Govt. Flim-Flam Unravels

The Bush Republican government has been marked by buffoonery & catering to special interests. Assorted chauvinistic crusades around the globe cost untold lives & huge amounts of money, leaving a trail of enmity and destruction.

Lies and foolishness became systematic duplicity: "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job!" as some 1,836 people died, invalids drowned in their hospital beds, etc. Few Americans know that the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina saw over 70 nations send disaster relief teams & aid donations to help New Orleans recover. In some cases the Bush regime first declined help, yet backtracked soon after to beg for assistance. Pitiful hubris.

Deregulation and patronage have led to grand mistrust of government - one more Republican goal achieved.

Priority spending areas = militarism & secrecy.

Now the financial markets are in turmoil, the cost of basic commodities is obscenely high, and most Americans feel less secure than when they elected (and reelected!) George W. Bush and his cronies.

God's Plan for His Church?

The Roman Catholic Church shuns women as leaders, claiming (in a misdirecting defense) that "the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven are not the ministers but the saints." (Inter Insigniores, 1976; reconfirmed in Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, 1994: 'On Reserving Priestly Ordination to Men Alone'). But why is female ordination banned? Are women truly incapable of ministering to a congregation or providing pastoral services? Is this proper tradition, ancient lore, or chauvinistic foolishness?

Should non-believers interfere? If reform is rejected here, what of other cases where religion or culture seem to conflict with healthy human lives? For example, what of circumcision? Is it reasonable? (when a child cannot reasonably make a choice). What of female circumcision - otherwise termed genetic mutilation... should cultural tradition trump law and reason? Such arguments could condone human sacrifice!

Hawaii's 1st Jewish Governor on Palin

3 Sept 2008; Haaretz (Israel)
Hawaii's 1st Jewish Governor: Palin More Experienced than Obama
by Natasha Mozgovaya
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1017469.html
...
"Lingle says she has never discussed Israel-related issues with Palin. "But Senator McCain's commitment to Israel is strong and well-known, and I assure your readers that he would not put someone on that ticket who did not have the same feelings. Certainly he has discussed those issues. Governor Palin is a very religious person, and the religious Christians are the greatest supporters of Israel."

According to Lingle, the Republican Party is likely to attract growing numbers of Jewish voters because "the Republicans have a much stronger position on Israel than the Democrats, and that's why I think more people will be seen on the Republican side."
...

Recent Wars: Vietnam & Elsewhere

In the USA many feel it is injudicious, even treasonous, to criticize the wars now being waged by our brave uniformed men & women. But 35 years ago the USA was engaged in a distant intervention in Southeast Asia. Was the Vietnam war a grave mistake? Don't look to John McCain for a clear answer: he was a war victim, but also an active aggressor (dutifully piloted 23 bombing missions). His father served as Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Command (CINCPAC), in charge of unified US & South Vietnam (RVN) forces; the person responsible operationally for waging the war from 1968-1972. Was the US war in Vietnam a grave mistake? Was it fundamentally wrong? ... a criminal enterprise? Powerful Americans avoid the nasty facts (millions killed directly, continued crippling from landmines & dioxin pollution); if not citing US heroism, they'd like to forget about that war.

Chattering Mice Be Scolded

Too many Americans have become terrorized, but very few are the direct physical victims of terrorist attackers. Instead, they have been belittled and abused by their Republican leadership & megacorporate media into shadows of lost potential. Fearmongering has become the American way, practiced daily by the Bush administration.

John McCain offers more of the same. He sidled up to Bush Co. and now lies with them, bathed in hogwash.

People who should know better are still being misdirected into doubting Barack Obama. I believe that Barack Obama is ready, willing and able to work for a better world. I expect that he can build a strong team of experts and colleagues to bring about positive change. The hemorrhage of the Bush years must be staunched. The Republican Party has led America to a terrible condition. It is time for change. Please America, vote carefully for a better future: with Barack Obama as President of the USA.

So many issues...

25 August 2008; Haaretz (Israel)
As convention kicks off, Democrats say U.S. Jews will overcome fears of Obama
by Natasha Mozgovaya
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1015039.html

"..the choice of Senator Joe Biden ... provide(s) a strong boost to Obama support among American Jews. "For Jews he's a mishpucheh," Oregon Senator Ron Wyden said of Biden, using the Yiddish version of the Hebrew word for family. "Biden will help to persuade Jews who are skeptical," New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg told Haaretz. "His support for Israel is widely known. Any skepticism that Obama won't support Israel is wrong, because no president can ignore Israel, it's too important. And the best thing for Israel is a strong America."
...

"Sic 'em Billow" (née Bill O’Reilly)

It's an emotional experience seeing Mr. Bill O’Reilly perform on the Fox network. So many descriptive phrases flit to mind: he acts deranged; he's shameless; he’s a wealthy journalistic anarchist; he's a a smarmy wanker. It's frightening that many American people believe & applaud his extreme & dangerous theatrics.

His enemies (oddly) try repeatedly to engage him in rational discussion, though clearly he'll disconnect from such shenanigans.

Simple namecalling ("Bill O'Reilly is an asshole.") won't likely impress him. Turn the other cheek -- he's sure to bite it. But he trades on his good name, and making fun of it as "Billow" is cute and observant: he is a windbag, he likes the short sound bite. The name is soft & lovable as an obnoxious little dog can be. Sic 'em Billow! We love you Billow!

Creative Deception

One nation learns from another. An international epidemic built on lies & deception has been unleashed. Deny and Lie. The euphemism "very tight security" masks oppression. People around the world, bullied by their leaders, curse my country's President.

Yellow-Bellied Lies

Did US administration officials make (numerous) honest errors in deciding to wage war against Iraq and its alleged "weapons of mass destruction"...?

No.

President Bush claimed "The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa." This was supposedly based on a documented purchasing agreement between the governments of Iraq and Niger. The documents made their way to US Executive Branch officials through unorthodox means, bypassing normal security analysis. The documents were forged. Nobody has been prosecuted (why not?) Among those suggested as being ultimately responsible for the forgeries are agents of the USA, Italy or Israel. We may never know who created them.

We are also expected to believe that the US government was misled into going to war by fabricated intelligence supplied by "Curveball" -- an Iraqi former taxi driver and compulsive liar. Is the US government truly run by such a bunch of idiots, who were fooled into war by mysterious documents and a single con artist? Unlikely!