Smart, Compassionate, & Strong

These were my impressions of Hillary Clinton from last night's debate. She won fairly handedly, but there were some other impressive answers and it showed that basically any of them would likely do a good job as president. Kucinich continues to impress me as a realistic (as opposed to Mike Gravel--of who, oddly, I can't seem to get enough) alternative for true and deep change from business as usual. Biden is right on so many issues, except his continued funding of the war under a noble pretense. And then there is the missing candidate, Al Gore, who just scored another victory in the polls, but perhaps that's just more of "we want the candidate we can't have"-type of thinking.

As for Hillary, she is my current front-runner. She out-Obama'ed Obama on issues regarding race last night and the crowd ate it up with a spoon. So, there you have it--a strong lean toward Hillary.

The Dick is at it again

More evil obstruction and obfuscation from Dick Cheney (before he dicks you). Let me give you just a brief time-line, hitting a few of his "I'm above the law" maneuvers.

• In 2001, the Dick's office refused to divulge the names of energy executives who had consulted with Cheney on U.S. energy policy.
• National Archives' office (charged by presidential order with ensuring that classified information/documents are properly handled by executive branch agencies) attempted to visit Cheney's team in 2004, it was prevented from doing so by Cheney's staff. Apparently the Cheney office started refusing to comply with the order in 2003.
• In 2006 when their refusal was contested Cheney's crew stated quite bluntly that it doesn't apply to them--exempt from oversight!
• Now we find out that the evil genius tried to get the oversight agency abolished. Zat's right, if zee get in zee vay, vee do avay vit dem.
  

This guy just amazes me, and not in a good way. I'm trying to think of someone more devious, calculating, power-hungry, and pompous and I'm drawing a blank. Of course I could always pull out the names of infamous dictators throughout history, but that always seems too histrionically exaggerated...but then again, if the shoe fits....

Giuliani is more liberal than I thought

It seems as though Rudy's South Carolina campaign chairman, Thomas Ravene, was using his day job (South Carolina Treasurer!) to distribute cocaine. My, my, my, another secular progressive Democrat? Not a chance. Tommy's a repugnacan through and through.

Bush Legacy

Iraq now ranked second among world's failed states. (and don't feel left out Afghanistan, you still made the top ten, coming in at 8th)

Tears for Fears

I fear it'll take more than a few tears General Patraeus. I caught an interesting typo over at U.S. News and World Report which is now corrected. But seriously folks, this time-frame keeps getting longer and longer. I'm reading that the surge itself shouldn't be evaluated until the end of the year now instead of September. We need a few more common sense republicans to jump ship and therefore veto-proof the next spending bill. Here's hoping that this will occur by September at the latest.

Habeas Corpus Hallelujah

Now don't get me wrong, if guilty, I'd personally string up this Ali al-Marri, but I love that we see in the court's decision a resurrection of habeas corpus! Thank God that the court ruled that U.S. residents cannot be locked up indefinitely, and without any due process. Our Constitution Lives On! Again I am reminded of that famous quote, I believe by Ben Franklin, that goes something like, "people willing to trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both."

Bush the Tyrant says No-Confidence, No-Problem

In reference to the anticipated no-confidence vote for Gonzo, the Shrub had this to say:
"They can have their votes of no-confidence but it's not going to make the determination about who serves in my government,"

Gee, I thought this was the government of the people, by the people and for the people?... oh wait, that was just a quaint little, inconsequential, speech.

Roll over Abe.

...that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth?!?

And don't give me that "it's a republic, not a democracy" nonsense. Of course it is, but it doesn't alter the argument of needing checks and balances of the executive branch via our elected representatives — if anything it is in fact because we are a republic that we must be vigilant of our democratically elected executives and their appointees.

A vote of no confidence certainly doesn't impinge on individuals' rights (not even Gonzales', only in his appointed capacity and not on his inalienable rights as a person) — which, of course, is a central reason for having a republic versus a pure democracy. I'm not promoting the unlimited rights of the majority, but rather I'm advocating quite nearly the opposite—guarding against unlimited rights of the minority in power—that the majority of Americans are not being heard or properly represented by the Bush executive branch. By seeking a vote of no confidence we are simply affirming the oversight of a long, unmitigated and unchecked rule by King George W.

Is CBS now Fox 2?

Just had to chime in on CBS's decision to fire Maj. Gen. John Batiste because of his anti-Bush advocacy. Clearly CBS has a double standard--allowing pro-Bushie consultants to actively spew their propaganda and yet when someone speaks the truth by challenging King George, CBS says that this is against their policy regarding their consultants not being involved in advocacy. See for example how astutely this was recognized, and not as a tit-for-tat, after-the-fact protest of the Batiste firing, but long before CBS threw Batiste to the curb.
And repugnacans complain about the liberal media!

Well, to Mr. Moonves:
Major General Batiste has been brave enough to speak the truth and you were fortunate to have had him in your employ. His dismissal represents at best poor judgment (which of course as Pres. & CEO is at your discretion) and at worst an example of censorship at CBS. Anyway you slice it, it smacks of your political bias. I will take this strongly into consideration with future viewing, support or other sponsorship of CBS.