Saturday, January 10, 2004
Let O'Neill be O'Neill!
Bush: "A blind man in a room of deaf people"
Former Treasury Secretary and heir to an ancient name, Paul O'Neill, has lately been doing his ancestors proud by standing up to those lessers who would pretend to best him, name Mister George W. Bush, champion of rich white guys and international loose cannon.
Ask yourself: Did you ever really think Mr. Bush was engaged in anthing other than paybacks and personal gain? Apparently neither did Mr. O'Neill.
May others be so true to their roots...and the truth. Each little act serves to make us a better nation, even though it may be a temporary drudge, so to speak.
Oh..did you hear? Drudge is Enronning his hitcount!
And...you heard it here first.
Former Treasury Secretary and heir to an ancient name, Paul O'Neill, has lately been doing his ancestors proud by standing up to those lessers who would pretend to best him, name Mister George W. Bush, champion of rich white guys and international loose cannon.
Ask yourself: Did you ever really think Mr. Bush was engaged in anthing other than paybacks and personal gain? Apparently neither did Mr. O'Neill.
May others be so true to their roots...and the truth. Each little act serves to make us a better nation, even though it may be a temporary drudge, so to speak.
Oh..did you hear? Drudge is Enronning his hitcount!
And...you heard it here first.
Friday, January 09, 2004
"We bomb the world. We bomb the children..."
Another hundred points for Dubya!
Rules of Engagement
Videotape Shows U.S. Helicopter Crew Firing on Suspected Iraqi Insurgents
Peter Jennings, Martha Radditz and ABC News are to be commended for showing us this astonishing video of the nonchalance of life and death in at least some of the minds, sadly our minds, in Iraq. I am appalled at this kind of activity, and can't help but think that we have been pulled into a tit-for-tat of evil deeds. It is a strange twist of fate, I suppose, that after presenting this awful scene, Mr. Jennings introduces the next segment with "Mars dramatically infected, um, affected, by Bush policies..." Maybe Mr. Jennings could not sit and take the fact that we have been driven to such horrible acts of nonchalant murder. Is this micropreemption? Where does preemption stop?
With a new president?
Well...if we must, we must. And not only Christians, but Jews, Muslims, Catholics, Buddhists, Taoists, Presbyterians, atheists, agnostics, and Baptists are disturbed by such things as we have witnessed today. And we know that it is not what Jesus would do. It is also not what Buddha, Gandhi, Muhammed, Lao Tse, Martin Luther King, or Martin Buber, for that matter, would do. It is supremely impolite if nothing else.
But it is something else. And there absolutely has to be a better way. If this is the best Bush can do...we need to demand better, and vote him from office. An office he seized in the first place.
What is it with Texans, anyway?
Will Mars be the sharks and Condit of 9-10? We need to demand more of our News organs. The happy news comes on after the real news. Demand tough reporting from that which shares a mere 18 minutes or so with us. We are on to "junk-food news". Who's up and who's down, recurring weather phenomena, bla bla bla.
Maybe Mr. Jennings and his wondrous crew can earn their keep by rising to the highest standards of their trade, as they have done lately. And then maybe others will then have to follow.
That is how to achieve leadership. Be the best at doing what you are supposed to be doing. You're good enough. You're smart enough. And doggone it...people like you!
Again, my thanks to ABC News.
Thursday, January 08, 2004
"The Neoconning of America" by Justin Raimondo
The conservative Mr. Raimondo writes eloquently about those nutty Neocons and how they are trying to dupe the world, Soviet-style.
Anonymoses presents: "IF THEY AGED"
"IF THEY AGED" is a new service by Anonymoses Advanced Science Laboratories, based largely on technology used by Conan O'Brien, who uses the advanced technology to determine the outcome of people who may opt to mate, in a product called "If They Mated".
Here is the result of our first try on the machine.
IF THEY AGED
1.0
DAVID FRUM
Some people have said that David Frum will look remarkably like Ariel Sharon.
They also say that lovers often resemble...
Here is the result of our first try on the machine.
IF THEY AGED
1.0
DAVID FRUM
Some people have said that David Frum will look remarkably like Ariel Sharon.
They also say that lovers often resemble...
Wednesday, January 07, 2004
The North Carolina Bill of Rights
A little info for ye West Wing viewers...
The North Carolina Bill of Rights
North Carolina Ratifying Convention, Declaration of Rights and Other Amendments
1 Aug. 1788Elliot 4:242--46, 248--49
The resolution was accordingly read and entered, as follows, viz.:--
Resolved, That a declaration of rights, asserting and securing from encroachment the great principles of civil and religious liberty, and the unalienable rights of the people, together with amendments to the most ambiguous and exceptionable parts of the said Constitution of government, ought to be laid before Congress, and the convention of the states that shall or may be called for the purpose of amending the said Constitution, for their consideration, previous to the ratification of the Constitution aforesaid on the part of the state of North Carolina.
THE FULL TEXT
AG Cooper wants North Carolina's stolen Bill of Rights to come home
AG Cooper wants North Carolina's stolen Bill of Rights to come home
Copy taken by Civil War soldiers belongs to the people of North Carolina, Cooper says
Raleigh: Attorney General Roy Cooper today asked a court to return North Carolina's original copy of the U.S. Bill of Rights, stolen from the state Capitol in 1865. "North Carolina's copy of the Bill of Rights is a piece of our history and a symbol of our freedom," said Cooper. "We want to see our copy of the Bill of Rights returned to its rightful owners, the people of North Carolina." In documents filed today with the U.S. District Court in Raleigh, Cooper contends that a copy of the Bill of Rights seized from an antiques dealer last month is the legal property of North Carolina and should be returned to the state. The documents detail how state officials had attempted to recover North Carolina's copy of the Bill of Rights several times since 1865. Newspaper reports from 1897 indicated that the document hung on a wall in the Indianapolis office of Charles Shotwell, who admitted that he had bought it for $5 from an Ohio soldier in 1865 but refused to return it to North Carolina. In 1925, a Pennsylvania dealer contacted the state about purchasing the document. The North Carolina Historical Commission told the dealer that the document had been stolen and was the property of North Carolina. The location of the document was unknown for 70 years until a Washington, DC attorney offered to sell it to the state for $3 million to $10 million in 1995. North Carolina again asserted that it would not pay for property stolen from the state. The document dates back to 1789, when President George Washington presented handwritten copies of the U.S. Bill of Rights to North Carolina and the 12 other signatory states. North Carolina's copy was sent to Raleigh and placed on display for several years. Toward the close of the Civil War, state officials removed the Bill of Rights and other important documents from Raleigh to protect them. When the armistice ended the war on April 26, 1865, the documents were returned to the state capitol, which was then occupied by U.S. General William Sherman's army. A federal soldier allegedly took the Bill of Rights sometime during the occupation. Missing from the state since 1865, North Carolina's copy of the Bill of Rights resurfaced in March when state officials learned that a Connecticut antiques dealer was offering it for sale to the National Constitutional Center in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania officials contacted the state about the document, which experts had determined to be North Carolina's original copy. Cooper assembled a team of attorneys who worked closely with Governor Mike Easley's office and U.S. Attorneys in Raleigh and Philadelphia to recover the document. U.S. Marshals were able to retrieve it during a federal undercover operation on March 18. "This document belongs to the people of North Carolina, not to the highest bidder," said Cooper. "We are determined to bring it home once and for all."
----
http://www.jus.state.nc.us/in/press/03192003.htm
North Carolina's Bill of Rights coming home, AG Cooper announces
Copy stolen by occupying soldiers during Civil War to be returned to North Carolina
Raleigh: Attorney General Roy Cooper announced today that North Carolina's original copy of the U.S. Bill of Rights, stolen in 1865, has been recovered. Cooper assembled a team of attorneys who worked closely with Governor Mike Easley's office and the U.S. Attorney's office in Raleigh to recover the document.
"Our goal was to reclaim a piece of North Carolina's history. This document is a sign of our freedom, not just a collector's item," said North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper. "We now look forward to seeing our copy of the Bill of Rights returned to its rightful owners, the people of North Carolina."
The U.S. Bill of Rights was signed in 1789 by the original thirteen colonies, including North Carolina. At that time, President George Washington provided each signatory state with an original handwritten copy of the document. North Carolina's copy was sent to Raleigh where it was on display for several years. Toward the close of the Civil War, state officials removed the Bill of Rights and other important documents from Raleigh to protect them. When the armistice ended the war on April 26, 1865, the documents were returned to the state capitol, which was then occupied by U.S. General William Sherman's army. A federal soldier allegedly took North Carolina's copy of the Bill of Rights sometime during the occupation.
North Carolina's copy of the Bill of Rights resurfaced late last week. Based on information provided by Cooper and Governor Easley, federal officials in Raleigh and Philadelphia were able to locate the document and retrieve it during an undercover operation on March 18. The United States Marshal sought and received a seizure warrant from Chief United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The document will continue to be held pending the resolution of any associated legal claims.
North Carolina's copy of the Bill of Rights is expected to arrive Federal Courthouse in Raleigh by early next week. The document will then be shown to the public for the first time since 1865.
"Thanks to the cooperation of the United States Attorneys and the quick work of the FBI and the United States Marshal, North Carolina's copy of the Bill of Rights is coming home," said Cooper.
The North Carolina Bill of Rights
North Carolina Ratifying Convention, Declaration of Rights and Other Amendments
1 Aug. 1788Elliot 4:242--46, 248--49
The resolution was accordingly read and entered, as follows, viz.:--
Resolved, That a declaration of rights, asserting and securing from encroachment the great principles of civil and religious liberty, and the unalienable rights of the people, together with amendments to the most ambiguous and exceptionable parts of the said Constitution of government, ought to be laid before Congress, and the convention of the states that shall or may be called for the purpose of amending the said Constitution, for their consideration, previous to the ratification of the Constitution aforesaid on the part of the state of North Carolina.
THE FULL TEXT
AG Cooper wants North Carolina's stolen Bill of Rights to come home
AG Cooper wants North Carolina's stolen Bill of Rights to come home
Copy taken by Civil War soldiers belongs to the people of North Carolina, Cooper says
Raleigh: Attorney General Roy Cooper today asked a court to return North Carolina's original copy of the U.S. Bill of Rights, stolen from the state Capitol in 1865. "North Carolina's copy of the Bill of Rights is a piece of our history and a symbol of our freedom," said Cooper. "We want to see our copy of the Bill of Rights returned to its rightful owners, the people of North Carolina." In documents filed today with the U.S. District Court in Raleigh, Cooper contends that a copy of the Bill of Rights seized from an antiques dealer last month is the legal property of North Carolina and should be returned to the state. The documents detail how state officials had attempted to recover North Carolina's copy of the Bill of Rights several times since 1865. Newspaper reports from 1897 indicated that the document hung on a wall in the Indianapolis office of Charles Shotwell, who admitted that he had bought it for $5 from an Ohio soldier in 1865 but refused to return it to North Carolina. In 1925, a Pennsylvania dealer contacted the state about purchasing the document. The North Carolina Historical Commission told the dealer that the document had been stolen and was the property of North Carolina. The location of the document was unknown for 70 years until a Washington, DC attorney offered to sell it to the state for $3 million to $10 million in 1995. North Carolina again asserted that it would not pay for property stolen from the state. The document dates back to 1789, when President George Washington presented handwritten copies of the U.S. Bill of Rights to North Carolina and the 12 other signatory states. North Carolina's copy was sent to Raleigh and placed on display for several years. Toward the close of the Civil War, state officials removed the Bill of Rights and other important documents from Raleigh to protect them. When the armistice ended the war on April 26, 1865, the documents were returned to the state capitol, which was then occupied by U.S. General William Sherman's army. A federal soldier allegedly took the Bill of Rights sometime during the occupation. Missing from the state since 1865, North Carolina's copy of the Bill of Rights resurfaced in March when state officials learned that a Connecticut antiques dealer was offering it for sale to the National Constitutional Center in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania officials contacted the state about the document, which experts had determined to be North Carolina's original copy. Cooper assembled a team of attorneys who worked closely with Governor Mike Easley's office and U.S. Attorneys in Raleigh and Philadelphia to recover the document. U.S. Marshals were able to retrieve it during a federal undercover operation on March 18. "This document belongs to the people of North Carolina, not to the highest bidder," said Cooper. "We are determined to bring it home once and for all."
----
http://www.jus.state.nc.us/in/press/03192003.htm
North Carolina's Bill of Rights coming home, AG Cooper announces
Copy stolen by occupying soldiers during Civil War to be returned to North Carolina
Raleigh: Attorney General Roy Cooper announced today that North Carolina's original copy of the U.S. Bill of Rights, stolen in 1865, has been recovered. Cooper assembled a team of attorneys who worked closely with Governor Mike Easley's office and the U.S. Attorney's office in Raleigh to recover the document.
"Our goal was to reclaim a piece of North Carolina's history. This document is a sign of our freedom, not just a collector's item," said North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper. "We now look forward to seeing our copy of the Bill of Rights returned to its rightful owners, the people of North Carolina."
The U.S. Bill of Rights was signed in 1789 by the original thirteen colonies, including North Carolina. At that time, President George Washington provided each signatory state with an original handwritten copy of the document. North Carolina's copy was sent to Raleigh where it was on display for several years. Toward the close of the Civil War, state officials removed the Bill of Rights and other important documents from Raleigh to protect them. When the armistice ended the war on April 26, 1865, the documents were returned to the state capitol, which was then occupied by U.S. General William Sherman's army. A federal soldier allegedly took North Carolina's copy of the Bill of Rights sometime during the occupation.
North Carolina's copy of the Bill of Rights resurfaced late last week. Based on information provided by Cooper and Governor Easley, federal officials in Raleigh and Philadelphia were able to locate the document and retrieve it during an undercover operation on March 18. The United States Marshal sought and received a seizure warrant from Chief United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The document will continue to be held pending the resolution of any associated legal claims.
North Carolina's copy of the Bill of Rights is expected to arrive Federal Courthouse in Raleigh by early next week. The document will then be shown to the public for the first time since 1865.
"Thanks to the cooperation of the United States Attorneys and the quick work of the FBI and the United States Marshal, North Carolina's copy of the Bill of Rights is coming home," said Cooper.
Monday, January 05, 2004
Clark/Dean/Edwards: The Dream Sequence
Of all the Democratic Candidates, the three gentlemen, Clark, Dean and Edwards, have the most to offer America and the Democratic Party. Any other combination will carry too much baggage to be able to soundly defeat George W. Bush.
The best team in 2004 is either Clark/Dean, Clark/Edwards or Dean/Edwards...and of those, the strongest at this point is Clark/Dean...but not Dean/Clark. Clark has already said he will not be VP, and no need to make a liar out of him. Besides, he is older, wiser, and more experienced in what America must face in this terroristic world, than Dean. President Clark can and will put America on a stronger and safer footing, and do so by improving America's standing in the world. He would make America beloved again, and make sure the military is not used for frivolous or corporate ends.
This bombing is brought to you by...
Clark also happens to have a more user-friendly tax policy than Dean, but Dean, while Clark is shoring up America on the international theatre, will shore up things at home...and will become the manifestation of his great work at bringing in new voters, and honoring Gore by putting his great invention, the internet, to great use as a political and democratic tool.
"But Gore endorsed Dean, not Clark", you might complain. "Why not honor Gore by voting for Dean?"
Here is why: Clinton must endorse Clark.
This way, we get to continue, as it were, in the Clinton/Gore legacy...by voting for whom they would vote. Both of them!
Clark/Dean is today's Clinton/Gore.
A winning team. An awesome team.
A team that would give Bush and Rove nightmares.
But also a team, particularly with Clark as head, that would not only win a hefty number of Independents and Republicans (as well as, of course, Democrats)...he would also change the entire political dynamic of the Military. A more Democratic military; a military with a Democratic face, and one with the strong, reassuring and wise face of the progressive general, can only reassure everyone involved...except maybe those who are given, without bidding, handsome contracts worth billions.
A handful of fatcats, basically. Not you and me, or anyone we know. People who already have too much, and are neurotically demanding even more.
It is stupid to automatically associate the military with Republicans, as so many seem to do. Republicans suck at it. Republicans allow our boys and girls to die for untrue causes and corporate profit. Clark would never allow this to occur under his watchful and experienced care. Clark would bring the Military back to the people, and take it out of the hands of corporate masters.
Clark would also undermine Bush's ability to use the war or the military as a feather in his cap. Bush would cower before Clark on these matters. But Clark would never cower before Bush. Not on military matters, especially.
And while Clark is winning over the great majority, Dean will bring home the medical and health care folks, the pro-peace majority, the Internet crowd, and, of course, his vast net of current supporters.
Bush will not be able to pit Medicine and Law against one another, as he has tried to do. Bush's words on the matter would ring hollow, and Dean can best him on ever point.
Besides...Dean is the current front-runner!
So what about John Edwards and how does Clark become the front runner without hurting Dean (or Edwards)?
John Edwards will eventually become president of the United States. But it might well be the case that we are going to have to savor him a few more years before we get that chance.
So to get there, here is the dream sequence:
Clark/Dean '04
Clark/Dean '08
Dean/Edwards '12
Dean/Edwards '16
Edwards/???? ' 20
As long as good people are in charge, America is in good hands.
We have seen good government with Clinton/Gore.
We know that government can be a tool for facilitating well-being...not just something to be robbed and handed over to the super-greedy at the cost of great majority of normal Americans.
This nearly 4 year experiment in greed and incompetence has shown what NOT to do.
So...where to put John Edwards, rather, where is the best fit for Senator Edwards at this time?
If not POTUS or VPOTUS (at this time), I'd suggest that he would make a most wondrous replacement for John Ashcroft. So many possibilities! The future, once again, is looking bright.
But Clark, Dean and Edwards not only need to rise, Bush has to come down from his high-horse. Let George be George. Indeed. And simply say: This is not good enough.
May the Candidates themselves see the wisdom of such a ticket, and cease their vulgar attacks. They may all find a place in a Clark/Dean administration...but only if they behave.
This election is not simply about whose team wins. As America falls in the eyes of the world...it falls more generally. We are not on a sustainable path. Kant would call us insane. The next administration, and in particular the President, is going to have to correct the problem. Our domestic well-being is now largely hinged upon foreign policy and international relations. For this, I think, Clark would be the best fit. In every sense of the term. Clark is also older than Dean, which should count for something. It seems more natural to have the younger man in the junior position. And when the vote opens out to the general public, Clark will probably have more positives and less negatives than Dean. But Dean is essential as well.
Maybe they can work it out amongst themselves.
I hope they give it a thought. It may be the dream team...and, with John Edwards, dream sequence.
HEALING AMERICA & THE WORLD
"A Different Timbre"
Mark Singer, of the New York Times, said of Dr. Dean: "He has a different timbre to his voice than the other candidates." This is true. I noted it myself while listening to the last debate...over the telephone! He may have looked like Hell, but Dr. Dean sounded like a real person...but more than that, he sounded like a caring, healing person.
And guess what? He IS a healing person. And among the best tools of a healer is simply a healing, reassuring voice. And if I were to offer a piece of advice to Dr. Dean, it would be this: Do not lose that healing tone. Rather know that you can indeed heal...millions...with your healing, healer's voice. Take doctoring to the max. Heal the entire world. You are a doctor. It is your JOB!
It is this thought that endears me to Dr. Dean, and makes me realize that all would be well under his care, as well as under Wes Clark.
It is this quality of caring that, I think, binds Clark, Dean and Edwards. Bush is simply a moneychanger. He is no doctor. He is no general. He is no John Edwards.
The best team in 2004 is either Clark/Dean, Clark/Edwards or Dean/Edwards...and of those, the strongest at this point is Clark/Dean...but not Dean/Clark. Clark has already said he will not be VP, and no need to make a liar out of him. Besides, he is older, wiser, and more experienced in what America must face in this terroristic world, than Dean. President Clark can and will put America on a stronger and safer footing, and do so by improving America's standing in the world. He would make America beloved again, and make sure the military is not used for frivolous or corporate ends.
This bombing is brought to you by...
HALLIBURTON:
The Company to Die For
Clark also happens to have a more user-friendly tax policy than Dean, but Dean, while Clark is shoring up America on the international theatre, will shore up things at home...and will become the manifestation of his great work at bringing in new voters, and honoring Gore by putting his great invention, the internet, to great use as a political and democratic tool.
"But Gore endorsed Dean, not Clark", you might complain. "Why not honor Gore by voting for Dean?"
Here is why: Clinton must endorse Clark.
This way, we get to continue, as it were, in the Clinton/Gore legacy...by voting for whom they would vote. Both of them!
Clark/Dean is today's Clinton/Gore.
A winning team. An awesome team.
A team that would give Bush and Rove nightmares.
But also a team, particularly with Clark as head, that would not only win a hefty number of Independents and Republicans (as well as, of course, Democrats)...he would also change the entire political dynamic of the Military. A more Democratic military; a military with a Democratic face, and one with the strong, reassuring and wise face of the progressive general, can only reassure everyone involved...except maybe those who are given, without bidding, handsome contracts worth billions.
A handful of fatcats, basically. Not you and me, or anyone we know. People who already have too much, and are neurotically demanding even more.
It is stupid to automatically associate the military with Republicans, as so many seem to do. Republicans suck at it. Republicans allow our boys and girls to die for untrue causes and corporate profit. Clark would never allow this to occur under his watchful and experienced care. Clark would bring the Military back to the people, and take it out of the hands of corporate masters.
Clark would also undermine Bush's ability to use the war or the military as a feather in his cap. Bush would cower before Clark on these matters. But Clark would never cower before Bush. Not on military matters, especially.
And while Clark is winning over the great majority, Dean will bring home the medical and health care folks, the pro-peace majority, the Internet crowd, and, of course, his vast net of current supporters.
Bush will not be able to pit Medicine and Law against one another, as he has tried to do. Bush's words on the matter would ring hollow, and Dean can best him on ever point.
Besides...Dean is the current front-runner!
So what about John Edwards and how does Clark become the front runner without hurting Dean (or Edwards)?
John Edwards will eventually become president of the United States. But it might well be the case that we are going to have to savor him a few more years before we get that chance.
So to get there, here is the dream sequence:
Clark/Dean '04
Clark/Dean '08
Dean/Edwards '12
Dean/Edwards '16
Edwards/???? ' 20
As long as good people are in charge, America is in good hands.
We have seen good government with Clinton/Gore.
We know that government can be a tool for facilitating well-being...not just something to be robbed and handed over to the super-greedy at the cost of great majority of normal Americans.
This nearly 4 year experiment in greed and incompetence has shown what NOT to do.
So...where to put John Edwards, rather, where is the best fit for Senator Edwards at this time?
If not POTUS or VPOTUS (at this time), I'd suggest that he would make a most wondrous replacement for John Ashcroft. So many possibilities! The future, once again, is looking bright.
But Clark, Dean and Edwards not only need to rise, Bush has to come down from his high-horse. Let George be George. Indeed. And simply say: This is not good enough.
May the Candidates themselves see the wisdom of such a ticket, and cease their vulgar attacks. They may all find a place in a Clark/Dean administration...but only if they behave.
This election is not simply about whose team wins. As America falls in the eyes of the world...it falls more generally. We are not on a sustainable path. Kant would call us insane. The next administration, and in particular the President, is going to have to correct the problem. Our domestic well-being is now largely hinged upon foreign policy and international relations. For this, I think, Clark would be the best fit. In every sense of the term. Clark is also older than Dean, which should count for something. It seems more natural to have the younger man in the junior position. And when the vote opens out to the general public, Clark will probably have more positives and less negatives than Dean. But Dean is essential as well.
Maybe they can work it out amongst themselves.
I hope they give it a thought. It may be the dream team...and, with John Edwards, dream sequence.
HEALING AMERICA & THE WORLD
"A Different Timbre"
Mark Singer, of the New York Times, said of Dr. Dean: "He has a different timbre to his voice than the other candidates." This is true. I noted it myself while listening to the last debate...over the telephone! He may have looked like Hell, but Dr. Dean sounded like a real person...but more than that, he sounded like a caring, healing person.
And guess what? He IS a healing person. And among the best tools of a healer is simply a healing, reassuring voice. And if I were to offer a piece of advice to Dr. Dean, it would be this: Do not lose that healing tone. Rather know that you can indeed heal...millions...with your healing, healer's voice. Take doctoring to the max. Heal the entire world. You are a doctor. It is your JOB!
It is this thought that endears me to Dr. Dean, and makes me realize that all would be well under his care, as well as under Wes Clark.
It is this quality of caring that, I think, binds Clark, Dean and Edwards. Bush is simply a moneychanger. He is no doctor. He is no general. He is no John Edwards.
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