Update:

It would appear the article discussed below is misleading at best. Once again the rightwingnuts in the media made a mountain out of a molehill.
According to this ( On Law: Jihad and Abu Ali ) ariticle, the so called plot was no plot at all. "In other words, the alleged "plot" was more of a sweaty fantasy under the Saudi Arabian sun while Abu Ali, a U.S. citizen, was supposed to be pursuing his studies."
"The fact that the assassination plot never got beyond the talking stage is probably of little comfort to the president, his family or the nation. Still, those headlines implied a bit more than the indictment could deliver."

"Even more disturbing is the allegation that Abu Ali was held without charge in Saudi Arabia at the instigation of the U.S. government, and that he was tortured there. U.S. and Saudi officials vehemently deny allegations of torture, though they concede "pressure" was brought to obtain evidence from Abu Ali and others.

Abu Ali's lawyer says his client was subjected to more than "pressure" and alleges that his client was handcuffed and whipped by the Saudis. He offered to show the stripes on Abu Ali's back when the suspect was brought to a federal court in Alexandria, Va., earlier this week to hear the charges but was rebuffed by the judge."

The United States, instigate and participate in torture? Wouldn't our new Attorney General be proud? Is this what we've come to?
Don't forget this young man is an American citizen. Yes maybe a Muslim but still an American citizen. Who knows what you or I would confess to if beaten and starved. Never doubt for one minute it could happen to one of us. All in due time.
posted by wanda at 1:30 PM

Off With Their Heads!

Are these people nucking futs?
American charged in alleged plot to assassinate President Bush

Even an crazy woman like me knows assassinating Bush would be pure idiocy. I mean do they not know who replaces him? For all his faults, Bush is a million times better than the man who would take his place should he die. In fact I pray nothing happens to him for the next four years. Even God could not (and probably would not) help us if Cheney and Rove got carte blanche in the oval office. Which they would have with Cheney in the Presidents chair.
Bush for all his faults has at least a small decorum of decency about him. I don't think he's a cold blooded, money grubbing, power thirsting pig, the way Cheney and Rove are. He may have delusions of grandure (clearly a trait he inheirited from his Mother's side of the family) but he also has a small bit of his Daddy's humility.
I would have preferred Kerry (well, maybe not, considering his freaking wimpy give up at the first sign of defeat attitude in the election), or Dean, or McCain, maybe even Nadar, but heaven forbid the likes of Cheney ever grace our nations most powerful seat.
Speaking of Bush, am I the only one who found the man in those tapes made by a so-called friend (sure gives meaning to that phrase with friends like him you don't need enemies) almost likeable? He didn't sound at all like the arrogant man he comes off as in a press confrence. I've noticed he's even making nice with Bill, and Jacques Chirac. So he can't be all bad. Certainly not a man I want assassinated!
Seriously, we as a nation and as citizens of the world cannot afford to have any harm come to President Bush. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool. Of monumental purportion.
posted by wanda at 3:20 PM

The Price of Passion

To be passionate is to be alive. To have the fires of passion burn within your soul is to live life to it's fullest. We are never more alive than when writing, speaking or acting upon something in which we embrace with passion. Whether it be in the form of love or hate, passion is the pinnacle of human emotions.
The downside to passion is depression. More often than not, those who experience great hights of passion also experience great depths of depression. Such was the life of Hunter S. Thompson . Thompson, journalist, gun-collector, enemy of the state -- committed suicide on Sunday at the age of 67.
I can think of no better tribute to Thompson than to share his thoughts on our current administration and a similiar one from the past. The words (and John Kerry) are mine.

"That is why George W. Bush is President of the United States, and Al Gore (and John Kerry) is not. Bush simply wanted it more, and he was willing to demolish anything that got in his way, including the U.S. Supreme Court. It is not by accident that the Bush White House (read: Dick Cheney & Halliburton Inc.) controls all three branches of our federal government today. They are powerful thugs who would far rather die than lose the election in November."

"We were angry and righteous in those days, and there were millions of us. We kicked two chief executives out of the White House because they were stupid warmongers. We conquered Lyndon Johnson and we stomped on Richard Nixon -- which wise people said was impossible, but so what? It was fun. We were warriors then, and our tribe was strong like a river. That river is still running. All we have to do is get out and vote, while it's still legal, and we will wash those crooked warmongers out of the White House."

Well maybe next time Hunter. Maybe next time our candidate will be as passionate and determined to win as Bush & Co were. Maybe next time we won't pack it in and give up the fight before it's hardly begun.

Godspeed Mr. Thompson!
posted by wanda at 12:55 PM