Iraq Exit Strategy Specials

Yay! More Toons!

"What we've got here is failure to communicate"

Could it really be possible? Is Iraq in a civil war? Or are they just playing? When is this administration going to wake up and smell the shit they've been shovelling? Don't answer that...

Colin Powell, former Secretary of State, and before that, Chairman of the Joint Cheifs of Staff (shouldn't that be cheives?) and he was also National Security Advisor to Reagan. Anyways, he has kind of been the voice of reason in the Republican Party. But that should not surprise anyone. He's the most moderate man in public service aside from John McCain, though McCain is starting to look a little too red. Regardless, he's one of those rare men: he can see both sides of the issue and look at things objectively. Now, if only we could get more journalists like him. He opposed going into Iraq as we did and has even been known to call Neoconservatives "fucking crazies" (I have a source). He's pro-choice and for affirmitive Action. When he resigned from his jpb as Secretary of State, one cannot help but wonder (at least, I can't) that it had something to do with his 1) dragging his heels on Iraq, 2)stating that we needed UN backing before going into Iraq not to mention the nation's support and 3) calling neocons "crazies" even if they are. They're crazy! What do you think they will do to you?

Yeah. That Guy. By the way, check out that cheesy grin. Sort of scary that a retired General can smile like that. (Note: Do not get the high resolution picture on Wikipedia. There is no reason to see anyone at a resolution of 2400x3000. NO ONE!)

Colin Powell has come out and said Iraq'a in a civil war. Just admit and move on. Current NSA dude Stephen Hadley said "We're clearly in a new phase characterized by an increase in sectarian violence that requires us to adapt to that new phase". Well, I'm glad that cleared up. Since no one in the White House will say it. It might look bad. But even Iraq's government is shirking this detail. Hadley also said "The Iraqis don't talk of it as a civil war. The unity government doesn't talk of it as a civil war". Because there is no clear grab for power or territory, its not a civil war. What the hell was the British Civil War? They fought for power thereby control of the country, i.e. territory. Ugh...

Moving on because stupidity is depressing. Fiji might have another coup. Sweet! Lets have some action! Apparently, the Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase wanted to offer leaders of the 2000 coup some amnesty. He had two bills presented to the parliament proposing that. Commodore Frank Bainimarama, leader of the Fijian military forces, was a little ticked. He asked for the MP to resign in mid October. In return, Qarase tried to sack him. It didn't work. Now, New Zealand and Australia, both a bit concerned over possible instability in the region, have arranged talks, but negotiations have been unsuccessful.

The military began "practicing" in case of international intervention. But it looks more like preparation for overthrow. And the residents know it. They are stokpiling goods and cash. Even if there isn't a coup, they may destroy their small country's banking system. Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain have expressed concern about travelling there and Australia is pulling workers out of its embassy there. Wait and see!

The case of Alexander Litvinenko (the pictures at right are him: Before and After his poisoning) gets even bigger. Let me give a brief rundown on this man. Alexander Litvinenko was once a KGB (КГБ (Committee for State Security)) agent (as was Vladimir Putin). Later, he worked for the FSB (ФСБ (Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation)). In 1998, he began making accusations of killings, extortions and so forth. Eventually he'd spend some time in prison. While awaiting trial in 2000, he fled to Turkey and rejoined his wife, Marina, and son, Anatoly. He had no passport but he managed to make it into the United Kingdom on Political Asylum. He wrote a couple of books detailing how the FSB blew up apartments to further give rise to oppositition of the Chechen rebels and help Putin win election. He became a citizen if the UK in October of this year.

He had received papers from Mario Scaramella concerning the killing of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya. She was shot in the elevator of her apartment building on October 7th. On November 1st, the day he acquired the documents, he also met with two former KGB officers. But Oleg Gordievsky, a long time friend of Litvinenko's, believed the poisoning happened at the flat of a Russian friend. He had tea there before meeting Scaramella (who has since gone into hiding) at Itsu, a sushi restaurant, in Piccadilly.

He is believed now to have been poisoned with Pulonium 210. This is a highly rare substance that an only be made in a nuclear reactor. And the half life on it assures that it was not stolen from stores that the USSR had and were easily taken after the collapse. Yegor Gaidar, a former acting Primie Minsiter under Boris Yeltsin, was found unconscious in Ireland on Novemeber 28. His health is not good and raises even more suspicions after Litvinenko's November 23rd death. A Post Mortem examination is scheduled for today and there has evidnce of radiation has been found on two British Airlines planes.

Well, I need to do some back on this day stuff. There were a lot of important things that happened through out history on this date. For example, The November Uprising of the poles against the Russian happened November 29, 1830. In 1890, the Meiji Constitution took affect in Japan. Yugoslavia became the Federal people's Republic of Yougoslavia in 1945 (aka they became Commies).

In 1967, Robert S. MacNamara resigned as Secretary of Defence amidst bungling of that era's quagmire, Vietnam.

And finally....You see that map at the top? that is the United Nations Partition as devised in 1947 for Palestine. Today, in 1947, the UN voted to go forward with partition. A month later, the Arab League met in Cairo to devise their own military solution to partition. We now have Eretz Israel (ארץ ישראל) and Palestine (فلسطين‎ ). Someone actually asked me where the name Palestine came from. Its from the Phillistines. They have long since been gone but their name still continues.

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Turkey and the Pope

Yep. He went there. After Pope Benedict XVI quoted inflammatory remarks made by a 14th Century church theologian about Islam and its connection to violence, there was violent outrage in the Muslim world asking for everything from apologies to his head on a silver platter. That was only two months ago.

Besides that, he's never been kind to Turkey. He is German and therefore, some of his attitude toward Anatolia may be suspect. The two territories have never had a good relationship despite seemingly being far from each other. In the19th Century as Germany developed into an Industrial power (albeit late relative to the US and Great Britain) with a large focus on finance and banking, it came into conflict with the far-flung and long-lasting Ottoman empire. It would not take a leap in insight to understand that animosity was high. In modern day Germany, there is a large Turkish community in Germany. For the most part Germans have opinions about the Turks both within the German state and without. Its like trying to find an American who hasn't thought about Mexican Immigrants and Illegal Immigration. For good or bad, everyone has an opinion.

In the past when the current pope was the Cardinal Josef Ratzinger, he also made a comment specifically about Turkey. He basically said that allowing Turkey to enter the European Union would be "a grave error against the tide of history". So than the Holocaust was....? That statement makes it sound like adding Turkey is tantamount to Thermo Nuclear war! If you think its bad just say "Hey, uh, I think letting Turkey in would be bad. All those earthquakes. The funds needed to constantly rebuild their antiquated and crumbling infrastructure would be draining. Not to mention, depressingly repetitive." Or: "Turkey has a long dispute with many of its close neighbors. Greece for one has an ongoing hostility with Turkey over the small island of Cyprus. And they can't admit they commit genocide on Armenia."

He has been called the "anti-Turkish Pope" and I suppose its understandible. And with the recent uproar, he will not be welcomed with any zeal or happiness. He is being received as a visiting political leader: leader of the Vatican, that is. His presence is being handled on a secular basis. He has also now reversed himself on his belief about Turkey. He now thinks letting Turkey into the EU would be a grand idea. Who the hell does he think he is? Oh, yeah.... He's also quoting two other guys: Pope John Paul II and Pope Gregory of the 11th Century. Oy Vey!

Is there a civil war in Iraq? Sure as hell seems like it. Last week one of the worst attacks since this whole debacle began occured in Sadr City. President Bush claims it isn't a civil war. National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley claimed the reason it is not a civil war is it is "less aimed at gaining full control over an area than expressing differences and also trying to destabilize a democracy". Well, isn't that a civil war?

Well, civil war existance debate aside, lets also remember that we will be stuck in this quagmire unless we can, well, GET OUT! We need an exit strategy. In other words, we need to begin using tactics that will slowly enbale us to leave the God-forsaken place. I cannot remember who said this (it may have Henry Kissinger or Spiro Agnew): "There is only one acceptable exit strategy: Winning." Stay the Course is a great political slogan. You could even use Lincoln's fabulous illustration: You don't switch horses while crossing the stream. However, after the election has been won, we all start scratching our heads and ask "What's the course?" I'm not going there....

In Ecuador, it appears that Economist turned politician, Rafael Correa may have won his country's presidency. The opponent has yet to concede defeat but with Correa owning 63% of the vote, it would be difficult for Billionaire Alvaro Noboa to make up the margin.

Correa is a leftist who has been politically close to Venezuela's Hugo Chavez (you know, the guy who called Bush the Devil.) and has also promised to build 300,000 homes for the country's poor every year. He has also said he'd refuse to pay the "illegitimate" foreign debt and to nix a free-trade deal with the US. With all their economic problems, the nation has not a lot of success with presidents in the recent decade. Let's hope for the best. Whatever that is.

Way back about 900 years ago (in 1095, to be exact.... 911 years ago for nitpickers), Pope Urban II appointed Bishop Adhemar of Le Puy and Count Raymond IV of Toulouse to lead the first Crusade to liberate the Holy Land. Oh the Irony! (see above)

Two big reasons why November 28 is a really big day in Albania: First, in 1443, Skanderbeg, aka, George Kastrioti, liberated (all this liberating...) Middle Albania (is it big enough to have a middle?) with the capture of Kruje. He raised his standard which eventually became the flag of Albania. He has been quoted as saying "I have not brought you freedom, I found it here, among you." The second reason is far less poetic and epic: Albania declared independance from the Ottomans (finally!) in 1912. Again, Turkey hating... Albania is now the only officially Atheist nation in the world. Despite this, according to the CIA World factbook, Albania is 70% Muslim, 20% Albanian Orthodox and 10% Catholic. These are only estimates. There are no churches or mosques in Albania and private practice is allowed only.

Back on this day, in 2000, the eighth drop fell on the Pitch drop experiment in Australia. I shit you not. This experiment was initiated in 1927 when Professor Thomas Parnell of the University of Queensland in Brisbane wanted to demonstrate that some substances though appearing solid were really highly viscous and truly flowed. Pitch is one such substance. Glass is another. Over that last 79 years, 8 drops have fallen very, very slowy. Wanna watch it live? It's like watching grass grow or paint dry but more exciting!

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Senseless Violence

Today it seems the world has returned to its nominal behavior: Violence.


Yesterday a standoff began in Chicago. It ended with the gunman, Lance Johnson, 21, killing himself and his two female hostages apparently. He took the two women hostage early Thursday morning.

An armed man in Miami stormed into a Spanish language newspaper called El Nuevo. He believed the paper was not properly run. some people were evacuated before he peacefully surrendered.

And in Sadr City in Iraq, Sunni men have been burnt with kerosene by militant Shi'ites as the Sunnis emerged from Friday services. There has also been a spate of mosque burnings.

If you're like me, you're wondering why today? Is there something in the air? The stars? Who knows. I hope you gave thanks yesterday for your live and its relative peacefulness.

On this day in 1859, Charles Darwin published his earth shattering and agitating book The Origin of Species. To quote Darwin from the text itself: "A grand and almost untrodden field of inquiry will be opened, on the causes and laws of variation, on correlation of growth, on the effects of use and disuse, on the direct action of external conditions and so forth."

Also, on this day, and of local import, the show Mystery Science Theater 3000 (aka, MST3K) premiered on a local UHF band station called KTMA. That was in 1988.

Also, Lee Harvey Oswald was shot today after being apprehended for the possible culpibility in the assassination of John F. Kennedy. If you can't recall the year it was 1963.

Thanksgiving and Thankstaking

I, and my family, had a rip roaring thanksgiving. We spilled beer all over, woke the dead and lit things on fire. But, like all holidays, we must return to the mundane world known as real life.

For starters, did you check out the ads? My paper, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, left something to be desired. There were seriously only a handful of ads. It was pathetic! Besides that, there is an interesting change in store policies. Some stores are remaining open and then others, will open for abbreviated hours this evening. Comp USA will be open tonight from 9 till midnight. I think this is shitty. These retail employees usually bask in the joy that at least they ain't working on Thanksgiving. Tomorrow they will work in the hell known as Black Friday. I feel they are being cheated. But thats just me.

Earlier this week I posted that an article about an ailing former Russian Spy was a complicated story. It is, but it is further complicated by the fact that the spy, Alexander Litvinenko, has died. At about 3.30 CST, he passed away in a London hospital. It is believed Litvinenko may have been poisoned by the Russian Government whom he is also quite critical of. Anyways, I feel bad that he has passed away. He was an upstanding guy who was holding firm on his principles. There are few who would take the path he did and I totally respect that. I offer my condolencses to his family.

And CNN finally wrote an article about him that didn't need rereading.

Back on this day in 1954, the DOW finally got above its previous peak set before the crash of 1929. It only took 25 years to do it. We have recently accomplished a similar feat but in a much shorter period.

Also on this day, in 1963, Doctor Who, one of the best Science-Fiction television series (and stories... its always about the stories), ever, premiered on the BBC.

And since its Thanksgiving, with football games and all, on this day, Doug Flutie, when he was a quarterback for Boston College, threw a Hail Mary against the University of Miami with 6 seconds on the clock. He succeeded and Boiston College won the game 47-45. Flutie also was awarded the Heisman Trophy that year. What year was it? It was 1984.

That's all. Hope everyone's Thanksgiving was good and safe. Have a good start to holiday shopping. And remember to buy me something for Chanakah! Or Christmas depending on what you believe...

Don't touch me!

I swear to G-d, I woke up and found myself in the news of the 80's. It just sounded like the average news of like say 1986. Here's a run-down!

Lebanese Christian Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel was assasinated. This can only be bad news for the already politically fractured nation. To top it off, he was a part of the anti-Syrian majority. President Bush has declared this a further act by Iran and Syria to promote instability in the unstable nation.

A school bus went off an overpass in Alabama, Monday. Up to now, four people have died, all teenage girls. The bus was carrying 40 students from Huntsville' Lee High School. THe accident may have been caused by another Lee High student driving a Toyota Celica that drifted into the School bus' lane and forced the bus into the barrier where it drove for 100 feet before dropping off. The Celica had two flat tires but it is unclear whether these caused the accident or were caused by the accident.

Political News: As if President George Walker Bush needed more bad news.... In a recent poll, only 1 in 4 respondents felt he was a better president than his father, George Hebert Walker Bush (Where do they get Walker anyway? Is it a Texan thing?).

UCLA, the conspicuous new Ivy out there near the San Diego Freeway (how I miss you LA!), has had an interesting incident involving tasers, a library and an Iranian-American student. No joke! Mostafa Tabatabainejad, 23 and a student using the Powell Library on campus, was tasered 5 times by UCDP officer Terrence Duren. The incident in question occured late, around 11:30, on November 14th when Duren asked to see Tabatabainejad's student ID. At 11 the libraries close to the public and only staff, faculty and students are allowed to use the facility. It is a common practice to assure that those remaining in the building have the right to be there. Apparently, Tabatabainejad was singled out and told to leave. Whether he was able to produce proper ID is unknown. There is a video of the incident here. Tabatabainejad has filed a lawsuit against the school and an investigation is underway.

If you do go to the YouTube site keep in mind these facts when reading the comments: 1. It is public proberty, thereby a collective good. This means all can use it without directly contributing to its upkeep (though Californians do through high taxes). At certain times however, access is restricted to staff, faculty and students only. 2. At most colleges, particularly state schools here in the US, a student ID is required and security or campus police may ask for it when ascertaining whether you are a student or faculty or whatever. 3. We do not know if the UCDP were requesting to see other patrons' IDs at the time. Racial profiling may have occured. It also may not have. 4. Tabatabainejad is not a Muslim, contrary to popular belief. He is of the Bahá'í Faith. If your knowledge of this cool religion is meager, please go here. 5. the Police officers are in the University of California Police Department, not the Los Angeles Police Department. 6. The type of Tazering used was the Drive Stun which uses direct contact rather than electrodes that shoot out and attach themselves to the victim. It is incredibly painful but shocks a body part rather than the whole body and nervous system. It is possible to remain standing upon being tazered in this manner. Keep these facts in mind when viewing the clip.

Winner of most complicated article that cannot be understood on single reading: Ex-Russian spy 'may have radioactive poisoning'. Go CNN!

Traffic: It will suck. 83% of Thanksgiving travellers are predicted to drive rather than fly, take the train or steamship. We like our cars and global warming has now made November snowfalls obsolete. Enjoy!

TomKat: please go away. They were married in LA and then flew to Italy to have their religious ceremony there. Brooke Shields, despite Tom Cruise's allegations that her use of anti-depressants to combat post-partem depression was ludicrous on national television, was in attendance. As was most of the starry-eyed Italian public and papparazzi the world over. Now, can we stop paying attention to them? Or do we have to convert to Scientology?

For all you nerds out there, Peter Jackson will not be making "The Hobbit". New Line Cinema has decided to go in a different direction and it will not be with the Oscar-winning New Zealand directior (who is looking quite a bit better these days). There is an ongoing dispute betwixt NEw Line and Jackson over salary. He reportedly was shorted a cool $100M in payment over the Lord of the Rings and the subsequent DVD grosses. Its kind of sad because he'd at least keep a consistent style.

Sad Note: Robert Altman, the guy who made M*A*S*H* (I even got all the asterisks in there!) died yesterday in Los Angeles. He was 81.

Blame Canada!

I'm such a bad Canadian! Ok, I'm just part French-Canadian among other things like Jewish and Irish. Still...

John Bolton and his affair with Congress

John Bolton was nominated to take over as UN ambassador. Unfortunately, he's never been confirmed. He's just acting like an ambassador, folks. So President Bush asked that this and retroactively confirming his NSA domestic surveillance program. But Senator Lincoln Chaffee has said that he plans to block Bolton's confirmation. Even though he didn't get elected, he feels that Americans do not like the way Bush is doing things, especially his foreign policy decisions. Not to mention, Bolton abuses his subordinates apparently. He also likes to exaggerate and take facts out of context. Well, who doesn't like to do that?

In India, there's a man who is being punished with 51 slaps for raping a mute and deaf woman. Really! He supposedly raped her in a field when she was returning from work. Her complaint has seemingly gone unheeded by local police so the Village court took it upon themselves. The village courts do not really handle legal disputes but land disputes. They fined the man 5,000 Rupees (which amounts $110) and to be slapped 51 times with an open hand. The woman's husband pursued it for his wife due to restricted ability to communicate.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair opposes Saddam Hussein being hung. I actually agree. I am opposed to the death penalty. The idea of hanging someone in this day and age as well, makes me very uncomfortable. Apparently, he also is opposed to it because he wouldn't want anyone to get the death penalty.

On this day. in 1969, Sesame Street debuted. The world of Children's television would never be the same.

On this day, in 1975, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, an ore bulk carrier, went down in Lake Superior. She left Superior, Wisconsin headed for Detriot on Novemeber 9th but went down on the 10th. All hands were lost. It was immortalized in Canadian singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot's song The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy.

With a load of iron ore - 26,000 tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early

The ship was the pride of the American side
Coming back from some mill in Wisconson
As the big freighters go it was bigger than most
With a crew and the Captain well seasoned.

Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
And later that night when the ships bell rang
Could it be the North Wind they'd been feeling.

The wind in the wires made a tattletale sound
And a wave broke over the railing
And every man knew, as the Captain did, too,
T'was the witch of November come stealing.

The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
When the gales of November came slashing
When afternoon came it was freezing rain
In the face of a hurricane West Wind

When supper time came the old cook came on deck
Saying fellows it's too rough to feed ya
At 7PM a main hatchway caved in
He said fellas it's been good to know ya.

The Captain wired in he had water coming in
And the good ship and crew was in peril
And later that night when his lights went out of sight
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Does anyone know where the love of God goes
When the words turn the minutes to hours
The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay
If they'd fifteen more miles behind her.

They might have split up or they might have capsized
They may have broke deep and took water
And all that remains is the faces and the names
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters.

Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings
In the ruins of her ice water mansion
Old Michigan steams like a young man's dreams,
The islands and bays are for sportsmen.

And farther below Lake Ontario
Takes in what Lake Erie can send her
And the iron boats go as the mariners all know
With the gales of November remembered.

In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed
In the Maritime Sailors' Cathedral
The church bell chimed, 'til it rang 29 times
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
Superior, they say, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early.

Toons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

George Allen is done!

Wahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Macaca is over.

Granted, he was the most entertaining election of all this midterm season. First, his racist slip, then his mom is a Jew, he used to unmentionable things in the mailboxes of black people.... It was all quite interesting.

But now, both houses belong to the Democrats de facto. After twelve years of Republicans calling the shots in DC we have the Democrats in charge. So, is this better? Maybe. If they reverse the tax cuts possibly not. They will likely increase minimum wage and loosen the restrictions on financial aid for college students. Ok, I'm done for the day. 'Sides, I gots to celebrate this most momentous occasion since.... since Bill Clinton won...?

P.S. Allen is likely looking to run for President of the United States in two years. God help us...

To keep up with the 2008 Presidential Election, go here. Honestly, presidential elections are years, if not decades, in the making. There are already a handful of announced campaigns.

Allen to concede... Life is good

According to Wonkette and the Washington Post, George Allen will concede @ 3 pm (yeah, that's probably eastern time) today. Also on Wonkette:






God I love how things are shaping up! WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Also on Wonkette a couple of days ago was a picture of Rick Santorum conceding defeat. Love the kid on the left.

Elections....

So, its been two days since election day. And three weeks since I posted anything. Let's just say, I needed the break. In fact, there are still things I should be doing like a mid-term and a presentation tomorrow but, eh...

The House is now controlled by the Democrats. If you didn't hear about this, put down the funnies. Nancy Pelosi, a congresswoman from the gloriously liberal city of San Francisco will indeed be the new Speaker of the House. Dennis Hastert, the outgoing Speaker of the House and Republican from the weird as all fuck state of Illinois (I'm from there, I can say that), has stated he will not seek any leadership positions in the new house.

It is not clear if the Senate will be controlled by any party. The Senate race in Virginia between George Allen and Jim Webb has not been completely decided. Due ti the slim margin, there is a recount going on. Allen's people have stated that he does not wish to drag this out. This is the last thing to decide before control can be determined. It would come down to 49 senators for both parties and two independants, both from New England. Joe Lieberman, a Democrat until he lost the primary to Ned Lamont, ran as an independant this year due to backlash for being pro-Iraq war.

Bernie Sanders, the only independant in the House, will take over for outgoing independant Senator, Jim Jeffords. This is an interesting story. Sanders is a Democratic socialist. Jeffords was a Republican until 2001 when the GOP shunned him enough to make him flee the party. So, he decided not to run again and is seat was won by another independant, albeit, a very different independant. So, does this make Vermont the capital of Independant thinking, or what?

Both Senators have stated publicly that they will caucaus with the Democrats. Lieberman is still a registered Democrat and may literally announce his decision to remain a Democrat. One can switch their party affiliations without any conscience or consultation with say their constituency. Just ask that fucker Norm Coleman from Minnesota. He was elected as the mayor of St. Paul as a Democrat (from New York, no less), then two years into his term, he decides he wants to be a Republican (granted the DFL party ain't lemonade and sweetcakes). St. Paul elected a Democrat and got a Republican. Let me tell ya, they felt gyped. So, go ahead Joe.

President Bush held a press conference yesterday and was properly humble. He announced that Donald Rumsfeld, one of his toadies, would resign from his office as Secretary of Defence. He will be replaced by former CIA chief Robert Gates who also ran the Iraq War Study Group. Apparently, this was in the works prior to election night. Why choose to announce it the day after the election? Well, it looks like Bush is listening to us. It also would have smacked of political ploy (more than it does now?) if he had done it in the last days of the election. I suppsoe the saying "The Buck Stops Here" means very little to the president. However, he took the blame for his party's loss this week to the outrageously motivated Democratic party.

And this is a loss for the GOP. The Democrats did not win the election. It was merely the GOP doing poorly. With Mark Foley and the fallout from that, the stupid assanine things Republicans did and the fact that a one-party government with no concerns for the largest sector of the country (the Middle Fucking Class!!!) was doing nothing to help them might have done it. When the Republican Party starts to regroup and figure out what they did wrong, I hope they realize it was not soley the war that turned voters off. It was the cronyism, response to Hurricane Katrina, the Religious Right, contracts for Halliburton and anyone else in Iraq, No Child Left Behind, Macaca, The Faith-Based Initiative, Arrogance, Karl Rove, Record profits for Exxon-Mobil, Dick Cheney's Shadow Government...

I could go on and I likely will. There are more things that leave middle class voters with a bad taste in their mouths. But I think nearly 3,000 dead is also one of them. Those who've died in Iraq for a cause that many of us are uncertain about should never be discounted. These men and women are fighting and dying in service to our country. Our reasons for going into this war were vague and proved uncredible. Yet, we must remain until the job is done. My reasons for stating this is history. In 1983, there was an attack on the Marine barracks in Beirut. Over 200 marines were killed (and some Navy and Army personell) and the US left Lebanon. This was followed up by our hasty withdrawal from Iraq in 1991 after then President George Herbert Walker Bush told the Kurds and Shi'ites to rise up against Saddam Hussein. Regardless of how anyone feels about the war, we have to continue until the job is done and done well or we will be seen as the country who can't follow through with shit in the Middle East. That, dear readers, is what is at stake now.

Moving on to local politics: Amy Klobuchar, the Hennepin County Attorney, was elected to the Senate seat being vacated by fellow DFLer Mark Dayton. The margin of victory for Klobuchar was 1,278,915 to Mark Kennedy's 837,484. In precentages, that's 58% of total votes for Klobuchar to Kennedy's 38%. There were 87,324 votes cast beetween Independence (Ventura's formerly named Reform Party), the Green Party and the Constitution party.

Colleen Rowley, the FBI whistleblower, who lives literally down the street from me, did not win
the 2nd Congressional District here in Minnesota. The seat was won by its incumbent, John Kline, a man who once carried the "football" for Reagan.

To many here in Minnesota, the re-election of Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty was a surprise. As the night went on it appeared at one point that Hatch had a sizable and insurmountable lead over the Governor. But when all the ballots were counted, Pawlenty had won a second term. The margin of victory was slim: 21,132 votes seperate the two. Independence party Peter Hutchinson, a far cry form the flamboyant Jesse Ventura, yet endorsed by him, won 6% of the vote. While this is, yes, not enough to win, it does enable the party to gain more public funding for campaigns. This can only help to build the party to be an even stronger and legitimate voice here in Minnesota. That is a good thing.

One other point about the Minnesota Gubernatorial Election this year: the withdrawal of Jonathon "The Impaler" Sharkey. This Satanist and Vampire announced his candidacy for Governor on Friday the 13th of January. On the 31st of that month, after his schoolbus driver wife lost her job due to being Wiccan, he was arrested for stalking, fleeing and I think faking his own death. His trial was supposed to begin in July but I've heard nothing on him. The man also founded the Vampires, Witches and Pagan party last year. One can only imagine what happened to that.

On this day, in 1989, an event occurred that changed my life forever. After 28 or so years, the wall dividing Berlin was opened. East and West Germany ceased to exist as separate entities. Since that day, I've looked at the world with a different view. I've seen what can be done when people work, strive, dream, hope... for change. I have since then devoured the news looking for more stories like this. Well, I really just love the news. But my desire to work in the field of politics, NGOs, diplomacy or journalism was sparked by seeing people dancing on the Berlin Wall.

That's about it from here. Currently, CNN is reporting that Ed Bradley, correspondent for CBS' 60 Minutes, has died of Leukemia at New York's Mount Sinai Hospital. I can't help but be a little sad as another of my heroes passes. His candor and style will be sorely missed.

Election Toon

300,000,000?

Oh God! I have not posted in twelve days. Truth be told, I didn't think there was anything wirth posting. The news blows! The only thing the news outlets want to talk about is the elections, the Foley fallout... and North Korea.

But one thing that has caught my attention - maybe for its silliness - we acheived (allegedly) 300,000,000 Americans as of today at 7.46 Eastern Time. I want to know who that person is! Is it an immigrant or a newborn child?

(Picture of the always handsome Anderson Cooper during his "300,000,000 Melting pot or Meltdown" edition of AC360 is from All Things Anderson. I myself love his expression in this particular screencap. Its kind of like he's aware that this is as schticky as I feel it is)

Seriously though, why are we sweating over our population rising to 300,000,000? Journalists have been doing stories on commute time, housing costs, animal habitats, etc... There have been stories that talk about poverty, jobs and food shortages. I ind the last incredibly interesting since we A) export much of our excess food and B) we pay farmers to grow less. So, that story is conjecture at best.

Poverty: Trying to get rid of poverty in a country where even if you have $5 in your pocket makes you better off than like 80% of the world is really pretty shallow. We are one of the wealthiest nations in the world and poverty is not a new problem. It should not take a milestone to initiate solutions for poverty but hey if it does, good. Really don't think so.

Now, employment is another thing. From what I know of economics, the market will grow to embrace the population. For as big as the economy is, jobs will be created because of the growth in demographics. I'm not sure how to explain it but it made sense in microeconomics class.

I want to bring up one last thing before moving on to other sundry items. We rank as the third largest country in world in terms of population. I decided to actually look at the current populations of the other two. Now everyone pretty much knows China is the most populous. They were at 400,000,000 back in the late 19th century. Currently, China's population is 1,313,313,317 which amounts to 20.28% of the world's population. India is the second most populaous country with over a billion people as well and almost as many languages. They are currently listed as having 1,100,000,000 people but I'm sure its more already. In fact, according to population clock, 42,434 people are added to the population every day. Odds are that India will likely overtake China in numbers because it doesn't have the one child per household rule. not to mention, in India, it is important to have lots of children.

I find it interesting that their forms of government are exactly opposite. China's is an open economy, communist government. India is a secular Democracy. It has recently (like in the last two decades) opened its economy and privatized enterprises.

Well, after looking at the 1 billion plus nations, its put our paltry 300,000,000 into perspective. This is 4.58% of the world's people. I also did a little math and discovered that we add 7,854 (and some extra and slightly disturbing decimal points) people a day. So, we are never going to catch up with India. With all the scary problems with people growth, who'd want to?

CNN's article on our impending doom.

Next on my issues is the Earthquake in Hawaii. This 6.7 magnitude earthquake is being treated as like a non-story. No one seems to care. To get any news on the earthquake on CNN, I have to dig through the US section page, go to the west part and there is only one article about damage to historic home. The lead article on that page was a woman who put her newborn child in trash bag (She got 5 years in prison, just so ya know). Really, why are we not caring about this? Hawaii is insulated being well, ISLANDS, and getting in and out of there isn't the easiest thing. Hmmm.... Maybe it should have been caused by a plane crashing into an obscure condo....

I have to say this right now: I'm sick of the elections. First time I've ever said that. I'm a news junkie and I love politics. I also love election night. I usually sit watching CNN consuming every last bit of political news-juiciness. I've chewed off my nails for the last three in row because the tension - the heightened suspense - is so thrilling. But this year, I just want it over. However, the graphics and political cartoons are worth perusing. I won't hide the fact that I lean left. That doesn't mean I can never be right. I'm closer to being an independent voter who is left of center. That's all I'm gonna say about that.

Fox labels Foley Democrat by "mistake"... right.....

Yeah, I realize the Daily Show covered this one, along with everyone else, but I had to post about it, too. I read about it on Wonkette yesterday. To be honest, I am not surprised. The fact that it

happened on the O'Reilly Show, really not surprised. For someone who claims its a No-Spin Zone, he sure as hell does a ton of spinning. Not to mention shouting matches that leave me one or both several things: a) angry, b)bewildered, c) confused, d)dumbfounded, e) exacerbated f) frustrated g) galled h)hysterical i) inflamed j) jaundiced k) kvetching l) livid m) malcontented n) nonplussed o) offended p) perturbed q) quesrulous r) raging s) splenetic t) troubled u) upset v) vexed w) withered x) xerotic (look it up) y) yarling and z) zealous.

Here's a link so you can actually view said "mistake". I watched Anderson Cooper 360 last night, though I also watched The Towering Inferno right before. The Towering Inferno made me feel better, if that means anything to you. At least I got to look at a younger (near 50) Paul Newman (like his age even matters, he's still gorgeous!) and Steve McQueen in one of his last major roles before his death (my Mom adored him and even had a crush on my Dad when they first met because she thought he looked a little like him and was a Macinist Mate like McQueen's character in The Sand Pebbles - a great movie with Mako back in the day...). I then watched the replay of 360 and there were more gorillas! Yay for Anderson and gorillas. Cuteness and adorkability aside, he's living out a dream of mine. I've always wanted to see gorillas. Even the one checking out his ass would have been fine to me. I wouldn't care if a gorilla did that.

Anyways, my real beef though is the feedback. Are people honestly unhappy about this? What, you think the government is seriously working on this? If they were, wouold we really have Bono running around talking about debt relief?

The blog over at 360 makes the point (actually, Anderson did and I don't know if it might be because of Final Jeopardy question he got wrong...) about how our hi-tech life is basically bankrupting the Congolese people. How? We need a particular mineral called coltan which is a black, graphite looking substance primarily made up of Niobium and Tantalum. The name is, in fact, a contraction of Columbite and tantalite. It is used to make tiny little electronic parts in cell phones, laptops and PDAs. Think of a mobile tech device and it likely has it. It is found mostly in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For those of you who are unfamiliar with geography, it was once known as Zaire. Its in AFRICA. That's South of Europe in the eastern hemisphere. It was once colonized Belgium (called the Belgian Congo) and was brutally impovershed, oppressed and enslaved by King Leopold in his quest to have empire. The legacy continues. Coltan mines are valuable and therefore, roving militias fight for control of these mines and the revenues they bring. They pillage, burglarize and rape the people and little to nothing is done to stop conditions there.

Thats basically (really basic) problem. There are indeed far deeper issues and problems facing DR Congo not to mention, many central African nations. But what I don't understand is why aren't we talking about this? We could protest aratheid but not the massive humanitarian problems in Afrcia? Is it because we can't be bothered to think our cell phones are causing harm to others? Blackberry-addicted Anderson Cooper seems to be well aware. And I'm not holding him up asa model of who to emulate but keep in mind, he's a techy guy. He likes his mobile devices just as much as the next 30-something male professional.

Yeah... Go Coop...

Back on this day in good ol' 1969, Monty Python's Flyg Circus went on the air. It really was something completely different. Ironically, the following year, PBS became a real station. Imagine that!

In 1986, we found out what we pretty much knew: Israel has nukes.

And in 1991, Linux vers. 0.02 was released. This was the first official release of the kernal and after that, my PC would never be the same. Really, its not. You should try linux.

(Screencap coutesy of Anderson and the gorilla (who was a girl, too) came from All Things Anderson cuz they're so cool)

(BTW, if I was going to show a screen cap pf Fox, whom I loathe, then I had to show CNN, a channel I love. You can see the bias wrtten all over this post in several layers...just letting ya know!)

No Beer?!?!? Death to the Mortals!

I love this. CNN put up a headline that says "Beer Drinkers Beware; US hops crop burns". Then when you actually go to the news item, its only 4%. But what got me was how much my brother was like "What???? No beer???? Nooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!" He then calmed down.

Well, I wasn't talking about Foley cuz.... well, everyone else was. I have to throw my 2 cents in. I think trying to get Dennis Hastert to step down over this is not right. The man had little to do with the scandal. From what has been released so far, his office knew about the e-mails and that action was taken to halt contact between the teen from Louisiana and Rep. Foley. So, why go after Hastert's head? Witch hunt. Honestly, you'd think they'd get this fired up about Rumsfeld!

Update: I changed my mind ... let's destroy the man! See how fickle I am? Tomorrow, I'll be like "Oh, Hastert's just a management-type guy. You can't expect him to micromanage Congress and take off every little crises?"

Back on this day, way back in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII implemented a new calendar. Guess which one? The Gregorian claendar forced people to go from October 4th to October 15. This helped alleviate the inaccuracy that led to Europe being 11 days off. So, if you thought changing an hour for daylight savings time was harsh...

In 1958, the Fifth Republic was begun. We're still figuring it out. I want to know what exactly "co-habitation" means for the MP and President...

And in 1983, the first Hooters opened. Skinny girls with tits have worn three pairs of nylons ever since.

I'm back and ready for action!

Air Raid sirens sounded near my place of residence for a piddly ass thunderstorm. Ok, its a severe thunderstorm packing 60 mph winds, tennis ball sized hail, blah blah blah... Really, I've lived through hurricanes, massive Fujita defying tornadoes, the Mississippi river flood of '93 and war. I can live through this!

I want to only add a few things to my previous post. In the aftermath of the recent violence in Amish country, there is a fund to handle donations to the victims of this horrendous incident. Go to Home Towne Bank to donate what you can to help. Many of the Amish do not have insurance nor extra money to handle the mounting medical costs they will now be saddled with. So, again, be generous. Always be generous of yourself

Also, its fitting with my previous post but, on this day in 1993, the Battle of Mogadishu occured. This was when Operation Gothic Serpent was carried out in efforts to capture warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. It is during this campaign that the infamous Black Hawk Down incident occured.

Also, on this day, eleven years ago, the verdict was returned in the OJ Simpson trial. Do I need to tell you this verdict?

And, back in 1929, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was created. Boy, that was a success!

I got my wish: Anderson and George on screen together!!!!

I should have blown up in a fiery ball of .... no clue what to put there. But, gratification is mine! (BTW, screencap from All Things Anderson. .. he looks just like how I feel: numb, silenced, weak... maybe not weak.... whatever.... Thanks ATA! When I can find a screen cap from the interview, I'll post that.)

A little while back, CNN advertised that Anderson Cooper would chat with George Clooney about Darfur. Clooney travelled there earlier this year with his father, Nick. I saw denied the happiness of seeing them together (CNN lied!!! John Roberts interviewed him instead as Coop was in Afghanistan... I think) The Clooneys saw the state the the beliguered war and genocide ravaged country is in. Its heartwrenching. In fact, this week, Anderon Cooper and his motley crew of journalists will be reporting on the state of things in Africa. If you aren't aware of things in Africa, their bad. For several years there's been a bloody conflict there involving something like eight nations. We've heard precious little because the world does not care about a world war in Africa. All anyone cares about is the natural resources that remain to be pillaged from these impovershed lands such as gold in the Congo which we need for our precious computers. Its difficult to fully comrehend the suffering on such a massive scale and the fact that is largely ignored should stir some serious emotions.

They have in people such as George Clooney who spoke about this at the UN last month. For the 360 staff, they are doing their part as journaists to shed some light on the subject. They will stay there for the remainder of the week and hopefully, something will come of it. Maybe a serious project to build some god damned roads will start to take shape. Maybe the pharmaceuticals will finally send vaccines and medications to countries that need them so badly. Maybe the UN will write some stronger fucking language so that Resolution 1706 isn't just toilet paper (likely Scott's brand at that). Maybe the world will wake up and see that Africa is miserable and forgotten. Maybe...

When Cooper asked Clooney (love that bit) if he was optimistic, he said no. How could he be? What evidence is there that it will get any better? I have to agree. I want to weep... but unfortunately, the air raid sirens are sounding here. So, I have to flee for my own safety.

Pray for the Amish in Lancaster County. Pray for Africa. Pray for me!!!!

Man kills Amish schoolgirls in Pennsylvania

Yesterday, a man by name of Charles Carl Roberts IV walked into a little Amish one room school and took the female students hostage, near Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania. The school normally has 27 students, 11 of them female. The gunman let three women go who had infants and a pregnant woman who I believe was the teacher. The teacher was able to alert authorities. The gunman then boarded up the door with lumber. He lined the girls up against the blackboard and tied them to each other to prevet them running away. When the police arrived, he called them and told them they had 10 seconds to vacate the premises or he'd start shooting. He then started shooting. It is unclear if he let the 10 seconds actually expire. He shot some of the girls point black and many in the head. Three were dead at the scene, one in the arms of a state trooper. He killed himself as police entered through the window.

After listening to the entire press conference from the Commisioner of the Pennsylvania State police, things now seem clearer. There were 11 girls but a 9-year-old escaped with her brother. Five have died thus far. Five more remained injured. Initially, they reported that one of the girls who died at the scene was a teacher's aide but she was just an older student.

After the three who died at the scene, the following two died at 1 and 4.30 this morning. Of the five remaining injured, two are at Hershey Medical Center: a 6-year-old remains in critical condition and a 13-year-old has been upgraded to serious. Three girls aged 8, 10, and 12 are also listed as Critical at Philadelphia's Children's Hospital.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, Roberts claimed to have molested young minor relatives 20 years ago. These relatives are unnamed and asserted to have been 3 to 4 years of age at the time. Roberts said he had been dreaming of molesting again. In the school house in addition to his arms and 600 rounds of ammunition, was a bottle of KY Jelly, a personal lubricant. It appears he was planning to molest or sexually assault the young girls.

He rambled in notes left for his family that he was "angry at god" for the death of his premature daughter, Elise, nine years ago. The milk truck driver told his wife on a cell phone during the siege that he was not coming home and that the police were there. There is nothing that I can add to this very horrific episode in American History. Lately, there's been a spate of school violence. Emily Keyes died last week in Bailey, Colorado and Principal Klang died in Wisconsin on Friday. Since only one was perpetrated by a student, it now seems sick, adult men are in need of some serious counselling.

In addition, President Bush wants to holda conference next week to discuss ways to make our schools safer. I honestly think its a waste of time. School violence has now permeated the most sane and obscure level possible: a rural Amish schoolhouse. This is a place where violence is unknown and humility and love are a given. The problem lies not at the school level or security any longer. This is a case of the Wilding of America. From strange cases of children assaulting homeless men to Abu Grahib, we have shown ourselves to be an irrational,violent and sick society filled with all sorts of loathsome problems, diseases and attitudes. We cannot continue to believe that are society is good. There is something substantially broken in our culture. We need to examine this in addition to finding better ways to secure our children from violence and sexual attacks within their schools.

As for my own personal feelings on this, I'm angry. Of all the people in this country, innocent little school girls, Amish or not, should not be exposed to this. And to think he picked a little Amish schoolhouse... Amish people live their lives according to wholesome, God-loving pinciples. They reject modern conveniences and they are quaint but they live this way because of principles. Not for novelty or to make Lancaster County a tourist trap. And they are pacifists. Pacifists!!!!

Words cannot explain how much I feel right now. I can't define it but merely say I feel a huge amount of emotion.

I will pass on the requests of the Amish families: They wish for privacy and prayer. Please be generous with these.

Perverts! Liars! Terrorists! Oh My!

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