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Thursday, July 16, 2009

Catherine Crabill, VA GOP Candidate: We May Have To "Resort To The Bullet Box" (VIDEO)

I think the people who take the 2nd amendment literally, don't take it literally enough. That law was written at a time of powder-loaded muskets! Not at a time when 8 year old children, sitting innocently in their own bedrooms, are struck down by bullets from drive-by shootings, which JUST happened again today in Chicago!

It's obscene to claim that one group of peoples rights should trump the rights of innocent children, just because they are fearful of some invisible enemy lurking in dark allies. You simply cannot defend something that is costing thousands of lives of children in America every year. Period.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Catherine Crabill, VA GOP Candidate: We May Have To "Resort To The Bullet Box" (VIDEO)

It's called denial. They cannot comprehend that the rest of the country has moved on to the future, while they are still trying to cling desperately to their outdated philosophies. Sad but true. America is filled with them!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Cheney Told CIA To Hide Program From Congress

Thanks in part to current CIA chief Leon Panetta, we've now come to learn that former Vice President Dick Cheney ordered the CIA to not -- NOT -- brief Congress on certain covert intelligence gathering activities. This certainly puts the controversial former VP in still more questionable legal territory. It's not unprecedented for a Chief Executive to give such orders on counterterrorism programs, but given Cheney's long history of paranoid secrecy, and his seeming exuberance for challenging the Constitution it isn't difficult to fear the worst. According to those familar with the program it was a highly classified, worldwide effort, extremely broad in it's scope. It's concealment by Cheney most likely violated provisions of the national security act. Hopefully Attorney General Eric Holder will investigate this new information and aggressively move forward with investigations into all of the secret activities of the former administration. Unfortunately I fear that we've only just begun to discover all of the dastardly deeds of the Bush/Cheney years.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Cop Anthony Abbate Gets Probation, No Jail, For Beating Female Bartender (WATCH SURVEILLANCE VIDEO)

I hate to say it but as a life-long Chicagoan, somethings in this city just do not change.

There are of course the old cliches about gangsters and vote rigging that have for the most part fallen by the wayside. But one thing that has not changed is crooked cops. There are many, many really good, hard working cops in the city. But there are also some really bad ones. This huge guy beat the crap out of a small woman, who was on the floor, trying as best she could to defend herself. This guy deserved to go to jail with the regular population and see what it feels like to become someones bitch.

There have been quite a number of recent stories about corrupt Chicago cops shaking down motorists, stealing drugs or cash from dealers, and even of other fights. But this was particularly bad and justice was NOT served by him getting probation. It's a disgrace and makes all hard working honest cops look bad.
About Video
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Friday, June 05, 2009

The New York Times Finally Corrects Botched Front-Pager on Gitmo Prisoners Returning to Jihad

Keith Olbermann of Countdown on MSNBC interviewed a professor several times who had done an in-depth study of every single figure the Pentagon had released over the years for supposed recidivist terrorists who had left Gitmo and allegedly returned to the battlefield. It was almost ridiculous how many different numbers they gave and the wild, almost non-sensical swings they supposedly showed. For instance, the Pentagon would list the number as 3 one month, 18 the next month, 33 the next month, and then 5 the following month. There never seemed to be any pattern or logic to the numbers given. The only logical conclusion that one could reach was that they were either lying or they just didn't know. Why is this important? Because Dick Cheney and others STILL try to use these numbers as evidence to justify their illegal torture.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Monday, June 01, 2009

Richard Clarke refutes Cheney's assertions

Dear Dr. Clarke.
Thank you for your insiders view of the White House during the 9/11 crisis. Since you were present in the WH then, your opinion is extremely important as Dick Cheney and Condi Rice continue to try to rewrite history and shed any blame for what was obviously their mistake on 9/11. It’s always been my strong belief that Rumsfeld, Cheney, Wolfowitz and other Neo Cons in the Bush administration came into power locked in to the idea of invading Iraq. Sept. 11, 2001 gave them the unfortunate “justification” to do just that. And in the process they let USB go in Tora Bora because they couldn’t or wouldn’t allow the ground troops necessary to do the job properly. Meanwhile, over 7 years and more than 4000 soldiers lives later we’re still locked into an indefinite future in Iraq. And for what? Nothing in my opinion.

I hope that you will continue to counter Dick Cheney’s absurd assertions that HE made America safer by torturing, spying illegally, and basically wiping his feet on the Constitution. He has no idea how much damage he has done to our standing in the world. And it’s up to all of us — you and me — to continue to speak out and tell the truth so that history will know.

Thanks again.

Best regards,
Brian Blank

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Prop 8 Decision: Gay Marriage Ban Upheld By California Supreme Court

I'm sad to say that I'm not surprised by this decision. But what the gay rights community needs to take away from this decision is twofold. First, they made a mistake by misjudging the bigotry and fear of the opposition. It's okay: everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes it's easy to get comfortable and overlook the fact that there are those who wish you harm. Next, they need to accept that and vow to do whatever is necessary to overturn this legislated discrimination. They need to take all of their anger, bitterness, fear, and sorrow and channel it into a positive. They need to organize and network like they never have before. They need to go door-to-door if necessary to present their case to the voters, the majority of whom should see that they pose NO THREAT to straight marriages. Gay rights are to civil rights today what the issue of skin color was in the 1960's. Discrimination of this type is wrong and it WILL eventually be banned, but as the conservatives have shown, not without considerable difficulty and work.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Monday, May 25, 2009

What Did Powell Know, and Why Isn't He Subjected to the Pelosi Treatment?

Both Dick Cheney and Colin Powell have lost their credibility. They lied. And not just small lies, but massive, historical lies. "We know where the WMD's are". "It's a slam dunk". "Mission accomplished". "We're in the last throw's". "Sadaam possesses chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons capability". All wrong. All lies.

Now for some reason, they media is falling over themselves to give airtime to these two liars. And we're supposed to pay attention. Let's summarize. Dick Cheney and Colin Powell were part of the worst presidency in modern history. They lied us into an unnecessary war and let Osama bin Laden escape. They spied on innocent Americans, tortured people, and dropped the ball on 9/11. And the whole time the media looked the other way and failed their duty to ask tough questions.

The bottom line is this: We won. You lost. Now, get out of the way so we can repair all the damage you've done to this country!
About Harsh Interrogations
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Friday, May 22, 2009

Just saw Terminator Salvation. Good not great.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

He's a Dick

Dick Cheney authorized illegal torture. Dick Cheney authorized illegal spying. Dick Cheney was negligent in keeping America safe before 9/11. Dick Cheney leaked the identity of a covert CIA agent to the media. Dick Cheney pushed the US into an unjustified and unnecessary war in Iraq with now disproved claims of ties between Iraq and al Qeada. He, along with his associates Paul Wolfowitz, and Donald Rumsfeld made claims of soldiers being greeted as liberators, and showered with rose petals. They told us that the mission would be accomplished quickly, cheaply and completely. Yet 7 years, billions of dollars, and over 4000 US lives later, we still occupy Iraq. And bin Laden? He's still free and hiding in Pakistan. Oh, and the supposed WMD's that Cheney and CIA chief Tenet called a "slam dunk"? Of course they were never found, because they never existed. No, 9/11 gave the Bush administration it's needed excuse to topple Sadaam -- a plan that they had in place from day 1 of their tenure. Cheney claims that the Bush administration kept America safe for 7 1/2 years. What he cannot claim is that the Bush administration kept America safe for it's entire 8 years in office because of course, 9/11 happened well into their first year in office. It is now well known that Bush and Cheney were briefed in August of 2001, just one month before 9/11 with a PDB (Presidential Daily Briefing) titled "bin Laden determined to attack America". It is also now known that then President Bush brushed aside the PDB given to him by saying "Okay, you've covered your ass". Meaning of course that we're busy and have other things to talk about, so don't bother us with this bin Laden nonsense.

Why am I reminding you of just a few of Cheney's mistakes and crimes? Because he continues to make these and other ridiculous claims. As long as I live I will continue to refute his lies, and counter his dubious claims because he cannot be allowed any longer to bully people into believing him. He did that for 8 years, but now he is just a private citizen. He was wrong in 2001. He is wrong now. He will always be wrong. Nothing he says now has any credibility. He is no longer Vice President. He is a bitter, paranoid man who is sadly trying to rewrite history for his benefit. But history will judge him as a fool long after he is gone.

Just back from sunny dog beach. Aaahhh... paradise!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Repubs "look forward" by citing Reagan on horseback! Unbelievable.

This is just about as nice as the weather gets in Chicago! :-)

Nicest day of the year so far in Chicago. :-D

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Wolfowitz almost single handedly extended the Iraq war by calling Sunnis "Nazis".

upside-down dog

my dog, crashed out after dog beach.

Posted via Pixelpipe.

I had a good job interview today and a sun-filled afternoon at dog beach.

Man, it's beautiful in Chicago today & will be nicer tomorrow. Finally!!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Watching Olbermann, then Maddow.

The Death of the US Auto Industry?

The one factor that I've yet to hear anyone discuss in this issue (or the decline of newspapers for that matter) is the generational factor. I'm 47, born in 1961 at the very beginning of what many people consider Generation X. For many people my age and younger we simply cannot afford many of the cars currently on the market, not to mention all the high-priced SUV's favored by the baby boom generation which helped hasten the current auto industry decline. That's why you are seeing cars like Kia's Soul, Scion's Xa, and Honda's Fit becoming more popular with younger buyers. Their purchasing patterns come from years of economizing on food, clothing, etc. Many don't own or want to own cars, attributed to their environmental concerns. All this adds up to a huge market advantage for companies like Scion, Toyota, Honda, etc. They've invested in environmentally-friendly, technologically-savvy cars that "speak" to younger buyers, and that they can actually afford.

The same can be said for the newspapers: Who did they think were going the be their future customers? A generation of consumers raised on active media like Wii, Xbox, the internet, and iPods & iPhones?! Not likely. That's why they're dying. They -- and the US auto industry -- had NO FORSIGHT at all. They just found a profitable wave that they rode all the way to shore, and now they're stunned -- stunned -- that they find themselves faced with paddling back out to sea to catch another wave. The lack of judgement and forethought is mind-boggling. But when you look at who runs most of these companies it's understandable. For the most part it's middle-aged white men -- baby boomers -- who are so closed off to the realities of the outside world (are you listening George Bush & Dick Cheney) that they didn't even see the tidal wave coming towards them.

I understand the desire to "punish" the American auto makers (and news barons) who were so lax in their judgement. But I also understand President Obamas practical desire to save the jobs of the workers who were faithfully fulfilling their mission to build quality cars. Though they deserve some criticism for not making career transitions when they saw the industry on the ropes, for the most part, auto workers are the victims of this crisis. Let's hope that all parties involved can find a solution that will provide quality, low-cost, fuel-efficient cars built in America by American workers that the current generation of buyers will want to buy.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Watching SNL's Best of Shorts. Some classics like "Chronicals of Narnia"!

Mr. Cheney, You Did Not Keep Us Safe

Thank you Mr. Begala. This is one of the best overall summaries that I have read of the Bush/Cheney administration and their false bravado about "keeping the US from further attacks" for 7 1/2 years.

Cheney -- a draft dodger -- was totally clueless in the subtleties of mid-east politics and religion. Rather than dealing with the reality of the situation; Bush & Cheney tried desperately to make the situation fit their twisted world view.

They alone had their hands "on the rudder" when the US was attacked on 9/11. They ignored the warnings. And for Cheney continue to claim otherwise is an utter lie. Worse still, we're now finding out that they not only tortured in the name of preventing further attacks, but that it appears that they tortured to gain FALSE confessions of an Iraq-al Qeada connection.
About Dick Cheney
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Green Day is rocking on SNL!

Friday, May 15, 2009

Just met friends for a beer at Fado in Chicago.

Just found a great Safari plug-in (ClickToFlash) that let's you control Flash content.

Happy Friday to everyone.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

New CIA memo says Cheney ordered torture to try to make Iraq / al Qiada link!

Repubs are desperately trying to kill torture investigation!

Donald Rumsfeld Loudly Harangued At White House Correspondents' Dinner (VIDEO)

Sometimes courtesy is a luxury we cannot afford. I think in the case in which we put aside our fears and trusted Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, et al. after 9/11 and they not only confirmed our worse fears, but far exceeded them, then they should face a lifetime of people shouting in their faces rudely. It's the VERY LEAST that should happen to them.
About Video
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Why are my new upstairs neighbors as loud as Clydesdale horses?!

Tomorrow's gonna be a dog beach day: sunny!

Went to the opening of the new modern art wing at the Art Institute today.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Col. Larry Wilkinson tears Dick Cheney a new @$$hole on Rachel Maddow!

Motorcycle washed? Check. Car washed? Check. Dog walked? Check.

Bush Failure To Disclose Waterboarding Appears To Violate Law

Oops. Looks like these fellows are starting to get their lies mixed up. That happens you know, when you've lied so many times, about so many things. It's hard to keep it all straight. It's almost sad -- almost -- to see Rove, Cheney, et al. going on TV now and expecting anyone to buy their ridiculous fear-mongering any longer. Let's keep pushing the Democrats, Attorney General Holder, and President Obama to appoint an independent Special Prosecutor to investigate and let the facts determine justice.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost