On any given day there are many, many issues swirling through my tiny brain. As I run through the headlines at some point I start to get mad and decide to start writing out my thoughts and posting articles on subjects that most Americans are not aware of, for whatever reason. I still sometimes go to CNN and very rarely watch a few minutes of Hardball just to see what the sheeple are being fed. Since Monday night from what I have heard the only thing pundits have been talking about is Howard Dean's show of emotion. This has apparently disqualified him from the primary race. Reality unfortunately is much more serious than a Howard Dean scream. We are responsible for remaking two nations. Our government can now spy on our every move, keystrokes as the case may be. We are moving toward all our votes being cast on suspect voting machines. Jobs leaving our shores in droves. No real retribution for corporate thieves who steal billions. Health care costs through the roof. So lets see what is happening in George Bush's American today.

Paul Krugman: Democracy at Risk
The disputed election of 2000 left a lasting scar on the nation's psyche. A recent Zogby poll found that even in red states, which voted for George W. Bush, 32 percent of the public believes that the election was stolen. In blue states, the fraction is 44 percent.

Getting the Message?
I listened to President's 2004 State of the Union, and read the speech on-line. Deconstructed, it reveals a great deal about the state of our union.

Global Eye ? Royal Flush
Out of the blood and murk of Iraq, yet another sinister connection is emerging, a skein of corruption tying Dick Cheney's Halliburton, the Bush Family fortunes -- and a mysterious Kuwaiti company that peddles material for building weapons of mass destruction.

Grand Jury Hears Plame Case
Testimony begins in front of a grand jury in the investigation into whether the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame was improperly leaked to the press.

U.S. MULLING HIZBULLAH STRIKES
US secretary of defence Donald Rumsfeld is considering plans to expand the global war on terrorism with multi-pronged attacks against suspected militant bases in countries such as Lebanon and Somalia...

Did you see the debate last night? Here was the big moment:

JENNINGS: I get General Clark and Senator Edwards this time.

General Clark, a lot of people say they don't you well, so this is really a simple question about knowing a man by his friends. The other day you had a rally here, and one of the men who stood up to endorse you is the controversial filmmaker Michael Moore. You said you were delighted with him.

At one point, Mr. Moore said, in front of you, that President Bush -- he's saying he'd like to see you, the general, and President Bush, who he called a "deserter."

Now, that's a reckless charge not supported by the facts. And I was curious to know why you didn't contradict him, and whether or not you think it would've been a better example of ethical behavior to have done so.

CLARK: Well, I think Michael Moore has the right to say whatever he feels about this.

I don't know whether this is supported by the facts or not. I've never looked at it. I've seen this charge bandied about a lot.

But to me it wasn't material. This election is going to be about the future, Peter. And what we have to do is pull this country together. And I am delighted to have the support of a man like Michael Moore, of a great American leader like Senator George McGovern, and of people from Texas like Charlie Stenholm and former Secretary of the Navy John Dalton.

We've got support from across the breadth of the Democratic Party, because I believe this party is united in wanting to change the leadership in Washington. We're going to run an election campaign that's about the future. We're going to hold the president accountable for what he did in office and failed to do, and we're going to compare who's got the best vision for America.

JENNINGS: Let me ask you something you mentioned, then, because since this question and answer in which you and Mr. Moore was involved in, you've had a chance to look at the facts.

Do you still feel comfortable with the fact that someone should be standing up in your presence and calling the president of the United States a deserter?

CLARK: To be honest with you, I did not look at the facts, Peter. You know, that's Michael Moore's opinion. He's entitled to say that. I've seen -- he's not the only person who's said that. I've not followed up on those facts. And frankly, it's not relevant to me and why I'm in this campaign.

JENNINGS: OK, thank you, sir.

Here is Miichael Moore's response: George W. Bush, A.W.O.L
In last night's Democratic Presidential debate in New Hampshire, broadcast on the Fox News (Nusciance?) Channel and ABC's Nightline, Peter Jennings went after Wesley Clark -- and me -- because I said I want to see Clark debate Bush... "The General vs. The Deserter."

Now if Peter would look at the facts that are referenced in Michael Moore's article he might not think this statement was so reckless.



- posted by Mom/Dad @ 7:39 AM