WWIII

Can it be far off when things like this continue to happen...

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell shared information with reporters Wednesday about Iran's nuclear program that was classified and based on an unvetted, single source who provided information that two U.S. officials said yesterday was highly significant if true but has not yet been verified.(source)

What next? Are we going to shortly hear that the Bush administration has obtained reports that Iran has connections with Al-Qaeda and that they too were behind the 9/11 attack? Are we supposed to fall for this old trick again?

If we continue to attack the countrys of the Middle East, unprovoked and based on unverifed information, how long will it be until they begin to strike back? Their next attack will most likely be another major US city(hopefully not one of those that voted blue).

Sooner or later we are going to poke at the wrong anthill or beehive. What will it take to make Americans realize we are not the Gods of planet earth. We would do well to remember the story of David and Goliath. Eventually even the biggest school yard bully will get his ass kicked.
I suggest that every American who is sick and tire of this endless fighting, sit down and write a letter to their Senator or Congressman and tell him, "we will not sanction another unprovoked war". Enough is enough.
Here's another idea we might consider...sweep around your own backdoor before you start telling your neighbor's how to sweep theirs.


posted by wanda at 5:10 PM

A Moral Election

Early Wednesday morning, November 3rd, news commentators were quick to begin calling the election, an election based on the moral stance of the real mainstream of America. They purported that this election had not been about terrorism after all, but about rural American standing up and saying old fashioned values were making a comeback. A premiss I, personally, found puzzling since the entire Republican campaign had been based on the fear of future terrorism. But, as we all know the media rarely gets it wrong. (Unless of course it's the left leaning CBS media. Which is a rant for another day.)
Well then Mr & Mrs Rural Republican American, please can you tell me how it is that you voted for a come back of old fashioned moral and values, and still you managed to elect a plethora of men (yes they are mostly men), who have no problem what so ever of changing the rules and laws to suit their purpose? Please explain to me how moral THIS is...

House Republicans today approved a change in party rules to prevent their majority leader, Tom DeLay, from having to step down from his leadership position should he be indicted in an investigation in Texas..."

So let me see if I have this right. Repulicans can dictate what the moral compass for the country should be, but they can change the rules for one of their own. Wasn't it a mere ten years ago when, with their periodic display of I've-got-better-values-than-you, the Repubs, with great fanfare, installed those very same rules to show that they were more ethical than the Democrats?
At this point I am left to ponder a question posed by Bohemian Mama , and it's a genuine question since I don't know the answer. "Does the Republican caucus currently have a rule which would force DeLay to relinquish his post after conviction if he remains free on appeal? " I'm just guessing here, but I'd feel safe betting that if there is such a rule, it won't take a nanosecond for the Repug's to get it changed.
While we are on the subject of morals, lets discuss the Presidents pick for Attorney General John Ashcroft's replacement. That would none other than Alberto 'No-One-Leaves-Here-Alive' Gonzales. If John Ashcroft was a driven, paranoid right-wing McCarthy-like ideologue, Gonzales is a cold blooded nasty killer, an executioner, and an attorney general who would stand alone (with W) in his belief that the Constitution and the Geneva Conventions are minor obstacles to be easily avoided. It was Gonzales who advised President Bush that certain kinds of torture were OK for 'enemy combatants.' You know who they are - they are the accused terrorists being held at Guantanamo and elsewhere who have no rights and can be treated like animals, a-la Abu Graib, showing our great benevolence in world leadership. Apparently Gonzales doesn't care what happens to our GIs sent into combat, GIs who might be treated exactly the same way by enemies. That's just an unfortunate side effect. After all these troops knew what they were signing up for when they joined the all volunteer military. Didn't they? Well if they didn't it's their own fault. They should have read the fine print.
Then there's the President's choice to replace Secretary of State Colin Powell, Dr. Condoleeza Rice. One can't help but wonder what it is about her (besides the obvious, she's female and a woman of color) that qualifies her for this position. Never mind the fact that the worst terrorist attack ever visited upon the United States, occurred on her watch as National SECURITY Advisor. Yep, she certainly handled that job jim-dandy fine, didn't she. We were so well advised that over 3000 people lost their lives on that fatal day.
I would say with appointments like these, God help us all, but I've just about come to the conclusion that God has forsaken us. Why else would the country that was once a beacon of hope and promise for the world, have become the most hated and feared on the face of the earth? A role once owned by communist Soviet Union. A country the US is begining to look more like every day.
In closing I will say this. If and when the terrorist strike again, and I should say when because I am sure it is more a matter of when rather than if. So, when they do make that next strike, I can only hope that they will take a long hard look at that red and blue map, and see which Americans voted to elect a war mongering President, and at those who voted for someone else, who maybe could have made a difference. I hope they won't once again punish the poor people of New York City (or any major city like Chicago, Los Angeles, or Seattle) for the choices the people of the plains and heartland made. Take a look at those places where they are so busy trying to tell other people how to live their lives, trying to dictate the morals of not just their neighbors, but an entire country. They are so busy trying to shove those ho-mo-sex-uals back in the closet and keep those books about evolution out of the schools, that they don't have a clue what a dangerous world they are living in.

posted by wanda at 1:15 PM

The Black Ribbon



From this day forward you will see a black ribbon dispayed on all my blogs. This ribbon is a symbol of my deep sense of loss and disappointment in our country.
I voted, but I feel as if my voice went unheard. But, I refuse to give up on our country! This ribbon is my way of continuing to stand up against intolerance, violence, ignorance, war, hatred, prejudice, and oppression!

I feel as if I am entering a period of mourning: mourning our hope, mourning our freedoms, mourning our nation.

I will continue to display this black ribbon to indicated that I will not be complicit in the crimes of this administration.
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p.s.
Found this over at Bohemian Mama's. It's good to know so many people share our sense of loss and disillusionment. Check out Sorry Everybody .
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p.s.s.
Oh, yeah, while I'm at it I'd like to address a little issue that's been bothering the dickens out of me lately. 60 million is NOT half of the country. When the population is 250 million+, 60 million is a mere 1/4th. Actually HALF the country did not vote at all. At least a fourth of them are children and young people under the age of 18. Another eighth are those who are barred from voting because of their legal status, or lack thereof. The other eighth, are those who did not bother to vote (and may I say they darned well got what they deserved for their lack of effort or concern). The remaining fourth did vote they just voted for the other guys. Of course the bottom line is still the same, and it's really a moot point, but it's one I just needed to get off my chest. Now back to your regular programed blogging....
posted by wanda at 9:31 PM

Purging

First it was Ashcroft. Then White House deputy national security advisor, Robert Blackwill. Then there came the second in command at the CIA. Now Secertary of State, Colin Powell, along with Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, Education Secretary Rod Paige and Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman. What I am wondering is, is this the begining of the hinted at purging of those that don't see eye to eye with Bush & Company or is this a begining of a mass exodus of rats fleeing a sinking ship?
Am I the only one frightened by the idea that even a religious zealot like Ashcroft is walking away from this administration?
I can only hope that these folks know something we don't and they are gettin the hell outta DC before the crap hits the fan.
posted by wanda at 11:45 AM