CBS Exposes Bush Admin’s ‘Outrageous Delay’ In Providing Marines With Bomb-Resistant Vehicle
1,106 US troops died since the time they begged George Bush for IED-proof vehicles, vehicles that actually exist, and Bush ignored them because he didn't want to spend the money, cronyism and bureaucracy.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
The First Step In Recovery Is Realizing There's A Problem With Your Personal Ecological Footprint
What is your ecological Footprint? Take the test here.
Even though I thought I was god's gift to small living. I found out I was really no better then a corporate pig. Below are my results. I found it interesting that most of us who consider ourselves environmentally conscious may really not be.
CATEGORY ACRES
FOOD 3.7
MOBILITY 2.5
SHELTER 12.4
GOODS/SERVICES 10.1
TOTAL FOOTPRINT 29
IN COMPARISON, THE AVERAGE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT IN YOUR COUNTRY IS 2.4 ACRES PER PERSON.
WORLDWIDE, THERE EXIST 4.5 BIOLOGICALLY PRODUCTIVE ACRES PER PERSON.
IF EVERYONE LIVED LIKE ME, WE WOULD NEED 6.4 PLANETS.
Even though I thought I was god's gift to small living. I found out I was really no better then a corporate pig. Below are my results. I found it interesting that most of us who consider ourselves environmentally conscious may really not be.
CATEGORY ACRES
FOOD 3.7
MOBILITY 2.5
SHELTER 12.4
GOODS/SERVICES 10.1
TOTAL FOOTPRINT 29
IN COMPARISON, THE AVERAGE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT IN YOUR COUNTRY IS 2.4 ACRES PER PERSON.
WORLDWIDE, THERE EXIST 4.5 BIOLOGICALLY PRODUCTIVE ACRES PER PERSON.
IF EVERYONE LIVED LIKE ME, WE WOULD NEED 6.4 PLANETS.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Robert Reich's Blog
Robert Reich's Blog
Clinton's former Secretary of Labor offers some interesting insights about the Democrat's proposed budget.
Clinton's former Secretary of Labor offers some interesting insights about the Democrat's proposed budget.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Unhappy Anniversary Mount St. Helens Film Voted Worse Disaster Movie Ever Made!
St. Helens (1981) The lousiest climactic payoff of any disaster film ever. Released just one year after the May 18 eruption, this cynical quickie devotes only its final 11 minutes to the eruption and its aftermath and the sequence is, to put it mildly, something less than a special-effects masterpiece. Instead, it's a hacked-together hodgepodge of still photos; stock footage; cheap process shots of what appears to be cigarette smoke knocking over cars; and panicky, flannel-wearing hicks bumping into each other. Art Carney plays stubborn old Harry Truman -- who, judging from the movie's volcano-blast effects, died after being sprayed with a large hose.
Republican Canididate Caught On Camera Making Sense?
Conservatives are quick to viciously attack anyone who suggest that passed or present American foreign policy maybe responsible for fostering anti-American ideologies.
Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul defends his belief that America is culpable for Muslim fanatics attacks on US. In a video entitled "Educating Rudy".
Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul defends his belief that America is culpable for Muslim fanatics attacks on US. In a video entitled "Educating Rudy".
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Impeach Me Now Impeach Me Later When Will Somebody Inforce The F@#king Laws In This Country Again?
Whether it will end up being the illegal wiretaps or the host of Iraq scandals or the blatant crony ism or billions of dollars gone missing here and abroad that brings them down it's my prediction that eventually Bush-Cheney-Rove et al WILL be brought to justice for their CRIMINAL behavior.
If not, it time that we all move to Canada. For there is no justice here.
Not to mention the numerous other on going scandals that have their roots connected to these despicable men.
As of today. I'm tired of waiting. I'm sick of saying what the fuck have then done now while listen to the nightly news and I'm especially tired of seeing my country destroyed by these bogus charlatans. Oh yeah, I was once one of those who thought that the Democrat leadership policy of not invoking the "I" word may of been sound. The argument being, why put the country through such a divisive process. It time for a change in attitude.
If your going to put the shoplifter in jail in this country for stealing a loaf of bread then your a nation of simple-minded hypocrites if you don't do something immediately to bring justice to this bunch of weasels. It's simple, spineless elected officials simply are not doing their constitutional duty unless they move to impeach these bastards now given the ever mounting evidence of their criminal activities.
The latest revelations of attempts by the white house to have a sick and bedridden Attorney General John Ashcroft sign off on a plan to illegally wiretap millions of Americans is the latest indication of this government's complete disregard for the principles under which this country was founded. To Ashcroft's credit he refused to sign as did the acting Attorney General James Comey and both along with several other high ranking justice department officials threaten to resign. These were highly skilled lawyers who knew the serious breach of law that such an act represented.
If not, it time that we all move to Canada. For there is no justice here.
Not to mention the numerous other on going scandals that have their roots connected to these despicable men.
As of today. I'm tired of waiting. I'm sick of saying what the fuck have then done now while listen to the nightly news and I'm especially tired of seeing my country destroyed by these bogus charlatans. Oh yeah, I was once one of those who thought that the Democrat leadership policy of not invoking the "I" word may of been sound. The argument being, why put the country through such a divisive process. It time for a change in attitude.
If your going to put the shoplifter in jail in this country for stealing a loaf of bread then your a nation of simple-minded hypocrites if you don't do something immediately to bring justice to this bunch of weasels. It's simple, spineless elected officials simply are not doing their constitutional duty unless they move to impeach these bastards now given the ever mounting evidence of their criminal activities.
The latest revelations of attempts by the white house to have a sick and bedridden Attorney General John Ashcroft sign off on a plan to illegally wiretap millions of Americans is the latest indication of this government's complete disregard for the principles under which this country was founded. To Ashcroft's credit he refused to sign as did the acting Attorney General James Comey and both along with several other high ranking justice department officials threaten to resign. These were highly skilled lawyers who knew the serious breach of law that such an act represented.
"But the problem comes down to the failure of Congress to deal with what is a very ugly and unfortunate fact. This would be a clear impeachable offense. I don‘t know of a more clear potential charge of impeachment within the modern presidency. I mean, this law makes it a crime to order domestic surveillance without a warrant. The president ordered it and renewed it 30 times. And now we find out that the very top of the Justice Department told him, This is unlawful."My point is this. Given the myriad of potential criminal acts committed by these future felons it would be the greatest travesty in the history of American justice not to seriously consider moving immediately to impeach and if necessary prosecute them and if they are found guilty jail them. For if there is no justice imposed on them then there will be no justice for anyone. No citizen is above the law be he common or the holder of the highest political office in the land.
JONATHAN TURLEY, CONSTITUTIONAL LAW EXPERT on the Keith Olbermann show May 16. 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
NAFTA's Global Class War Or How Bill Clinton And Democrat Leaders Broke The New Deal's Social Contract With The People
An excerpt from the interesting new book Global Class War "How America’s Bipartisan Elite Lost Our Future and What We Must Do to Win It Back". By Jeff Faux
"We are entering an information age that is obliterating economic national boundaries. It is a time of change equivalent to the shift from the agricultural to the industrial age. The resulting deregulated global economy is bringing freedom, democracy, and technological wonders to the rest of the world. In order for you to survive and prosper in this new global market you will have to compete against some six billion people out there, most of whom will work for a lot less than you will. The price of labor is set in South China, where people will work for one-twentieth or less of your wage. If you want to live better than the Chinese, you have to be more than twenty times more efficient. Therefore, you should get all the technical training you can get, be willing to work longer and harder, and make wise investments. You are on your own."
"We are entering an information age that is obliterating economic national boundaries. It is a time of change equivalent to the shift from the agricultural to the industrial age. The resulting deregulated global economy is bringing freedom, democracy, and technological wonders to the rest of the world. In order for you to survive and prosper in this new global market you will have to compete against some six billion people out there, most of whom will work for a lot less than you will. The price of labor is set in South China, where people will work for one-twentieth or less of your wage. If you want to live better than the Chinese, you have to be more than twenty times more efficient. Therefore, you should get all the technical training you can get, be willing to work longer and harder, and make wise investments. You are on your own."
Republican Debate's Question of The Night!
The most interesting response I thought to a question during the entire "I'm the real conservative here" litmus test South Carolina Republican Debate last night came with a question posed by Fox News moderator Wendell Goler to Texas Congressman Ron Paul. His response made more sense than the same I'm a macho man bomb em now and bomb them later rhetoric that ALL the other candidates had to offer on what to do in Iraq. Paul certainly had it right and the apparent courage to state a more deeply thought out position on the war.
The question concerned the fact that Paul is apparently the only Republican calling for the immediate withdrawal of American forces from Iraq. There was a audible groan in the room when he responded that American interventionism maybe at the heart of our problems in the world today and could of led to 9/11.
Here the transcript on that question:
MR. GOLER: Congressman Paul, I believe you are the only man on the stage who opposes the war in Iraq, who would bring the troops home as quickly as -- almost immediately, sir. Are you out of step with your party? Is your party out of step with the rest of the world? If either of those is the case, why are you seeking its nomination?
REP. PAUL: Well, I think the party has lost its way, because the conservative wing of the Republican Party always advocated a non interventionist foreign policy.
Senator Robert Taft didn't even want to be in NATO. George Bush won the election in the year 2000 campaigning on a humble foreign policy -- no nation-building, no policing of the world. Republicans were elected to end the Korean War. The Republicans were elected to end the Vietnam War. There's a strong tradition of being anti-war in the Republican party. It is the constitutional position. It is the advice of the Founders to follow a non-interventionist foreign policy, stay out of entangling alliances, be friends with countries, negotiate and talk with them and trade with them.
Just think of the tremendous improvement -- relationships with Vietnam. We lost 60,000 men. We came home in defeat. Now we go over there and invest in Vietnam. So there's a lot of merit to the advice of the Founders and following the Constitution.
And my argument is that we shouldn't go to war so carelessly. (Bell rings.) When we do, the wars don't end.
MR. GOLER: Congressman, you don't think that changed with the 9/11 attacks, sir?
REP. PAUL: What changed?
MR. GOLER: The non-interventionist policies.
REP. PAUL: No. Non-intervention was a major contributing factor. Have you ever read the reasons they attacked us? They attack us because we've been over there; we've been bombing Iraq for 10 years. We've been in the Middle East -- I think Reagan was right.
We don't understand the irrationality of Middle Eastern politics. So right now we're building an embassy in Iraq that's bigger than the Vatican. We're building 14 permanent bases. What would we say here if China was doing this in our country or in the Gulf of Mexico? We would be objecting. We need to look at what we do from the perspective of what would happen if somebody else did it to us. (Applause.)
MR. GOLER: Are you suggesting we invited the 9/11 attack, sir?
REP. PAUL: I'm suggesting that we listen to the people who attacked us and the reason they did it, and they are delighted that we're over there because Osama bin Laden has said, "I am glad you're over on our sand because we can target you so much easier." They have already now since that time -- (bell rings) -- have killed 3,400 of our men, and I don't think it was necessary.
MR. GIULIANI: Wendell, may I comment on that? That's really an extraordinary statement. That's an extraordinary statement, as someone who lived through the attack of September 11, that we invited the attack because we were attacking Iraq. I don't think I've heard that before, and I've heard some pretty absurd explanations for September 11th. (Applause, cheers.)
And I would ask the congressman to withdraw that comment and tell us that he didn't really mean that. (Applause.)
MR. GOLER: Congressman?
REP. PAUL: I believe very sincerely that the CIA is correct when they teach and talk about blowback. When we went into Iran in 1953 and installed the shah, yes, there was blowback. A reaction to that was the taking of our hostages and that persists. And if we ignore that, we ignore that at our own risk. If we think that we can do what we want around the world and not incite hatred, then we have a problem.
They don't come here to attack us because we're rich and we're free. They come and they attack us because we're over there. I mean, what would we think if we were -- if other foreign countries were doing that to us?
MR. GIULIANI: Can I have 30 seconds, please?
MR.: No, no, no, wait a second. Let's -- we'll all get 30 seconds.
The question concerned the fact that Paul is apparently the only Republican calling for the immediate withdrawal of American forces from Iraq. There was a audible groan in the room when he responded that American interventionism maybe at the heart of our problems in the world today and could of led to 9/11.
Here the transcript on that question:
MR. GOLER: Congressman Paul, I believe you are the only man on the stage who opposes the war in Iraq, who would bring the troops home as quickly as -- almost immediately, sir. Are you out of step with your party? Is your party out of step with the rest of the world? If either of those is the case, why are you seeking its nomination?
REP. PAUL: Well, I think the party has lost its way, because the conservative wing of the Republican Party always advocated a non interventionist foreign policy.
Senator Robert Taft didn't even want to be in NATO. George Bush won the election in the year 2000 campaigning on a humble foreign policy -- no nation-building, no policing of the world. Republicans were elected to end the Korean War. The Republicans were elected to end the Vietnam War. There's a strong tradition of being anti-war in the Republican party. It is the constitutional position. It is the advice of the Founders to follow a non-interventionist foreign policy, stay out of entangling alliances, be friends with countries, negotiate and talk with them and trade with them.
Just think of the tremendous improvement -- relationships with Vietnam. We lost 60,000 men. We came home in defeat. Now we go over there and invest in Vietnam. So there's a lot of merit to the advice of the Founders and following the Constitution.
And my argument is that we shouldn't go to war so carelessly. (Bell rings.) When we do, the wars don't end.
MR. GOLER: Congressman, you don't think that changed with the 9/11 attacks, sir?
REP. PAUL: What changed?
MR. GOLER: The non-interventionist policies.
REP. PAUL: No. Non-intervention was a major contributing factor. Have you ever read the reasons they attacked us? They attack us because we've been over there; we've been bombing Iraq for 10 years. We've been in the Middle East -- I think Reagan was right.
We don't understand the irrationality of Middle Eastern politics. So right now we're building an embassy in Iraq that's bigger than the Vatican. We're building 14 permanent bases. What would we say here if China was doing this in our country or in the Gulf of Mexico? We would be objecting. We need to look at what we do from the perspective of what would happen if somebody else did it to us. (Applause.)
MR. GOLER: Are you suggesting we invited the 9/11 attack, sir?
REP. PAUL: I'm suggesting that we listen to the people who attacked us and the reason they did it, and they are delighted that we're over there because Osama bin Laden has said, "I am glad you're over on our sand because we can target you so much easier." They have already now since that time -- (bell rings) -- have killed 3,400 of our men, and I don't think it was necessary.
MR. GIULIANI: Wendell, may I comment on that? That's really an extraordinary statement. That's an extraordinary statement, as someone who lived through the attack of September 11, that we invited the attack because we were attacking Iraq. I don't think I've heard that before, and I've heard some pretty absurd explanations for September 11th. (Applause, cheers.)
And I would ask the congressman to withdraw that comment and tell us that he didn't really mean that. (Applause.)
MR. GOLER: Congressman?
REP. PAUL: I believe very sincerely that the CIA is correct when they teach and talk about blowback. When we went into Iran in 1953 and installed the shah, yes, there was blowback. A reaction to that was the taking of our hostages and that persists. And if we ignore that, we ignore that at our own risk. If we think that we can do what we want around the world and not incite hatred, then we have a problem.
They don't come here to attack us because we're rich and we're free. They come and they attack us because we're over there. I mean, what would we think if we were -- if other foreign countries were doing that to us?
MR. GIULIANI: Can I have 30 seconds, please?
MR.: No, no, no, wait a second. Let's -- we'll all get 30 seconds.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Full Power Radio Station Licenses Anyone?
it's now or never...rare opportunity for non profit community organizations who want to operate their own "full power" stations...
Are you tired of every radio station sounding the same?
Are the corporate radio giants serving your community?
Have you always dreamed of your own radio station?
This October, the 12th through the 19th, the FCC will open a rare window for issuing full-power, noncommercial radio licenses. Now may be your only chance to secure a license. Read the FCC's announcement.
If you don't apply during this window, it will be many years before another licensing window opens and, frankly, there won't be much full power radio spectrum of value available after this issuing period.
These licenses will only be available to qualified community groups and nonprofits in certain geographical areas. More information at GetRadio.org
Are you tired of every radio station sounding the same?
Are the corporate radio giants serving your community?
Have you always dreamed of your own radio station?
This October, the 12th through the 19th, the FCC will open a rare window for issuing full-power, noncommercial radio licenses. Now may be your only chance to secure a license. Read the FCC's announcement.
- The window itself will only last seven days.
- You can only file your application during this seven-day window, so everything needs to be prepared in advance.
If you don't apply during this window, it will be many years before another licensing window opens and, frankly, there won't be much full power radio spectrum of value available after this issuing period.
These licenses will only be available to qualified community groups and nonprofits in certain geographical areas. More information at GetRadio.org
Friday, May 11, 2007
See "Iraq for Sale" Video Clip That Republicans Successfully Blocked From Being Seen By Congress
Progressive film director Robert Greenwald was scheduled to testify at a hearing on Thursday, May 10 about war profiteering. He requested to show a few minutes of one of his films - Iraq for Sale - but Republicans blocked his request. Below is what Congress won’t see.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Republican Congressman Thinks It's Okay to Mistakenly Jail and Torture Innocent People
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) aggressively defended the U.S. rendition program and attacked the witnesses, three members of the European parliament, who testified that rendition actually hinders prosecutions of terrorists.
Further demonstrating Republican lack of understanding of basic individual constitutional rights. Europeans wonder if America still champion of inalienable rights. Demonstrators gasp in awe and eventually disrupt hearing.
Further demonstrating Republican lack of understanding of basic individual constitutional rights. Europeans wonder if America still champion of inalienable rights. Demonstrators gasp in awe and eventually disrupt hearing.
Rush Limbaugh Pulls An Imus
Limbaugh plays "Barack The Magic Negro" song parody on his show. Must see video from Alternet here.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Open Letter To Tucker Carlson, Your A Nitwit!
Mr. Carlson,
The hearings that congressional Democrats are holding on the Pat Tillman and the Jessica Lynch tragedies are necessary so that Americans can get to THE TRUTH. Something that has been sadly lacking ever since criminals like Bush and Cheney have been in charge of this country.
No matter what you think in between your insular world inside the Washington D.C. beltway, and your side trips for appearances on dancing with the stars or other attempts to be a pop star talking head, I believe that Bush and Cheney someday will face charges for the plague of criminal activities, lies and deceits they and their cronies have leveled on our country and the rest of the world during this national nightmare of a time we find ourselves living through today.
The Tillman and Lynch cases being only a small part of the overall malignant cancer that exists in every part of this administration. But of course not a small matter to the Tillman and Lynch families and many families just like them who have suffered the loss of a love one due to the incompetence and misguided policies of this government's leaders.
I believe the family of Pat Tillman requested that congress investigate these allegations. Apparently as many as nine senior military officers including several generals covered up the truth about how Tillman sacrificed his life, all done apparently to support this administration's phony call to war.
Like the Tillmans, I think that the American people should know who these generals are and more importantly who started the cover up in the first place. WE DESERVE TO KNOW THE TRUTH and history deserves to know the truth.
If you were worth two cents as a journalist you would be compelled to find out who started these lies about Tillman and Lynch's service in the first place instead of talking gibberish or trying to create phony political conflicts that really don't exist or playing your lap dog character as some fictitious spokesman for the intellectual right-wing. Which we all know is somewhat of an oxymoron.
No your not the new William Buckley, and never will be. But I regress. You often miss the freaking point entirely on this and most other issues of the day.
On your program today you continued to try to somehow portray all this as "an attack on the troops or the army or somehow totally partisan. I remind you that Congress's job is oversight.
This is how the system is supposed to work now that there isn't a rubber stamp do nothing Tom Delay run Republican congress calling the shots anymore.
It is also beyond bad journalism and an indication of your lack of creativity to drag out Tom DeLay for his opinion on anything. Who would believe anything this potential felon has to say anyway. If you do. your a complete fool. But he plays you just like he plays all the other right wing wing nuts.
Which I'm beginning to think is the real problem with you and your show. Why MSNBC keeps you there is beyond understanding.
I for one think your phony libertarian intellectual right wing preppy boy bullshit is wearing real thin out here in the real world.
Sincerely,
artistdogboy
Vashon, Wa
The hearings that congressional Democrats are holding on the Pat Tillman and the Jessica Lynch tragedies are necessary so that Americans can get to THE TRUTH. Something that has been sadly lacking ever since criminals like Bush and Cheney have been in charge of this country.
No matter what you think in between your insular world inside the Washington D.C. beltway, and your side trips for appearances on dancing with the stars or other attempts to be a pop star talking head, I believe that Bush and Cheney someday will face charges for the plague of criminal activities, lies and deceits they and their cronies have leveled on our country and the rest of the world during this national nightmare of a time we find ourselves living through today.
The Tillman and Lynch cases being only a small part of the overall malignant cancer that exists in every part of this administration. But of course not a small matter to the Tillman and Lynch families and many families just like them who have suffered the loss of a love one due to the incompetence and misguided policies of this government's leaders.
I believe the family of Pat Tillman requested that congress investigate these allegations. Apparently as many as nine senior military officers including several generals covered up the truth about how Tillman sacrificed his life, all done apparently to support this administration's phony call to war.
Like the Tillmans, I think that the American people should know who these generals are and more importantly who started the cover up in the first place. WE DESERVE TO KNOW THE TRUTH and history deserves to know the truth.
If you were worth two cents as a journalist you would be compelled to find out who started these lies about Tillman and Lynch's service in the first place instead of talking gibberish or trying to create phony political conflicts that really don't exist or playing your lap dog character as some fictitious spokesman for the intellectual right-wing. Which we all know is somewhat of an oxymoron.
No your not the new William Buckley, and never will be. But I regress. You often miss the freaking point entirely on this and most other issues of the day.
On your program today you continued to try to somehow portray all this as "an attack on the troops or the army or somehow totally partisan. I remind you that Congress's job is oversight.
This is how the system is supposed to work now that there isn't a rubber stamp do nothing Tom Delay run Republican congress calling the shots anymore.
It is also beyond bad journalism and an indication of your lack of creativity to drag out Tom DeLay for his opinion on anything. Who would believe anything this potential felon has to say anyway. If you do. your a complete fool. But he plays you just like he plays all the other right wing wing nuts.
Which I'm beginning to think is the real problem with you and your show. Why MSNBC keeps you there is beyond understanding.
I for one think your phony libertarian intellectual right wing preppy boy bullshit is wearing real thin out here in the real world.
Sincerely,
artistdogboy
Vashon, Wa
Thursday, April 19, 2007
McCain Sings About Bombing Iran Video
During a campaign stop today by Senator John McCain he sings about bombing Iran in response to a question from an audience member about why the United States hasn't done so yet. The audience applause to the question strikes me as being even more troubling. Of course it's in South Carolina not exactly a Blue State.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Require Licenses For All Gun Owners In Washington State
It is becoming obvious, with each subsequent news report, that the man who killed 32 people and himself in Virginia demonstrated unstable and bazaar behavior long before he went on the rampage that led to the horror. Yet he was easily able to purchase the eventual murder weapons by simply providing 2 pieces of identification and doing a routine background check. Virginia apparently does not have a flagging system for individuals who have records of having mental illness issues. Nor do most other states unfortunately.
Had they had such a system perhaps this awful tragedy could of been avoided. Frankly there's a football stadium full of such personal tragedies that happen each year in the good old USA due to our archaic and out of date gun control laws.
I personally think that guns should not be band completely. Being partially raised in rural Eastern Washington I was taught to hunt, gun safety and a thoughtful respect for the uses of firearms. It must be noted that I do not own any weapons. I have personally chosen not to own them. I am not a pacifist or one who is morally opposed to defending myself if my life were truly threatened. I would probably be at the head of the line to purchase a firearm if a Katrina like event happened were I live or civil unrest become a reality around me. I respect each individual right to make up their mind where they stand on this matter.
Though I tend to agree with Camile Paglia recent column on this issue:
I now believe strongly, and have for sometime, that one should be required to obtain a license (similar to a diver's license) to possess any type of firearm or rifle short of marshal law being declared. This process would require thorough criminal background checks, a gun safety training course that you must pass and some rigorous mechanism to verify that you are of sound mind and body. Of course it would keep guns out of the hands of the usual suspects such as convicted felons and those with pending criminal actions.
It simply is beyond common sense that anyone who drives a vehicle is required to get a license while anyone wishing to own a weapon, which is perhaps more deadly in the wrong hands, has little or no restrictions placed upon them in obtaining one.
Also I believe that assault weapons should be band along with the assortment of large ammunition clips and hollow point type bullets. These things are extreme and not really necessary or practical for hunting, protecting oneself or ones family or property.
It is extremely unfortunate that this apparently mentally ill individual in Virginia was allowed to somehow slipped through the cracks that exist not only in Virginia but many parts of this country when it came to keeping firearms out to the hands of people who one would consider unstable or mentally ill.
He apparently had a number of contacts with the police after allegedly stalking women on campus and appeared unstable to most who had contact with him and apparently was the proverbial ticking time bomb. Yet he obtained the weapons easily.
In Washington State individuals charged with domestic violence offenses are flagged through the department of licensing data base and prohibited from purchasing owning or possessing firearms pending the outcome of their cases. If convicted of a the offense their right to own or possess a gun is prohibited for a number of years or until it is restored by the court. Concealed weapons permits only require that they certify that they are mentally sound and go through a background check and you do not need the permit to purchase the weapon only to conceal it.
Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich's blog had this to say on the subject:
It's time voters begin to contacting their representatives to tell them that enough is enough. We need to have the political courage to stand up to the NRA and the gun fanatics and pass laws that represent some sort of common sense control over the epidemic of gun violence in America.
Had they had such a system perhaps this awful tragedy could of been avoided. Frankly there's a football stadium full of such personal tragedies that happen each year in the good old USA due to our archaic and out of date gun control laws.
I personally think that guns should not be band completely. Being partially raised in rural Eastern Washington I was taught to hunt, gun safety and a thoughtful respect for the uses of firearms. It must be noted that I do not own any weapons. I have personally chosen not to own them. I am not a pacifist or one who is morally opposed to defending myself if my life were truly threatened. I would probably be at the head of the line to purchase a firearm if a Katrina like event happened were I live or civil unrest become a reality around me. I respect each individual right to make up their mind where they stand on this matter.
Though I tend to agree with Camile Paglia recent column on this issue:
"As a Salon columnist (dating back to the founding of Salon in 1995), I have tried to provide a forum for defenders of the Second Amendment to make their case. The Northeastern major media, which remain heavily liberal, rarely permit these voices to be heard.
I do not own guns and have no interest in them. (Swords, those Homeric and chivalric emblems, have always attracted me more.) But as a libertarian, I read the Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights as granting to private citizens the right to bear arms against the potential abuses of a government turned tyrannous. Furthermore, should police authority evaporate after a cataclysm of storm, flood, earthquake or terrorism, citizens have a right to defend their families and property against criminals and looters. If food and water are in short supply over a protracted period, expect predators and violence."
I now believe strongly, and have for sometime, that one should be required to obtain a license (similar to a diver's license) to possess any type of firearm or rifle short of marshal law being declared. This process would require thorough criminal background checks, a gun safety training course that you must pass and some rigorous mechanism to verify that you are of sound mind and body. Of course it would keep guns out of the hands of the usual suspects such as convicted felons and those with pending criminal actions.
It simply is beyond common sense that anyone who drives a vehicle is required to get a license while anyone wishing to own a weapon, which is perhaps more deadly in the wrong hands, has little or no restrictions placed upon them in obtaining one.
Also I believe that assault weapons should be band along with the assortment of large ammunition clips and hollow point type bullets. These things are extreme and not really necessary or practical for hunting, protecting oneself or ones family or property.
It is extremely unfortunate that this apparently mentally ill individual in Virginia was allowed to somehow slipped through the cracks that exist not only in Virginia but many parts of this country when it came to keeping firearms out to the hands of people who one would consider unstable or mentally ill.
He apparently had a number of contacts with the police after allegedly stalking women on campus and appeared unstable to most who had contact with him and apparently was the proverbial ticking time bomb. Yet he obtained the weapons easily.
In Washington State individuals charged with domestic violence offenses are flagged through the department of licensing data base and prohibited from purchasing owning or possessing firearms pending the outcome of their cases. If convicted of a the offense their right to own or possess a gun is prohibited for a number of years or until it is restored by the court. Concealed weapons permits only require that they certify that they are mentally sound and go through a background check and you do not need the permit to purchase the weapon only to conceal it.
Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich's blog had this to say on the subject:
"In the United States, if you are seriously depressed, you can purchase anti-depressive drugs like Prozac, but only if you have a prescription from a doctor. Anti-depressants are enormously beneficial to millions of people but they are also potentially dangerous if used improperly. So, you have to see a doctor and get an assessment before you can go to a drug store and purchase one.
But in the United States, in places like Virginia, a seriously depressed or deranged person can walk into a store and buy a semi-automatic handgun and a box of ammunition. All you need is two forms of identification. You don’t need permission from a doctor or counselor or anyone in the business of screening people to make sure they’re fit to have a gun."
It's time voters begin to contacting their representatives to tell them that enough is enough. We need to have the political courage to stand up to the NRA and the gun fanatics and pass laws that represent some sort of common sense control over the epidemic of gun violence in America.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Virginia Tech Murders Offer Evidence Of A Troubled Society Without Providing Clear Moral Explanations of Why
My 12 Step Group has a old tradition that refers to being on and off the beam when leading your daily life. After hearing about the mayhem and murder today at Virginia Tech I thought creating a rendition of the list could be helpful to understand this tragedy.
Mercy Homicide
Life Death
Peace War
Dehumanize Bomb
Creation Destruction
Peace Loving Militarism
Hope Suicide
Moderation Fanatic
Tolerance Fundamentalist
Open-Mindedness Conservative
Dialogue Ideologue
Silence Mayhem
Understanding Xenophobia
Non-Violence Violence
Sophistication Nationalism
Objectivity Jingoism
Love Indifference
Empathy Racism
Humility Chauvinism
Forgive Execute
Here is the original list
Honesty Dishonest
Faith Fear
Courage Frighten
Consideration Inconsiderate
Humility Pride
Giving Greed
Calm Anger
Grateful Envy
Patience Inpatient
Tolerance Intolerance
Forgiveness Resentment
Love Hate
Self-forgetfulness Self-Pity
Humility Self-Justification
Modesty Self-Importance
Self-forgiveness Self-Condemnation
Trust Suspicion
Moderation Gluttony
Action Sloth
Mercy Homicide
Life Death
Peace War
Dehumanize Bomb
Creation Destruction
Peace Loving Militarism
Hope Suicide
Moderation Fanatic
Tolerance Fundamentalist
Open-Mindedness Conservative
Dialogue Ideologue
Silence Mayhem
Understanding Xenophobia
Non-Violence Violence
Sophistication Nationalism
Objectivity Jingoism
Love Indifference
Empathy Racism
Humility Chauvinism
Forgive Execute
Here is the original list
Honesty Dishonest
Faith Fear
Courage Frighten
Consideration Inconsiderate
Humility Pride
Giving Greed
Calm Anger
Grateful Envy
Patience Inpatient
Tolerance Intolerance
Forgiveness Resentment
Love Hate
Self-forgetfulness Self-Pity
Humility Self-Justification
Modesty Self-Importance
Self-forgiveness Self-Condemnation
Trust Suspicion
Moderation Gluttony
Action Sloth
Monday, April 09, 2007
City of Seattle Tells Family Owned Business To Go Fuck Themselves
I was not surprised to find a story in today’s Seattle Times about a 70 year old family operated business finally fed up with having to be the neighbor to the experimental drunk housing project that the city opened 16 months ago at 1811 Eastlake in the Cascade Neighborhood.Northwest Trophy recently announced they’d be moving to a new location after trying to deal with problems that housing for chronic drunks has created for them next door. Including 267 911 calls to the premises or one about every other day according to my calculations. The management of the bum center calls it all a case of “sour grapes” by the business owners who opposed the center from the beginning.
God what a surprise!
Can you imagine a 911 call to your neighbors house every other day or having intoxicated knuckleheads wandering aimlessly into your home or pissing on your flowerbeds on a regular basis. I can see the new agers on Capital Hill calling for Nick Licata’s head if such a thing were allowed to continue to happen on or near "their property". Makes me want to go up there a piss and defecate on Licata's lawn right now.
Seattle’s city fathers once again demonstrate, with the approval of this and other populist civic experiments, like the public toilets debacle, their lack of understanding of small business and the risk involved in operating one in Seattle. There is a head in the clouds attitude when it comes to common sense approaches to civic problems and support for family owned and operated small businesses. In fact there is little common sense at all it seems at times. Mostly just overly idealistic and grandiose bullshit continuing to ooze from the minds of this city council.
I for one thought the idea of “wet” housing was somewhat ill conceived and enabling behavior on the part of city government at the time the center opened. Usually substance abusers are offered housing if they agree to stop using as a condition of them being a resident in sober housing. This experimental project allows the residents to continue drinking based on the belief that it will save taxpayer money with fewer trips to Harborview Medical Center or King County Jail by the bums. It sort of “controlled drinking” housing I guess or a “safe house for drinking”.
Only in Seattle can you avoid regular under a bridge drinking and continue to be a fuck-up in taxpayer supported drunk safe housing. I suggested in my initial post on this subject that the city consider putting a bar in the lobby. Maybe we could recoup some of the tax money that way? Of course the bouncer would not throw rowdy drunks out he just escort them to their rooms. Were they could attempt more "controlled drinking".
Everyone worth his salt knows that alcoholics by definition cannot control their drinking, which of course, is the basis of their problem. As one reader pointed out to me when I wrote a piece on this subject 16 months ago, this place is really a hospice where unwilling to attempt sobriety drunks go to die and not much else.
I know that even drunks deserve a home. My argument is that drunks who want to be sober should be given a priority when it come to my tax dime over drunks who wish to continue their ward of the state drunken lifestyles.
We need to know just how much money this place has been saving the taxpayers since it opened? One of the local newspapers should be willing to follow up on the story and give us those figures soon I hope.
Don Imus Finally Pisses Off The Wrong People
Okay, I admit I have strange sleeping habits and often find myself a regular viewer of the Imus in the Morning Show on MSNBC which airs at 3am to 6am daily here on the West Coast.
Don’t say I told you so, because I did in a post in early February on Imus, the national radio personality and MSNBC morning shock jock personality, but he has apparently finally pissed off the wrong people. In fact it seems like the entire African American community. It happened last week when Imus referred to the Rutgers University women’s predominantly African American basketball team as a bunch of “nappy headed hos” while attempting to create some bad frat boy humor in an exchange with his fellow loose cannon producer Bernard McGuirk.
Surprisingly, this is sort of par for the course behavior and even a lightweight transgression for Imus and his band of merry ass kissing all American all white all male Imus show loud mouthed personalities. Perhaps all the years of cumulative personal insults and name-calling and banal behavior may finally lead to his downfall or at least to someone actually reigning in Mr. Potty Mouth. God knows there probably are a legion of folks out there that would love to see him humiliated and/or put in his place.
Imus apparently made an attempt to apologize on last Friday’s show. But after years of insulting just about everyone alive his many enemies probably can smell the blood in the water now that he's pissed off an entire race.
The Reverend Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, among others, are calling for his head on a silver platter. It will be interesting to see how Imus, his radio affiliates and MSNBC respond to the onslaught and accompanying media frenzy.
Down goes Imus!
As much as Imus pisses me off for his outlandish bullshit I find I have sort of a soft spot in my heart for him because of his “everyman” sort of personality. His flaws are glaring and I can personally relate to some of the demons that may haunt him.
I’m sure lots of people identify with him and his often hidden better nature. The Imus program on MSNBC beats out CNN American Morning in the ratings on a regular basis. He's often brutally honest about life or when dealing with and interviewing political types. Something that is refreshing. His work with charities like his Imus Ranch for Kids with Cancer and undying support for veteran’s causes and other popular populist issues often give you a glimpse of an Imus on the high road. You want to forgive and ignore the bad behavior.
But then he slips into the egomaniac world of name calling and being an asshole with too much power. A negative role that in the end may just lead to his downfall.
Don’t say I told you so, because I did in a post in early February on Imus, the national radio personality and MSNBC morning shock jock personality, but he has apparently finally pissed off the wrong people. In fact it seems like the entire African American community. It happened last week when Imus referred to the Rutgers University women’s predominantly African American basketball team as a bunch of “nappy headed hos” while attempting to create some bad frat boy humor in an exchange with his fellow loose cannon producer Bernard McGuirk.
Surprisingly, this is sort of par for the course behavior and even a lightweight transgression for Imus and his band of merry ass kissing all American all white all male Imus show loud mouthed personalities. Perhaps all the years of cumulative personal insults and name-calling and banal behavior may finally lead to his downfall or at least to someone actually reigning in Mr. Potty Mouth. God knows there probably are a legion of folks out there that would love to see him humiliated and/or put in his place.
Imus apparently made an attempt to apologize on last Friday’s show. But after years of insulting just about everyone alive his many enemies probably can smell the blood in the water now that he's pissed off an entire race.
The Reverend Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, among others, are calling for his head on a silver platter. It will be interesting to see how Imus, his radio affiliates and MSNBC respond to the onslaught and accompanying media frenzy.
Down goes Imus!
As much as Imus pisses me off for his outlandish bullshit I find I have sort of a soft spot in my heart for him because of his “everyman” sort of personality. His flaws are glaring and I can personally relate to some of the demons that may haunt him.
I’m sure lots of people identify with him and his often hidden better nature. The Imus program on MSNBC beats out CNN American Morning in the ratings on a regular basis. He's often brutally honest about life or when dealing with and interviewing political types. Something that is refreshing. His work with charities like his Imus Ranch for Kids with Cancer and undying support for veteran’s causes and other popular populist issues often give you a glimpse of an Imus on the high road. You want to forgive and ignore the bad behavior.
But then he slips into the egomaniac world of name calling and being an asshole with too much power. A negative role that in the end may just lead to his downfall.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)