideration. You can't kill innocent people in the name of something stupid.

In WWII, the situation was different. This is no WWII. In fact, the reason for this Iraqi war was generated for less than emergency reasons. No, the first order of business for the new Democratic congress should not be oversight. It should be to stop the killing in our name and put substance to the objective "lets win this thing."

Joseph

Face It Don't Create It

There is a very important truth concerning denial the Republicans don't seem to get. It's not a river in Egypt. Everyone knows that line except the Republicans.

Do you think it will take them 2 years to understand the importance of being truthful to reality and self? I know one thing: They should stop getting on national prime time TV obviously fooling themselves to the facts surrounding their lost of congressional power.

The Republicans got caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Take the cookie out of their mouths and examine why it is important to ask for the cookie. Don't continue to slam the cookies in your mouth. I learned this lesson in my early years.

So far, before the campaign, during the campaign, and after the campaign, the Republicans continue to spin every issue before them. You cannot deal with reality when you don't acknowledge it. You can't create reality by spinning it. You must face reality to start the process of effectively dealing with it. It appears the Republicans simply need to grow up, face up, so they can begin to catch up.

Joseph

The Rubber Stamp Dynamic

Excuse Nancy Pelosi if she happens to make some Republicans concerned. It should happen, we voted to make it happen, and if it does not happen, the Democrats have been tricked into starting off on the wrong foot.

With our acquired congressional power advantage, it may appear the Democrats moved the rubber stamped Republicans aside to claim the title of the bipartisan rubber stamped Party. Simple: no change, no difference in political ideology. The Democrats will be on the 2008 express train to powerlessness.

There has been too much work put into restoring balance to our government. So far the media have highlighted and framed the Republican spin: The only reason we made a big sweep on Election Day related to being like the Republicans. What a sick form of denial.

Joseph

Foley's Follies

With "the Democrats are the same defense" in full swing, it will be difficult to focus on the important legal questions concerning the sexual exploitation of our nation's innocence by the the biggest hypocrite ever to walk the halls of Congress.

Spin, the ugly signature of medias contribution to our political process, has surely gotten in the way of the pursuit for truth, and this Page incident will bare that out. Unless the Democrats have a factual contribution to the Foley incident, they should be left out of it. I don't need a history lessen, in the form of a score card, telling me we really need to focus on the Democrats because they have gotten away with more then Foley ever will.

Without the Foley incident, the Republican backed Incumbent revolt nearly succeeded in two more years of total Republican rule. Yet, somehow I feel the Democrats will still have to watch out for a generated issue from the right. I hope not.

Joseph

Terror To Order

America and Britain are so "on it" when it comes to exposing terrorism; they both knew of a plot to explode planes in mid air but could not do a dam thing until they busted the so called Pakistani bombers. So, right after the plot to explode plains in mid air have been exposed, the terrorist alert is out and the now comes the obvious spin game.

One obvious questionable fact is the alert for this terrorist plan was escalated when they found out the so called bombers were making attempts to book flights. The press was clear to point out NO FLIGHTS WERE BOOKED, so why would the Bush administration raise a terrorist alert after they stopped the plot and placed the would be terrorist in jail? I know why; does poll numbers and November elections stand to increase with such a report? Spin baby Spin and there is no one who knows how to Spin like the current administration and the Republican Party. In fact, the way in which the right wing press reported this was made to order for the President's ailing poll numbers. The overplay for this so called plot is so big it may backfire on the paranoid right. At the time of this post, there was talk that the Governor of California was talking about enlisting the National Guard to help with Airport security -- the only place the terrorist are allowed to attack from. I feel so safe.

At a time like this, the press really shows its greedy colors. With the sensation button in one hand and the made of order special professional guess at the ready, the press launch a ruthless parade of endless, "what ifs," political and one sided scenarios dedicated to educating and misleading issues their target audience want to hear. The sad part of all of this is the truth gets buried and very hard to distinguishes from the hypothetical. It is no wonder this countries get so many issues wrong when trying to find solutions; we need only look at our process for gathering information verses our unconscious need to be sensationalized while our Politicians try to gain political "one up man ship."

Joseph

Slash And Run Real Fast

The title suggests there should be an upgrade to the always appropriate slogan "cut and run." As adults, we should not be so taken in by this kind of suggestion: I am not sure what a "cut and run" is. Is it a person? Does a "cut and run" person have cooties or smell bad? I know a "cut and run” person is something like what happen to the word "Liberal." All of the sudden, as a "Liberal," I drink cool- aid and want by country taken over by terrorist and aliens, both out of country and outer space.

I know all this conjecture is not true; I am just wondering when we gave the opposition the unchallenged right to define who we, meaning Democrats and Liberals, are. At some point we have got to make the Republicans responsible for what they call us -- in the way our parent taught us about name calling -- just for the sake directing the moment to an adult level. Yes, come with what matters within issues, not within your kids classroom.

Joseph

I Hate The Truth About It All

How else am I suppose to feel about the truth about Iraq? I am sorry but I really hate what we have done to the civilian population in Iraq. It amounts to murder -- in this case, a very high class elitist murder cloaked in patriotism. When you look at the truth and the facts surrounding this War, I find myself looking for the honor we use to carry as a standard for the world to follow. So, I too look to Bush's Supreme court lost concering Guantánamo detainees as a blessing that could bring down Bush's misrepresentation of the American spirit. I would love to few our war resolve as a necessary option only used to save the lives of others in imminent danger. I do not feel the kind of honor and pride afforded our soldiers in past wars. How else am I suppose to feel?

Joseph

A Shock Jock Rally

Hell has no fury like that of the radio Right with a lie in mind and a mike in their hand. Similar, a mental clinic has no patient who would not benefit from a electrical jolt every now and then. The Democrats should use the lines used to rally the Right to truly what has become some of the most contemptuous actions this war has produced. Cold blooded murder is a very serious crime, for which, in this case, there has been plenty of witnesses to validate what our Marines have done. Another sad element concering this is our Marines are now benefiting from the negative aspects of the so called "Trickle Down" dynamic -- not the trickle down associated with economics, but instead, this is a trickle down of the attitude that you can get away with anything in within the actions of this Government. The Marines are only acting like their Commander and Chief who must be put into check. Our Governmental structure has never been so at the verge of complete breakdown as it is today. At all levels of our 3 branch Government, a realignment is needed; someone like Al Gore or another power house needs to step into this fight and stop this attack on its structure.
Joseph

Predictions Come True

Something must be said for the predictability of this current situation with the gas prices. For the last 5 years, the Oil companies have been testing the Market to see what it will bare; this testing allowed me to see a predictable pattern that still exceeded my expectations in how high gas prices would become. I remember reading somewhere gas prices would rise to a very high level; then, Mr. Bush would save the day by returning the prices to the previous level. What a strategy for the incredibly shrinking, in poll numbers, President.
From the very start of the price dynamic we are currently in, I was very concerned about the lack of outrage that was victimized by diversion tactics that played out in the form of headline news. Everyday, early in this month, and all of last month, there was something in the news big enough to keep the puplic from any concerned inquiry about the rise in gas prices. From immigration to leaks within the White House, there was always a issue and when things became dull, we found out our President was the source of his own leak investigation. How is that for a diversion? In any event, the puplic is now involved in what I fell will lead to the undoing of this National rip off.
Joseph

Taking On The Right Wing Press

Taking On The Right

At this point, the ritual of Scott McClellan's daily spin with the press is a exercise in a Republican rally call on how to defend the President's policies. I wonder what ciritics thinks will come out of confronting the lack of confrontation from the the media. At best, the press will be lucky the land on the right side of an issue; they have no commitment to journalistic excellence. In fact, the only beholding dynamic the press respects is ratings and it's ability to crate news to fit the new race to the right wing media slant. In today's political arena we have a lot to be concerned about. The lost of left wing power within the three branches of Government have created "black Hole" for everything people orientated to fall in. From laws to legislation, 40 years of hard earned Democratic ideals, that some have lost their lives for, seem to be falling by the waist side.
There is some light at the end of this fall: the 2006 elections should be the first major offensive from he left. As it turns out, the same power the Republicans fought so hard for will be their own demise. Absolute power corrupts, and we all have been witness to a lot of "good oh boy" corruption. Yes, the right wingers are trying their best at the only form of bipartisan politics they are willing to truly give a try: blame for the scandals they have made such a mess out of.

What Is Really Going On?

What will have to happen just to establish a truthful unmanipulated political process? Currently, the Republicans are getting away with telling many outrages distortions and lies that end up confusing and misleading our political process. In the current Iraqi quagmire, there is no time for undressing or unwrapping political propaganda designed to favor military dynamics that could, and often tries, to reshape our governmental structure at its core. No oversight has created a "all is fair" atmosphere that has sent our honor to the dark ages to sit along side of the very Iraqi lawless government we claim to be helping to eliminate.
Now, nothing is off limits, for you can even bring into question our honor system for which we acknowledge those who put their lives on the line to uphold are nation's interest. Coulter and the shock jocks invite the worse aspects of our Democratic government just to profit and establish a strong kkk style faction in our government. Hate sells, and the Republicans are guilty of using this very factor to win elections, divide our nation, and created an atmosphere of un-trust for the very process we function by. These are telling times, and people like Coulter tell the wrong time.
Joseph

Communicating Simple Points

Why is it so hard to hear what the Democrats are trying to say? Could some of Democrat's words be falling in a vacuum to briefly surface at the sole recall of Democrats only? It just seems, for the sake of politics, the critical points concerning our, I am a left leaning card carrying Democratic Liberal, positions get lost in the debates. One example is the Democrats claim they were given information to fit the Bush administration's wishes to go to war, not the facts which was not provided to those who voted to give Bush authorization to go to war. Another lost point is Murtha's initiative was not voted on; instead, a plain statement to withdraw the troops was submitted by the Republicans, which did not have any of the considerations noted in Murtha's initiative. There would be no argument if the positions held were clearly stated. The only thing left would be to prove or disapprove the positions in the debate.
Somebody clearly does not want to clearly define the debate; without clear delineation of the arguments, we cannot move to the who's telling the truth or lie stage. Time after time, the media and the Republicans claim the Democrats were given the same information as the President, and no one voted for Murtha's initiative. That is, in both cases, a poor delineation of the arguments at hand and will not go any further because the arguments lacks agreement on its foundation. When you factor the media's constant need to hype, distort, or crate information related to an argument, you get a dysfunctional triad that seem to run counter to any form of true problem solving. It is no wonder many Americans have lost hope in our media, Congress and leaders to solve our nation's problems. There is one word all three subjects in the triad adhered to: replacement.
Joseph

Undermining The Argument

The Democrats could be losing this argument concerning the sequence of events that took place in Congress on Friday, November 18, 2005. All media accounts indicate "Congress" acted like unsupervised children. When you view the tapes and follow the FACTS surrounding the argument, a clear distinction comes into view, and you clearly see the ill effects of globalizing taken form. The Republicans tried to present John Murtha's, a Democrat, bill in their words. This one fact has been so under reported by media and Republicans alike. What the Republicans did should be the first reply to any recounted attempt from Democrats. The attempt to blur the facts of how this argument became a spectacle
is a tactic so often used under the "Fair and Balanced" claim by the media. I could not count how many times the media has used this concept to make opinion and lies legitimate issues. Globalizing the 2004 Party candidates was the primary factor to why Democrats lost ground to the Republicans. It's logical to keep the status Que if both sides have been pegged as the same. Democrats cannot afford to be viewed as having the same attributes as the Republicans, a point that should not be hard for them.
For what happen in Congress on Friday, viewers would be hard pressed to see the spin has fact. Increased exposure, thanks to CSPAN, has and will make it difficult for the Republicans to lie as they once enjoyed. Before its over, I put my money on the Republicans moving to have TV out of Congress. The Republicans will long miss the days when lies flowed like Niagara Falls, and the only way to counter their lies required a more than average knowledge of current political dynamics.

Joseph

Speaking Out: We Awake From Inactivity To Fight Back

First let me say I am proud to be affiliated with the Left of the political spectrum. I am also proud to be a Liberal, who despite the rhetoric, has the intellect to move our county in the direction needed to recover from this administration's war based in lies and false economic recovery. It appears, the Left have awaken to fight the fight we should of fought right after the 2000 election.
In part, because of the bold and strongman tactics of the Bush administration, the Left reeled back and settled with a complain plenty do nothing approach to issues at hand. We became settled with the assumption the word Liberal meant you were endowed with everything wrong and only belonged in the category of extremes to be shunned by the mere mention of their name.
After two questionable elections, a war we were tricked into supporting, and a mounting reality that everything they have fought for 40 years, the Left now knows it is under attack from the Bush administration and his Republican supporters. Since the close of the Senate -- a special 21 rule -- to move into a close session, the left as awaken to fight. The Democrats, or the so called Liberals, have awaken to ask the important questions about how we got into a occupation of another country fighting for oil that is not ours. The Democrats have awaken to claim the proud accomplishments associated with being Liberal and caring for the world around them. With every move forward, the Left clarifies what the Right has so cleverly distorted and made a mockery of. Yes, the Left and all the good it has stood for stands in the only light it knows and that is in the interest of the American people.
Joseph

The Black Republicans And History

You can trace the Black Republican form of compliant thinking to "Uncle Tom's Cabin." It is a sad under-researched dynamic spawned from slavery as some slaves took many measures to stop some of the physical and separation abuse imposed on them as a means to control them.

To cope with the many beatings associated with plantation life, Blacks were forced into compliance. You need only to go to a land where you don't understand the language; add to this someone beating the skin off your back for words you can't seem to understand. By the principles described in conditional learning alone, Blacks understood a basic rule to survive, and not get beat, was to comply. Doing what they thought the masters wanted them to do was quickly learned and passed on as a survival technique.

The house slave is a direct product of compliance to avoid beatings. As those who understood this concept most became trusted and delegated to instruct other slaves who did not know the rules and language, thus, the Uncle Tom was born.

From the very beginning, the Uncle Tom thought he was better than the others because he could speak like the whites, dress like the whites, and if given the chance, he could even criticise like the whites. There was only one glaring problem to Uncle's Tom's status: he was still black.

Throughout the years, the Uncle Tom's need to demonstrate this extreme form of compliance has evolved to the now Black Republican, complete with his so called "just like Whites" conditioning, but now he's joined a political Party that seems to give his status a true sense of belonging and that is the Republican Party..


Joseph

A Tired Fight

The Republicans, and the "Hating Right" are starting to believe their own lies. Just like the evolution of man, the Republican liars have evolved into a whole new Species. The new Species is self supporting and need only the confirmations from their own ranks -- hence Bush's exclusion of non supporters to his town meetings and campaign rallies. The new Species has several draw backs, but the one that most identify their shortcomings as a Species is they tend to believe the lies in the face of undeniable truth, and they tend to treat truth as an opinion to be discounted by, you guessed it, more lies. With all this need to keep truth at bay, they have become very hateful of those who would make it difficult for them to maintain their deceptions. In short, they live by lies and die by them, and if we don't stop them, they will have more victims dying for the same lies they need to live off of.
Joseph

Logic Flow

If "A" and "B" are true, than "C". The Former is a simple formula for the truth, it is also the same formula being used by the Bush administration to generate untruths. I call the equation the "logic flow" formula. This is the very means by which are President is feeding the American people the untruth about Iraq and the War on Terror, where "A" = Terrorist who hate Americans, "B" = The need to defend America from the Bad Terrorist and "C" is equal to invasion of Iraq to spread Democracy so the Terrorist will change their minds or be killed?
Now if "A" and "B" are not true, then "C" will be ineffective and could be considered a contribute to the very problem that is up until now not Identified. The equations does not account for the money involved or the special interest that can be attribute to a false equation, but if you use the formula, you can point to the logic flow needed to gain support for the actions taken in Iraq and the War on Terror. It also points to the areas of focus for the truth, should America want to deal in a true solution.
Joseph