A New Years Eve to Remember.

Most New Year's Eve celebrations I don't recall what was done. However, sitting here in Washington over-looking Rock Creek Park there is one New Years Eve that was memorable. I had traveled down from New York by train to enjoy an early New Years Eve dinner with my girfriend before getting on the Amtrak Nightowl back to New York as I had to work overnight in midtown Manhattan.
We went for our early dinner at Beducci's restaurant in Dupont Circle and then headed home where I had a few hours before the train was to leave Union Station. We laid down for a little snuggle and both fell asleep. When I awoke I had fifteen minutes to catch the train which would have been impossible. I wound up having to drive all the way to New York using my girlfriends car to get to work on time after having missed the train.
Even though I had had very little sleep that day I got a second wind in the cold air. I celebrated New Years Eve in my own little way on the Delaware Turnpike (I-95). As midnight came I was one of the few cars on the road. So I flashed my headlights and honked the horn to bring in the New Year. I was rewarded by being able to see the midnight fireworks put on by City of Wilmington Delaware. Sometimes being alone on New Years Eve on a dark highway can be as memorable as house full people. I still recall that drive on New Years Eve in 1998 with fondness even though I was alone. The thing is to enjoy every moment you have in your own special way no matter where you are.

Bad Border Bill? Bad for whom?

One of the nicer presents that the House Congress people gave to the American Taxpayer was passage of a strict Border Security Bill. Which finally starts to address the illegal immigration problem and increases National Security at the same time.
However the Washington Post had an editorial on Wednesday "Bad Border Bill". To which I say bad for whom? I think it's great that Congress is finally trying to deal with the Fedaral problem of border security and illegal immigration and making stiffer penalties for those who violate our laws, use fradualte documents and also go after the businesses that circuminvent employment laws by hiring illegal aliens. Our laws must be respected. Unfortuntely many Democrats along with President Bush and the Liberal media like the Washington Post seemed to have missed that point
Meanwhile, it's the middle class taxpayers who are paying to subsidize this illegal workforce. Not only with increased crime in communities but, also through programs like President Bush's "Faith Based Intiative" where churches provide food kitchens for the illegals to have their meals and the middle class taxpayer pay for that too.

Marquis de Bush.

This quote from an article in today's Washington Post sure does explain a lot.

""In the past, presidents set up buffers to distance themselves from covert action," said A. John Radsan, assistant general counsel at the CIA from 2002 to 2004. "But this president, who is breaking down the boundaries between covert action and conventional war, seems to relish the secret findings and the dirty details of operations."

Sounds like Bush has been reading too many Tom Clancy novels and making them policy.

IRAQ: Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.

I'm sure they don't listen to The Who in Iraq but, this story says it all. Gee, I must have missed the ticker tape parade the Iraqis they gave to Vice President Dick "we'll be greeted as liberators" Cheney when he was over there recently too.

Uh Oh! Incurious George Bush is reading again!

Our "wartime" President is reading again looks like we will need some more body bags soon!
Jim Lobe has the details.

Where have you gone James Madison?

In light of yet another Bush Administration scandal this one affecting our liberty. This quote keeps going through my mind:


"If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy."

~James Madison

George W. Bush dictator in the training?

"The current Bush administration is easily the most secretive, classified-happy administration in history, and probably with good reason, given its cronyism, incompetent appointments, blunders, corruption and deceptions. Compared with George W. Bush, Richard Nixon is beginning to look normal."

Charley Reese has a humorous, yet disturbing look at our dictator in the making George Bush.

If you think that is over the top let's roll back the tape to December 20, 2000 when then "President Elect" George Bush said this after meeting with some Congressional leaders:

GOV. GEORGE W. BUSH (R-TX), PRESIDENT-ELECT: "I told all four that there were going to be some times where we don't agree with each other. But that's OK. If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator."

In light of the recent reports of domestic spying by the NSA all Americans should be concerned about the Bush administration in regards to their plans if this is the way he thinks!

A Patriot Act Christmas

You better watch out!
You better not cry!
You better not disagree!
I'm telling you why.
Dick Cheney is coming to town.

NSA sees you when you're sleeping
FBI knows when you're awake
CIA knows if you've been bad or good
So you better be good for goodness sake.
Or we will take you away to some undisclosed prison where no one will know where you are and you will not be allowed to speak to a lawyer and we may or may not torure you.

Merry Christmas from the Bush Administration!

The Bush Administration gets it wrong AGAIN!

It seems President Bush and those around him can not seem to tell the truth or at a minimum get their facts straight. Maybe its because they have tried to manipulate the American public opinion so much that they just tell whatever they think is reality. The latest piece of Bushit to come out of Whitehouse was President Bush's claim that media leaks tipped off Bin Laden about how the U.S. was monitoring his use of a particular phone he used and he stopped using it. Like a lot of what is coming out of the White House these days it is just plain WRONG! Read about the ever widening credability gap between what the Bush administration says and what the truth is.

The Crazy Chiristian Cult Sesaon

I have just return back to Washington after spending a few days back on the Isle of Long. It seems every year the neighborhood just gets crazier crazier at Christmas time. This year was no exception as it reached new levels in guady displays in the Christian Cult celebration of the Baby Jesus.
New on the over the top displays I see in the neighborhood is the Bubble. This is a five plastic inflatable mockup of the glass bubbles that you shake and watch the fake snow flakes swirl around inside on some scene only these are on the lawn and are lit from the inside and each has a continuious rain of snowflakes thanks to some type of blower that is part of the display. Tacky you bet!
Then there are the seven foot tall inflatable Santas and Snowmen that reach their inflated height by electric blowers and internal lights too. However once the blowers are shut off they collapse onto the lawn. While heading to the Supermarket in the morning I drove past a few of the houses that had these collapsed Santas and Snowmen laying about and was reminded that this is what certain sections of Iraq might have looked like from time to time. Except they are real bodies strewn around the streets not inflatable decorations that are all over my suburban neighborhood. Seeing these deflated human like forms just gave me an erie feeling and just got me thinking about the carnage in Iraq and made me feel me feel that Jesus would be apalled at the guady displays in our neighborhoods.

Ted Stevens Alaskan Oil Blues

Wearing his Hulk tie Alaska's Senator Ted Stevens lost a battle to have oil companies drill for oil in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. Trying to use the National Security ruse that we needed to drill for oil there but, never mentioning how much Alaskan citizens would benefit from the oil revenues he lost when he could not muster the votes. As a U.S. taxpayer I often wonder why is it that only Alaska gets revenue from the Oil pumped off of Federal land in Alaska should not all citizens of the U.S. get a yearly check like the citizens in Alaska? Maybe if the oil in this refuge is so important to National Security Senator Stevens would not mind if the U.S. nationalized the refuge and used the oil to supply our Military needs and thereby save ALL U.S. taxpayers some money. If you think he would go for that idea I have a bridge to nowhere in Alaska that I liked to sell.

Dick Cheney's circular reasoning!

"Vice President Richard Cheney said the September 11 attacks on the United States could have been averted, if the government had the power to monitor electronic communications inside the country. "

Hey Vice President Cheney how about this little tidbit of information in the Presidential Daily Breifing not picked up by the George Bush's "National Security Advisor" the clueless Condi Rice let alone Boy George Bush:

"BEN-VENISTE: Isn't it a fact, Dr. Rice, that the August 6 PDB warned against possible attacks in this country? And I ask you whether you recall the title of that PDB?

RICE: I believe the title was, "Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States."

Maybe if SOMEONE in this administration had raised some questions about this PDR and maybe gone to the FISA courts for wiretaps but, they didn't. The Bush Administration had the power to wiretap and go to the FISA courts back in 2001 but, they did not use it. It's laughable for Cheny to try and justify Bush's secret wiretaps against American citizens in light of the administrations inaction prior to 9/11 when they had they power and in light of the PDR of August 6th 2001 did not use it. It was thie Bush adminstrations failure to invoke an investigation and not the failure of the FISA statue to prevent the attacks of 9/11.

Protecting Bush's bubble

A little known provision of the Patriot Act will increase the White House spin machines ability to control dissent against their policies at the expense of the liberty and rights of the American citizenry. The amount of media manipulation and stifling of criticism by the administration is already pretty great but, why does there have to be increased suppression against AMERICANS who have a beef with the administration. It is another step in whittling away at the freedom and liberties of the American people under the guise of the Patriot Act and it should be stopped NOW!

Some WMD mysteriously shows up in Iraq.

With President Bush under fire for authorizing NSA spying on American citizens it should surprise no one that a Weapon of Mass Distraction shows up in Iraq. His name is Dick Cheney.

Good news from Washington!

It's not often these days that there is good news out of Washington D.C. but yesterday there were two good things. One was the Senate rejection of the extension of the Patriot Act and on the other side of Congress was the passage of a strict immigration bill that is a step in the right direction in protecting our borders and removing the burden from middle class taxpayers who subsidize the illegal workers so groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce can have cheap labor for their members. It was good news that some of the special interests did not get their way but, personally I am very dissapointed that my Congressman ,Tim Bishop a democrat of New York voted against it's passage. You know his office will be getting a call from this middle class taxpayer on Monday. It seems most of the Congressional Democratics just don't get the message that is coming loud and clear from the American taxpayers and voters about the growing illegal immigrant problem in our communities and it's root cause the failure of the Federal ZGovernment to protect our borders. At least most of the Republicans in congress do!

Here's what's irresponsible President Bush!

"President Bush yesterday called Democratic criticism of the Iraq war "irresponsible".."

George Bush should read this article by Paul Sperry to see how irresponsible his administration was in the run up to the war.

Neighborhood Watch.

There is a corner house for rent at the end of my block here in Centereach Long Island. I noticed it on Tuesday as I turned onto my street after traveling back from Washington. I never knew or saw the person(s) who were livng there as I lived further down the block. What I did notice that they had put up a flagpole and from it flew the Marine flag. It flew all the time and was even lit at night. I last saw it about three weeks ago. On Tuesday as I came home and turned the corner I first noticed the FOR RENT sign on the lawn and then noticed that the flag pole was gone too. Where had the people gone? Was he a Marine reservists called back to Iraq? I just don't know. I hope one day again see that flagpole back flying the Marine Corp flag. At which time I will make a point to thank him for his service. President Bush yesterday gave a speech where he finally started to take the blame for the Iraq war.. That's great George. But, it's people like my neghbor down the street who take the bullets and force of the explosions from the roadside bombs.They are the ones who deserve our thanks and our hope that they get back home soon...

Free Press? My butt!

With all the talk about freedom and democracy by President Dum Dum the story of how the U.S. is paying media outlets to plant stories in Iraq media once again brings down the credibilty of the U.S. another notch. But as usual in the morally bankrupt Bush administration there is again no accountabilty. As both Donald Rumsfeld and National Security advisor Steven Hadley both say they knew were unaware of the program. Which asks the question: Who the Hell is in charge of this war? Apparently no one. Joe Conason has a piece that explains why the actions of the Bush administration in regards to this Bozo operation are harmful to the U.S.A in the long run.

Bush, Justice and lack of accountability

The Bush administration continues to trample American rights and justice but, makes sure that Bush and those around him at the top have no accountability. The Energy Bill is just one example where Vice President Cheney met behind closed doors with executives from the oil , gas and other energy companies but, refused to tell the American people who they meet with. Now comes this story from the Washington Post about changes at the Department of Justice and another attempt by the Bush administraton to hide deeds and descions that affect our democracy without leaving their fingerprints.

Death in Paradise

Seven days ago I was wandering around Palencia Belize. It's a little village of about 500 people whose mainstreet is a sidewalk that meanders past the small colorful houses. It is still an unspoiled little piece of Paradise located along the southern coast of Belize. I had dropped my girlfriend off at the small Anglican church so she could pray for my soul while I walked along the path through the village. I came upon an out door coffee house under a thatched roof and most amazing to me was that they had high speed internet access. Since I had some time I decided to send some emails. After I was done and heading out my ears picked up the audio of a TV tuned to CNN. The newscaster was reporting on the deaths of four American soldiers killed in Iraq as I stepped onto the path.
I arrived back in Washington late last night and awoke this morning that four American soldiers had died in Iraq. After six days of sailing, out of communication with the "wired" It still feels as if I have never left.

Too long on land again.

Tomorrow I will be taking an early morning flight south heading down to Central America where I will board a 42 foot Catamaran on Sunday and be sailing around the Cays off the Belize coast. I won't miss the cell phone the high speed internet connection or the 24 hour news channels. I especially won't miss the sickening feeling I get when I find out that another bucnch of American soldiers have been killed in Iraq.
I'll be back in a week when I hope the news will be better.

Truth, Justice and the American Pays! American Taxpayer that is.

Well Cark Kent they ain't! I guess it should not surprise anyone that the U.S. would plant stories in Iraqi media by paying for them. It should also not surprise anyone who was planting the the stories. Exactly who is this Lincoln Group?

Memo to Ken Mehlman

To: Ken Mehlman
National Republican Committe Chairman

Ken what the f&% were you thinking when you told the Republicans to oppose the rising outcry over the illegal immigration problems in this country. Don't you realize that this outcry and anger by the citizens of this country is because of the failures of the Bush Administration and previous administrations to protect and secure our borders. The Republicans have usually been much better on the invasion of the 13 million illegal aliens who have broken our laws than the Democrats. But, it now appears you are advising them to ignore the voters and coddle the criminals. Yes Ken when someone breaks the laws of our country they are criminals. Can you get that through your head! If you need more proof of crimes I suggest you look here.

Another milestone!

Just noticed that I've made my two hundredth post. Not bad considering my first post was made on March 13th 2005.

The Bush Plan for Victory clarified.

"National Strategy for Victory in Iraq
The following document articulates the broad strategy the President set forth in 2003 and provides an update on our progress as well as the challenges remaining.
"The United States has no intention of determining the precise form of Iraq's new government. That choice belongs to the Iraqi people. Yet, we will ensure that one brutal dictator is not replaced by another. "- February 26, 2005

Holy Shah of Iran Batman! Haven't we gone down this road before?

The Bush plan for victory?

Yesterday the Bush bubble traveled to Annapolis where the White House perception managment team made sure that the backdrop behind Bush which read "Plan for Victory" was in every camera camera shot. Funny, I never saw Bush in 2003 stand in front of a screen that had "Plan for War" maybe because there was none beyond sending troops into Baghdad. However I do recall a "Mission Accomplished" banner.
Bush tells us that he will not cut and run. So is he saying we will stay and die? They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Welcome to the Bush Iraq plan. The Bush plan is I will drive the car off the cliff but, I won't blink. That's fine but, unfortunately we are all in the back seat.