4
POPSTHE Bigot is Dead Jesse Helms was a disgraceful representation of an elected official in our country. He despised blacks, gays, lesbians, hispanics and everyone who did not look like him or believed as he believed. While I never take pleasure in the death of another human being, it is my sincere hope that with his death, another layer of bigotry in the U.S. is buried with him. I have to think that maybe seeing Obama on the brink of the presidency may have been just too much for his aging heart to take.
6
POPSFormer Speaker Hastert's Congressional Seat is Lost to a Newbie Democrat! If this is any indication of things to come, and it is, the Republicans have a lot to worry about come November. This seat has been reliably Republican for decades. The Democrats didn't even contest a couple of elections in Hastert's area. Just two weeks ago it appeared the Democrat didn't stand a chance. I really believe the country has finally awakened to the facts that the Bush administration, and their supporters in Congress has taken the country in a terribly wrong and deadly direction.
6
POPSRove Will Probably Wiggle Out But Is Still Comtemptuous My guess is that Karl Rove and Josh Bolton with the assistance of the criminal in chief, will be able to wiggle out of this contempt citation. But if the public is watching, it will be another potential stake in the heart of the corrupt Republican party. I used to be a Republican, but that was decades ago, before the party was taken over by corrupt, religious freaks, with their hypocritical morality claims, and their far right war mongering ideology.
3
POPSOur Brave Democrats Are As Fearful As Ever Once again, the Democrats, who so many of us put into power in order to change the direction of the Iraq policy and to bring our troops out of the hell hole, are going to give Bush his blank cheque to continue his war. Even though better than 72% of the country want this war to end, the Dems continue to be chicken to do anything tangible about it for fear the nasty Republicans, whom the U.S. electorate have all but totally abandoned, might call them soft of terror. Oh come on! This is getting to be not only ridiculous, but criminal. We the people have had our say, and our representatives are ignoring us for their own cowardly political reasons.
12
POPSDid Someone Get to Mukasey? On Wednesday, during Michael Mukasey's first confirmation hearing, he stated that torture is always wrong and never excusable. Then, mysteriously, the very next day, during his second hearing he was asked if waterboarding is torture, he refused to respond coherently. I have suspicions that the white house was NOT happy with his comments on day one about torture, and gently explained the facts of life to him.
8
POPSGay Rights Arrives in Latin America So much of the civilized world is beginning to embrace equality for gays and lesbians, and yet in the U.S., the self-proclaimed greatest country in the world, this issue still remains a heated battle. I still cannot understand how countries such as Canada, the UK, France, Israel etc, permit gays to serve openly in the military, while we cannot. I still wonder why so many countries are permitting civil-unions or marriage and yet the U.S. is seriously divided on this issue. The U.S. is still at odds over employment protection for gays, lesbians and transgendered people. The list goes on, and yet, compared to so many other countries we are far behind in social issues such as this one. I just don't get it.
3
POPSLarry Craig Breaks His Promise and Refuses to Resign His Senate Seat First he's guilty then he's not. He announces he's gonna quit and then he stays. The Republicans in the Senate are having apoplexy over this guy, who they thought they would be well rid of at the end of September, but he has decided to stay out the full his remaining term. So, now the Republicans have another worry on their plate for next year's elections, which is shaping up to be a nightmare for their party. Several high profile senators and congresspersons are not going to run for another term. There are scandals being investigated, and now Senator Craig says he is gonna stay and keep his sordid story on the front burner right through to November 08. It couldn't happen to a nicer group of pols.
1
POPSVets Still Ignored Our brave vets who the Bush administration never hesitates to politicize, are once again, or should I say continuing, to fall through the cracks of the uncaring bureaucracy. While the Republicans continue to accuse the Democrats and so-called Liberals of not supporting our troops, the big "troop supporters" are doing nothing to correct the terrible conditions our heroes are subject to at Walter Reed and the Veterans bureaucracy. Once again, our Republican and Conservative friends, and our murderous president are all talk and no action. They are just willing to exploit the only people in our country truly doing the hard work, our soldiers in uniform who are coming home dead or grievously wounded.
12
POPSPetraeus/Betray Us Ad Results in A Deluge of Support for Moveon.org Moveon.org really started something with its Petraeus/Betray-Us ad. It actually was able to move the congress into introducing and voting on legislation condemning the organization for running the ad, which is the first bit of activity we have seen there in a while. While war rages and blood flows the most important thing on the minds of our legislators was to codify censorship. We must never speak poorly, especially of a military man in uniform. The Republicans were especially outraged. Yes, the same Republicans who swift-boated John Kerry and Max Cleland who were both Viet Nam vets and heroes. I guess it depends on who is wearing the uniform at the time when we condemn an attack. Anyway, Moveon.org has received a tremendous increase in donations since congress condemned them, so as far as they are concerned, keep the complaints coming Congresspersons.
0
POPSCongress Has Betrayed-Us All To my way of thinking, whether one approves or disapproves of the MoveOn.Org ad is immaterial. What is at stake here is our democratic right to freedom of speech, which is a part of our Constitution. And yet, congress decided it was necessary for them to vote on a newspaper ad in order to condemn a groups very freedom to express itself. Remember the statement "I might not agree with what you say, but I will defend with my life your right to say it?" What happened to that belief in our country? Can anyone now deny that our country is taking a turn away from what it was founded to be? How dare we send our youngest and finest off to war in order to protect democratic liberties around the world, while we vote down those same liberties and rights in our own country. This was a cheap political trick instigated by the Republican right who has fallen out of favour with the American public for supporting Bush's illegal war, by trying to play on a faux patriotism.
0
POPSDo Ya Think Connecticutians Have Had It With Holy Joe? It was only a matter of time before the good citizens of Connecticut realized their mistake in electing Holy Joe as an independent-democrat. He worked very hard at convincing his fellow Connecticutians that he was really a Democrat at heart, but since he had his nomination stolen from him he was forced to run as an independent in order to continue serving his constituency. He even went so far as to criticize the Iraq war during the campaign, only to become one of the biggest hawks on the Bush team on Congress. Now they are stuck with him for another 5 years.
2
POPSFinally, A Straight Question Congressman Eliot Engel, of New York, cut through all the bullshit, and asked General Petraeus directly, how he can sit there spouting the same lines he gave in September of 2004, none of which came to fruition and expect the country to accept the assessment again 3 years later. The General said he stands by his original New York Times OpEd of 2004, but never got to answer the part as to why the country should accept that this time things will be different.
7
POPSMore Evidence That Bush Lied About WMD This new revelation adds more evidence to the belief that Bush and his cohorts lied to congress and the American people about the need to go to war in Iraq. This is a must-read article from Salon, and I urge you all to take the time to consider its contents. By the way, does anyone know what has happened to the so-called part 2 of the intelligence report that deals with how the White House used the intelligence leading up to the Iraq invasion? I know the Republicans under the leadership of Pat Roberts put it on the back burner and then turned off the pilot light. But the Dems promised that this report was A #1 on their list of things to complete and release, and since then, not a word has been said. Or, am I missing something?
0
POPSDean Makes Promises I am Not Sure Will Be Respected There is not doubt in my mind that the Democratic party is far more sympathetic to gay issues than are Republicans. That being said, however, when push comes to shove, the Democratic candidates for president, and those serving in Congress, still seem to cater to the Christian right when it comes to key issues. Not one Democrat with the exception of Dennis Kucinich and former Senator Gravel, have openly endorsed same-sex marriage. They try to equate civil unions with same-sex marriage, but they really are totally different when it comes to Federal benefits and protections. It was a Democratic president by the name of Clinton who accepted 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the "Defense of Marriage Act." So I really have to wonder just how much better, in the long run, the Dems will be on the very important issues pertaining to total equality.
1
POPSIs Chertoff Another Liar for Bush? Rumour has it that Michael Chertoff may be in the offing as the nominee to replace Al Gonzalez as Attorney General of the United States. There is much to question concerning Mr. Chertoff's veracity as this article explains.
13
POPSAri Fleischer and his crew are dripping with panic Fleischer and his group Freedom's Watch are not only using the overworked and phony connection between the Iraq war and the 9/11 attacks, but they are aiming at their own Republicans who are fleeing the president's Iraq strategy. They are so panicked that Bush is going to be forced into a corner in September, that they are actually trying to intimidate members of their own party with the same bullshit rhetoric and advertising they used to manipulate and scare voters in the past two elections. Ari and his group should be totally ashamed to exploit our wounded and killed vets in such a crass political game.
11
POPSScores More Dead, Yet We Are Told The Surge is Working
Whack a Mole! That is the game that the so-called surge is playing. We are constantly being set-up with a bunch of administration ass kissers who are trying to convince us that this "surge" is working. In September, it is almost certain that General Patreus will give his report and ask for another 6 months to continue the surge. How many more 6 month periods are we supposed to permit? They asked for an additional 6 months for the past 4 1/2 years. In the beginning Rumsfeld said the entire war AND occupation wouldn't last as long as 6 months in total. Now that the surge is on, the violence is just as bad only in different places. Areas which we never heard of before as being problems are suddenly being stricken with sectarian violence and bombings on a massive scale. And yet, we are told "things are getting better." "We are making progress." Chances are congress will give them another 6 months during which many more of our soldiers and hundreds or thousands of Iraqis will die
13
POPSChristians Only In Congress, Please Republican Congressman Bill Sali says having a Muslin in the House of Representatives and a Hindu prayer being offered in the Senate just goes too far. The only way to maintain the U.S. is to stand by its founding Christian principals and to ask for the grace of the Christian God. The Hindi and Muslim Gods are different and do not count in our political system. Are we still wondering why the rest of the world is laughing at us and why the Muslim world hates us?
1
POPSGonzo Apparently Tied His Office to That of the V.P. Every time Alberto Gonzales opens his mouth he sticks another foot into it. At this point he is in the position of having to borrow feet to fill the gaps in his stories. But tying the department of justice to the office of the vice president is ample proof that there is too much political influence from the white house governing the operations of the and decisions made by the attorney general's office.
8
POPSCindy Sheehan Really Means It Cindy Sheehan and her fellow protesters really want to see Bush and Cheney impeached, and every day, increasing numbers of Americans are beginning to feel the same way. I am so glad she decided to rescind her retirement from the anti-war movement. She is a hero to many, and an inspiration to those of us who feel congress is simply not doing enough to end this war, and bring Bush and Cheney to justice for the lies they told the American people in order to get our support for this war, as well as their trampling of our Constitution.
17
POPSBush's Compassionate Conservatism Does Not Include Sick Kids George W. Bush was literally strong armed into signing legislation while he was governor of Texas that protected poor kids from going without health care. Now that he is president, he is trying to prevent helping poor kids on a national level. Has this man no shame?!?
6
POPSBush and Cheney Will Walk Away Smirking The most upsetting aspect of everything this administration does is that there is little to know doubt that they WILL get away with it in the end. Unless the congress is willing to actually force Bush, Cheney et al to face the consequences of their actions, nothing at all will happen. The dems have already announced, loud and clear, that impeachment is off the table. So, in that case, why all the hollering and shouting if we're just wasting our sweat and energy? Let's face it. The people have lost control of this government. Perhaps we should all just figure out a way to start this whole political process all over again.
6
POPSCheney's Fascistic Tendencies Appear to Know No End Cheney's paranoia expresses itself without end. This latest revelation once again shows his insatiable desire for secrecy and refusal to face any accountability. His actions are scary to anyone who believes the government is accountable to the people and that knowledge is the ultimate power of the people for whom this government exists.
4
POPSForever In Iraq Well, at least the administration is finally being honest. Tony Snow admitted today that Bush would like to see American troops remain in Iraq indefinitely. Perhaps longer than 50 years. I can't wait to hear what the Dems have to say about this.
2
POPSConyers May Be Growing A New Set It looks like John Conyers, and ordinarily brave congressman, might break with Speaker Pelosi and actually come out in endorsement of impeaching Bush and Cheney. We can only hope.
6
POPSCindy Speaks Out and Leaves the Dems Cindy Sheehan makes some excellent points in this open letter to Congress. The Democrats were put into power after 6 years of total Republican control of the House and Senate primarily because the voters wanted them to end this war honourably. They have the vast majority of the country on the side of ending the war and cutting off Bush's blank check. Now that they had the chance to do it, they flubbed it and gave Bush what he wanted with the suggestion of "wait 'til next time." The public, I sense, is tired of waiting, and they do not see why the Democrats folded like a house of cards when they finally have the power to do something towards bringing this war to a close.
2
POPSRachel Carson Declared a Hysteric by a Republican Nut Case What small minded, myopic and mean-spirited gall to block an honour for a person such as Rachel Carson for what are purely his own political beliefs. This woman's work went beyond politics and opened the eyes of the world to the danger of ignoring our environment. Shame on Senator Coburn.
1
POPSThe Witch Hunt Continues I keep hearing that Don't Ask, Don't Tell is under pressure to be repealed. But then I see stories about continued witch hunts and ridiculously dangerous dismissals of valuable soldiers serving in war zones because they are gay. Israel, the worlds most macho army has no problem with gays openly serving, but the U.S. cannot get is puritanical and Christian right-wing beliefs under to control to bring our military into the 21st century. We must put our personal prejudices a side for the good of the country as well as for the purpose of living up to our belief that ALL persons are considered equal.
5
POPSIs It Possible That Bush is Sociopathic? I am beginning to believe that George W. Bush is sociopathic. After knowing that the story of the Gonzalez bed side harassment of former Attorney General Ashcroft, and all the other evidence piling up against this man, Bush can actually stand there and say that Gonzalez has done nothing wrong and that the Democrats are engaged in political Theatre. This is a truly disturbing situation that goes way beyond politics as usual. I can understand if Bush tried to spin the bedside visit to Ashcroft, but to just ignore it as if it had never happened, and to say he did absolutely nothing wrong demonstrates a complete lack of comprehension between right and wrong. But then again, why am I surprised. This is a man who claims to always be on the side of life and yet officiated over the largest number of executions in any state, including that of a retarded man and a teenager. He also is capable of discussion the carnage in Iraq with a sickening smirk on his face. This man is terribly sick.
14
POPSThe American Public is Sick of Bush's False Bravado The public wants Bush to be accountable and to hold the Iraqi government accountable. They are tired of having the president permit more of our brave service people killed or maimed, and our treasury being depleted indefinitely while the Iraqi government does nothing to reach any benchmarks, and actually plan to go on vacation for two months as our soldiers continue to bleed and die in the stinking heat of Baghdad and the rest of Iraq, I really hope the public stands firm and strong, and insists that the congress force a meaningful set of benchmarks with real consequences for the Iraqi government failing to meet them. They should also tell them that if the Iraqi government takes the summer off, so are our troops. They need the rest far more than the politicians do.
0
POPSThe White House Feels the Pain The Bush White House is getting very nervous about the open revolt that is beginning to take form against the president. It will be interesting to watch as spring turns to summer; summer turns to fall, and fall turns to complete open revolt against the president's audacious refusal to face the facts about his Iraq misadventure.
11
POPSThe Navy Sees Value in Gay Service Members The hypocrisy of "Don't ask don't tell" shows itself as the Navy recalls a sailor it discharged after he came out to his commanding officer as being gay. What happened to the argument about unit cohesion? I guess when someone is really needed, who they have sex with really doesn't matter in the least. Now, will congress PLEASE repeal that stupid, insulting policy preventing gay people from serving openly and proudly in our military?
2
POPSTenet Shouls Be Investigated and Hopefully Face Charges I sincerely hope more and more House members demand an investigation of Tenet's involvement in the road leading up to the war in Iraq. This man not only help perpetrate a fraud on the American people and Congress, but he is now reaping a fantastic fortune over his malfeasance.
1
POPSBush's Views on Timetables Seems to Depend on Political Timetables So, Governor Bush pushed President Clinton to issue a timetable for withdrawal but President Bush refuses to even consider a timetable for withdrawal from his illegal war in Afghanistan. No wonder his popularity is now at 28%. What amazes me is that there is still 28% of the population that supports this dangerous clown.
5
POPSMore and More Americans Want A Timetable for Withdrawal. The numbers of American citizens who want Bush to set a timetable for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq is increasingly constantly. And yet, the president insists that it is Congress who is holding up the funding for the troops by demanding the president pay attention to the will of the people. At this point, I believe Americans are going to squarely place the delay in funding our troops exactly where it belongs; on Bush. He wants to continue to avoid accountability as he has all through the Republican hold on Congress. The people spoke in November when they put the Dems in charge, and they are continuing to speak. But, true to form, our spoiled brat, break whatever he touches and then leave it to someone else to clean up, president refuses to acknowledge the people's wishes.
0
POPSMaliki Wants Us To Butt Out, As Long As We Are Willing to Bleed. I understand Prime Minister Malaki's desire to have his government make their own political decisions and take their own actions without outside interference. But, up 'til now his government has done precious little in moving forward with what they need to do politically. To say he will not tolerate U.S. influence is a bit rich, considering that he is perfectly willing to have our soldiers monitor HIS civil war, and to have them bleed, and die to assist his government in achieving their goals. He has to remember that as long as our men and women are being gravely injured and dying for his country, we do have the right to interfere to a certain point, if in fact, he is unable to bring his government to agreement.
1
POPSW.House slams planned Syria trip by House speaker Ms. Pelosi is going to Syria with a message from Israel's prime minister as well with the intention of "breaking the ice" with President Assad. The Iraq Study Group strongly recommended such outreach to Iraq's neighbours as a way of including them in the development of ideas and strategies to bring a permanent end to the civil war raging in Iraq since our invasion. There is no reason NOT to meet with Syria other than total stubbornness, which of course the Bush administration is noted for. No one expects Speaker Pelosi to broker deals or make promises to President Assad. This is simply a fact finding and outreach activity, which should be applauded. It takes no particular talent to talk with our friends, but it takes leadership to talk with those who disagree with us.
0
POPSWill The ERA Finally Become The Law of the Land? After 2 1/2 decades, will the perfectly sane and fair Constitutional Amendment finally be ratified, or will we sink back into the morass of discrimination and small-mindedness that sunk it 25 years ago? Let's hope we are all a bit more enlightened this time.
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