t r u t h o u t - Addington's Role in Cheney's Office Draws Fresh Attention

CLICK TO READ: t r u t h o u t - Addington's Role in Cheney's Office Draws Fresh Attention

David Addington, counsel to Vice President Cheney, is currently considered the leading candidate to succeed Scooter Libby as Cheney's chief of staff. But Addington's own role in the Plame matter is emerging just as the vice president considers naming him to the job.

We Have Been Warned

CLICK TO READ: We Have Been Warned

U.S. Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) made an unusually gutsy speech before the US House of Representatives on October 26, 2005. In this speech, Paul says:

"We have been warned. Prepare for a broader war in the Middle East, as plans are being laid for the next U.S.-led regime change – in Syria. A UN report on the death of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafig Hariri elicited this comment from a senior U.S. policy maker: “Out of tragedy comes an extraordinary strategic opportunity.” This statement reflects the continued neo-conservative, Machiavellian influence on our foreign policy. The “opportunity” refers to the long-held neo-conservative plan for regime change in Syria, similar to what was carried out in Iraq."

This is a speech worth hearing. Click on the link above for the whole transcript plus a link to a video of the speech.

t r u t h o u t - Paul Krugman | Ending the Fraudulence

CLICK TO READ: t r u t h o u t - Paul Krugman | Ending the Fraudulence

Paul Krugman strikes again! Hear hear! He points out that "this administration's political triumphs have never been based on its real-world achievements, which are few and far between. The administration has, instead, built its power on myths: the myth of presidential leadership, the ugly myth that the administration is patriotic, while its critics are not. Take away those myths, and the administration has nothing left."

Just When You Thought it Was Safe ....

Just when you thought it was safe to listen to mainstream news again--after some limited good reporting on Katrina, the Iraq fiasco, Harriet Miers, etc.--the Rove Spinmeisters are out in mass-media spin spin spinning away any resemblance of real news. Meet the Press, Hardball et al were busy loading up on their usual right-wing commentators and "experts", countered by a few ineffective Dems peppered here and there, to spin the Fitzgerald investigation into a "good news" story for Bush. "No conspiracy in the Bush White House!" they would have you believe. Just a few absent-minded Libby-lies, that's all. Rove is as innocent as a new babe. And if you believe that, they've got one heck of a bridge in China they want to sell you, too.

My initial reaction to the Sunday news shows was my usual four-letter-word anger--spraying my television set with a spittoon full of obscenities directed at those idiotic, truth-bending, talking heads. How dare they blatantly lie about the facts--again!? I screamed. How can anyone listen to this BS??!! I swore. I swore some more. You get the idea.

But then, my saner side kicked in--what's left of it. And I realized that they can fantasize all they want that the Bushies are white-glove-clean and everything is hunky-dorey in White House land--the facts are the investigation is not quite over. Nor is the trial. And, while not exactly confident, I am optimistic that the truth WILL emerge evenually. I only hope it's sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, Bushie lost not one second in his effort to divert attention away from his sleazy gang of sidekicks by picking another supreme court judge: Alito. Obviously deciding it is in his political best interests to make nice-nice with the extreme religious right, he has set the stage for the latest controversy and political fight designed to change the political discourse and divide America further. So much for George "I'm-a-Uniter" Bush.

I couldn't help but think, while watching the millions of people who flooded the streets to celebrate the White Sox winning the World Series last week, it's truly amazing that people care more about winning a baseball game than losing over 2000 of our children in an illegal war. What the peace/anti-war movement wouldn't give for even a fraction of those numbers to show up at even one of their various protests around the country. Look, I have nothing against baseball, and it was great to see a team win after 88 years of disappointments, but, what exactly does it take to get people excited about the fact that this country is probably headed south for at LEAST the next 88 years thanks to the horrific policies of Bush & Company.

For starters, It takes a more responsible, ethical group of newscasters, reporters, and journalists than we have at present. Come on, Anderson Cooper--you gave us a little hope for the media--one brief moment--and now you're turning right back into the media ratings darling they have always groomed you to be. Go with your gut, report from your heart, take some risks, get the facts and bring back the days when "news was news". If not now, when?

Clinton to Dems: Don't Fear Tough Issues - New York Times

CLICK TO READ: Clinton to Dems: Don't Fear Tough Issues - New York Times

An eerie parallel between tonight's episode of "West Wing" and Clinton's recent advise to Democrats. Maybe he's moonlighting as a producer:

'Clinton attributed Republicans' control of Congress to Democratic candidates' inability or unwillingness to ''stand up and be heard'' on issues that matter to people. For example, he said, Democrats too often are unwilling to talk about abortion because they're afraid of virulent reactions from anti-abortion groups.

''So how come we can't talk about it?'' he asked. ''Because we basically let political ads turn every player in this drama into a two-dimensional cartoon instead of a three-dimensional person.'''

Who Talked? It Wasn't the Special Prosecutor - Los Angeles Times

CLICK TO READ: Who Talked? It Wasn't the Special Prosecutor - Richard Schmitt, Los Angeles Times

Fitzgerald's 22-page indictment, with its bare-bones outlines of the case, provided a bracing lesson on what major political investigations have become now that they are no longer conducted by independent counsels, and how the culture of rooting out scandal in Washington has fundamentally changed.

Prosecutor should dig deeper - baltimoresun.com

CLICK TO READ: Prosecutor should dig deeper - Jeremy Brecher and Brendan Smith, BaltimoreSun.com

Scooter Libby lied to cover-up greater crimes, the authors argue, and more potential Bush administration crimes should be investigated including lying to Congress, violations of the US Anti-Torture Act and violations of the US War Crimes Act.

Salon.com | Libby takes the fall

CLICK TO READ: Salon.com | Libby takes the fall by Joe Conason

"But Bush still needs to come clean on the White House's role in abusing classified information for partisan purposes."

White House Ethics, Honesty Questioned

CLICK TO READ: White House Ethics, Honesty Questioned by Richard Morin and Claudia Deane, The Washington Post

55% of Americans say the indictment of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby signals broader ethical problems in the Bush administration, and, by a 3 to 1 ratio, Americans believe the overall level of honesty and ethics in the federal government has fallen since President Bush took office, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News survey.

Interactive Graphic Timeline of the Leak Investigation - New York Times

CLICK TO READ: Timeline of the Leak Investigation - New York Times

Having trouble following the intricacies of the Plame Leak investigation? This interactive graphic lays out the sequence of events.

t r u t h o u t - The White House Criminal Conspiracy

CLICK TO READ: t r u t h o u t - The White House Criminal Conspiracy by Elizabeth de la Vega

Former federal prosecutor Elizabeth de la Vega says the Bush administration engaged in intelligence fraud comparable to the accounting fraud of companies like Enron, but with far graver consequences. She examines in detail the evidence that the President and his aides conspired to defraud the United States by intentionally misrepresenting intelligence about Iraq.

t r u t h o u t - Frank Rich: One Step Closer to the Big Enchilada

CLICK TO READ: t r u t h o u t - Frank Rich, New York Times: One Step Closer to the Big Enchilada

"To believe that the Bush-Cheney scandals will be behind us anytime soon you'd have to believe that the Nixon-Agnew scandals peaked when G. Gordon Liddy and his bumbling band were nailed for the Watergate break-in."

The Blog | Arianna Huffington: Fitzgerald's Libby High Five Puts the Focus on Iraq | The Huffington Post

The Blog | Arianna Huffington: Fitzgerald's Libby High Five Puts the Focus on Iraq | The Huffington Post

"The five counts against Scooter Libby is a high five for those of us who have been saying (ad nauseum, ad infinitum) that the heart of Plamegate has always been the way this administration did everything in its power to cover up the lies and deceptions it used to lead us into a reckless and unnecessary war."

Rove and Cheney Are Now Caught In Fitzgerald's Web; Will they Go Down too? by Jason Leopold

Rove and Cheney Are Now Caught In Fitzgerald's Web; Will they Go Down too? by Jason Leopold

A fascinating look at where Fitzgerald's investigation may yet lead.

Open Letter To The honorable Dick Cheney

Open Letter To The honorable Dick Cheney by Nolan K. Anderson

"I am against torturing prisoners for any reason – for the simple reason that I have no interest in being considered as barbaric as those we label as terrorists."

Al-Sistani said to weigh pullout demand

"NAJAF, Iraq - Iraq's top Shiite cleric is considering demanding a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. and foreign troops after a democratically elected government takes office next year, according to associates of the Iranian-born cleric.

If the Americans and their coalition partners do not comply, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani would use peaceful means such as mass street protests to step up pressure for a pullout schedule, according to two associates of the cleric."

2,000 US TROOPS DEAD IN IRAQ: ONE SURVIVOR TELLS HIS STORY

Mirror.co.uk:

"Bush kept coming up with reason after reason that was proving to be wrong," Tomas said. "It reminded me of when I was naughty as a kid.

"Mom would find out my first excuse wasn't true, so I'd make up a second and third until I would finally admit what I'd done and take my whupping...."

Suddenly, Bush Embraces Right of Fair Trials

Dave Lindorff (CounterPunch):

"When President Bush was confronted by reporters as he left the White House for Camp David following the announcement of the five indictments of, and the resignation of Vice President Dick Cheney chief of state I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, he offered up a lame comment, which at the same time exposed him as a grotesque hypocrite...."

Indicting America�

Scott Ritter, Information Clearing House:

"The indictment of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby by Special Prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald provides the most cogent and visible evidence to date of the criminal mindset that exists inside the Bush administration regarding the decision to invade Iraq...."

Forging the Case for War

Philip Giraldi asks:

"Who was behind the Niger uranium documents?"

How We Can and Must Make America Safer

Phillis Engelbert writes:

"Reflecting on the affects of 9/11--both Bush's power abuses and America's disastrous war against Iraq--Phillis Engelbert discusses the need--before another terrorist attack--for the peace movement to define itself as an advocate for a safer America...."

Our 27 Months of Hell

Joseph C. Wilson , the diplomat whose wife's name was leaked by Bush administration officials, makes his case for feeling vindicated by Friday's indictment of the vice president's chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Wilson goes on to describe the, "two-year smear campaign orchestrated by senior officials in the Bush White House against my wife and me."

All the Vice President's Men

More facts and intrigue surrounding the Plame investigation from Juan Cole:

"The ideologues in Cheney's inner circle drummed up a war. Now their zealotry is blowing up in their faces."

Who's on First?

You can always rely on Maureen Dowd to cut to the chase:

"The back story of this indictment is about the ongoing Tong wars of the CIA, the White House, the State Department and the Pentagon: the fight over who lied us into war. The CIA, after all, is the agency that asked for a special prosecutor to be appointed to investigate how one of its own was outed by the White House.

The question Mr. Fitzgerald repeatedly declined to answer yesterday - Dick Cheney's poker face has finally met its match - was whether this stops at Scooter."

White House Spin Doctor Is Ill

Norman Solomon:

"In this real-time Shakespearean drama, Rove and Libby are more than bit players - but they're certainly not the lead characters. Serving the GOP's top two elected officials, Rove and Libby are no rogue elephants.
����
News stories and commentaries should begin to explore this scandal with questions about George W. Bush and Dick Cheney that echo the Watergate era: What did they know and when did they know it? Was there a coordinated cover-up - and, if so, how high did it go?"

Deconstructing the Indictment

Stirling Newberry: analyzes the Libby indictment. Stirling deconstructs the indictment and raises the questions that need to be asked.

Keep Investigating, Fitz

Robert Dreyfuss reports:

"After two years, Fitzgerald must have the evidence to roll up the entire Cheney-Rumsfeld cabal. Here's why he should do so...."

Robert Dreyfuss is the author of Devil's Game: How the United States Helped Unleash Fundamentalist Islam (Henry Holt/Metropolitan Books, 2005). Dreyfuss is a freelance writer based in Alexandria, Va., who specializes in politics and national security issues. He is a contributing editor at The Nation, a contributing writer at Mother Jones, a senior correspondent for The American Prospect, and a frequent contributor to Rolling Stone.

Plamegate: What To Expect Next

Elizabeth de la Vega, TomPaine.com:

"With the first indictments filed, what can we expect from the Fitzgerald investigation? A former federal prosecutor explains...."

Cheney, Libby Blocked Papers To Senate Intelligence Panel

Murray Waas, special to NATIONAL JOURNAL, has the story.

Op-Art: Dick and Don's Cabal

With Libby indicted, that's one down, 28 to go. Here's the TomPaine official guide to the Cheney-Rumsfeld cabal that sold America an unjust war.

Inside Wal-Mart, a Larger Debate

I have boycotted Walmart for years since becoming aware of their dismal record of employee treatment. This retailer has utilized unfair competition tactics in order to undercut their competitor's prices and gain market share. At the same time, their employee practices are reprehensible -- they pay lousy wages and provide lousy benefits in order to increase the greenbacks lining their own pockets.

Look, I like low prices just as much as the next guy, and I believe companies are entitled to make a fair profit--but not when it comes at the expense of a worker's ability to support himself and/or his family. When people are treated unfairly by their employers, it behooves all of us to stand up for those employees and, by boycotting that company, make it clear that we will not support their actions.

A Separate Peace

America is in trouble--and our elites are merely resigned.

This is a link to an insightful, thought provoking piece by Peggy Noonan. Surprisingly, I share many of Ms. Noonan's feelings. What do you think? Is there a "deep and fundamental" sense in America that "things have broken down and can't be fixed, or won't be fixed any time soon"?

The problem I have is that in describing an extremely depressing outlook, Noonan offers no solution and, in fact, postulates that there may be none. Importantly, she fails to analyze why our problems have suddenly become so overwhelming, our feelings so hopeless. Without analyzing the causes, there can be no solutions.

I believe that our normal political and societal problems have been exascerbated and fanned to hurricane proportions by the Bush administration's severely misguided and dangerous policies. Where we had problems before Bush, they have multiplied tenfold in both number and intensity since the Bush regime.

The solution is, therefore, first and foremost, to remove from power the disruptive and counter productive forces in our government: Bush, his cronies, and their elitist agendas must go. And they had better go soon. Because the dire future Ms. Noonan paints is already upon us, and the point of no return is rapidly approaching (if we haven't reached it already). We must radically change the direction this country has taken for the last 5 years. And we need to do it now.

Bush should take a hint from Harriet Miers. His reign is distrupting this country's ability to solve our problems. He should step down and take his whole crazy cabal of neo-cons with him."

Who Am I? Why won't I reveal my identity?

The current political climate is one that relies on personal smear tactics and media manipulations to win elections. In the midst of all this sleaze, a candidate's message is lost. It's not necessarily that views are not being expressed, it is that they are not being heard above the sleaze fray.

Another unfortunate fact of our current political process, ever since JFK and Chamelot, is that the amount of "charisma" a candidate exhibits can be the deciding factor over whether or not he is eventually elected. How else did we end up with Arnold "I'll be back" as Governor of California? Or Sonny Bono as a mayor? Or, frankly, Ronald Reagan as a president?

Because I don't believe candidates should be elected on the basis of their good looks or charm--or lack thereof--both of which serve to distract from their message, I choose to keep myself invisible for the time being. The only way I can be judged is by the value of my words and the quality of my beliefs. And that is how it should be.

Politics should be about real, not manufactured, issues: solving the kinds of real problems that are preventing this country from being the great democracy it should be. Rather, certain political factions want to distract you from those very real problems by manipulating you into paying attention to the unimportant, manufactured ones. Since 9/11, "fear" has been their most effective tactic to distract you from what is really going on. Frankly, things have gotten so bad, who can believe anything one hears from government officials anymore? They have lied to us so often, cried 'wolf' so many times, we have learned to ignore them. God forbid there should be a REAL terror attack in this country. No one, at this point, would take the warnings -- if given -- seriously.

In an effort to change the political climate, I will become more vocal as the election approaches. I will withhold my identity for as long as possible, in order to keep the focus on the issues and off political superficialities. In the meantime, a clue: I'm no different than you. I am frustrated by what has (and has not) been happening in Washington and by our government's inability to solve our problems and be responsive to our needs. We need: Universal Health Care. Quality education for all. Environmental protection. Protection of our privacy and civil rights. A fair tax code. A foreign policy that promotes peaceful coexistence with the rest of the world instead of illegal wars in the name of peace. And on and on...

I invite you to tell me YOUR needs. Tell me what YOU think. Give me YOUR ideas. What are YOUR priorites? Health Care? The War in Iraq? Post your comments. I WILL read and consider every one. Together we will create a campaign of the people, for the people and by the people...which is what our government is supposed to be all about. POST YOUR COMMENTS. AND STAY TUNED...

Fabricated Links?

Newsweek reports:

"A CIA report casts new doubt on links between Iraq and Al Qaeda. Plus, tensions between FBI Director Bob Mueller and his predecessor, Louis Freeh...."

Driving Blind as the Deaths Pile Up

Bob Herbert (New York Times) writes that even Richard Nixon's cronies are crawling out of the woodwork to urge the Bush gang to stop the madness. In an article for Foreign Affairs magazine, former Defense Secretary Melvin Laird, now 83, says the administration needs to come up with a clearly defined exit strategy, and fast.

The Cabal's Italian Branch by Laura Rozen

American Prospect Online:

"Italy's intelligence chief met with Deputy National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley just a month before the Niger forgeries first surfaced...."

Washington Post: Kerry Urges U.S. to Start Withdrawal From Iraq

Kerry Urges U.S. to Start Withdrawal From Iraq | Chris Cillizza and Josh White | Washington Post Staff Writers

"Senator's Timetable Specifies 15 Months"

In my opinion, too little, too late. Where was he during the last presidential campaign? Glad he's finally beginning to see the light, but he let has lost my respect completely....

Vice President for Torture

Vice President for Torture

"VICE PRESIDENT Cheney is aggressively pursuing an initiative that may be unprecedented for an elected official of the executive branch: He is proposing that Congress legally authorize human rights abuses by
Americans...."

Senator Patrick Leahy: Bring Them Home

t r u t h o u t | Senator Patrick Leahy | Bring Them Home

A speech worth listening to...or, in this case, reading.

Interactive Graphic: The Roster of the Dead

Since the beginning of the war in Iraq, nearly 2,000 American service members have died. The dead come from all branches of the armed services and represent the highest toll since the Vietnam War. What is important is more than the number: 2000. What is important is that they each have a name. They each have a face. And they each had a life that is no more. Take a look:

A Look at Those Who Died in Iraq | New York Times

Cindy Sheehan: Grim Milestone

As we all know, the American death toll in Iraq reached 2,000 yesterday. I believe most people in America are in mourning today, whether we are pro- or anti-war:

t r u t h o u t - Cindy Sheehan | Grim Milestone

Bush Threatens Sanctions, Even Force, against Syria

When Bush was asked what the United States would do if Syria did not change its policies, he said:

"We're going to use our military."

See: t r u t h o u t | Bush Threatens Sanctions, Even Force, against Syria

Dick at the Heart of Darkness

Maureen Dowd (NYT) writes that

"the shocking thing about the trellis of revelations showing Dick Cheney, the self-styled Mr. Strong America, as the central figure in dark conspiracies to juice up a case for war and demonize those who tried to tell the public the truth, is how un-shocking it all is.... It's exactly what we thought was going on...."

Planned GOP Budget Cuts Target Programs Such as Foster Care

WAPO:

"Republicans began targeting key programs for budget cuts yesterday, from student loans and health care to food stamps and foster care. But the tough measures immediately drew staunch opposition from anti-poverty groups, businesses and moderate Republicans...."

Attend or Host a Vigil Tonight for 2000 Killed in Iraq

MoveOn.org Political Action

This week, the number of American soldiers lost while serving in Iraq reached over 2000. While thousands of families have made the ultimate sacrifice, thousands more send their children and loved ones off to a war that seems to have no end in sight.

Today, Wednesday, October 26, 2005 at 6:30 p.m. thousands will gather at vigils to remember and honor our fallen soldiers and ask, "How many more?"

Click on the link above to attend a vigil -- or, if there is none in a community near you, sign up and host one. We owe it to the 2000 soldiers and the over 100 thousand innocent dead Iraqi's to do our part to end an illegal war and bring our troops home.

Fitzgerald: Civil Rights Charges?

TomPaine.com:

"Forget the "technicality" spin: Fitzgerald may be looking at indictments for a conspiracy to use federal resources to deny Joe Wilson of his civil rights...."

In Speeches From 1990s, Clues About Miers Views

Nominee Defended Social Activism

How Scary Is This?

Bob Herbert (NYT):

"The White House is sweating out the possibility that one or more top officials will soon be indicted on criminal charges. But according to Bob Herbert, the Bush administration is immune to prosecution for its greatest offense - its colossal and profoundly tragic incompetence...."

Poll shows Iraqis back attacks on UK, US forces

Take a look.

"Eighty-two percent of Iraqis polled said they were "strongly opposed" to the presence of the troops...."

Happy Talk on School Reform

New York Times:

"The Bush administration put a positive gloss on national math and reading scores that were actually dismal - and bad news for the school reform effort...."

Former Powell Aide Says Bush Policy Is Run by 'Cabal'

By Brian Knowlton, New York Times

"Lawrence Wilkerson said that President Bush has made the country more vulnerable, not less, to future crises...."

Libby Targeted Joe Wilson

Bush Critic Became Target of Libby, Former Aides Say
By Peter Wallsten and Tom Hamburger, Los Angeles Times

"Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff was so angry about the public statements of former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, a Bush administration critic married to an undercover CIA officer, that he monitored all of Wilson's television appearances and urged the White House to mount an aggressive public campaign against him, former aides say...."

The Quest For Universal

Ken Frisof, M.D. (TomPaine.com):

"Growing coalitions and fresh strategies are breathing new life into the campaign to win affordable health care for all...."

Why Isn't this the Biggest News Story of the Day?

Cenk Uygur asks a good question.

Fitzgerald's Historic Opportunity

TomPaine.com:

The author of Bush's Brain says Patrick Fitzgerald has the power to restore Americans' faith in the rule of law.

Secrets, Evasions and Classified Reports

Newsweek:

"The CIA leak case isn't just about whether top officials will be indicted. A larger issue is what Judith Miller's evidence says about White House manipulation of the media."

Tell News Corp., Local Stations, and Congress: "Don't FOX with my local news!"

Free Press:

Fox News Channel's political agenda is coming to a television station near you.

Roger Ailes, the architect behind the right-wing tilt of cable news, is now remaking 35 local television stations -- broadcasting to nearly 40 percent of America's homes -- in Fox News Channel's image.

Help stop News Corp. from turning our local news into another Fox News Channel. Add your name to Free Press' petition at the link above.

DeLay Rankings: How Close is YOUR Representative to Scandal-Plagued Tom DeLay?

Find out here.

Climate Mash

Watch the video.

"The Climate Mash" is hilarious - but the effects of global warming aren't. Global warming puts our health, our economy and our environment at risk. It's time to demand that major polluters like ExxonMobil and others stop resisting solutions that could make a real difference.

This Halloween, you can help SaveOurEnvironment.org send a message to Congress that they'll never forget. Click on the link above to watch "The Climate Mash" and take action today!

Chickens Come Home to Roost on Cheney

Ray McGovern reports:

"Indictments are expected to come down shortly as special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald completes the investigation originally precipitated by the outing of a CIA officer under deep cover. In 21-plus months of digging and interviewing, Fitzpatrick and his able staff have been able to negotiate the intelligence/policy/politics labyrinth with considerable sophistication. In the process, they seem to have learned considerably more than they had bargained for...."

Court Nominee Is Asked to Redo Reply to Questions

New York Times:

The Supreme Court nomination of Harriet E. Miers suffered another setback on Wednesday when the Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee asked her to resubmit parts of her judicial questionnaire, saying various members had found her responses "inadequate," "insufficient" and "insulting." ...

'Cheney cabal hijacked US foreign policy'

FT.com:

"In a scathing attack on the record of President George W. Bush, Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, chief of staff to Mr. Powell until last January, said: 'What I saw was a cabal between the vice-president of the United States, Richard Cheney, and the secretary of defense, Donald Rumsfeld, on critical issues that made decisions that the bureaucracy did not know were being made....'"

The Crisis Papers

The Illusion of Normality by Ernest Partridge, Co-Editor:

"Never in the 229 years of United States history has this government 'of, by and for the people' been in greater peril. Not during the Civil War, not during the great depression, and not during the Second World War or the Cold War which followed...."

Why torture is OK

By Maura Stephens | OpenDemocracy:

"Imagine that you are on your way to work, coffee in hand, one December morning when three men in United States military uniforms, armed with guns, approach you. They say your name; you acknowledge it...."

Rice won't rule out troops in Iraq in 10 years

Oh, great....

1 in 4 Iraq vets ailing on return

Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY:

"It seems that the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent Iraqi citizens, and nearly 2,000 American service men and women is only a fraction of the price we are paying for this illegal war...."

2 Political Junkies: ABSOLUT CORRUPTION.

2 Political Junkies:

(Click on link above for larger picture)

Whether they're pulling a Martha Stewart, or conspiring to subvert election laws, or ripping off their kids' school board, or outing a CIA agent, or practicing cronyism turned deadly, or hiring a bagman who in turn hires Mafia hit men, or lying to get us into an unjust war that kills tens of thousands, these guys are: ABSOLUT CORRUPTION.

Dick Cheney's Covert Action

TomPaine.com:

"As the indictments near, America must understand that the betrayal of Plame was part of a concerted effort to manipulate America into war...."

A Web of Truth

Whistle-Blower or Troublemaker, Bunny Greenhouse Isn't Backing Down.

Read about this gutsy, principled woman's fight against corruption in the White House.

Neely Tucker, Washington Post Staff Writer, has the story here.

A Year Later, Goss's CIA Is Still in Turmoil

By Dafna Linzer
Washington Post

"When Porter J. Goss took over the CIA last year, he promised to reshape the agency beginning with the spy division. Now Goss is at loggerheads with the clandestine service he sought to embrace...."

Cheney aide cooperating with CIA outing probe, sources say

The Raw Story has the details here.

It just keeps getting curiouser and curiouser...

EPN Program Launched

Progressive Democrats of America Announces the Launch of their Elected Progressives Network Project.

This is a terrific grassroots initiative effort and you can help build it and assure its success. Just click on the link above for details.

The Unknown Candidate: Who am I?

The Unknown Candidate: Who am I?

Are you tired of politicians spouting political agendas that have no bearing--or worse, a negative bearing--on your life? So am I.
I dream of something better. Read on...

'Rule of Law'? That's So '90s

By E. J. Dionne Jr.

"We are on the verge of an extraordinary moment in American politics. The people running our government are about to face their day -- or days -- in court."

�23 Administration Officials Involved In Plame Leak

Think Progress reports: �

"A virtual cast of characters involved in the Plame Leak investigation....but what will the final Act reveal?"

Cheney's Office Is A Focus in Leak Case

Jim VandeHei and Walter Pincus
Washington Post:

"Sources Cite Role Of Feud With CIA...."

Cheney May Be Entangled in CIA Leak Investigation

Reuters reports:

"A special counsel is focusing on whether Vice President Dick Cheney played a role in leaking a covert CIA agent's name, according to people familiar with the probe that already threatens top White House aides Karl Rove and Lewis Libby...."

Peering under the Plame Outing

David Swanson writes that

"the Bush Administration's claims about ties between Iraq and al Qaeda were as laughable as all the claims about weapons. But they were made over and over again, and not debunked effectively by the media...."

The Big Squeeze

Paul Krugman (NYT) writes that...

"Delphi's bankruptcy is a much bigger deal than your ordinary case of corporate failure and bad, self-dealing management. If Delphi slashes wages and defaults on its pension obligations, the rest of the auto industry may well be tempted - or forced - to do the same. And that will mark the end of the era in which ordinary working Americans could be part of the middle class...."

The Heart of the Matter

William Rivers Pitt writes that...

Mr. Libby may be a target of Mr. Fitzgerald, but no one should forget the trips Cheney personally made to Langley in order to wring war-supporting evidence out of the analysts. He went himself. His fingerprints are all over the scene.

Bush to Blair: First Iraq, then Saudi

Marie Woolf, Political Editor, The Independent:

"George Bush told the Prime Minister two months before the invasion of Iraq that Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran and North Korea may also be dealt with over weapons of mass destruction, a top secret Downing Street memo shows. The US President told Tony Blair, in a secret telephone conversation in January 2003 that he 'wanted to go beyond Iraq'...."

Inquiry into the Bush Administration's Crimes against Humanity

CHECK IT OUT:

The 2005 International Commission of Inquiry
on Crimes Against Humanity Committed by
the Bush Administration of the United States
The Bush Crimes Commission

"When the possibility of far-reaching war crimes and crimes against humanity exists, people of conscience have a solemn responsibility to inquire into the nature and scope of these acts and to determine if they do in fact rise to the level of war crimes and crimes against humanity. That is the mission of the International Commission of Inquiry on Crimes Against Humanity...."

A Future Investigation

Washington Post:

"Some day, senior offiicials and officers will be held accountable for detainee abuse. Sen. Carl M. Levin's proposal for an independent investigative commission offers an opportunity to hasten that day's arrival...."

It's Bush-Cheney, Not Rove-Libby

Frank Rich (NYT) reports:

"Asked repeatedly about Mr. Rove's serial appearances before a Washington grand jury, the jittery Mr. Bush, for once bereft of a script, improvised a passable impersonation of Norman Bates being quizzed by the detective in "Psycho." Like Norman he stonewalled. What makes Patrick Fitzgerald's investigation compelling, whatever its outcome, is its illumination of a conspiracy that was not at all petty: the one that took us on false premises into a reckless and wasteful war in Iraq. That conspiracy was instigated by Mr. Rove's boss, George W. Bush, and Mr. Libby's boss, Dick Cheney...."

Security at Any Cost?

Terry M. Neal (Washington Post):

"A new study by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service suggests that the war in Iraq is now costing the United States $6 billion a month, up from about $5 billion a month last year."

Nick Turse, The Fallen Legion: Casualties of the Bush Administration

TomDispatch:

"Since almost the day he assumed power, George W. Bush has left a trail of broken careers in his wake. Nick Turse lists but a handful of the most familiar names on the rolls of the fallen.

A close look at these individuals and their experiences reveals more than George Bush would like to admit about his character and ethics--or lack thereof...."

Questions of Character

Paul Krugman (NYT) writes that right now, with the Bush administration in meltdown on multiple issues, we're hearing a lot about President Bush's personal failings. But what happened to the commanding figure of yore, the heroic leader in the war on terror? The answer, of course, is that the commanding figure never existed: Mr. Bush is the same man he always was.

The Million Phone March To Impeach President Bush

JOIN US!

Recent polls show that the majority of Americans are in favor of impeaching George W. Bush if he lied to the American people in order to wage his illegal war against Iraq. It is now blatantly clear that he did indeed lie to us.

It is now up to us--all of us--to let our Senators and Congressmen know that we want Bush impeached and that it is their responsibility to begin the proceedings.

Just click on the above link to send your representatives the message--loud and clear--and, if you choose, automatically send your letter to the editor of the newpaper of your choice. Let's remind these politicians that we elected them to represent us and it's about time they started to do so!

Depressed Over the Last Election...?

Become Republican.

Sick of compassion, common sense, science, tolerance? Don't worry, there's another way: Kiss your conscience goodby and switch to the winner....Become Republican! Watch the video--It's guaranteed to give you more than a few chuckles.

And we can all use more than a few good chuckles right about about now: Watch.

Thanks to TheFrown.com

"Bush Family Fortunes"

The BBC and Greg Palast, Investigate the Bush family scandals:

Download Greg Palast Documentary "Bush Family Fortunes"

Impeachment, Now and Then

From Dave Lindorff (Counterpunch):

"Here's a fascinating bit of news: More people today want to see President Bush impeached than wanted Clinton impeached on the eve of the House's vote on his impeachment...."

Bush Teleconference With Soldiers Staged

DEB RIECHMANN
(Associated Press) has the story.

What Iraqis Really Think About the Occupation

Tom Hayden (The Nation) reports:

"The lack of critical media coverage at the beginning of the Iraq War is widely acknowledged. But the media's failure to cover Iraqi voices of opposition is arguably a greater default. What could account for the failure of the mainstream media either to report these facts or interview these respected opponents of the war?..."

We need to be told

John Pilger reports:

'''The propagandist's purpose.' wrote Aldous Huxley, 'is to make one set of people forget that certain other sets of people are human.' The British, who invented modern war propaganda and inspired Joseph Goebbels, were specialists in the field...."

Iraq has descended into anarchy, says Fisk

Nigel Morris (The Independent) reports:

"...[Fisk] said that the portrayal of Iraq by Western leaders, of efforts to introduce democracy, including Saturday's national vote on the country's proposed constitution ­ was 'unreal' to most of its citizens...."

Who will be indicted, and when?

Sidney Blumenthal (Salon.com) writes:

"As dread descends on the White House, all of Washington waits for the Valerie Plame endgame...."

Photo Credit: Salon.com

Dust off the Nuremberg Files

Anwaar Hussain writes:

"Abundant evidence is now available that shows that leaders and advisers of the Bush and Blair administrations engaged in 'planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression.' Iraq posed no threat to either the United States or Britain...."

Preventive War 'the Supreme Crime'

Iraq: invasion that will live in infamy.
By Noam Chomsky

"...President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair underscored their contempt for international law and institutions at their Azores summit meeting on the eve of the invasion. They issued an ultimatum, not to Iraq , but to the Security Council: capitulate, or we will invade without your meaningless seal of approval...."

How To End The War

Paul Craig Roberts writes:

"...There still is a way to bring reality to the Bush administration. The public has the Internet. Is the antiwar movement well enough organized to collect via the Internet signatures on petitions for impeachment, perhaps one petition for each state? Millions of signatures would embarrass Bush before the world and embarrass our elected Representatives for their failure to act.

If no one in Congress acted on the petitions, all the rhetoric about war for democracy would fall flat. It would be obvious that there is no democracy in America.

If the cloak of democracy is stripped away, Bush’s "wars for democracy" begin to look like the foreign adventures of a megalomaniac. Remove Bush’s rhetorical cover, and tolerance at home and abroad for Bush’s war would evaporate. If Bush persisted, he would become a pariah.

Americans may feel that they cannot undercut a president at war, in which case Americans will become an embattled people consumed by decades of conflict. Americans can boot out Bush or pay dearly in blood and money."

The truth about global warming

Climate scientist John M. Wallace tried to steer Vice President Al Gore away from global warming theories back in 1994. Today, Wallace has changed his thinking and has joined the overwhelming scientific consensus that says that climate change is a serious threat to the planet.

Read all about it: HERE.

Ideological Prozac, American Style

William Rivers Pitt writes:

"...Our supply of Prozac is running short. The belief in American excellence so desperately necessary to the mental balance of the populace is being eroded by the hour, and there will be hell to pay because of it."

New Orleans: Leaving the Poor behind Again!

Bill Quigley writes:

"People are making serious money in this hurricane but not the working and poor people who built and maintained New Orleans. The poor, the sick, the disabled, the prisoners, the low-wage workers of New Orleans, were all left behind in the evacuation. Now that New Orleans is re-opening for some, the same people are being left behind again...."

Poll: Americans Favor Bush's Impeachment If ...

...He Lied About Iraq.

Take a look at the proof: HERE.

Please Don't Support My Troop

Michael Gaddy (ICH) writes:

"I have a personal request for all of you George W. Bush supporters and Christian warhawks: please do not support my troop. I have visions and aspirations of having him around, seeing him settle down and start a family at some point, and being near as I grow older. Your support would mean that he would be sent back to this war started and continued on lies to become a target for those who would rather live their lives without the interference of a foreign, empire-seeking, new-world-order, invader...."

A Snake Oil President

TomPaine.com:

"The White House has squandered your tax dollars on illegal propaganda. So why isn't the Justice Department investigating? ..."

A *Real* Contract With America

Robert L. Borosage (The Nation) reports:

"With the GOP in turmoil, it's time Democrats make themselves a compelling force for change...."

Bush's Fantasy Foreign Policy

Rami G. Khouri (TomPaine.com):

"Bush keeps making the same speech about the 'global war on terror,' with less credibility each time...."

Gore Vidal: on TV News & Democracy

MUST SEE:

Author Gore Vidal talks with IWT news about television news and the state of democracy.

What does 2000 look like?

Did You Ever Wonder What 2000 Looks Like?

A Powerful Flash Presentation. Watch it. Pass it on.

We Can't Let "It" Happen Here

What is beyond the looking glass?
By Jason Miller

"Over a year ago, the comfort of my world severely diminished as I took my journey through the looking glass and discerned the ugly truths about the nation of my birth, the United States of America. 'Logic and proportion' certainly seemed to have “fallen softly dead” when I discovered that much of what I had learned about my country as a child had been a lie...."

The Trouble with Authority

Should just people obey unjust laws?

By Charles Sullivan

"In our desire to appear reasonable we have lost the willingness to fight for what is good and decent. We have marginalized and prostituted ourselves. We cannot expect any help from either the Democratic or the Republican parties—they are a part of the problem...."

AtomFilms: I Can't Afford My Gasoline

If we can't laugh about it...we'll cry...so enjoy this jingle & video from Atom Films.

The Plame Case

From Truthout:

"Larry Johnson, a close colleague of Valerie Plame, reveals the neglected issues underneath the superficial treatment that has characterized most press reporting...."

Illegitimate Election 2004

Lest we forget...Lest we remedy our voting system...it will happen again.

Watch the video from VelvetRevolutiion.us

Civics Student...or Enemy of America?

Wal-Mart Turns in Student's Anti-Bush Photo, Secret Service Investigates Him

"After a Wal-Mart employee turned in a high school student's anti-Bush poster to the police, the Secret Service came calling....

Reporter turns over notes in CIA leak case

"Judith Miller discovered the notes -- about a June 2003 conversation she had with Cheney's chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby -- after her testimony before the grand jury last week, the sources said on Friday...."

The Police State Is Closer Than You Think

Paul Craig Roberts writes:

"President Bush claims the power to set aside habeas corpus and to dispense with warrants for arrest and with procedures that guarantee court appearance and trial without undue delay. Today in the US, the executive branch claims the power to arrest a citizen on its own initiative and hold the citizen indefinitely. Thus, Americans are no longer protected from arbitrary arrest and indefinite detention...."

Dr. Roberts is John M. Olin Fellow at the Institute for Political Economy and Research Fellow at the Independent Institute. He is a former associate editor of the Wall Street Journal, former contributing editor for National Review, and a former assistant secretary of the U.S. Treasury. He is the co-author of 'The Tyranny of Good Intentions.'�

British and American leaders likened to Nazi war criminals

Telegraph:

"Tony Blair and George Bush were compared to Nazi war criminals yesterday by Scott Ritter, the former UN chief weapons inspector. 'Both these men could be pulled up as war criminals for engaging in actions that we condemned Germany in 1946 for doing,' he said...."

Poll: Bush's Job Approval Remains Low

President Bush's job approval "is mired at the lowest level of his presidency, and public feelings about the nation's direction have sunk to new depths in an Associated Press-Ipsos poll...."

Arrogance in the Face of Disaster

Stephen Zune reports:

"One of the most tragically irresponsible decisions of the Bush administration in the critical hours following Hurricane Katrina was its refusal to accept offers by the government of Cuba to immediately dispatch more than 1,500 medical doctors with 37 tons of medical supplies to the devastated areas along the Gulf Coast...."

Al Gore: The Threat to American Democracy

"It is no longer possible to ignore the strangeness of our public discourse. I know that I am not the only one who feels that something has gone basically and badly wrong in the way America's fabled "marketplace of ideas" now functions."

Al Gore gives an address on the importance and failings of the media in our democracy. Gore:

Pat Tillman, Our Hero

'This War Is So F***ing Illegal'

Dave Zirin writes that football star Pat Tillman, who was killed in Afghanistan last year, believed the US war on Iraq was "f***ing illegal" and counted Noam Chomsky among his favorite authors....

Democrats Seek Probe Into Agency Spending

The New York Times reports:

"Congressional auditors concluded last week that the Education Department engaged in illegal "covert propaganda" by hiring Armstrong Williams to endorse the No Child Left Behind Act without requiring him to disclose he was paid...."

Fall of the Rovean empire?

Sidney Blumenthal (Salon.com) writes:

"Drunk on power, the Republican oligarchs overreached. Now their entire project could be doomed...."

Wanted: Ideas for a Better America

SinceSlicedBread.com is looking for fresh, new ideas for a better America. Do you have a common-sense idea that will improve the day-to-day lives of everyday Americans? Or an opinion on how working families can succeed in the new global economy?

Ordinary Americans can help determine the future, so join this important national conversation right now.

Andy Rooney Rant

Watch Andy Rooney's pointed and passionate criticism of the war in Iraq.

A Case Of Treason

Larry Johnson, TomPaine.com, reports on Plamegate. Must Read.

Larry Johnson worked as a CIA intelligence analyst and State Department counter-terrorism official.� He is a member of the Steering Group of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS).

Remember The Memo

American Prospect reports:

"As the noose tightens at the White House, the State Department memo may be the key piece of Plame evidence...."

Congressman wants probe of no-bid contract

The Clarion-Ledger:

KATRINA -- CRONYISM SUSPECTED IN NO BID CONTRACT TO ALASKA FIRM:

Rep. Bernie Thompson (D-MS) has called for a federal investigation into a $40 million no-bid Homeland Security Department contract awarded to a company based in Alaska to repair hurricane-battered schools in Mississippi. Officials with the firm, Akima, "acknowledge the company has no experience supplying portable classrooms for the federal government," though Akima's parent company "<>is well-versed in lobbying and politics in Washington." It is represented by Blank Rome, a top lobbying firm whose CEO, David Girard-diCarlo, was former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge's fundraiser when Ridge was governor of Pennsylvania. Blank Rome's lobbyist bullpen includes "Mark Holman, a former deputy presidential assistant at Homeland Security, and Ashley Davis, who served as a Homeland Security assistant to Ridge." Akima "is going to make $20 million off the deal," Thompson points out. "They're selling trailers for $88,000, but you can buy them off any lot for $42,000."

Eased out of the Big Easy

Jesse Jackson writes that we're learning that when Bush promised to remove the legacy of racism in New Orleans, he meant he'd remove the poor who were victims of that racism.

A Flood of Fraud

Russell Mokhiber and Robert Weissman write:

"There's no question that post-hurricane relief and reconstruction in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast are going to pose many genuinely difficult challenges. But some things seem pretty simple. For example, it's a dumb idea to have cruise ships house evacuees and then pay the cruise lines four times what they would charge vacationers...."

When does it end?

$574m cut proposed in food stamp program | The Boston Globe

Wanted a leader for America

Noam Chomsky writes:

"AS THE survivors of Hurricane Katrina try to piece their lives back together, it is all the clearer that a long-gathering storm of misguided policies and priorities preceded the tragedy.

Government failures at home and the war in Iraq found a confluence in Katrina’s wake that graphically illustrates the need for fundamental social change, lest we suffer worse disasters in the future.

[...]

The human toll of Katrina is incalculable, especially among the region’s poorest citizens, but a relevant number is the 28-per cent poverty rate in New Orleans — more than twice the national rate. During the Bush administration the US poverty rate has grown, and welfare’s limited safety net has been weakened further...."

A Tale of Two Lives Destroyed by Abu Ghraib

Marian Blasberg and Anita Blasberg (ICH):

"With Lynndie England's conviction earlier this week, nine US soldiers have now been sentenced for their role in the Abu Ghraib torture scandal. But is it enough? DER SPIEGEL looks at two lives destroyed by Abu Ghraib. One, an Iraqi community leader -- the other, his American guard."

After reading A Tale of Two Lives Destroyed by Abu Ghraib , ask yourself, who is responsible for allowing these policies to exist? Who promoted these policies? Just where does the buck stop?

"Davis says that his country punished him for crimes over which he had no control. Instead, he says, the people who were responsible for creating the system of torture and abuse at Abu Ghraib should be brought to justice. Davis wants to talk and wants to set things right...."

Growing Gulf Between Rich and Rest of US

Holly Sklar writes:

"Guess which country the CIA World Factbook describes when it says, 'Since 1975, practically all the gains in household income have gone to the top 20 percent of households.'

If you guessed the United States, you're right...."

The Whistleblower and Harriet Miers

By James Ridgeway, with Isabel Huacuja (The Village Voice)

"Questions linger about Court nominee's time with Texas Lottery...."

Justice Department Releases List of Pardons Granted by President Bush

Take a peek: CLICK HERE.

Dems' Non-Ideological Case Against Harriet Miers

David Sirota writes:

"...As Bush's former speechwriter David Frum has written, Miers 'rose to her present position by her absolute devotion to George Bush.' She was, among other things, his personal lawyer, a political appointee of his in Texas (where she got into a lot of trouble), a hatchet person in Bush's efforts to hide his National Guard record, and an all around Bush bootlicker (Frum said Miers said 'the president was the most brilliant man she had ever met').

To even the average onlooker who barely pays attention to Supreme Court nominations, Miers' all-too-close political relationship to the White House is suspect...."

A Crony for the Court

Matthew Rothschild writes:

"After coming under withering criticism for cronyism, Bush turns around and appoints a crony to the Supreme Court.

Other than being a successful corporate lawyer in Texas—oh, and don’t forget, she served one term on the Dallas City Council, Bush boasted—the only qualification that Harriet Miers has is that she’s ridden the W wave...."

$300 Billion Terrorist Training Ground

Paul Craig Roberts writes:

"If America is going to preach democracy, shouldn’t it lead by example? According to all the polls, the vast majority of Americans do not agree with Bush and Rice that democracy comes out of the barrel of an American gun. They do not support Bush’s goal of using American blood and treasure to force democracy on the Middle East or anywhere else. The majority of Americans want the war over and the troops home. Why do Bush and Condi Rice oppose the will of the majority? Why don’t these two who preach democracy practice it?..."

For What?

No other Country spends the kind of money we spend on our military. Last year Japan spent $42 billion. Italy spent $28 billion, Russia spent only $19 billion. The United States spent $455 billion.

MUST SEE: Ike Was Right About War Machine , a weekly 60 Minutes commentary by CBS News correspondent Andy Rooney. It was first broadcast 10/02/05

I Remember Democrats

Truthout writes:

"The leadership caste of the Democratic party - those worthies and also-rans in the Senate and the DNC - should take a walk down to the Rayburn House office building and find Representatives Conyers, Lee, Woolsey, Abercrombie, Sanders, McDermott, Waters and Waxman. William Rivers Pitt asserts that this crew has been keeping good company, has been burning the midnight oil, and has been speaking the truth of this administration all day and every day...."

Miserable by Design

According to Paul Krugman (NYT), "federal aid to victims of Hurricane Katrina is already faltering on two crucial fronts: health care and housing. Incompetence is part of the problem, but deeper political issues also play a crucial role...."

Dismantling VA

PASS THIS ON TO EVERY VET AND EVERY YOUNG AMERICAN YOU KNOW:

From Military.com:

"...Our conversation had begun with a discussion of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA's) healthcare budget, and quickly came down to a single, simple point. VA is being dismantled...."

Magnum In Motion

In November 2003 Magnum photographer Paul Fusco began his essay on the funerals of the soldiers killed in Iraq. He travelled to some 27 different cities and towns, from Florida to Minnesota, Maine and New York.

This is a must watch interactive essay: Bitter Fruit by Paul Fusco:

What is the Radical Middle?

Thom Hartmann Radio Show:

"The Founders of this nation represented the first Radical Middle. Back then they called it 'being liberal.' As George Washington said, 'As Mankind becomes more liberal, they will be more apt to allow that all those who conduct themselves as worthy members of the community are equally entitled to the protections of civil government. I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations of justice and liberality....'"

Bush Moves to Block Torture Probe

Reuters reports:

"The White House on Friday threatened to veto a $440.2 billion defense spending bill in the Senate because it wasn't enough money for the Pentagon and also warned lawmakers not to add any amendments to regulate the treatment of detainees or set up a commission to probe abuse...."

How Not to Get the Job Done

The New York Times reports that the "Labor Department has relieved new federal contractors of the obligation to have a plan for hiring minorities, women, Vietnam veterans and disabled people on Katrina-related projects...."

Buying of News by Bush's Aides Is Ruled Illegal

ROBERT PEAR (New York Times) reports:

"Federal auditors said the administration had disseminated "covert propaganda" in the U.S., in violation of a statutory ban...."

America Speaks: Will the Democratic Party Listen?

Juan Cole writes:

"As more and more Americans turn against Bush's Iraq war, Democratic politicians remain silent. Their play-it-safe strategy isn't just cowardly, it also won't work...."