Current Events Watch

Do you believe in God? Great! Me, too. But frankly, I really don’t care what you believe. Feel free to have Wiccan rituals in your back yard for all I care. Fine with me. I just want to know if you can do the job. The Presidential job, the one where you work for me. Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Atheists, Christians, Wiccans and Satanists, all are welcome to apply.

Why every Presidential candidate has to declare their faith these days, I don’t know. I was once in a position where I hired employees. Never once in an interview did I even think to ask about their faith or beliefs. Because it didn’t matter, and I didn’t care. I think it’s probably illegal to ask such things, anyway. I just wanted to know if they could do the job. And frankly, if our current President’s personal relationship with God has led us to where we are today, give me an Atheist any day. Seriously.

Remember his statement that “There is a higher Father that I appeal to” when asked about whether he consulted Daddy Bush about going to war in Iraq? Like I said, I’d have preferred an Atheist.

But, of course, we’re a Christian nation. In God We Trust is stamped on every penny, nickel, dime and quarter.

So the Associated Press apparently thought it was worthwhile to poll the 2008 Presidential candidates to, I guess, determine whether or not they are in right standing with God. Whatever. Of course, they’re all Christians of some sort. You’ll notice that the article also says they were asked how often they attend services. Apparently that part of the question went unanswered.

I really don’t care. Why would it matter? To all of the 2008 candidates, I just hope you strive to do a better job than your predecessor. And, oh yeah, there’s that Separation of Church and State thing, too. Please keep your religious beliefs to yourself. Please. We already know that the current so-called Christian running the country hasn’t worked out so well, despite his direct connection to God. He’s an embarrassment to me as a Christian, as well as an American. Bring on the Atheists. Well, never mind, there’s not a single one in the mix. All Christians, of course. That’s cool, though, if they’ll actually listen to God, instead of thinking they are God.

2008 elections, presidential candidates, presidential elections

I’m a Big Brother fan. The CBS reality show, not the government’s version. And Evil Dick is still in the game. I like Evil Dick, the Big Brother 8 guy. Everyone calls him “Evil Dick”, I don’t know why. I like him. He kind of reminds me of myself. I don’t know exactly what that says about me, but I’m glad he’s still in the competition, and still in the house.

Apparently the other Evil Dick is still in the House, too, the White one. Cheney runs on batteries, though, and they needed to be replaced yesterday. After four heart attacks, quadruple bypass surgery, two artery-clearing angioplasties and an operation to implant a defibrillator six years ago, it was time to replace those defib batteries. And he lived to tell about it! Well, okay. I’m thrilled. He’s like the Energizer bunny.

I wish no ill will to any human being. Even impeachable liars. I really don’t. Glad the Dick made it through with flying colors.

That reminds me, my remote control died. Needs new batteries. But, you know, it hasn’t been working so well anyway, and pretty much sucks. I don’t think replacing the batteries will really solve the problem. Time to get rid of it.

dick cheney, iraq war, impeachment

I’ll just admit right off the bat, if my personal agenda included a flight to space in a vehicle that has more than once proven to be a combustible death chamber, I’d be planning to drink heavily the night before. And would be really thankful for those space diapers they provide for the trip.

That’s just me, but I’m not an astronaut. Still, all over the news last night … local, cable, Internet, were the reports that on at least two occasions astronauts have been allowed to fly while intoxicated. No specific details, of course, about whom they were or which flights, just that it happened at least twice. In my mind I was interpreting the report to mean two loaded astronauts. Then again, maybe I was just too loaded, myself, and not paying enough attention. Because the report actually says:

Two specific instances were described where astronauts had been so intoxicated prior to flight that flight surgeons and/or fellow astronauts raised concerns to local on-scene leadership regardling flight safety. However, the individuals were still permitted to fly.

Well, two instances is completely different than the two astronauts scenario that came to my mind! From what little we know, either or both of the “incidents” could have involved an entire flight crew being smashed! Apparently, according to the report, alcohol is freely used in crew quarters.

What?? Isn’t someone in charge of that kind of thing? Sure, let the astronauts party in crew quarters on any other night, party like it’s 1999. But the night before a flight, probably not a good idea. And when the flight surgeon, on the NASA payroll, doing his job, expresses concern and tells the boss guys about the drunk folks ready to board the shuttle, and is completely ignored, well, I don’t get that. If they’re not going to listen to the guy who is apparently there to point out such things, I don’t know what he’s getting paid for. Then again, NASA is a government organization. Never mind.

Like I said, given a chance I would personally make a point to be stinking drunk before getting into that thing (and I guess it is an option). But like I also said, I’m not an astronaut. Thank God for the auto-pilot button.

astronauts, drunk astronauts, space shuttle, NASA

Get out those postal scales, everyone! Beginning Monday, if that package you’re mailing weighs more than 13 ounces, don’t even think about grabbing that book of stamps! I don’t care how many you can lick and stick, the new rule requires that 13 ounces is the new, lower limit, requiring “alternative postage.” Which is like a stamp, only different. Different because, well, I don’t know. They both are really just stickers, applied to the same package in the same manner. But if all you have laying around are your everyday stamps, you’ll need to dash to the post office and hand your package directly to the Federal employee, the postal clerk behind the counter because, well, he or she is apparently authorized to affix the safer alternative postage. Not that it really matters what you’re mailing, I’m sure they don’t care, but apparently the process keeps us all safer, so who am I to question?

The change is part of ongoing security measures established by the Postal Service, in cooperation with other government agencies to keep the public, customers, employees and the U.S. Mail safe.

I’ll admit I didn’t realize there was already a law requiring said alternative postage for packages weighing more than 16 ounces. But lowering it to 13 ounces, I mean, what’s the point? Three ounces? How can that possibly make a difference? I wonder how many federal tax dollars went into that study. And why are regular stamps more of a risk to public safety, whether the limit is 13 ounces or 16 ounces? Remember anthrax from a few years ago? Regular envelope, a single regular stamp, mission accomplished.

Doesn’t really matter, though. I can print my own USPS acceptable alternative postage by going online, affix it myself to my 13-plus ounce package, and have it picked up by my regular mail carrier, from right here at home! No matter how nefarious the contents. Does this make sense? How does this keep the public, customers, and employees safer? Anyone?

postal changes, alternative postage, mail safety, security

How many Presidential debates are there going to be between now and November, 2008? I may be wrong, but I don’t remember so many debates this early in previous elections. Now it’s like the next new reality show, check your local listings. I just think the show should be canceled, until next season.

As much as I do care about and pay attention to the campaigns and the candidates, I really don’t care to watch the debates this early in the game, because they are a joke. I tried to watch one of the earlier Democratic debates, in April, but I quickly lost interest. Why bother? Particularly when I’m required to listen to the responses of what seemed like dozens of candidates (I exaggerate sometimes, but still…), the ones who really don’t stand a chance in hell of being a legitimate choice come November, ‘08, sixteen months from now. Dennis J. Kucinich, he just needs to stop. Of course, there are the others, he just came to mind because he’s so tiny and for some reason I remember his name. No offense to tiny people. I guess, though, that so far, all of the debates have been “unofficial.” How an unofficial debate differs from an official debate, I don’t know. Tonight is apparently an official Democratic debate. At least that’s what I read. Still too early, in my opinion, but if it’s official, I’ll watch! And it is the first one I really do want to watch. This is why.

Thanks to the Internet and YouTube, instead of the pre-scripted list of questions, pre-produced Q&A session, real people are asking the questions. It’s easy to forget that every person in any government position, actually has been hired by us… to work for us. (Unless you don’t vote, then you’re not the boss of anyone.) Those of us who do vote, though, are, indeed, the boss of them. And so YouTube, CNN and Google are sponsoring the first debate where real people ask real questions, to decide whom to hire! It really is a job interview, when it comes down to it, and who better to ask the questions than those of us responsible for filling the position? Makes sense to me.

There will still be a moderator, the clock-watcher, Anderson Cooper, and of course, CNN will pick and choose the questions that make it on air. Still, I think it’s great that real people, with real questions, will get (possibly) real answers from the candidates rallying for their votes, and the job.

I do want to hear what the candidates, the ones who actually have a shot at the job, have to say in response to the YouTube questions. Hillary, Barack, John. The real candidates don’t require a last name, kind of like Cher and Madonna. Does anyone think there’s any chance folks will vote for a presidential nominee who goes by Tweezerman? Anyone? I didn’t think so.

Finally, I’m a registered Democrat, and I hope that this video question makes it on the air tonight, because it is a question that definitely needs to be answered by someone from my own party.

election 2008, 2008 election, youtube, youtube debates, democratic debate

George Bush is five polyps lighter. Dick Cheney didn’t launch an attack anywhere in the world during his two-hour Presidency. So all is (relatively) well, which gives me a chance to pay homage to Tammy Faye today.

I loved Tammy Faye. Bakker, Messner, whatever. Don’t care much for Jim, don’t care much for Roe, so I’ll just call her Tammy Faye. Her men, her make-up, probably not the best choices, but if they made her happy, God bless her. Roe is now a neighbor, though, since he and Tammy had just recently moved here to Kansas City, so I should be more cautious about what I say. He could show up at my door at any time, and he kind of creeps me out.

Seeing Tammy Faye on Larry King Live last Thursday was very disturbing, and it was obvious she didn’t have much time remaining. But who expected she’d pass away the next day? In retrospect, I really believe she knew it was her time, which is why she wanted to do that final interview.

Those of us that loved her, though, loved her simply because she, too, loved. She embraced everybody, without judgement. Unconditional love and acceptance. Remember her stint on The Surreal Life a couple of years ago, with porn star Ron Jeremy being one of the other members in the house? The porn star and the evangelist, and yet they somehow, despite their very obvious differences, bonded.

She was just cool, in a Jesus sort of way.

Rest in peace, Tammy, and enjoy the burgers and fries in heaven! With lots of ketchup.

tammy faye, tammy faye bakker, tammy faye messner

“Polyp” is a funny word. Polyp. Well, I guess I wouldn’t find it so funny if it came up in conversation with my own doctor, but since it hasn’t, yeah, I think it’s a funny word. I never claimed to have a mature sense of humor.

So, anyway, because they found a couple of polyps a few years ago, George W. is now on the list of those who are supposed to have a colonoscopy every 3-5 years instead of the 10-year reprieve the rest of us are given. Time is up. His last one was in 2002, so it’s time to get another good probing tomorrow. I wish him well, and no polyps. I do hope, though, that they’ll maybe find his head while they’re up there this time around.

Since he’ll be under anesthesia for a couple of hours (Is there any way we could extend that? Oh, never mind, read on) he has elected to use the 25th Amendment to officially cede power to the VP while he’s knocked out. King George out of commission for a couple of hours, YEA! But no need to worry, there will be no lapse in stellar leadership with President Dick at the helm. Er, Cheney.

Wonder if Dick is making a checklist on the eve of his grand and glorious, all-powerful day, of what else he can possibly screw up in just two hours … so many options, so little time.

Does it really matter whether it’s Bush or Dick? No, not really. They both need to go. As long as either one of them are calling the shots, G.W. isn’t the only one taking it up the ass, we all are, both here and abroad. Still, “polyp” is a funny word.

george bush, president bush, dick cheney, colonoscopy

No politics today, there are other current events, I know. Like this, which has me all hot and bothered. And not hot and bothered in a good way.

Atlanta Falcon’s quarterback Michael Vick and his Bad Newz Kennels.

I’m a dog person. I love dogs. Especially my own Roy.

So hopefully, with the following federal indictment, we won’t be seeing any more of this sort of activity at the Vick residence!

He was indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday on charges of sponsoring a dogfighting operation where the losing dogs either died or were killed. According to the indictment, the dogs were housed, trained and fought at a property owned by Vick.

The 18-page indictment (holy crap, 18 pages?), filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, claims that Vick began the dogfighting operation in early 2001, the former Virginia Tech star’s rookie year with the Falcons.

John Goodwin from the Humane Society said:

“Some of the grisly details in these filings shocked even me, and I’m a person who faces this stuff every day,” he said. “I was surprised to see that they were killing dogs by hanging them and one dog was killed by slamming it to the ground. Those are extremely violent methods of execution - they’re unnecessary and just sick.”

Just a couple of specific things that I thought were particularly disturbing:

1 - About eight young dogs were put to death after they were found not ready to fight in April, the indictment said. They were killed “by hanging, drowning and/or slamming at least one dog’s body to the ground.”

2 - In March 2003, after a pit bull from Bad Newz Kennels lost in a fight, there was a consultation with Vick about the losing dog’s condition. The decision was made that the dog would be executed by wetting it with water and electrocuting it.

There’s more, of course. Apparently 18 pages more. But those two paragraphs are enough for me.

It’s not just Michael Vick, although he is apparently a heavyweight in dogfighting circles. It takes two to tango, or to dogfight, so he’s obviously not alone. I guess there are plenty of like-minded folks raising dogs simply to fight to the death. (66 dogs found by the Feds at Vick’s property, and, oh yeah, there was that dogfighting pit, and the blood-stained carpets, and other equipment commonly associated with dogfighting.)

I guess it’s not entirely true about fighting to the death. If man’s best friend loses but isn’t quite dead yet, you do have other options. See above. Water and electrocution, or a good body slam apparently work very well!

If convicted, Vick and his cohorts could face up to six years in prison and $350,000 in fines. Of course the money is pocket change to him, but the six years might be a lesson learned.

That won’t happen, of course. Money talks, and he’s got plenty of it. And football season begins soon, and the Falcon’s no doubt need their quarterback.

Hey, Mike, just check yourself into some rehab program for a week (seems to be all the rage these days, there’s rehab for everything), and say you’re sorry. That’s it! Good boy.

michael vick, dogfighting, politics

I have OCD. I really do, but I won’t bore you with the specifics of my particular mental disorder. ADD, nope. RLS, don’t have that, either. Nor do I have OSA, and am not plagued with any other of the many alpha-ailments that I’ve learned about from watching the pharmaceutical company commercials on TV. Who knew? But at least, so far, I have only OCD. Good to know, though, that if I ever do become afflicted with any other ABC malady, I can ask my doctor about (fill in the blank), because there’s no doubt a drug for that.

Acronyms are fun. Easy to remember, and a great marketing tool for the drug companies! Although I don’t know of anything on the market to cure my OCD, there’s a prescription for almost everything else…

Remember our prescription for Iraq’s WMD? “Ask your doctor about Shock and Awe. Side effects may include…” Well, okay, WMD turned out to be a mis-diagnosis. Still left with the side effects, however. Never mind. Sometimes that happens. But guess what? Now we do have, without question, no second opinion needed, AQI! Al Qaeda in Iraq. Which, don’t forget, was not a pre-existing condition. Cause: Invasion and Occupation.

There were so many blatant lies told to justify the Iraq war, one being, in addition to the WMD fabrication, the connection between Iraq’s Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda’s Bin Laden. “Overwhelming evidence“, Cheney said.

Dick.

Nope, didn’t exist. In fact, we then found out it seems the two didn’t even get along so well. Of course they both hated the U.S., but Osama and Saddam certainly weren’t Jihadist bunk buddies, either. I guess if you can’t “smoke ‘em out of their caves in Afghanistan”, you just make up shit as an excuse to bomb another country for absolutely no reason.

And so now we’re left with AQI, and according to this New York Times’ article published today, the government is claiming that the original AQ, the real deal, is expected to cultivate more cooperation with AQI and regional terrorist groups… “Perhaps most significantly, Al Qaeda will probably try to use contacts with a separate group called Al Qaeda in Iraq to foment Sunni extremists, raise resources and recruit operatives for more attacks in the United States.”

Holy Terror, Batman!

I personally think it’s BS, but of course, anything is possible. They are entirely different groups, with no real connection, and I think these comments that the government released today, published not only in the NYT article but in all major media outlets, propagating the fear factor once again, are a follow up to the Michael Chertoff gut-feeling speech that I ranted about a few days ago. His gut feeling that we were going to have an attack this summer! Now the official statement is that we’ll have an attack within the next three years.

Whatever. It’s all propaganda initiated to cause fear, as a distraction from the miserable failures here at home and the corruption of this administration.

Still, our invasion provided, without question, yet another reason for certain folks to hate the U.S., giving organizations like the AQI a fertile environment in which to thrive. As Ron Paul said on Bill Maher (yikes, I’m quoting a Republican! but I like Ron Paul):

“If we think 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 attack us because we’re over there.”

Exactly. So if there really is a threat of an attack, this summer or within the next three years, who is really to blame? My gut feeling is that we probably need to re-evaluate our Mideast policies and occupations and maybe this threat of attack, whether this summer or within three years (why not make it ten, just to be sure?), won’t be an issue.

If only I could ask my doctor about, well, anything to get rid of GWB. Side effects be damned, can’t be any worse than the disease. I can at least live with my OCD.

al qaeda, al qaeda in iraq, terrorist threat, dick cheney, george bush, terrorism, fear

Joseph Ratzinger says I’m going to hell! Well, now, that can’t be good! What to do? Of course J.R. is Pope Benedict XVI. Popes get to choose a new name when they get the job. Like nuns. And bill collectors.

I personally would probably have chosen Pope Joe I, simply to be the first. I’d rather be Pope Joe the 1st than Pope Benedict the 16th. That’s just me, but, then again, I’m certainly not Pope material, and I digress…

Here’s what XVI had to say:

“Christ established here on earth only one church. The other communities cannot be called ‘churches’ in the proper sense because they do not have apostolic succession — the ability to trace their bishops back to Christ’s original apostles.”

Holy crap, I guess I totally missed the boat! The Vatican’s report also claims that all non-Catholic Christian communities lack the “means of salvation.â€?

The report claims that although other Orthodox churches have apostolic succession and therefore the “means of salvation,� they are flawed because they do not recognize the primacy of the Pope.

The primacy of the Pope? No disrespect, of course, to those who think that the Pope is the next best thing since God, or sliced bread, but seriously. Because I personally don’t recognize the primacy of the Pope, I’m doomed?

I guess all of my Catholic friends are good to go. To heaven, of course. While I’m presumably on the downward spiral, which does not bode well for me, but I guess I’ll have my non-Catholic family and friends to keep me company. I should probably just redeem myself by going through the ritual of Mass every week. That should get me in.

This from the guy that was a member of the Hitler Youth back in the day. And I’m the one destined for hell? Damn. That sucks.

I’ll give him a break. He is 80 years old, after all. Let him live in the mansion, wear that weird-ass hat, the robe, prop him up in the Popemobile from time to time and drive him around, let him wave to the crowd, and babble about whatever. He has his fans, God bless them.

pope benedict, joseph ratzinger, pope benedict XVI, religion, catholicism, catholic, pope

From what I’ve read about Army Reservist Sergeant Erik Botta, I probably would not be on the same side of the fence politically. Just an assumption. However, I would think that at least most would agree, left or right or straddling said fence, that it is just wrong that the government would actually use the statement “to assure a sharing of exposure to the hazards of combat” to justify his fifth deployment.

The 26-year old has been to Afghanistan once, and to Iraq three times, and was then granted an exemption by the government, after his service, to pursue an engineering degree to work as a senior engineer on Blackhawk and Seahawk helicopters.

Exemption then denied. I guess he simply hasn’t been exposed to enough hazards of combat. Because, out of the blue, here comes notice that he will be re-deployed. For the fifth time, to assure a sharing of exposure to the hazards of combat.

I know I’ve repeated that quote ad nauseum in this particular column. It’s intentional. Because I find that particular statement atrocious, bizarre, and laughable in a morbid sort of way.

I have nothing left to say. I’m quite sure he’s had his share of exposure to the hazards of combat. He’s suing to fight the deployment, but, sorry, Sergeant Botta, you know how things work under this administration:

Botta’s attorney, Mark Waple, said he asked the Army Human Resources Command Wednesday if Botta’s deployment could be postponed until the litigation is settled.

”I got their answer today: No,” Waple said.

iraq, iraq war, afghanistan, deployment, erik botta

I smoke. I smoke a lot. Despite the Surgeon General’s warning that smoking may give me lung cancer, emphysema, many other various maladies! Okay, fine. My bad.

But here’s the deal. Whether or not I pay attention to the dire warnings, since 1871 the Surgeon General’s job has been to be the nation’s leading spokesperson for matters of public health. Not just smoking, of course, but HIV, obesity, and all health issues. The nation’s doctor. Not really so much a partisan position, I wouldn’t think. Public health is non-partisan. And until now, the U.S. has defended the right of the Surgeon General to speak out on matters of public health. After all, that is the job description.

From 2002 through 2006, Richard Carmona, pictured above, was Surgeon General of the United States. The problem is that from 2002 through 2006, he was working for the Bush administration. And instead of being given the right to speak out on matters of public health, he was censored for political reasons.

The Bush White House banned Carmona from speaking or issuing reports on stem cells (”I was told to stand down and not speak about it. It was removed from my speeches. Much of the discussion was being driven by theology, ideology, [and] preconceived beliefs that were scientifically incorrect.”), emergency contraception, sex education, prison, mental health and international health issues.

But wait, there’s more! The Special Olympics were deemed politically suspect, too, because they receive support from the Kennedy family. “I was specifically told by a senior person: ‘Why would you want to help those people?’”

And finally, Carmona claims he was required to mention George Bush three times on every page of every speech he presented. And to make speeches supporting Republican political candidates, and to attend political briefings.

Hence his resignation.

But thank goodness the administration has found a more party-friendly nominee in James W. Holsinger, pictured below. The guy who wrote Pathophysiology of Male Homosexuality, at the request of the United Methodist Church.

He’ll fit in very well and no doubt follow the rules and scripts he’s given. Remember: stem cells bad, Special Olympics bad, sex education bad, and Bush, Bush, Bush… three times per page. He’ll be a fine puppet, I’m sure.

OK, I’m done. I need a cigarette.

richard carmona, james holsinger, surgeon general, surgeon general nominee

The Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff has a “gut feeling” that there will be a terrorist attack this summer!

“I believe we are entering a period this summer of increased risk. Summertime seems to be appealing to them.” When pressed for specifics, the Chicago Tribune wrote “he indicated that his remarks were based on ‘a gut feeling’ formed by past seasonal patterns of terrorist attacks, recent al-Qaeda statements and intelligence he did not disclose.”

What?

Look, al-Qaeda has had the US in the crosshairs for at least the last ten years. That’s nothing new. It’s always a threat. Most of the targets have been overseas, against military bases, embassies, and remember the USS Cole in October of 2000?

Al-Qaeda must have been behind schedule in 2000, I guess, missing their summertime deadline.

So now, because of this imminent threat that Chertoff feels in his gut, the White House has scheduled an “urgent” meeting for Thursday. I know he said it’s based on intelligence gathering, but seriously, if it’s that urgent, why didn’t they raise the terror alert level? (Which is a joke, by the way… yellow, orange, red, whatever… but they never seemed to mind using it for their propaganda in the past.) And why wait until Thursday if it’s that urgent? And what exactly is the threat…and what is one to do?

Just in case, I’ll probably buy more plastic and duct tape.

It’s such a joke. This administration has constantly, whenever it is convenient to take the attention from either an upcoming election, or pending Congressional sex scandals, bad press from the Libby pardon … suddenly issued a terror warning! I like this comment I read today from the person posting as JD on the ABC News blog:

“Suspicious timing, anyone? Based on all the crap that has come out on this adminstration in the last few weeks, the cynic in me sees this as yet another attempt by the administration to scare and distract the American public from the real issues at home and abroad: GW’s own party deserting his position on the war, the Libby fiasco, the ex-surgeon general’s statements about politics trumping science, the billions we are pouring into the war each month, etc.”

Yep. Amen, JD.

They have constantly in their rhetoric since 9/11 used the same sort of tactics to convince the masses that, well, despite everything, even if you disagree with us, hate us, didn’t vote for us, and whatever else is going on right now, we’re still taking care of you and you’re safer because we’re running the show. And when an attack doesn’t happen, it’s no doubt because we are in control.

Give me a break.

At least Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson is demanding more details of the terror threat that apparently intelligence has uncovered. As he said, assuming Chertoff’s gut and intelligence sources are correct, which are both questionable:

“What color code in the Homeland Security Advisory System is associated with a ‘gut feeling?’ What sectors should be on alert as a result of your ‘gut feeling?’ What cities should be asking their law enforcement to work double shifts because of your ‘gut feeling?’”

Yes, no doubt at some point we will be attacked again, whether here or abroad. But I’m tired of the “terrorist fear” being propagated whenever it’s convenient to overshadow other issues. If there’s something we should know, then tell us. Something a bit more credible than a “gut feeling”. Otherwise, shut up, and take some Pepto Bismol.

michael chertoff, terrorist attack, terrorism, terrorist attacks

Though George W. Bush’s own GOP party is turning against him because of the illegal war in Iraq, he today is still touting his resolve to “stay the course”, and confident that the surge of thousands of new soldiers will ultimately lead to success. (I do find this video amusing, however, and typical Bush.)

Iraq obviously never posed a threat. Had nothing to do with 9/11. And by the way, don’t forget, because of the lies that were told to validate invading Iraq, more of our own soldiers have already been killed than were killed in the attacks on 9/11. Not to mention the 650,000+ innocent Iraqis who have been killed by our invasion of the country. But lest I begin ranting excessively, here are some interesting facts comparing the Iraq invasion with Vietnam.

Both wars were illegal acts of pre-emptive aggression unsanctioned by international law or world opinion, and not declared by Congress. (Constitution, anyone?)

Both wars were based on lies and deception. In Iraq it was weapons of mass destruction. Yeah, that worked out well. In Vietnam, it was the fabricated Gulf of Tonkin incident and the elections mandated by the Geneva agreement that were canceled by Washington.

In both wars, prisoners on both sides were abused. In South Vietnam, thousands of captives were tortured in what were called tiger cages. Vietnamese POWs were often killed; in North Vietnam, some US POWs were abused after bombing civilians. In Iraq, POWs on both sides were also mistreated. It was US soldiers that first leaked major war crimes and abuses. In Vietnam, Ron Ridenour disclosed the My Lai Massacre. In Iraq, it was a soldier who first told investigators about the torture in Abu Ghraib prison.

The US dropped napalm, cluster bombs against civilians and sprayed toxic agent orange in Vietnam. Cluster bombs and napalm-like firebombs were dropped in Iraq.

Both wars claimed to be about promoting democracy. Vietnam staged elections and saw a succession of governments controlled by the US. In the first Iraqi election most said they were casting ballots primarily to get the US to leave.

Vietnam was sold as a war against Communism. Iraq was sold as a part of the global war on terrorism. Neither proved true.

In both wars innocent civilians died in droves.

In both wars the US promised to help rebuild the damages caused by US bombing. In Vietnam, a $2 billion+ presidential reconstruction pledge was not honored. In Iraq, the electricity and other services are still out in many areas. In both wars US companies and suppliers have profited quite handsomely.

iraq war, vietnam war, war profiteering

It is far too early in the 2008 presidential campaigns for anyone, whether you politically lean right or left, to be making a decision about for whom to vote. There are many debates still to be had, much still to be learned about each candidate’s platform. Really, though, once all is said and done, all we can do is cross our fingers and hope for the best once that person is in office. Remember this George W. Bush 2000 campaign debate comment?

“If we don’t stop extending our troops all around the world and nation building missions, then we’re going to have a serious problem coming down the road, and I’m going to prevent that.”

All right, in fairness, I’m sure I could find similar contradictory comments from the campaign trail from the candidates I’ve voted for and supported, too. But since I personally find this administration appalling, I prefer to point these things out. Human nature. At least I’ll admit to it. Anyway, it is politics, after all. But I digress.

This 2008 race is different, though, in that it is getting more attention with Hillary and Barack running. A potential woman president, a potential black president. I’m quite sure that most people think of Barack Obama as a black candidate, even though his Kansas mother is as white as snow. Then there was the apparent uproar as reported in Newsweek by Princeton professor and scholar Cornel West accusing Barack Obama of shunning black voters, while reaching out to white voters. Apparently he was very adamant about it, asking at an event in Atlanta why Obama was 600 miles away announcing his bid for the White House in Springfield, Illinois. And accusing him of taking black people for granted. That’s ridiculous, because I’m quite sure Obama is campaigning for EVERY vote, just like every other candidate, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, and simply because he was in Springfield at the time he’s shunning the black vote? I do not know why West thought Obama should instead be at whatever event he was ranting at in Atlanta. Relax, guy, I’m sure Obama will visit soon. And I’m sure there were some black folks in Springfield, Illinois, too.

But this is why I like Obama.

No doubt he has struggled with his mixed-race his entire life. And being born in 1961, he probably as a child had a rougher time in his pre-adolescence than most. But hearing about this public outcry from West against him, he didn’t ignore it as many would do, but called the guy personally and spoke to him about it. “I want to clarify some things”, he calmly told the professor, and they apparently spoke for some time.

Cornel West has since endorsed Barack Obama, and signed on as an unpaid adviser.

I don’t know how I’ll vote. Like I said, there’s a lot of time, and a lot of issues, and I do like Hillary and I like John Edwards, and, yes, if I ever (gasp) vote Republican it might be for Ron Paul. But, I do like Obama’s integrity, his respect, and his decency.

hillary clinton, barack obama, election 2008, current events