Sound and Fury That Means Nothing

The failures of Republican policies are absolutely stunning, both their foreign policies and most recently their economic policies of reckless deregulation, that let greed on Wall street run rampant.

One would expect that in the face of such overwhelming evidence, there would have been some modicum of humility in recognition that those policies were at the root cause of much of this chaos.

Yet after the vote, that required our elected officials to put partisan ranker aside failed, the Republicans came out and blamed the failure to reach compromise squarely at the leadership of the Democrats and blame them for playing partisan politics, because their feelings were hurt by Nancy Pelosi.

An inconvenient truth they didn't mention, was the monumental failure of the Republican leadership, of President Bush, Secretary Paulson, John Boenher, Roy Blunt, and "Mighty Mouse McCain", who flew into save the day, last week, to convince a large portion of House Republican holdouts that the Nation was in serious trouble.

In a press conference after the failed vote, they were still singing their, free markets unrestrained capitalism, chant as if they were at a pep rally, like they still don't see a real connection between the collapse, and unregulated markets.

They seem to remove themselves from the greed on Wall street and the rampant corruptive influence of Wall street lobbyists on their decision making. They were more inclined to blame people that took out bad mortgages rather than on the people who without regulation formulated ever increasingly, risker ways to flim-flam an unsuspecting consumer, nation and world market. They seemed stunned that there was rampant greed at the root of Capitalism a religion they have long subscribed too.

Are they so naive that they don't know that, the very basis of the Capitalist system; is greedy self interest? In their perfectly absurd world of altered reality they think that everyone will treat others as they want to be treated, because they have a commonality of preserving the status quo, of balanced greed.

The fact is, there is and always has been and always will be, some who are greedier than others and they will inevitably steal everyone else blind, if left to decide what is too greedy. That's the reality of unregulated capitalism. Why else would it be, that 400 families in a nation of 364 million, hold 80 percent of the wealth of this nation.

They decry government as the problem. They are wrong. Government is the only way too establish balance that protects us from the rampant greed of others that would deprive us all of our economic liberty.

That is why all of their, "sound and fury"* means nothing, they are at the root of the problem not the answer to the problem. They drank the Cool-Aide and are wondering why we and this nation are as sick as we are, and their solution is to drink more Cool-Aide. More tax cuts for the rich and less government regulation.

Please reject these failed Republican policies on Nov. 4th. They are out of touch with every decent American that is honest and hard working. They have forgotten us, it's time we forget them. They have listened to their rich lobbyists friends, that buy their votes like common whores, for far too long, it's time they listened to those that elected them.

* “It is a tale … full of sound and fury; signifying nothing.” Quote from Macbeth

America: A Riches To Rags Story

This nation is in dire straits. I think this current financial collapse is going to make make the depression look like a picnic. How we came to this juncture in American history is clouded with charge and counter charge, by paid political pundits, lobbying groups, think tanks and a bankrupt moral climate in our federal government on both sides of the aisle. We have elected officials that pander like whores to highest bidder. I would urge you to consider your vote very carefully. It is how we can impose term limits, its time to clean House, Senate, and White House. No incumbents should be left standing after Nov 4th, on either side of the aisle.

We have MBA economists touting unsound economic theories such as, "Darwinian economics", based on self interest and greed. We have raised such theories to a level of cult worship without regard for the logical outcomes of such pathologically flawed ideas.

Greed without restraint. Unregulated economic rape of unsuspecting consumers all in the guise of unfettered free trade and markets. The list of suspects in this collusion are legion. The radical right wing conservatives who mouth the words spun with guile meant to cloak the real effects of these so called theories.

You've heard the buzz words that hide the truth of their real malevolence: free trade, deregulation, globalization, let the market decide, privatization, outsourcing just to name a few.

In stead of plain talk they weave policies in deliberate obfuscation. Lets have a look at what they are really saying. Globalization and Outsourcing sound innocuous and justifiable after all its just seeking the lowest priced labor pool for the benefit of the corporation stockholders.

But consider what happens when it is put into practice, you or your neighbor are forced out of their job and into lower paying jobs elsewhere in the economy.

Basically you are now in wage competition with third world countries without regulation or protection for their workers, who in many cases will work for pennies an hour. Do these so called American Corporations care? No way. This is Darwinian Economics, basically they are saying, I've got mine and you can go to hell. Patriots that swear allegiance to the dollar, not to flag or country.

To add insult to injury they flood American markets with cheap products and goods produced in China. What country benefits in the exchange? Communist China. Who gets the benefit of bloated profits? The stockholders. Who gets the shaft? American workers.

But we are complicit in our own demise, we purchase these cheap products. It started in the seventies when we allowed foreign auto imports into this country. That has devastated our domestic automakers.

All of that, along with the incessant mantra of deregulation, that has given free reign to the worst aspects of human nature, has brought this house of cards crashing down. Now these "born again" regulators and reformers want us to believe that their thirty year war on the regulations that have kept us safe since the Great Depression has nothing to do with them or their amoral policies.

John McCain seems surprised and outraged that men are greedy and amoral. Which is the reason we need the government, that he has, heretofore despised, and has said "the government is problem".

Now they want us to give them a blank check for 700 billion dollars, in addition to the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, AIG and Bear Sterans bailouts we have already given them. Plus they don't want the American people to have any over sight, or put any limits on "the golden parachutes " of the greedy bastards that did this. In the market place if you or I as an employee screwed up we would get fired without severance or unemployment benefits(period)

Their head cheerleader John McCain a suddenly, "born again" re-regulator says he will fix what has been broken, even though he didn't have enough foresight to anticipate the consequences of his own policies that he has been pushing for the last thirty years. He said in a moment of absolute honesty, that he doesn't understand economics very well. That makes John McCain unfit to lead this country.

"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their money, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of their property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."
—Thomas Jefferson—

America America, for Endless Waves of Debt

As an American that has held a minority political and economic view for decades, I predicted this collapse some four years ago. If my view of the world is correct this adjustment was long over due. For the second time in our history the religion of unfettered capitalism has shown that greed has it own self limiting consequences.

We forgot the lessons of the Great Depression. And we let the Neocon Republican ideologues brow beat us into a stupor of complacency. Their political agenda of empire building and their manufactured constant state of paranoia from exaggerated external threats has put this country in a state of decline.

I love my country, it has contributed an ideal of individual freedom and equality that is to be aspired to, but, suffers from thinking itself greater than it is, and the truth is that its position in history is as fragile as any other country that would be an "empire".

The biblical admonition "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." seems appropriate. I hope that what emerges from the ashes is a humbler less self absorbed country.

To the "born again" Republican regulators and reformers No bailout. Not without massive over sight, restraints, and strict re-regulation of the banking industries. Its time "the real elitists" share the pain, the fat bastards that ran this into the ground. Absolutely No parachutes whatsoever for them. The average person in this country doesn't get severance or unemployment benefits when we screw up we get fired and thrown out the door. Let them share the pain of their incompetence. Personal responsibility its not just a Republican idea anymore.

To the Democrats who think the upcoming election will be a mandate to ever greater social programs: this country is flat ass broke. And America is in no mood for expanding the deficit, trust me on this, there is a growing rage in America that feels betrayed by its "elected leaders." You should embrace the T. Boone Pickens Plan for energy independence, he's brilliant and has thought this problem through. Plus it will put American's back to work almost immediately creating wealth again. Plus encourage old fashioned savings.

To both parties because of your failed leadership to come up with a sustainable energy plan, we have squandered our wealth, on "cheap oil", on conspicuous over consumption, cheap Chinese imports, unprovoked foreign wars and living beyond our means chasing an empty American Dream that over consumption will make us happy.

News Flash: Over consumption doesn't make us any happier than over eating makes us skinny.

"If men were angels, no government would be necessary."
— James Madison—

What Madison missed, is that, unfortunately, governments are made up of men.

Of the Rich, By the Rich, For the Rich

Here are some of today's headlines:
"Government rushing to finish huge financial rescue plan"
"Bush says government role essential to ease crisis"
"Stocks soar as officials confirm government rescue plan"

Commentary:
The Republicans' have deregulated America into another depression.

The lessons of the Great Depression, had all but been forgotten, before the architects of financial disaster were again hard at work, trying to undermine every safeguard America had put in place, to stave off another such occurrence.

Their manic pronouncements of superior knowledge in all things financial, and high-handed bullying tactics, coupled with massive monetary incentives from corporate lobbyists, has corrupted the political system in America to such a degree, that our elected officials have become nothing more than common whores, whose vote goes to the highest bidder.

Free unbridled capitalism is their mantra, free of restraints, free of government interference, free of oversight, free of taxation. free of common sense, all so that they could be free to make predatory loans, free, to exploit those who can least afford to be exploited, free to hide massive bad debts in a labyrinth of twisted derivatives, and free to plunder the common wealth of America.

Now that these greedy, amoral, slobbering Republican dogs, of free market capitalism, have brought this country to the brink of economic ruin, they come without shame, hat in hand to the American people, they despise and say we must bail them out. The same smug, self-righteous, arrogant, trickle down crowd who take the best of everything America has to offer and bemoan even paying their fair share of taxes.

Their reprehensible, cretinous, figurehead George W. Bush crawled out of his hole, long enough to say, that; "the governments' role is essential to ease the crisis"

Is that the same government that the Republican party has so long castigated as, "being the problem"? The government, you Republicans have tried to gut with underfunding and the appointment of the terminally incompetent to manage it? The government, of which you Republicans' wanted to be free from? The government whose Constitution you Republicans' have tried to ruin? This government, of the people, by the people and for the people, this democratic republic you have tried to replace it with your elitist, repressive, radical religious theocratic ideology?

Here's what I say:

"All of you murderous, war mongering, Republican dogs, should eat your own, regurgitated excrement and die".

I pray that the American people wake up and say the same thing on November 4th. If there is one Republican dog left standing after the November elections, they should be euthanized.

Shades Of The Keating Five:

A commission to study the current financial crisis? John here's a clue where to start looking. A mirror! Or you could e-mail your buddy Phil Gramm and ask him, what happened, remember he was head of the Banking Committee in the 1990's, the guy that led the charge on behalf of the banks, insurance, and securities companies to repeal the Glass-Stegall Act. To "modernize" the banking industry. Your old economic advisor, remember?

The same industries that in 1997 and 1998 alone gave over $58 million in contributions to political candidates, $87 million to the two parties, and spent an additional $163 million in "expenses."

Here's what "big" Phil said at the signing:

" The world changes, and Congress
and the laws have to change with it.

"Abraham Lincoln used to like to use the analogy that
old and outmoded laws need to be changed
because it made about as much sense
to continue to impose them on people
as it did to ask a man to wear the same clothes
he did when he was a child.

"In the 1930s, at the trough of the Depression,
when Glass-Steagall became law,
it was believed that government was the answer.
It was believed that stability and growth
came from government overriding the functioning of free markets.
(Turns out they were right and you were wrong.)

"We are here today to repeal Glass-Steagall
because we have learned that government is not the answer.
We have learned that freedom and competition are the answers.
We have learned that we promote economic growth
and we promote stability by having competition and freedom.

"I am proud to be here because this is an important bill;
it is a deregulatory bill.
I believe that that is the wave of the future,
and I am awfully proud to have been a part of making it."

So, John, now you want the taxpayers to bale out the industries that you geniuses deregulated, so that the banks could run amok like they did, in the run up to the Great Depression? We don't need a CYA Commission to study that John. It sounds like another **Keating Five moment, but, maybe this Commission will turn out better for you.


Commentary:
The misappropriation of Lincoln's quote didn't take into account that, the Great Depression was a lesson that provided us valuable information, and showed us how to protect ourselves against the rampant greed of a small minority of businessmen, with shortsighted profit potential as their only motive.

It was not an outmoded law, as was suggested by Phil Gramm, it did what government does best, protects its citizens against the ruthless ambitions of the amoral among us. It was a lesson learned and forgotten by the American people, facilitated by paid stooges, that have led us into another debacle. The truth is, there is no expiration date on human greed and governments protection of its citizens is never outmoded.

No one in either party is immune from scrutiny in this current debacle, Republican or Democrat. They were all in on it to one degree or other. There were only eight dissenting votes in the Senate and 57 dissenting votes in the House, when the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act passed. Who was looking out for us? Apparently no one. The words, Phil Gramm, spoke at the signing ceremony, ring hollow and are full of bitter irony in light of the tremendous damage this supposed "deregulatory bill" has caused.

One thing for sure, government regulations are the only protection we have against the ruthless, rich and greedy. And that the Republican mantras': free markets, deregulation, tax cuts for the rich and government is the problem, are empty self serving bullshit.

John you have been working for decades to weaken the agencies that should have been watching these industries like hawks. And now you want, the American tax payer, to bale out your rich friends? And elect you as President? What Chutzpah!!

**A similar failure of the S&Ls in 1980s, in which John McCain played a prominent role, was precipitated by the deregulation of the savings and loan associations, allowing them to make highly risky investments with their depositors' money, such as buying land, taking equity positions in real estate development projects, and buying high-yield junk bonds.

The failure and subsequent government bale-out, prompted a Congressional investigation which focused on the President of the Lincoln Savings and Loan and five U.S. Congressmen, who became known as the Keating Five. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keating_Five

If you want more details here's where to start looking:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gramm-Leach-Bliley_Act#cite_note-3
http://partners.nytimes.com/library/financial/102399banks-congress.html
http://partners.nytimes.com/library/financial/102399bank-lobby.html
http://partners.nytimes.com/library/financial/102399bank-impact.html
http://partners.nytimes.com/library/financial/102399bank-analysis.html

The Truth About Sarah

The Thirteen Days in October, have been referred to as The Most Dangerous Two Weeks In History. Thirteen Days in October, chronicle the crisis in the fall of 1962, when Russia had moved nuclear missiles into Fidel Castro's communist Cuba, 90 miles from America.

The Russians' had smuggled them into Cuba beginning in August of 1962, under false cargo manifests'. The soviets' also had forty thousand soldiers and technicians stationed there feverishly and secretly trying to make them operational. They had intended revealing the missiles after completion and they were nearly successful.

But with more missiles still on the way in mid-October, the missiles already in Cuba were detected by American U2 over-flights, and that discovery, began two weeks never before experienced by human history, two nuclear powers close to an all out nuclear war.

I was still in high school and remember the entire country looking to our then, President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. His calm steady demeanor never betrayed the real peril we faced. His steady firm command of the situation showed the qualities that American's admired about him.

I just watched the movie "Thirteen Days In October", again last night. And relived the experience through the eyes of first hand observers in the White House. The pressure JFK was under from the military to act precipitously was enormous. His single minded focus on navigating the crisis and preserving peace came partly from a book, "The Guns Of August", he had read, that chronicled the events of pre World War One, that led to one of the bloodiest events in human history.

The leaders in Europe all missed opportunities, made blunders and suffered under false assumptions, on both sides, that could have prevented the war, if only they had talked to one another. Instead they floundered and made critical thinking errors, based on missed opportunities and miscommunication.

Kennedy's' cool unflappable temperament was thoughtful, courageous, and he saved mankind from a descent into nuclear madness.

This October, is the Forty-Sixth Anniversary of those thirteen days. It seems to me somehow appropriate in the midst of this heated presidential campaign, that we put the name calling and accusations aside, and ask ourselves as Americans what qualities we really need in the candidates, in these times.

Sober reflection requires that we ask ourselves if we really want Sarah Palin, a heart beat away from a 72 year old man at the helm of this nation. The consequences are in my opinion too terrible to contemplate.

She is not running for prom queen or miss congeniality, she is running to be America's Second in Command and she, may very well be, in the position of deciding this country and the worlds fate.

The truth about Sarah Palin is that she is not ready.
And this country would be fool hardy to think that she is ready.

Pig In A Poke; With Lipstick

It is curious that Sarah Palin is being kept under wraps by the McCain campaign. Their reluctance to expose her to the rough and tumble of presidential politics with only 67 days until the election is highly suspect. What are they hiding? Are they afraid she's unprepared? Unable to bear close scrutiny?

As an American voter I want a closer look at how she functions when she has to field hard questions, which would give at least some idea of her temperament under fire. I am sure the Republican base is enamored with her narrow right-winged credentials, which was made obvious by her reception at the RNC.

The fact that McCain was completely overshadowed by her was stunning. It brings to my mind that McCain is 72 years old and that maybe the base is betting McCain will not serve out his entire first term, which would put a radical right winged ideologue in the Presidency. It is obvious that the only thing that excited the base was her addition to the ticket. Why so much excitement? She has no chance to govern unless he dies.

Is she really ready? Is she really the person most qualified to step into the most important office in the world? The world is a chaotic and dangerous place. Pakistan has a nuclear bomb and the government has become unstable, it is being openly challenged by the Taliban. What if they are successful in overthrowing the government and get hold of nuclear materials? Is Sarah Palin really the brightest most qualified hockey mom to step in and deal with that scenario? Personally I have strong misgivings.

McCain met with her for a hour at most before he picked her. If that is all the thought he put into picking her, it begs the question how good is his judgment. Or was it a cynical political move simply meant to "electrify" the base?

America has a right to thoroughly question Sarah Palin, and the Republican party has a duty to expose her to our scrutiny. They may feel completely comfortable with their truncated vetting process, but, I do not. I am not willing to buy another one of their best and brightest based on what they have allowed us to see and hear so far. America deserves better than buying a pig in a poke; lipstick or not.

What They Say When No One Is...OOPS

Ever wonder how the Republicans really felt about Sarah Pallin's as the V.P. pick?

Here is a "Macaca moment," when two Republicans, Peggy Noonan and Mike Murphy, were caught openly talking about Sarah Palin to MSNBC's, Chuck Todd, when they thought they were off air: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrG8w4bb3kg

"It's over," Noonan said,
referring to the Republicans' chances.
And, concerning Palin:
"The most qualified? No!
I think they went for this -- excuse me--
political bullshit about narratives....
Every time the Republicans do that,
because that's not where they live
and it's not what they're good at, they blow it."

Murphy added: "You know what's really the worst thing about it?
The greatness of McCain is no cynicism, and this is cynical."

transcript quoted from:

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003845572

This moment of truth came after Noonan had spoken glowingly of Palin just days before and refered to Palin as "powerful," and that she might even be "transformative."

Commentary:
Sarah Palin is not ready to be Vice President by any stretch of the imagination and the Republicans know it. They are scornfully mocking us and are waiting to see how stupid and gullible we are, they have polished another turd and are serving it with a straight face. If America's undecided independent voters buy this pig wearing lipstick, we deserve a government of the stupid, by the stupid, for the stupid.

Great Speechifying John

John! Ya did it buddy, the demeanor, the pace, they were almost human, but the content, wow! What can you say about the content? It was every republican bromide without one single fresh new idea. Now that's what I call Conservative! Damn, pardner way to go! Way to put it out there! One little suggestion... I think the prisoner of war thing is getting a bit stale, you were in a prison forty years ago, thank you again, by the way. But, even the liberals have thanked you, so maybe ya could let that one ease on by from here on out.

But, John, you really scared me there, pard. You almost blew it Johnny, when you got that honesty thing of yours going, you said that the Republicans party screwed it up and you want America to give you a chance to screw it up some more. Oops I mean, "change things," using the same tax cuts for the rich formula, that your party has spread around forever. I get it more trickle down "voodoo economics", but, John, ya gotta keep that honesty thing under control! You recovered, but ya gotta watch it!

So, John, if you're gonna cut everybody's taxes who's gonna pay for your next hundred years in Iraq? You seem to have forgotten the war, not to mention the hundreds of thousands of innocent lives it's cost, it is costing 10 billion dollars a month. That's a lot a dough John!

Maybe Blackwater? Maybe KBR and Haliburton or the oil companies, this war was for their benefit after all. What 'am I thinking the people that benefit from war profiteering with no bid contracts should chip in? Crazy me! Maybe the Chinese are still good for it! Or, I know! How about a bake sale?

By the way! Have you read the Party's Platform. It's a corker! I have and I agree with your statement "that you want to change things, namely: the Constitution.

About time too, what the hell did some sissyifyed men in white wigs and stockins' know about writing a Constitution? They were too damn "L-i-b-e-r-a-l", if ya know what I mean. Some ballsy, gun totin', moose guttin', lipstick wearin', hockey mom coulda done a better job. WOW, so that's why you picked Palin! I just now got it. You're brilliant, John.

By the way I was a bit lost at the end of your speech it certainly picked up the pace, but who are we fighting again? Oh' right, I get it, the dreaded liberal community organizers.

The one's that go into a community trying to help the poorest of the poor at great personal financial sacrifice, like a Harvard grad turning down a six figure income for a lousy ten grand a year. I mean what kind of qualifications are those. If you want to be "in the club"?

Hell, ten grand nowadays, won't even buy a pair of Farigamo's, gas for a private jet and pay the mortgage on seven houses. He must be a real nut job. I mean what kind of a person really puts SERVICE before SELF. Everybody knows that's just a slogan to win elections. Damn he must be dumb. I sure was glad to see you guys "put him in his place" with a little ridicule.

Well, John that's a lot to think about. As for another four years, can I get back to you? Say, Nov. 4th, no wait I can't do the 4th, you'd better make it the 5th.

Commentary:
John McCain, said something else that was true, about his party, that they didn't change Washington, Washington changed them. Sadly, last night McCain showed that he couldn't change his party, so he changed himself. paraphrased from E. J. Dionne Jr.Washington Post

A Dream That Was America

If there was any doubt about whether John McCain is the agent of change he claims, it was laid to rest with Sarah Palin's acceptance speech.

Not only is his ticket more of the same, it's more of the same on steroids.

Sarah Palin's nasty, personal attacks were distasteful even in the dog-eat-dog world of American politics. It was completely devoid of anything that approached a new idea, that would bring this nation together to face the future. I was stunned that the press, instead of asking hard questions as they should have, sounded more like cheerleaders for her nomination.

A future that has been made less bright, by eight years of a Republican regime, marked by stunning failures in every area the Republicans have always claimed as their own.

Namely the economy, foreign policy, and protection of the Constitution.

As Palin spoke, I started reading the Republican platform. The fine print of what the Republicans are offering this country, if we rehire them this fall. Their religious, culturally driven agenda is stunning.

It is full of their disingenuous words that would strip certain groups of their rights under the Constitution. The question is whose traditions and values? Not mine.

It suggests numerous constitutional amendments that would codify their narrow minded and self righteous views.

These are dangerous people, that worship a mythical ideal that never was. A christian America that never was, because, the founders had first hand experience with religous persecution and didn't want a theocracy which is much too narrow in its view to include the kind of equality and freedom they envisioned. The separation of church and state was a deliberate choice.

Much like the nazi obsession with an idealized, heroic Germanic myth of aryan superiority in some forgotten age. Their same obsessive nature allows them to dismiss groups they find repugnant and strip them of their unalienable rights.

That same sense of self righteous superiority allows them to lie deceive and push their agenda even through violent means, invading other countries on manufactured evidence that they leak to the press and then site as confirmation.

They have become masters of "Orwellian" double speak. And nothing will change under their continued administration. Except a dream that was America.

Reading The Fine Print: Republican Platform

While Sarah Palin was speaking words that thrilled the Republican faithful I started reading the words in the Republican Platform. It is full of exagerations and some outright lies. the following are direct quotes from the document along with some of my first reactions:

"To protect our servicemen and women and ensure that America Armed Forces remain the best in the world, we affirm the timelessness of those values, the benefits of traditional military culture, and the incompatibility of homosexuality with military service."
(all men are created equal except for the following...)

"That is why our reform of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was so vital, and why the Democrats' opposition to it was so wrong."(It gutted the fourth amendment)

"Supporting Our Heroes: Republican leadership, from the presidency to the Congress, has given America the best-manned, best-trained, best-equipped, and best-led military in the world." (McCain voted NO for new GI Bill. It was pushed through by the Democrats)

"That is a radical change from the late 1990's, when national defense was neglected and under-funded by the Clinton Administration." (Clinton proposed the biggest military spending boost since Reagan)(Rumsfield under Bush pushed for massive cuts in military manpower)

They (the 9/11 attacks) should have put an end to the Democrats' naive thinking that international terrorists could be dealt with within the normal criminal justice system, but that misconception persists. (secret military tribunals without habeas corpus...star chambers...indefinite imprisonment...no jury)

We must develop and deploy both national and theater missile defenses to protect the American homeland, our people, our Armed Forces abroad, and our allies. Effective, layered missile defenses are critical to guard against the unpredictable actions of rogue regimes and outlaw states. (re-implementation of star wars a and a re-ignition of the cold war mentality...Russia threatened to aim nukes at Europe in response)

To be successful international leaders, we must uphold international law, including the laws of war,and update them when necessary. Our moral standing requires that we respect what are essentially American principles of justice. In any war of ideas, our values will triumph. (the treatment of prisoners of war don't count we can ignore the long established Geneva Convention...we can imprison, torture and try them by secret military tribunals)

State Department Reform
Advancing America's values should be the core mission of every part of the federal government, including the Department of State. America's diplomatic establishment must energetically represent our country's agenda to the world. We propose a thorough reform of its structure to ensure that promotions and appointments are based on performance in supporting the nation's agenda. Our diplomats must be the best our country has to offer, and America's diplomatic abilities must be an integral part of
America's national security system. (this wreaks of radical christian double speak basically they only want radical christians and want to appointment and promote based on a narrow religious values test) (Radical religious intolerance is a the heart of most major human conflict it is why the founders insisted on a neutral secular form of government...it is why most people of their age fled their countries of origin—religious persecution)

Commentary:
The culturally driven ideological attacks that continue to undermine the Constitution have not abated. And that the radical religious far right will not rest until they take away the rights of those they find repugnant to their self-righteous views.

They will continue those assaults until America votes to put an end to them or until America succumbs.

Let them eat cake!

Really John, Obama playing politics with Gustav???

John, who's in New Orleans,
acting all Presidential, doing photo OPs???

Where were you when New Orleans
was drowning three years ago after Katrina?

You remember Katrina don't you John?
Here's a little reminder.

(U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer 2nd Class Kyle Niemi)

Oh yea! That's right! I forgot, you were
in Arizona eating cake with the Decider-in-Chief.














And do you remember how you expressed your concern
when the request for Katrina relief funds came before the Senate?

New Orleans does! You voted NO, not once but time after time!

And now you are are so concerned about New Orleans,
that you closed down the Republican Convention?

What A LOAD OF HORSE CRAP!!
WHAT HYPOCRISY!!

Gustav closed it down!

So much for your legendary honesty and integrity John.
You blew your judgment argument when you picked Palin as a VP.

But hey opportunity knocks, and what an fantastic photo opportunistic* moment for you?

* op·por·tun·is·tic?
adj. Taking immediate advantage (even others misfortunes), often unethically, of any circumstance for possible (political) benefit.

Shame on you John McCain, shame on you!

THE TRUTH IS: MCCAIN VOTED AGAINST RELIEF MEASURES FOR VICTIMS OF HURRICANE KATRINA

"Just this week John McCain said that "[t]here must be no forgotten places in America" and is traveling to New Orleans today to make the case.

But don't believe the rhetoric.

The fact is, McCain has a history of denying the Gulf Coast aid when it needs it most and a record of outrageous votes to show for it.

Instead of helping the area rebuild after Hurricane Katrina and the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast get back on their feet, McCain actually voted to deny emergency funding to the area, and he voted against giving victims of Katrina access to Medicaid and unemployment benefits.

[McCain Campaign Email, 4/22/08;
2006 Senate Vote #112, 5/4/2006;
2005 Senate Vote #285, 11/3/2005;
2006 Senate Vote #6, 2/2/2006;
2005 Senate Vote #229, 9/14/2005;
2005 Senate Vote #234, 9/15/2005]

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS198703+24-Apr-2008+PRN20080424

Far from being the Change We Need McCain is, the Past We Must Reject Forever!