The Right to Bear Arms
So much for lite and fluffy.
I'm incensed!
I see where Dubya is making another of his back door appointments. Is there no end to the dishonesty and disrespect this can man exhibit?
Which brings to mind this wonderful new blog I discovered today.
"The Second Amendment is a doomsday provision, one designed for those exceptionally rare circumstances where all other rights have failed - where the government refuses to stand for reelection and silences those who protest; where courts have lost the courage to oppose, or can find no one to enforce their decrees."

Sounds awfully familiar (2000 election, herding protesters into areas out of sight, ignoring the will of the majority of the American people, detaining people without access to lawyers, family, etc.) Pretty scary stuff. That one sentence did more for me than 90% of the other stuff. "
Me too David!
Check out David at his blog The Fabulous Baker Boys . This one's a keeper!
posted by wanda at 4:42 PM

A Change of Pace

Just a little something lite today.



You're Watership Down!
by Richard Adams
Though many think of you as a bit young, even childish, you're actually incredibly deep and complex. You show people the need to rethink their assumptions, and confront them on everything from how they think to where they build their houses. You might be one of the greatest people of all time. You'd be recognized as such if you weren't always talking about talking rabbits politics!

This sooooo me, don't you think?
posted by wanda at 12:52 PM

A Message to Dean Supporters
I know how you feel. Believe me I do. A little over 4 years ago I was in the same place you are right now. The man I believed in, the man I believed would be/ should be President had been run out of the race. By his own party. I was disgusted, disillusioned, but most of all I was Mad as Hell! I shared John McCain's vision for our country. I shared his beliefs of where we needed to go and what we needed to do. But John was branded an 'angry little man' by the Bushies and the media. He never had a chance. So when I say I know how you feel, I really do. It will take some time to get over your anger. Or maybe like me you never will. Take some time. Deal with your feelings of betrayal and disappointment. But in the end don't let it stop you from doing the one thing you can still do to make a difference. Vote .
Four years ago when I saw Bush and his rich white boys club, run McCain down without a backward glance. Then watched as they used the state of Florida to steal the election. I made myself a vow. That No matter who the Democratic party put up for their nominee in 04, I would support them, campaign for them and do my very best to convince as many people as possible to vote for them. Because if there was anything I could do to insure that Bush, like his Daddy before him, would be a one term President, I would do it.
I did not forsee the damage that the Bush Administration would do. I did not know that men like John Ashcroft (who incidently was beat by a DEAD man in his own state in his run for the Senate) and Karl Rove would be running our country. Of course I could never have foreseen Sept 11th, and the way that Bush would use that tragic day to fullfil his own agenda. I never imagined that we could go from a surplus in the Nations coffers to a deficit the likes of which our country has never seen. No, I did not foresee any of this. I only knew that two good men (Gore and McCain) had been wasted and kicked to the curb by the Bush Republicans Repugnicans.
Today I stand as firm in my decision as I did back then. I am asking you to join me. No, John Kerry is not my 'ideal' candidate, but unless John Edwards makes an amazing surge on Super Tuesday, it's a done deal. Kerry will be OUR only hope of sending Bush and his team of good ole rich boys, back to that ranch in Texas. Permanently.
On November 2nd we can serve our country and make a stand for freedom and democracy everywhere. We can go to the poles and we can vote. It may be with heavy hearts because the man we know would be the BEST man won't be on the ticket. Becuase it will be a vote for the lesser of two evils. Which all too often is the only choice we get to make, so lets make it count, (and that it gets counted) this time!
posted by wanda at 3:41 PM

A House Divided
Having always been an Independent, I have had the opportunity to vote both Democratic and Republican. I would have gone Republican in 2000 if McCain had been the Republican nominee. I was disgusted and disillusioned with our entire political system. I vowed I'd never become involved with another candidate or campaign. Then I saw what Bush and his Administration are slowly doing to our country and our constitution. I firmly believe left to their own devices for another four years, we may see the end of a two party system in this country. If you read conservative blogs ( I do) ,or watch mainstream media ( FOX/CBS) , you will see that the majority of the Republican Party would gladly see all liberals expunged. They see no need for 'the other side'. As Bill O'Rielly is so fond of saying "just shut the hell up" or as Dubya said "you're either with us or against us". How long can our country endure this desire to quell the opposition?
What frightens me even more though is this whinning and bickering within the Democratic party. The Democrats don't seem to realize they are their own worst enemy. If you have the attitude of 'my candidate is the only one who can represent me and my needs, and if he can't run, then I'll take my vote and go home' then you destroy what ever hope there might have been of taking back the White House.
Republicans are united. Not all of them agree with Bush, but they will all stand behind him and support him. They are a party to be recconded with. If Democrats don't get their act together and put aside this petty bickering, soon there will nothing to argue over. There will be no Democratic party. Or else it will be so broken down that it will be impossible for them to elect a Mayor or Senator, much less a President.
There is no such thing as the perfect candidate. The best man rarely wins. More often than not the choice is who will do less harm.
This may well be the turning point for our nation. If you are so alligned to your candidate, go ahead and vote Green, or Independent. But, if you do so, you might as well go ahead and vote Bush, because that is what every vote for anyone other than a Democrat is. It's a vote for Bush.
posted by wanda at 3:19 PM

A Real American Hero



Here is a picture I stole from Mary Lou who stole it from someone named Denny. They find this picture disgusting. I find it inspiring.
Here is a young man who served four years in Vietnam. He earned a Bronze Star, a Silver Star, and three Purple Hearts. Had he come home from Vietnam and taken up drugs or alcohol, or robbing banks, people would have said "It's understandable, he is suffering Post Traumatic Stress Syndrom...". He still would have been a hero, a hero with a messed up mind but a hero none the less. Instead he came home and told the world "THIS WAR IS WRONG", he protested the way the government was treating returning veterans. He stood up for what he believed. Now some people want to deny or denigrate his service to his country.
Here we have a real genuine American Hero, and just as they did John McCain, the Bushies want to tear him down. Why? Why deny this man the honor he rightly deserves? Because to admit that he is a hero is to acknowledge that Bush was a draft dodger who joined the Guard to avoid the draft. A draft dodger who now has the power to send troops to war. During the Vietnam war no one joined the Guard to serve their country. They joined the Guard to avoid serving their country in Vietnam.
When Clinton was President, his lack of military service was all the Republicans Repugnicans could talk about. Now they want to equate one weekend a month and two weeks a year (which it appears was still too much for Dubya to fit into his busy schedule) to four years served in the jungles of Vietnam. That's like compairing a summer rainshower to a hurricane.
Wake up Republicans Repugnicans your Boy George is about to face off with another American Hero. This one isn't a member of his own party who can be towed back in line with threats or intimidations. Hopefully the White House is about to be expurgated of a phony!!!!
posted by wanda at 11:17 PM

All for One and One for All

As I surfed my way around the blogosphere today, I have read a lot of post by Dean supporters. Most of them are up in arms because it is becoming increasingly clear that Mr Dean will not be the Democratic nominee for President. I can understand their frustrations. My personal choice was John Edwards. I am a realistic person though and I realized from the beginning that John probably wasn't going to make the cut. Frankly I have been pleasantly surprised by the great showing he has had so far. I would like to see him on the ticket in November even if it is just as VP, but again I realize that probably isn't going to happen either. So, I know what has to be done. I will do it. I will give my full support to the man that I believe can beat George Bush. If that is John Kerry then that is who I will support. Because above all else I want to see Dubya back on that ranch in Texas come January of next year. And I don't mean just on holidays and weekends . I mean permantently.
What I don't understand is the whinning by the Dean supporters. Okay, I know most of us bought into this whole 'internet candidate' thing. We all thought that because he had the power of the internet behind him, Dean was a shoe in. Clearly everyone over estimated the power of the internet. All that internet support didn't translate into votes and votes are what counts. Granted the media did their share of damage. But, the bottom line is he just hasn't gotten the votes to win the nomination.
Now, you have to ask yourself, where do I go from here? Do I take my toys (vote) and go home and refuse to play anymore? Do I kick sand in the other kids (Kerry) face because I'm pissed that MY guy didn't win? Or do I bite the bullet, and do the right thing by supporting the man the majority of the people believe can take on Bush and win? Because that is the important thing right?
I am not a dyed in the wool Democrat. Never said I was. I am a member of the ABB party. By the way AAB= Anybody But Bush. So I for one will be giving Mr Kerry my full support. Just as Gephart, Lieberman, and Clark have done already, and I am sure that Edwards will as well. If Howard Dean really means all that he has said up to now, he too will follow suit. It's time for Democrats to get over the whinning and elect a new President.
posted by wanda at 4:07 AM