Is Tommy Franks missing the bigger picture? ..or does he just have his head up Bush's backside? His speech catering to the administration, saying we shouldn't count the dead when it comes to terrorism is ridiculous. The fact is we are not any safer than we were before 911, we have not help bring down the numbers in terrorism but have provoked it into growing, and we as a nation being the bully always seem to solve problems with a bomb rather than find out why we are hated in the first place and deal with that.
Our country is run by war mongers. We invaded a country with no connection to 911 and the amount of people we killed there , civilians, is just vulgar..
Franks speech:
Those who count the increasing number of American soldiers killed in Iraq are missing the bigger picture, retired Gen. Tommy Franks said Saturday night.
"What we're talking about is neither 2,400, 24,000 or 240,000 lives," Franks said at the National Rifle Association's annual banquet. "Terrorism is a thing that threatens our way of life. It doesn't have anything to do with politics."
More than 2,400 soldiers have died since the beginning of the invasion of Iraq, the plan for which Franks developed and executed. He also oversaw combat in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks..
Franks retired in 2003 after a 36-year career in the Army, highlighted by becoming commander of Central Command in June 2000. He received warm ovations from the 3,000 NRA members in attendance. (of course he did, a bunch of gun toting people,, just his type) Rest of the Yahoo Article
He manages to take swipes at all the generals who have spoke out against this war and the administration also..
RawStory reports on Frank Rich's planned editorial for Sunday's NY Times. Here are some note worthy phrases I found entertaining to read.. we need more 'Frank Rich's' in the media at large. He says what the rest seem afraid to report even when the evidence in front of their nose is so blatant, they seem reluctant to report on the facts. Here's a sampling from his writing for tomorrow's release.
"Politicians, particularly but not exclusively in the Karl Rove camp, seem to believe that voters of 'faith' are suckers who can be lured into the big tent and then abandoned once their votes and campaign cash have been pocketed by the party for secular profit,"
"...Dobson and Co. won't desert the Republicans come Election Day. If Rove steps up his usual gay-baiting late in the campaign, ...."
"...the hard-core right will eke out a victory for the party that double-crossed them not just on cultural issues but also on secular conservative principles (like fiscal responsibility and immigration-law enforcement)."
"...the cynical Rove strategy of exploiting faith-based voters may be nearing its end."
"...the most craven figure in American politics: the Senate majority leader, Bill Frist. To flatter the far right, this Harvard-trained surgeon misdiagnosed Terri Schiavo's vegetative state from the Senate floor, and justified abstinence-only sex education in AIDS prevention by telling ABC's George Stephanopoulos that he didn't know for certain that tears and sweat couldn't transmit HIV."
"One of his latest stunts, a proposed $100 gas-tax rebate, provoked Rush Limbaugh to condemn him for "treating us like we're a bunch of whores."
Hayden was in hearings today to approve his new position.. another farce, we know no matter what Bush wants, he gets.. Dems don't have the votes.. Republicans even those who don't approve will suck it up and approve Haydens appointment. Cowards on both side of the aisle.
"President Bush's pick to head the CIA said Thursday that if the government's phone-tapping program were in place before 9/11, at least two hijackers would likely have been identified.
Gen. Michael Hayden told his Senate confirmation hearing that the controversial National Security Agency wiretapping program he helped institute would have caught two 9/11 hijackers in San Diego, California, before they carried out their mission.
"Had this been in place prior to the attacks, the two hijackers who were in San Diego, Khalid Almihdhar and Nawaf Alhazmi, almost certainly would have been identified as who they were, what they were and, most importantly, where they were," Hayden told the Senate Intelligence Committee." More here
Bush talking points:
Right now I'm watching David Gregory interview Bush on Hardball. Just tuned in, it looks like they are down on one of the borders on a dirt road. Bush continually uses talking points and literally lies as if he's at the podium seeking votes. Here are a few of the comments he stated: "I think cutting taxes is rational" , "I think the medicare bill was rational middle ground", "we are at war", "the economy is doing well, we've added xxx jobs", "Iraqi's will defend themselves"..
Wow could we dispell most of that? We are at war because we invaded an innocent nation. Economy? well high prices, high gas and foreclosures at "an all time high".. give me a break!
More of the interview will be on NBC Nightly news tonight (they said)... you can catch it then..
"Disturbing new allegations", well actually we heard this awhile back. But it was being investigated still and so much other politics to stay on top of. Apparently this horrible drama is back in the forefront now that it's confirmed true. The" worst single incident involving the deliberate killing of civilians by US Military in Iraq" is how it's being reported.
Excuse the poor video quality, but I thought this segment of NBC Nightly News is an important blog entry. The ramifications of this are going to be tremendous for our troops and their safety over there.
Click the center arrow to watch this 2.44 minute segment with Brian Williams
Former RNC official sentenced to prison for 'phone jam' plot
"A former Republican National Committee official was sentenced Wednesday to 10 months in prison for his role in the jamming of New Hampshire Democrats' telephones on Election Day 2002."
Bloggers, read this story! it's important. You need to keep this story and Diebold alive for November elections!
Above is a freeze frame I captured and adjusted the focus and contrast, as best possible to make it viewable. We were told releasing these tapes would resolve all the conspiracy theorists out here about whether a plane actually hit the pentagon.
Now I ask you, is that enough proof for you that a plane, and not a missile hit the building? I know my eyesight isn't as good as many, but I see no proof that they insisted will calm our speculations.
Below, are the 2 videos, from 2 dif cameras that were released to the public. Although they were released yesterday, many of us have already seen one of these, somewhere online long ago.. just can't remember where!
Bush says the economy is just peachy. Yet the news on housing foreclosures is grim news for the future of families at risk and the nation's economy.
ABC and Nightline report foreclosures are on the rise at a rate of 1 in 100.. 1 in 100 ! One mortage company says in 2006 they are up 63 %.
I was shocked how high home prices suddenly sky rocketed here in Vegas when rates were low. I have no financial education but common sense told me this was going to be trouble down the road. Well here we are. As rates go up, people are finding them selves screwed. People took advantage of all the juicy options out there, lower-interest adjustable-rate mortgages, or ARMs, interest-only mortgages or option-ARMs that allowed home buyers to choose how to pay each month.
Huge danger: According to the Mortgage Bankers Association of America, ARMs now represent 25 percent of the more than $8.5 trillion in outstanding loans. Economists with Moody's Economy.com forecast that the interest rates on $2 trillion of those mortgage loans could be reset in 2006 and 2007. This could become a problem if interest rates continue moving higher. Also a dangerous % of loans were given to high credit risk buyers. I say risk because the % is so high, that if a normal amount of these people default, it could literally bring down the entire national economy.
"Homeowners who negotiated ARMs in 2004 and 2005 could face interest rate increases that boost monthly payments by as much as 50 percent"
Nightline covered the story Tuesday night, and ABC covers it more Here
Bushisms:
Anyway, I'm so thankful, and so gracious ...I'm gracious that my brother Jeb is concerned about the hemisphere as well. George w. Bush
Well I guess they are starting pretty early, I mean November is right around the corner so it's time for Rove to start pulling out all the gimmicks the republicans use to feed to their base. Ya know, the scare tactics, the patriotism blah blah, the tererererist tapes.. you know.. I had just turned on tv this morn only to see MSNBC showing a clip of the pentagon attack and saying that the "gov has decided to release the tape". Time to start scaring the frail minds of the simple minded masses who fall for all the Bush Bullshit.
I saw yesterday that in 3 states bushko's poll ratings are above 50%. I believe it was Utah (mormon zombie land, do as their church says), Idaho, and Wyoming. Everyone in these states should either be deported or thrown in jail for complete alienation of their country and its greater good.
As for the tape it only confirms the beliefs by many of us that all the truth was not told in regards to what happened 911. How is it that the pentagon surveillance camera shows absolutely 0 sign of an airplane hitting the building? All you see is smoke, then an explosive fire ball. Why and how is it that the intelligence level in this country has gotten so low, that if their government says "it was a plane", then they believe this, even though there is no evidence presented to the public that it was a plane? Personally, I just want proof.
CNN and Brads Blog both have the video up now, I'm sure all the news outlets do too. So you can check out this newly released video, that somehow, I know, I've already seen..
If you'd like to take a look at a different video on the attack, then try this:
Oddly CNN has pulled the video. I watched it, on the link i posted above,scroll down a bit and on the right you see "watch video".. I did watch it maybe an hour ago.. the lnk is now dead. Brad's Blog has also changed their avail link to the video and Raw Story says there's a delay in it's release. Very strange. Judicial Watch is supposed to be posting the video and everyone's waiting. Why did the gov, or whomever, pull the video offline ? when it was just released earlier today.. have you ever seen so much bullshit and coverup in your lifetime? Just keep trying the links i provided for CNN above.. I swear everytime I watched it I saw NO PLANE.
(another stupid decision from our presznit.. and just in time to play to his base for Nov elections!)
8:01 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. I've asked for a few minutes of your time to discuss a matter of national importance -- the reform of America's immigration system.
The issue of immigration stirs intense emotions, and in recent weeks, Americans have seen those emotions on display. On the streets of major cities, crowds have rallied in support of those in our country illegally. At our southern border, others have organized to stop illegal immigrants from coming in. Across the country, Americans are trying to reconcile these contrasting images. And in Washington, the debate over immigration reform has reached a time of decision. Tonight, I will make it clear where I stand, and where I want to lead our country on this vital issue.
We must begin by recognizing the problems with our immigration system. For decades, the United States has not been in complete control of its borders. As a result, many who want to work in our economy have been able to sneak across our border, and millions have stayed.
Once here, illegal immigrants live in the shadows of our society. Many use forged documents to get jobs, and that makes it difficult for employers to verify that the workers they hire are legal. Illegal immigration puts pressure on public schools and hospitals, it strains state and local budgets, and brings crime to our communities. These are real problems. Yet we must remember that the vast majority of illegal immigrants are decent people who work hard, support their families, practice their faith, and lead responsible lives. They are a part of American life, but they are beyond the reach and protection of American law.
We're a nation of laws, and we must enforce our laws. We're also a nation of immigrants, and we must uphold that tradition, which has strengthened our country in so many ways. These are not contradictory goals. America can be a lawful society and a welcoming society at the same time. We will fix the problems created by illegal immigration, and we will deliver a system that is secure, orderly, and fair. So I support comprehensive immigration reform that will accomplish five clear objectives.
First, the United States must secure its borders. This is a basic responsibility of a sovereign nation. It is also an urgent requirement of our national security. Our objective is straightforward: The border should be open to trade and lawful immigration, and shut to illegal immigrants, as well as criminals, drug dealers, and terrorists.
I was a governor of a state that has a 1,200-mile border with Mexico. So I know how difficult it is to enforce the border, and how important it is. Since I became President, we've increased funding for border security by 66 percent, and expanded the Border Patrol from about 9,000 to 12,000 agents. The men and women of our Border Patrol are doing a fine job in difficult circumstances, and over the past five years, they have apprehended and sent home about six million people entering America illegally.
Despite this progress, we do not yet have full control of the border, and I am determined to change that. Tonight I'm calling on Congress to provide funding for dramatic improvements in manpower and technology at the border. By the end of 2008, we'll increase the number of Border Patrol officers by an additional 6,000. When these new agents are deployed, we'll have more than doubled the size of the Border Patrol during my presidency.
At the same time, we're launching the most technologically advanced border security initiative in American history. We will construct high-tech fences in urban corridors, and build new patrol roads and barriers in rural areas. We'll employ motion sensors, infrared cameras, and unmanned aerial vehicles to prevent illegal crossings. America has the best technology in the world, and we will ensure that the Border Patrol has the technology they need to do their job and secure our border.
Training thousands of new Border Patrol agents and bringing the most advanced technology to the border will take time. Yet the need to secure our border is urgent. So I'm announcing several immediate steps to strengthen border enforcement during this period of transition:
One way to help during this transition is to use the National Guard. So, in coordination with governors, up to 6,000 Guard members will be deployed to our southern border. The Border Patrol will remain in the lead. The Guard will assist the Border Patrol by operating surveillance systems, analyzing intelligence, installing fences and vehicle barriers, building patrol roads, and providing training. Guard units will not be involved in direct law enforcement activities -- that duty will be done by the Border Patrol. This initial commitment of Guard members would last for a period of one year. After that, the number of Guard forces will be reduced as new Border Patrol agents and new technologies come online. It is important for Americans to know that we have enough Guard forces to win the war on terror, to respond to natural disasters, and to help secure our border.
The United States is not going to militarize the southern border. Mexico is our neighbor, and our friend. We will continue to work cooperatively to improve security on both sides of the border, to confront common problems like drug trafficking and crime, and to reduce illegal immigration.
Another way to help during this period of transition is through state and local law enforcement in our border communities. So we'll increase federal funding for state and local authorities assisting the Border Patrol on targeted enforcement missions. We will give state and local authorities the specialized training they need to help federal officers apprehend and detain illegal immigrants. State and local law enforcement officials are an important part of our border security and they need to be a part of our strategy to secure our borders.
The steps I've outlined will improve our ability to catch people entering our country illegally. At the same time, we must ensure that every illegal immigrant we catch crossing our southern border is returned home. More than 85 percent of the illegal immigrants we catch crossing the southern border are Mexicans, and most are sent back home within 24 hours. But when we catch illegal immigrants from other country [sic] it is not as easy to send them home. For many years, the government did not have enough space in our detention facilities to hold them while the legal process unfolded. So most were released back into our society and asked to return for a court date. When the date arrived, the vast majority did not show up. This practice, called "catch and release," is unacceptable, and we will end it.
We're taking several important steps to meet this goal. We've expanded the number of beds in our detention facilities, and we will continue to add more. We've expedited the legal process to cut the average deportation time. And we're making it clear to foreign governments that they must accept back their citizens who violate our immigration laws. As a result of these actions, we've ended "catch and release" for illegal immigrants from some countries. And I will ask Congress for additional funding and legal authority, so we can end "catch and release" at the southern border once and for all. When people know that they'll be caught and sent home if they enter our country illegally, they will be less likely to try to sneak in.
Second, to secure our border, we must create a temporary worker program. The reality is that there are many people on the other side of our border who will do anything to come to America to work and build a better life. They walk across miles of desert in the summer heat, or hide in the back of 18-wheelers to reach our country. This creates enormous pressure on our border that walls and patrols alone will not stop. To secure the border effectively, we must reduce the numbers of people trying to sneak across.
Therefore, I support a temporary worker program that would create a legal path for foreign workers to enter our country in an orderly way, for a limited period of time. This program would match willing foreign workers with willing American employers for jobs Americans are not doing. Every worker who applies for the program would be required to pass criminal background checks. And temporary workers must return to their home country at the conclusion of their stay.
A temporary worker program would meet the needs of our economy, and it would give honest immigrants a way to provide for their families while respecting the law. A temporary worker program would reduce the appeal of human smugglers, and make it less likely that people would risk their lives to cross the border. It would ease the financial burden on state and local governments, by replacing illegal workers with lawful taxpayers. And above all, a temporary worker program would add to our security by making certain we know who is in our country and why they are here.
Third, we need to hold employers to account for the workers they hire. It is against the law to hire someone who is in this country illegally. Yet businesses often cannot verify the legal status of their employees because of the widespread problem of document fraud. Therefore, comprehensive immigration reform must include a better system for verifying documents and work eligibility. A key part of that system should be a new identification card for every legal foreign worker. This card should use biometric technology, such as digital fingerprints, to make it tamper-proof. A tamper-proof card would help us enforce the law, and leave employers with no excuse for violating it. And by making it harder for illegal immigrants to find work in our country, we would discourage people from crossing the border illegally in the first place.
Fourth, we must face the reality that millions of illegal immigrants are here already. They should not be given an automatic path to citizenship. This is amnesty, and I oppose it. Amnesty would be unfair to those who are here lawfully, and it would invite further waves of illegal immigration.
Some in this country argue that the solution is to deport every illegal immigrant, and that any proposal short of this amounts to amnesty. I disagree. It is neither wise, nor realistic to round up millions of people, many with deep roots in the United States, and send them across the border. There is a rational middle ground between granting an automatic path to citizenship for every illegal immigrant, and a program of mass deportation. That middle ground recognizes there are differences between an illegal immigrant who crossed the border recently, and someone who has worked here for many years, and has a home, a family, and an otherwise clean record.
I believe that illegal immigrants who have roots in our country and want to stay should have to pay a meaningful penalty for breaking the law, to pay their taxes, to learn English, and to work in a job for a number of years. People who meet these conditions should be able to apply for citizenship, but approval would not be automatic, and they will have to wait in line behind those who played by the rules and followed the law. What I've just described is not amnesty, it is a way for those who have broken the law to pay their debt to society, and demonstrate the character that makes a good citizen.
Fifth, we must honor the great American tradition of the melting pot, which has made us one nation out of many peoples. The success of our country depends upon helping newcomers assimilate into our society, and embrace our common identity as Americans. Americans are bound together by our shared ideals, an appreciation of our history, respect for the flag we fly, and an ability to speak and write the English language. English is also the key to unlocking the opportunity of America. English allows newcomers to go from picking crops to opening a grocery, from cleaning offices to running offices, from a life of low-paying jobs to a diploma, a career, and a home of their own. When immigrants assimilate and advance in our society, they realize their dreams, they renew our spirit, and they add to the unity of America.
Tonight, I want to speak directly to members of the House and the Senate: An immigration reform bill needs to be comprehensive, because all elements of this problem must be addressed together, or none of them will be solved at all. The House has passed an immigration bill. The Senate should act by the end of this month so we can work out the differences between the two bills, and Congress can pass a comprehensive bill for me to sign into law.
America needs to conduct this debate on immigration in a reasoned and respectful tone. Feelings run deep on this issue, and as we work it out, all of us need to keep some things in mind. We cannot build a unified country by inciting people to anger, or playing on anyone's fears, or exploiting the issue of immigration for political gain. We must always remember that real lives will be affected by our debates and decisions, and that every human being has dignity and value no matter what their citizenship papers say.
I know many of you listening tonight have a parent or a grandparent who came here from another country with dreams of a better life. You know what freedom meant to them, and you know that America is a more hopeful country because of their hard work and sacrifice. As President, I've had the opportunity to meet people of many backgrounds, and hear what America means to them. On a visit to Bethesda Naval Hospital, Laura and I met a wounded Marine named Guadalupe Denogean. Master Gunnery Sergeant Denogean came to the United States from Mexico when he was a boy. He spent his summers picking crops with his family, and then he volunteered for the United States Marine Corps as soon as he was able. During the liberation of Iraq, Master Gunnery Sergeant Denogean was seriously injured. And when asked if he had any requests, he made two: a promotion for the corporal who helped rescue him, and the chance to become an American citizen. And when this brave Marine raised his right hand, and swore an oath to become a citizen of the country he had defended for more than 26 years, I was honored to stand at his side.
We will always be proud to welcome people like Guadalupe Denogean as fellow Americans. Our new immigrants are just what they've always been -- people willing to risk everything for the dream of freedom. And America remains what she has always been: the great hope on the horizon, an open door to the future, a blessed and promised land. We honor the heritage of all who come here, no matter where they come from, because we trust in our country's genius for making us all Americans -- one nation under God.
ABC News is being tapped , spied on, by our government.
A senior federal law enforcement official tells ABC News the government is tracking the phone numbers we call in an effort to root out confidential sources.
"It's time for you to get some new cell phones, quick," the source told us in an in-person conversation.
We do not know how the government determined who we are calling, or whether our phone records were provided to the government as part of the recently-disclosed NSA collection of domestic phone calls.
Other sources have told us that phone calls and contacts by reporters for ABC News, along with the New York Times and the Washington Post, are being examined as part of a widespread CIA leak investigation.
One former official was asked to sign a document stating he was not a confidential source for New York Times reporter James Risen. Read this compelling story here
Is everything we owned being tapped?
An intelligence expert predicts we'll soon learn that cellphone and Internet companies also cooperated with the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on us.
Having studied the NSA and its history extensively, were you surprised and concerned to discover that, since 2001, the agency has been amassing a database of phone records, and possibly other information, on U.S. citizens?
We should be terrified that Congress has not been doing its job and because all of the checks and balances put in place to prevent this have been deliberately obviated. In order to get this done, the NSA and White House went around all of the checks and balances. I'm convinced that 20 years from now we, as historians, will be looking back at this as one of the darkest eras in American history. And we're just beginning to sort of peel back the first layers of the onion. We're hoping against hope that it's not as bad as I suspect it will be, but reality sets in every time a new article is published and the first thing the Bush administration tries to do is quash the story. It's like the lawsuit brought by EFF [Electronic Frontier Foundation] against AT&T -- the government's first reaction was to try to quash the lawsuit. That ought to be a warning sign that they're on to something. Whole Salon Article
Qwest's NSA Stance Attracts New Customers, Say Phone Reps
Qwest, the telecommunications company that refused to hand over phone records to the National Security Agency, saw a surge in new customers over the weekend, according to our survey of Qwest customer service representatives.
"Oh yeah, it's been busy around here," said Becky. "We've been getting almost twice the normal amount and a lot of people switching their service." According to Sandra, another representative, "A lot of people have switched over from their providers because they're upset about AT&T and Verizon handing over records to the government."
None of the six representatives we interviewed could cite the opposite circumstance, a Qwest customer who dropped their service over the company's stance. The Story
Ok, this story cracks me up but is worth a place in my 'News of the Day' post.
It involves the "Third Annual Virginia Federation of Teenage Republicans Convention". Pat Robertson was the keynote speaker. Now I'm not adding this because he actually blasted the republicans for poor fiscal responsibility. That did catch my eye, but not as much as this did : "Robertson was among several Republican figures who spoke to a group of about 40 people at the convention held at the Prince William County Government Center. 40 people? LMAO !
Let's not pretend we don't know Newt Gingrich is going to try and run for president in 2008. Why is Russert giving him any respectable air time?
Tim Russert is a perfect example of a pathetic disgusting media that continues to show their incompetent inappropriate work as media on television.
Last week Tim blasted Nancy Pelosi in such a way she didn't see it coming. This week he gives the first half, or actually more like 2/3 of his show, with tones of respect, to Newt Gingrich who has such a closet full of scandals, it is hard to believe anyone would give him the time of day much alone respect for his views.
Though this week several papers and blogs mention Gingrich's appearance on the faux republican news network, Fox, where he said, "you can't excuse the inexcusable"..in regards to the massive data mining and wire tapping. He starts off his interview on Meet the Press by saying, "it's all very legal".. from there we were treated to over 30 minutes of pro Bush policy and behavior.. just more republican blah blah blah...
This is how Russert chooses to use his valuable on air time to help spred truth and justice and information in the political world? Does Russert know he's shamed by the mass blog world, right and left? Mostly the left lately? He's all soft core and doesn't do his job as a newsman. Shame on him. Why does such a person as Newt get air time?
Some of Newts scandals:
Adultery: "He walked out in the spring of 1980.... By September, I went into the hospital for my third surgery. The two girls came to see me, and said, "Daddy is downstairs. Could he come up?" When he got there, he wanted to discuss the terms of the divorce while I was recovering from my surgery." - Jackie, his first wife.
Dead-Beat Dad: Jackie had to take Newt to court to get him to contribute for bills, as utilities were about to be cut off.
Draft Dodger: Though he relentlessly pushes military spending and talks like a bigtime hawk, Gingrich avoided the Vietnam War through a combination of student and family deferments. (He married one of his teachers at age 19.)
Women Problems: Newt pressed his first wife to sign divorce papers while she was still in the hospital recovering from cancer surgery. He also graciously said "She isn't young enough or pretty enough to be the President's wife." But his second marriage wasn't smooth either. Newt and Marianne were separated - "frankly", she told the Washington Post in June 1989, "it's been on and off for some time." Second wife Marianne, said she doesn't want Newt to run for President. " I told him if I'm not in agreement, fine, it's easy. I just go on the air the next day, and I undermine everything. ... I don't want him to be president and I don't think he should be".
House Banking Scandal: Remember the House Banking scandal, where so many congressmen wrote rubber checks on government money? Newt hopes you don't, because he bounced 22 himself, which almost cost him reelection in 1992. His vote for the secret House pay raise, and the chauffeur who drove him around Washington in a Lincoln Town Car, didn't help.
Actually, I .....this may sound a little West Texas to you, but I like it. When I'm talking about-- when I'm talking about myself, and when he's talking about myself, all of us are talking about me. George w. Bush
