Rice Steams Me

In reference to setting a time-frame or even benchmarks to begin the re-deployment, Condoleezza Rice said, “To begin now to tie our own hands and to say we must do this if they don’t do that doesn’t allow us the flexibility and the creativity that we need to move this forward.’’

What an absolutely ridiculous statement! Maybe 2 or 3 years ago she could have gotten away with it, but not now.

Dr. Rice, I think you and the rest of the war-mongering administration has given this country about as much 'flexibility and creativity' as we can bear. Your administration's best thinking got us into this mess...you've had more than enough time to bring this to some closure. Our military has not failed, but you have. We are going to get out of Iraq eventually, one way or another, so the sooner the better!

Choice Thoughts

Of course I'd love Al Gore to run...but this is extremely unlikely.
So, given the current declared candidates, my choice would be Biden for president and Hillary for VP. The more likely scenerio, however, is Hillary becoming the Democratic presidential candidate and choosing Biden as VP. Did you hear how complimentary Biden was to Hillary? And the kiss at the end of the debate? They look like a pair already. The ironic point may be that the former scenerio, with Hillary as VP, would be much more viable in the general election.

Dem Debates

Looks like Joe Biden is the most qualified...he did a wonderful job in the debate.
He has a well thought-out plan for Iraq, foreign relations acumen, intelligence, humor, compassion, and overall clear ideas that at least appear more based on reality than rhetoric. He's my front-runner.
See this article for an excellent view on Biden's Iraq plan.

Roving Email

I know I said "case closed" on this US Attorney/Email-Gate, but it looks like it deserves more blogging.

So, let me see if I understand this. The WH has proposed allowing Rove to be interviewed privately, without a transcript and not under oath. And this is the same person whose email is missing. Ok, that sounds fine to me! I'm sure he has nothing to hide. [said in the most sarcastic and gullible tone imaginable]

Democratic Choices

Don’t get me wrong, I could potentially support Obama or Hillary—I like them both a lot.

However, let me put it somewhat facetiously: do you want to get behind the hype (Obama), the calculator (Hillary), or do you want someone who has the most experience and a unique plan for Iraq? Then I will tell you who you may want to support: Joe Biden.

Simply listen to this interview:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2007/04/11/VI2007041101777.html
Then ask yourself why he wouldn’t be the best candidate?

Tours of Duty extended for Soldiers

The Pentagon will lengthen tours of duty for all active-duty Army units in Iraq to 15 months from the current 12 months as the military struggles to supply enough troops for the conflict, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday.

Gates said the policy was meant “to provide better clarity, predictability and sustainability” of the U.S. military readiness in Iraq: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18059112/

Is this extension likely to accomplish a change in the situation on the ground in Iraq, or is it, as some have said or suggested before, just prolonging the violent secular attrition that's under way?

Answer: Not only is this prolonging our involvement in a civil war, it is depleting our military and other defenses (think what a half trillion dollars could do for homeland security!) to prevent or respond to real threats to our country.

STOP this insanity NOW. Congress, we put you in power to stop this escalation and at least begin to re-deploy and withdrawal. Democrats need to put up or shut up and let the Republicans ruin themselves--and unfortunately many lives in the process! Does anyone (Bush, Cheney and Rove don't count) really believe that a surge will have any lasting change, or make any long-term meaningful difference? Is a 2 or 3 or 5 year time-frame really that much better than a 6 month or 1 year time-frame? What good will really be accomplished by staying longer? The war on terror will continue on many fronts--and yes, likely including our own country regardless of whether or not we stay longer in Iraq (in fact, more likely if we continue to strain our national guard to the brink)--but the war in Iraq is over. Come on people, this is ridiculous. All the Democrats, and some Republicans, in Congress need to keep hammering Bush with bills that include tough, measurable bench-marks as well as (flexible?) time-frames and let him continue to have blood on his hand by vetoing them. To give him more blank checks for the open-ended Bush war is crazy and does in fact play into the hands of the enemy--as does calling the democrats terrorist sympathizers and their plan akin to "surrender".

Bush Can't Find A War Czar Stooge

Apparently Bush's attempt to appoint a war czar has been turned down by 3 potential candidates--retired generals who are administration insiders! What does this say about how people who are no longer beholden to Bush view the war? I'll tell you what it says. They don't want to touch it with a ten foot pole. To put it in terms that Bush--the war-mongering simpleton--can understand, I'd say that he just struck out.

On a side note, I think it's interesting that one of those candidates, retired Marine Gen. John J. "Jack" Sheehan, is now an executive at Bechtel Corp. developing oil projects in the Middle East. Perfect. But this Sheehan sounds like he knows what he's talking about when he says, "I've never agreed on the basis of the war, and I'm still skeptical. Not only did we not plan properly for the war, we grossly underestimated the effect of sanctions and Saddam Hussein on the Iraqi people."

Bush Causing Troop Hardship

Bush is absolutely to blame for any hardships caused by his stubborn refusal not only to sign any funding bill with time-frames attached to it, but to even discuss, negotiate or work with congress on a compromise. It is NOT the fault of the congress. They should not give him another blank check for an open-ended commitment on the Bush war. The American people stated this loudly and clearly last November. Congress will provide the funding, but Bush, in his typical spoiled brat manner, won't accept any reasonable alternative to his own myopic plan.

More blood on Bush's hands.

US Attorney - Case Closed

"A White House spokesman defended the use of outside e-mail accounts [e.g., ___@gwb43.com] as an appropriate method of separating official business from political campaign work."

And, this outside email system was used to, among other things, discuss the firings of the US Attorneys. Thus, by their own definition, these actions were political campaign work more than official business. Of course the outside email system was used to keep their shenanigans out of the presidential record too. If it was just "business as usual" as the repugnacans claim, then why hide it on an unofficial email system?

The American public knows what the Bush White House is about. Case closed.

My DNC Iraq War Ad

The war was won when Saddam and his regime were toppled. We are far past time for at least the beginning of a withdrawal and an increase in diplomacy. To call this, as the Republicans do, a retreat or surrender is unpatriotic and plays into the hands of the enemy. Whose side are the Republicans on anyway?

New DNC Report: A Government For The Party, Not The People

This report could be much longer, but still well worth reading. I've been screaming about this for a couple years (e.g., private social security); what I've been calling Bush's privatization of everything scheme.