As if the new spending (wasting) bill wasn't bad enough.
Check this out: IRS Hired Clerical Worker for $188,000 for 11 Months for a job that could have been done by a GS-7 for less than $40,000.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
The Surge Worked, How Embarassing.
75 Percent of Al Qaeda Network in Iraq Destroyed
Violence in Iraq is at its lowest levels since the first year of the American invasion, finally opening a window for reconciliation among rival sects, the second-ranking U.S. general said Sunday as Iraqi forces formally took control of security across half the country.
Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, the man responsible for the ground campaign in Iraq, said that the first six months of 2007 were probably the most violent period since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. The past six months, however, had seen some of the lowest levels of violence since the conflict began, Odierno said, attributing the change to an increase in both American troops and better-trained Iraqi forces.
"I feel we are back in '03 and early '04. Frankly I was here then, and the environment is about the same in terms of security in my opinion," he said. "What is different from then is that the Iraqi security forces are significantly more mature."
Violence in Iraq is at its lowest levels since the first year of the American invasion, finally opening a window for reconciliation among rival sects, the second-ranking U.S. general said Sunday as Iraqi forces formally took control of security across half the country.
Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, the man responsible for the ground campaign in Iraq, said that the first six months of 2007 were probably the most violent period since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. The past six months, however, had seen some of the lowest levels of violence since the conflict began, Odierno said, attributing the change to an increase in both American troops and better-trained Iraqi forces.
"I feel we are back in '03 and early '04. Frankly I was here then, and the environment is about the same in terms of security in my opinion," he said. "What is different from then is that the Iraqi security forces are significantly more mature."
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Feds Raid Al Sharpton Offices
Federal authorities have subpoenaed financial records and employees in an apparent probe of the Rev. Al Sharpton's 2004 presidential bid, nonprofit civil rights group, and for-profit businesses, a newspaper reported Thursday.
As many as 10 Sharpton associates were subpoenaed Wednesday to testify before a federal grand jury in Brooklyn Dec. 26, his lawyer told the Daily News.
Sharpton spokesman Charlie King said the minister and the National Action Network were cooperating with the probe. Hardy was sanguine about the developments."I can't think of a time when the Rev. Sharpton wasn't under investigation," he said.
Sharpton agreed in 2005 to repay the government $100,000, plus interest, for taxpayer money he received during his failed effort to win the Democratic presidential nomination the year before, though he denied wrongdoing. The Federal Election Commission had determined that he spent more of his own money on the campaign than the qualifications for federal matching funds allow.
In 1993, Sharpton pleaded guilty to not filing a state income tax return in 1986.
In 2004 the media and voters pigeonholed Sharpton as a black candidate and his campaign as a racial campaign. Sharpton was and is so controversial that the mere mention of his candidacy causes many mainstream Democrats to simply chuckle or roll their eyes. He did not have anything to say or have anything to bring to the table. He just wanted the publicity. In terms of experience, leading marches and protest actions to shake down businesses for donations did not form a sound basis for managing the government. In my opinion his 2004 bid was a self-promotion tour partially paid for by taxpayer money.
As many as 10 Sharpton associates were subpoenaed Wednesday to testify before a federal grand jury in Brooklyn Dec. 26, his lawyer told the Daily News.
Sharpton spokesman Charlie King said the minister and the National Action Network were cooperating with the probe. Hardy was sanguine about the developments."I can't think of a time when the Rev. Sharpton wasn't under investigation," he said.
Sharpton agreed in 2005 to repay the government $100,000, plus interest, for taxpayer money he received during his failed effort to win the Democratic presidential nomination the year before, though he denied wrongdoing. The Federal Election Commission had determined that he spent more of his own money on the campaign than the qualifications for federal matching funds allow.
In 1993, Sharpton pleaded guilty to not filing a state income tax return in 1986.
In 2004 the media and voters pigeonholed Sharpton as a black candidate and his campaign as a racial campaign. Sharpton was and is so controversial that the mere mention of his candidacy causes many mainstream Democrats to simply chuckle or roll their eyes. He did not have anything to say or have anything to bring to the table. He just wanted the publicity. In terms of experience, leading marches and protest actions to shake down businesses for donations did not form a sound basis for managing the government. In my opinion his 2004 bid was a self-promotion tour partially paid for by taxpayer money.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Global Warming is Junk Science
A new study asserts that part of the scientific consensus on global warming is crictially flawed.
• Click here to read the abstract of the new study in the International Journal of Climatology, and here for a more understandable synopsis in ScienceDaily.
The 22 climate models used in this study are the same models used by the UN Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC), which recently shared a Nobel Peace Prize with (scam artist /resume padding "internet inventor") Al Gore. Turns out models used all had fatal flaws.
"The models are seen to disagree with the observations. We suggest, therefore, that projections of future climate based on these models should be viewed with much caution." said Dr. Fred Singer from the University of Virginia.
• Click here to read the abstract of the new study in the International Journal of Climatology, and here for a more understandable synopsis in ScienceDaily.
The 22 climate models used in this study are the same models used by the UN Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC), which recently shared a Nobel Peace Prize with (scam artist /resume padding "internet inventor") Al Gore. Turns out models used all had fatal flaws.
"The models are seen to disagree with the observations. We suggest, therefore, that projections of future climate based on these models should be viewed with much caution." said Dr. Fred Singer from the University of Virginia.
Obama the Junkie Pothead
Obama wrote about his teenage drug in his memoir, "Dreams from My Father." His rivals have largely remained silent on the subject.
"Junkie. Pothead. That's where I'd been headed: the final fatal role of the young would-be black man," Obama wrote. Mostly he smoked marijuana and drank alcohol, he wrote, but occasionally he would snort cocaine when he could afford it.
Speaking to Manchester high school students earlier this month, Obama said he was hardly a model student and had experimented with drugs and alcohol.
"You know, I made some bad decisions that I've actually written about. You know, got into drinking. I experimented with drugs," he said. "There was a whole stretch of time that I didn't really apply myself a lot. It wasn't until I got out of high school and went to college that I started realizing, 'Man, I wasted a lot of time."'
"Junkie. Pothead. That's where I'd been headed: the final fatal role of the young would-be black man," Obama wrote. Mostly he smoked marijuana and drank alcohol, he wrote, but occasionally he would snort cocaine when he could afford it.
Speaking to Manchester high school students earlier this month, Obama said he was hardly a model student and had experimented with drugs and alcohol.
"You know, I made some bad decisions that I've actually written about. You know, got into drinking. I experimented with drugs," he said. "There was a whole stretch of time that I didn't really apply myself a lot. It wasn't until I got out of high school and went to college that I started realizing, 'Man, I wasted a lot of time."'
Monday, December 10, 2007
3 Reasons John Edwards’s Health Care Plan WILL NOT WORK
First, do we really want the IRS enforcing healthcare mandates? That’s not what the IRS is for, and Americans are (rightly) suspicious of using the IRS as a quasi-police agency to enforce whatever federal law the current administration feels like using it for. This is not a constructive road to go down. It’s hard to believe that the Edwards camp even let that first point out the door. The IRS as a healthcare enforcer? Whichever advisor proposed that gem should be beaten, fired and blackballed.
Second, a Rube Goldberg enforcement program does nothing except highlight the absurdity of individual mandated healthcare plans in the first place. If you’re really this serious about getting every man, woman, and child in the country enrolled, why go through all this? Why not just do it like Medicare, where the funding mechanism is the existing tax system and everyone is enrolled automatically? It amounts to the same thing and it’s cheaper, easier, and less intrusive. Besides Canada has proven that free socialized health care is bad for both the indivial (do to long wait time and lower quality care) and the economy as a whole (due to higher taxes and socializing about 30% of the Gross domestic Product).
Third, this is a political loser. Do we really want to treat people who don’t sign up for healthcare like deadbeat dads and Chapter 11 refugees by garnishing their wages? Unless I’m way off base, this is just not going to go over well. Us Republicans will have a field day with it and rightly so.
Second, a Rube Goldberg enforcement program does nothing except highlight the absurdity of individual mandated healthcare plans in the first place. If you’re really this serious about getting every man, woman, and child in the country enrolled, why go through all this? Why not just do it like Medicare, where the funding mechanism is the existing tax system and everyone is enrolled automatically? It amounts to the same thing and it’s cheaper, easier, and less intrusive. Besides Canada has proven that free socialized health care is bad for both the indivial (do to long wait time and lower quality care) and the economy as a whole (due to higher taxes and socializing about 30% of the Gross domestic Product).
Third, this is a political loser. Do we really want to treat people who don’t sign up for healthcare like deadbeat dads and Chapter 11 refugees by garnishing their wages? Unless I’m way off base, this is just not going to go over well. Us Republicans will have a field day with it and rightly so.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Oprah Makes Yet Another Mistake
Oprah is arguably the most powerful black woman in America. Many mind numbed housewives follow her blindly. She however is not perfect. Her latest in a long list of errors is trying to cram Obama down America's windpipe. After watching her on stage with the scariest man in America I feel that Gracie, (her golden retriever that died after choking on a plastic ball) would have a better chance of swallowing the crap she was spewing.
Here is a short list of other poorly chosen Oprah endorsement:
Endorsed white supremacist Forrest Carter's children's book 'The Education Of Little Tree' (Carter, is a member of the Ku Klux Klan and was speechwriter for former Alabama governor George Wallace who wrote Wallace's infamous vow: "Segregation today! Segregation tomorrow! Segregation forever!")
Endorsed and paid for a South African all-girl academy where it became common place for staff to assault students. Several of the dorm workers were charged with indecent assault and / or soliciting under-age girls to perform indecent acts.
Endorsed then defended author James Frey for his book "A Million Little Pieces." (She later said she made a mistake and that Frey "betrayed millions of readers" by making up elements of his life in his best-selling memoir.)
Anyone that takes stock in an Oprah endorsement is an absolute moron for two reasons: 1) Oprah persists in pushing gurus like her trainer (who cannot train her) Bob Greene, fat defendant Phil McGraw and fabricators of a Yale endorsement like Jorge Cruise and David Katz (my opinion and apparently Yale’s, too), when none of their programs have worked for her. 2) Oprah has problems vetting her guests, e.g., James Frey.
Oprah and Obama think woman in this great country are not smart enough to know the differences in experience and leadership of a presidential candidate. They will vote for him because Oprah says so... WAKE UP Oprah...your not that powerful, just wealthy....
Where was Oprah in 2004, 2000? 1996? 1992? Why did she not speak out and support ANY candidate? Why? Because "There were no black candidates" Shame on you Oprah! You racist money grubbing Cow!
Here is a short list of other poorly chosen Oprah endorsement:
Endorsed white supremacist Forrest Carter's children's book 'The Education Of Little Tree' (Carter, is a member of the Ku Klux Klan and was speechwriter for former Alabama governor George Wallace who wrote Wallace's infamous vow: "Segregation today! Segregation tomorrow! Segregation forever!")
Endorsed and paid for a South African all-girl academy where it became common place for staff to assault students. Several of the dorm workers were charged with indecent assault and / or soliciting under-age girls to perform indecent acts.
Endorsed then defended author James Frey for his book "A Million Little Pieces." (She later said she made a mistake and that Frey "betrayed millions of readers" by making up elements of his life in his best-selling memoir.)
Anyone that takes stock in an Oprah endorsement is an absolute moron for two reasons: 1) Oprah persists in pushing gurus like her trainer (who cannot train her) Bob Greene, fat defendant Phil McGraw and fabricators of a Yale endorsement like Jorge Cruise and David Katz (my opinion and apparently Yale’s, too), when none of their programs have worked for her. 2) Oprah has problems vetting her guests, e.g., James Frey.
Oprah and Obama think woman in this great country are not smart enough to know the differences in experience and leadership of a presidential candidate. They will vote for him because Oprah says so... WAKE UP Oprah...your not that powerful, just wealthy....
Where was Oprah in 2004, 2000? 1996? 1992? Why did she not speak out and support ANY candidate? Why? Because "There were no black candidates" Shame on you Oprah! You racist money grubbing Cow!
Friday, December 7, 2007
NBC says NO to ads thanking troops for their service.
NBC has nixed holiday advertisements meant to thank troops for serving overseas in opposition to the inclusion of a non-profit's Web address, www.freedomswatch.org.
Click here and here to view the ads that NBC won't air.
Freedom's Watch President and CEO Bradley Blakeman stated that this is not the first time NBC has turned down his group's ads and believes it has a specific objection to his group's support for the War on Terror.
"NBC asked us to re-vamp our Web site. They wanted to censor us, and we said, 'No we're not going to be censored,'" Blakeman said, noting that the organization's Web site points to more than 20 other non-profit Web sites where readers can thank and support troops.
NBC also objected to using images including military uniforms and vehicles .
Click here and here to view the ads that NBC won't air.
Freedom's Watch President and CEO Bradley Blakeman stated that this is not the first time NBC has turned down his group's ads and believes it has a specific objection to his group's support for the War on Terror.
"NBC asked us to re-vamp our Web site. They wanted to censor us, and we said, 'No we're not going to be censored,'" Blakeman said, noting that the organization's Web site points to more than 20 other non-profit Web sites where readers can thank and support troops.
NBC also objected to using images including military uniforms and vehicles .
Lefty Liberal Mouth Piece to be Jailed for Child Porn
Lefty liberal talk show host Bernie Ward (frequently called the "lion of the left" for his staunchly liberal views) has been indicted by a federal grand jury in San Francisco on charges of using the Internet to send and receive child pornography in 2004 as part of "research" for a book he never finished writing.
His attorney claimed, "It's really tragic that the government has decided to prosecute him for a judgment he made as a journalist and to treat him as a child pornographer when he is not."
However, it is a fact that this ex-Catholic priest who also hosts a show called "God Talk"used his computer to look at child pornography images and share child pornography images with other adults "when doing research for a book on hypocrisy". Thus by definition he is a child pornographer and hypocrit (a combination of liar, moron and hypocrite).
His lawyer claims it was an "error in judgement". Sorry, but if this pervert was being indicted for an "error in judgement" why weren't SWAT teams kicking down his door every time he went on the air? The sad thing is he will most likely be tried in San Francisco, so I doubt he will be convicted in the pervert capital of the world. Hell, he may even be elected Mayor. And Democrats call Rush a "big fat idiot"?
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Al Franken is an ass clown
Click here to watch the video comparing Franken's statements.
Where does this ass clown stand on Iraq? Even he doesn't known.
If Comedian / Air America Radio Anchor / Ass Clown -- Al Franken actually wins Democratic Primary for Senate race it will show that Democratic in Minnesota are easily distracted by shinny objects.
If Al Franken wins the Senate seat it will show that the "North Star State" has dimmed.
Where does this ass clown stand on Iraq? Even he doesn't known.
If Comedian / Air America Radio Anchor / Ass Clown -- Al Franken actually wins Democratic Primary for Senate race it will show that Democratic in Minnesota are easily distracted by shinny objects.
If Al Franken wins the Senate seat it will show that the "North Star State" has dimmed.
Hillary Qualified to be president because she was married to Bill?
I talked to a Democrat today. (and yes I had to dumb down what we talked about so she would understand.) She seemed to think just because Hillary was married to Bill she would make a good President. That would be about the same as saying leadership is a venereal disease.
Assuming she is correct and sleeping with Bill Clinton makes you a good leader then the following known (and rumored) sex partners of Bill Clinton need to be voted in to the Senate.
Juanita Broaddrick (AR) (rape)
Eileen Wellstone (Oxford)(rape)
Elizabeth Ward Gracen (rape)
Regina Hopper Blakely (forced himself on her, biting, bruising her)
Kathleen Willey (WH) (sexual assault)
Sandra Allen James (DC) (sexual assault)
22 Year Old 1972 (Yale) (sexual assault)
Kathy Bradshaw (AK) (sexual assault)
Cristy Zercher (unwelcomed sexual advance) Paula Jones (AR) (unwelcomed sexual advance, exposure, bordering on sexual assault)
Carolyn Moffet -(nwelcomed sexual advance, exposure, bordering on sexual assault)
Unnamed 1974 student at University of Arkansas (unwelcomed physical contact)
Unnamed Bodyguards 1978-1980 (seven complaints per Arkansas state troopers)
Monica Lewinsky (Oral Sex in the Oval Office)
Gennifer Flowers (Affair)
Dolly Kyle Browning (High school friend / affair until 1992)
Sally Perdue (Affair)
Betty Dalton (rebuffed his advances)
Denise Reeder (sexual assult)
Kathy Ferguson (unwelcome advances)
Marsha Scott (affair)
Connie Hamzy (affair)
Bobbie Ann Williams (paid sex)
Marilyn Jo Jenkins (affair)
Susan Coleman (affair)*Ok she commited suicide but death hasn't keep Democrats from voting or from being elected
Robyn Dickey (affair)
Lenora Steinkamp (affair)
Kimba Wood (affair)
Kelley Craighead (affair)
Sharline Wilson (affair and claimed drug association)
Dee Dee Myers (rumored affair)
Suzie Whitacre (rumored affair)
Catherine Cornelius (affair and "distant cousin".)
Cheryl Mills (affair)
Beth Gladden Coulson (affair)
Eleanor Mondale (rumored affair)
Shelia Lawrence (rumored affair)
Deborah Mathis (rumored affair)
Debra Schiff (rumored affair)
Susan McDougal (rumored affair)
Assuming she is correct and sleeping with Bill Clinton makes you a good leader then the following known (and rumored) sex partners of Bill Clinton need to be voted in to the Senate.
Juanita Broaddrick (AR) (rape)
Eileen Wellstone (Oxford)(rape)
Elizabeth Ward Gracen (rape)
Regina Hopper Blakely (forced himself on her, biting, bruising her)
Kathleen Willey (WH) (sexual assault)
Sandra Allen James (DC) (sexual assault)
22 Year Old 1972 (Yale) (sexual assault)
Kathy Bradshaw (AK) (sexual assault)
Cristy Zercher (unwelcomed sexual advance) Paula Jones (AR) (unwelcomed sexual advance, exposure, bordering on sexual assault)
Carolyn Moffet -(nwelcomed sexual advance, exposure, bordering on sexual assault)
Unnamed 1974 student at University of Arkansas (unwelcomed physical contact)
Unnamed Bodyguards 1978-1980 (seven complaints per Arkansas state troopers)
Monica Lewinsky (Oral Sex in the Oval Office)
Gennifer Flowers (Affair)
Dolly Kyle Browning (High school friend / affair until 1992)
Sally Perdue (Affair)
Betty Dalton (rebuffed his advances)
Denise Reeder (sexual assult)
Kathy Ferguson (unwelcome advances)
Marsha Scott (affair)
Connie Hamzy (affair)
Bobbie Ann Williams (paid sex)
Marilyn Jo Jenkins (affair)
Susan Coleman (affair)*Ok she commited suicide but death hasn't keep Democrats from voting or from being elected
Robyn Dickey (affair)
Lenora Steinkamp (affair)
Kimba Wood (affair)
Kelley Craighead (affair)
Sharline Wilson (affair and claimed drug association)
Dee Dee Myers (rumored affair)
Suzie Whitacre (rumored affair)
Catherine Cornelius (affair and "distant cousin".)
Cheryl Mills (affair)
Beth Gladden Coulson (affair)
Eleanor Mondale (rumored affair)
Shelia Lawrence (rumored affair)
Deborah Mathis (rumored affair)
Debra Schiff (rumored affair)
Susan McDougal (rumored affair)
The Incredible Nothingness Of Joe Biden
It slipped quietly by when the Senate voted (shamefully) 75-23 to support this nutjob's plan to partition Iraq. No one even seemed to raise an eyebrow that Presidential candidate Brownback, and the spineless Texas Senator Hutchison, co-sponsored it.
It should come as no surprise, then, that Biden the bloviator now DEFENDS his foolishness on the very same day as Iraq tells him to pound sand.
My biggest problem with this Biden story is NOT whether Iraq should be partitioned. It IS, however, a very big deal that this clown would suggest we have earned the right to tell them what to do while balancing this against his assertions that we need to leave them be to fend for themselves...by abandoning our military presence there so Iraq might be forced (by some weird miracle) to figure out for themselves how to pacify itself and unite toward the goal of security and sound governance:
"Other Iraqi politicians have said we have no right to tell the Iraqis [what to do]," Biden told reporters. "Let me tell you, we have a right. Three thousand and eight hundred dead. Twenty seven thousand wounded. Billions of dollars. Let me tell you as President of the United States, they'd have to understand full well that if they don't keep their commitment to implement their constitution then they're on their own. And so, ladies and gentlemen, the idea that al Maliki questions whether or not we have a right to express our opinion, he'd better get it straight real quick. "
Given Biden's OWN yardstick, we have earned the right to tell almost every country on the planet just exactly how they are going to govern and conduct themselves.
From where the Iraqis sit, such an idea of slicing the country up into (what would ultimately become) factions, this is not a particularly well-received suggestion:
"The Congress adopted this proposal based on an incorrect reading and unrealistic estimations of the history, present and future of Iraq. It represents a dangerous precedent to establishing the nature of the relationship between Iraq and the USA, and shows the Congress as if it were planning for a long-term occupation by their country's troops "
I doubt that's what this "crack" Senator-who-would-be-President had in mind when he fired up this stroke of genius in the first place.
This block of the article is worthy of duplication here:
"But whatever the intended effect by the Senate lawmakers to wade into the debate, the effort has backfired in Baghdad, where the resolution has been interpreted in light of Iraq's history of foreign occupation from the Ottoman empire to Britain and America. Iraqi political parties that have been deadlocked for months have rallied to defend the country's sovereignty and to defeat any effort by another country to shape Iraq's fate."
"We refuse the resolutions which decide Iraq's destiny from outside Iraq. This is a dangerous partitioning based on sectarianism and ethnicity," said Hashim Taie, a member of the Iraqi Accordance Front, the parliament's main Sunni representation.
Radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's political supporters joined their rivals in denouncing the U.S. Senate's measure. "This project is the strategic option for the American administration in its failure to igniting a sectarian war inside Iraq," Nasr Rubaie said. "They started to search for a replacement, which is to divide Iraqi."
Federalism has long proved a charged topic for Iraq. The Sadrists still are seeking a strong national government. The Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, another large Shiite political faction, also has started to downplay the idea of further weakening an already frail national government.
Leery of American intervention, Rubaie said the powers of the provinces and regional blocs should be defined once the United States has pulled its troops out of Iraq.
Hey Joe (and your sidekicks Brownback, Boxer, Specter, Kerry, Smith[Gordon], Nelson, Hutchison, Schumer, Mikulski, Lincoln, Reid, Feinstein, Brown, Carper, and Salazar) listen up-they want you out, but they want you to leave behind what you promised them when you approved of the war in the first place.
They, like many of US, could give a flip about what that may mean for your Presidential (let alone re-election) aspirations.
It should come as no surprise, then, that Biden the bloviator now DEFENDS his foolishness on the very same day as Iraq tells him to pound sand.
My biggest problem with this Biden story is NOT whether Iraq should be partitioned. It IS, however, a very big deal that this clown would suggest we have earned the right to tell them what to do while balancing this against his assertions that we need to leave them be to fend for themselves...by abandoning our military presence there so Iraq might be forced (by some weird miracle) to figure out for themselves how to pacify itself and unite toward the goal of security and sound governance:
"Other Iraqi politicians have said we have no right to tell the Iraqis [what to do]," Biden told reporters. "Let me tell you, we have a right. Three thousand and eight hundred dead. Twenty seven thousand wounded. Billions of dollars. Let me tell you as President of the United States, they'd have to understand full well that if they don't keep their commitment to implement their constitution then they're on their own. And so, ladies and gentlemen, the idea that al Maliki questions whether or not we have a right to express our opinion, he'd better get it straight real quick. "
Given Biden's OWN yardstick, we have earned the right to tell almost every country on the planet just exactly how they are going to govern and conduct themselves.
From where the Iraqis sit, such an idea of slicing the country up into (what would ultimately become) factions, this is not a particularly well-received suggestion:
"The Congress adopted this proposal based on an incorrect reading and unrealistic estimations of the history, present and future of Iraq. It represents a dangerous precedent to establishing the nature of the relationship between Iraq and the USA, and shows the Congress as if it were planning for a long-term occupation by their country's troops "
I doubt that's what this "crack" Senator-who-would-be-President had in mind when he fired up this stroke of genius in the first place.
This block of the article is worthy of duplication here:
"But whatever the intended effect by the Senate lawmakers to wade into the debate, the effort has backfired in Baghdad, where the resolution has been interpreted in light of Iraq's history of foreign occupation from the Ottoman empire to Britain and America. Iraqi political parties that have been deadlocked for months have rallied to defend the country's sovereignty and to defeat any effort by another country to shape Iraq's fate."
"We refuse the resolutions which decide Iraq's destiny from outside Iraq. This is a dangerous partitioning based on sectarianism and ethnicity," said Hashim Taie, a member of the Iraqi Accordance Front, the parliament's main Sunni representation.
Radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's political supporters joined their rivals in denouncing the U.S. Senate's measure. "This project is the strategic option for the American administration in its failure to igniting a sectarian war inside Iraq," Nasr Rubaie said. "They started to search for a replacement, which is to divide Iraqi."
Federalism has long proved a charged topic for Iraq. The Sadrists still are seeking a strong national government. The Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, another large Shiite political faction, also has started to downplay the idea of further weakening an already frail national government.
Leery of American intervention, Rubaie said the powers of the provinces and regional blocs should be defined once the United States has pulled its troops out of Iraq.
Hey Joe (and your sidekicks Brownback, Boxer, Specter, Kerry, Smith[Gordon], Nelson, Hutchison, Schumer, Mikulski, Lincoln, Reid, Feinstein, Brown, Carper, and Salazar) listen up-they want you out, but they want you to leave behind what you promised them when you approved of the war in the first place.
They, like many of US, could give a flip about what that may mean for your Presidential (let alone re-election) aspirations.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
A Democrat with balls and brains? GO Joe!!!!
Lieberman Urges U.S Government To Confront Iran On Its Proxy War In Iraq
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) issued the following statement today urging the U.S. government to confront Iran on its proxy war in Iraq:
"This morning, the U.S. military in Baghdad provided new and disturbing details about the proxy war that the government of Iran has been fighting against the United States in Iraq.
According to Brigadier General Kevin Bergner, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been using operatives from the radical Islamist terrorist group Hezbollah to train Iraqi Shiite militias, who in turn are responsible for the murder of American soldiers.
In addition, according to Brig. Gen. Bergner, groups of up to sixty Iraqi militants at a time have been taken out of Iraq and brought to Iran for military training at three camps near Teheran, where they have been instructed in the use of mortars, rockets, and improvised explosive devices. The Iranian government has also provided up to $3 million a month to fund attacks on U.S. troops and allies in Iraq.
In fact, Brig. Gen. Bergner also provided new evidence this morning that Iranian operatives helped plan a sophisticated ambush in January that resulted in the abduction and murder of five American soldiers.
These revelations should be a wake-up call to the United States about the threat posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran—as well as a reminder why Iraq is, in fact, the central front of the global war on terror. Iran's sponsorship of terrorism in Iraq fits into a larger, dangerous pattern of behavior we see across the Middle East today. From Lebanon to Palestine to Afghanistan, the Iranian government is supporting the forces of Islamist radicalism. Despite a mounting economic crisis in its own country and growing international isolation, the regime in Teheran is sacrificing the blood and treasure of the Iranian people to fund terrorism against its neighbors.
The United States government has a responsibility to use all instruments at its disposal to stop these terrorist attacks against our soldiers and allies in Iraq—including keeping open the possibility of using military force against the terrorist infrastructure inside Iran.
Although no one desires a conflict with Iran, the fact is that the Iranian government by its actions has declared war on us. And while I sincerely hope that diplomacy alone can convince the Iranian government to stop these attacks, our diplomatic efforts are only likely to succeed if backed by a credible threat of force.
At the very least, I hope that these latest revelations about Iran's terrorism in Iraq will prompt some of my colleagues in Congress to reconsider their demand that U.S. forces withdraw from Iraq.
Iran's purpose in sponsoring these attacks against our soldiers is clear. The Iranian government wants to push the United States out of Iraq. For Congress to mandate a retreat from Iraq will give the Iranians exactly what they want most. A retreat would not only represent a catastrophic defeat for the United States, but an epic victory for Iran, Hezbollah, and the forces of Islamist terrorism."
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) issued the following statement today urging the U.S. government to confront Iran on its proxy war in Iraq:
"This morning, the U.S. military in Baghdad provided new and disturbing details about the proxy war that the government of Iran has been fighting against the United States in Iraq.
According to Brigadier General Kevin Bergner, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been using operatives from the radical Islamist terrorist group Hezbollah to train Iraqi Shiite militias, who in turn are responsible for the murder of American soldiers.
In addition, according to Brig. Gen. Bergner, groups of up to sixty Iraqi militants at a time have been taken out of Iraq and brought to Iran for military training at three camps near Teheran, where they have been instructed in the use of mortars, rockets, and improvised explosive devices. The Iranian government has also provided up to $3 million a month to fund attacks on U.S. troops and allies in Iraq.
In fact, Brig. Gen. Bergner also provided new evidence this morning that Iranian operatives helped plan a sophisticated ambush in January that resulted in the abduction and murder of five American soldiers.
These revelations should be a wake-up call to the United States about the threat posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran—as well as a reminder why Iraq is, in fact, the central front of the global war on terror. Iran's sponsorship of terrorism in Iraq fits into a larger, dangerous pattern of behavior we see across the Middle East today. From Lebanon to Palestine to Afghanistan, the Iranian government is supporting the forces of Islamist radicalism. Despite a mounting economic crisis in its own country and growing international isolation, the regime in Teheran is sacrificing the blood and treasure of the Iranian people to fund terrorism against its neighbors.
The United States government has a responsibility to use all instruments at its disposal to stop these terrorist attacks against our soldiers and allies in Iraq—including keeping open the possibility of using military force against the terrorist infrastructure inside Iran.
Although no one desires a conflict with Iran, the fact is that the Iranian government by its actions has declared war on us. And while I sincerely hope that diplomacy alone can convince the Iranian government to stop these attacks, our diplomatic efforts are only likely to succeed if backed by a credible threat of force.
At the very least, I hope that these latest revelations about Iran's terrorism in Iraq will prompt some of my colleagues in Congress to reconsider their demand that U.S. forces withdraw from Iraq.
Iran's purpose in sponsoring these attacks against our soldiers is clear. The Iranian government wants to push the United States out of Iraq. For Congress to mandate a retreat from Iraq will give the Iranians exactly what they want most. A retreat would not only represent a catastrophic defeat for the United States, but an epic victory for Iran, Hezbollah, and the forces of Islamist terrorism."
Democratic Fundraiser Norman Hsu Indicted on Federal Fraud Charges
A federal grand jury on Tuesday (12/03/07) indicted Norman Hsu, a top Democratic fundraiser accused of cheating investors of at least $20 million and using some of the money to make illegal donations to political candidates including Hillary Rodham Clinton.
(I wonder how long it is going to be before this guy dies from Arkansas Sudden Death Syndrome)
In the 15-count indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, the government accused the 56-year-old clothing-industry entrepreneur of duping investors nationwide with a massive Ponzi scheme.
The government said Hsu also violated federal campaign finance laws by making contributions to various political candidates in the names of others.
(I wonder how long it is going to be before this guy dies from Arkansas Sudden Death Syndrome)
In the 15-count indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, the government accused the 56-year-old clothing-industry entrepreneur of duping investors nationwide with a massive Ponzi scheme.
The government said Hsu also violated federal campaign finance laws by making contributions to various political candidates in the names of others.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Why I will not Vote for Mike Gravel
After exchanging comments with one of the grammar and spelling challenged perennial candidates I highlighted previously (as a comedic break) in my “Other (Less Known) Democrats I won't vote for” blog post, I got to wondering if you had to have some sort of brain damage or a learning disability in order to run for president as a democrat.
So, tonight I am blogging about why I will not vote for the only self confessed dyslexic candidate. I am only doing so I can finish off my collection of blog posts about Democrat candidates I will not vote for. Although, I give this fired and bankrupt senator less of a chance of making it past the primaries than Dal "Tweezerman" LaMagna, at least his campaign staff figured out how to get him on the stage for some of the debates.
Tonight’s Topic: Why I will not vote for Mike Gravel.
So, who is Mike Gravel? Good question. And unless you lived in Alaska between the late 1950's to the late 1970s or you rode the short yellow bus to school with Mikey when he was a wee lad you most likely don’t know him except as one of the book ends that stands on the stage during the Democrat debates.
Meet Mike Gravel:
Maurice Robert "Mike" Gravel is a former Democratic United States Senator from Alaska, having served for two terms (1969 to 1981). He is primarily known for his efforts to lose the Vietnam War and for using his position as Senator to make military plans part the public record. He is currently a candidate for the 2008 Democratic nomination for President of the United States.
He was raised in a working class neighborhood and his immigrant parents sent him to parochial schools as a Roman Catholic, attending Assumption College Preparatory School.
Gravel studied for one year at American International College in Springfield, then enlisted in the United States Army in 1951 and served in West Germany as a Special Adjutant in the Communication and Intelligent Services and as a Special Agent in the Counter Intelligence Corps until 1954. A dyslexic, who talks about his learning disability openly, he attended Columbia University's School of General Studies in New York City, a B.S. in 1956. He drove a taxicab to support himself.
In a classic Gravel move of leaping before you look, he moved to Alaska in 1956, without funds or a job, looking for a place where an extreme liberal like him could be a viable candidate for public office. He found work in several areas, including real estate sales, brakeman for the Alaska Railroad, and property development with very limited success.
Gravel married local beauty queen, Rita Jeannette Martin,("Miss Fur Rendezvous" of 1958) on April 29, 1959. In the early 1960’s, they had two children, Martin Anthony Gravel and Lynne Denise Gravel. In the early 1980s, she divorced him and won all of his Senate pension income in the settlement.
Gravel’s political career so far has been exercise in mediocrity. he ran unsuccessfully for the territorial legislature in 1958. He went on a national speaking tour concerning tax reform in 1959, sponsored by the Jaycees. He ran unsuccessfully for the Anchorage City Council in 1960. He ran for the Alaska House of Representatives representing Anchorage in 1962 and won his first political office.
Gravel served in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1963 to 1966, winning re-election in 1964. During 1965 and 1966, he served as the Speaker of the House. He did not run for re-election in 1966, instead choosing leap before looking and run for Alaska's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He of course lost to incumbent Democrat Ralph Rivers.
In 1968 he ran a deceitful campaign against the 81-year-old incumbent Democratic Senator Ernest Gruening, a former governor of the Alaska Territory who was considered one of the fathers of Alaska's statehood, for Democrat party's nomination to the U.S. Senate. Gravel's campaign was based on the heavy use of well-produced television advertisements, and by being deliberately ambiguous about his Vietnam policy (Gruening had been one of only two Senators to vote against the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution..) According to Gravel, "...all I had to do was stand up and not deal with the subject, and people would assume that I was to the right of Ernest Gruening, when in point of fact I was to the left of him." Gravel unexpectedly beat Gruening in a tight result in the primary and went on to win the general election, with less than half of the vote.
In 1974 Gravel was re-elected to the Senate, winning 58% of the vote against 42% for Republican C. R. Lewis. But by 1980, the Alaskan people had come to their collective senses and booted him out of office. In 1980 Gravel was challenged for the Democratic Party's nomination by State Representative Clark Gruening (the grandson of the man Gravel had deceitfully defeated in a primary 12 years earlier). Gruening won the primary.
Gravel had never established a firm party base. A group of Democrats (including future governor Steve Cowper) led the campaign against Gravel. Gravel not doing what was best for his people (actions against 1978 and 1980 lands bills in Alaska)was a major issue. Gravel would later concede that by the time of his defeat, he had alienated "almost every constituency in Alaska." Gruening went on to lose in the general election to Republican Frank Murkowski. To date, Gravel is the last Democrat to represent Alaska in Congress.
Gravel took the 1980 defeat hard, recalling years later: "I had lost my career. I lost my marriage. I was in the doldrums for ten years after my defeat." During the 1980s, Gravel was a real estate developer in Anchorage and Kenai, Alaska, a consultant, and a stockbroker. One of his real estate ventures, a condominium business, was forced to declare bankruptcy and a lawsuit ensued.
Gravel married his second wife, Whitney Stewart Gravel in 1984. They live in Arlington County, Virginia. In the 2000s, Gravel suffered from serious health issues, requiring three surgeries in 2003 for back pain and neuropathy.
In June 2003 Gravel gave a speech on direct democracy at a conference cosponsored by the Barnes Review (a journal that endorses Holocaust denial.)
In 2004 he declared personal bankruptcy.
In 2007, he declared that he has "zero net worth." (Financially, politically, morally, and intelligently I would say.)
So where does this bankrupt “never was” stand on the issues?
Domestic Policy:
Taxation: Like most Democrats he wants more of your tax money. And I can guarantee you that he would be irresponsible with your money just like he has been with his own. One of his bright ideas is to create a national sales tax of between tax inclusive 19 and 23 percent on newly manufactured items and services. (Funny, he seems to forget that the American Revelation was started over a tax placed on common products.)
National health care: In his campaign pronouncements Gravel identified medical costs as “one of the leading causes of bankruptcies”. He is an advocate for a national, universal single-payer not-for-profit health care system in the United States. But has no reasonable plan for how to pay for it. (Seeing how he is bankrupt and in failing health, he probably is the candidate most likely to need it.)
Energy, environment and climate change: Senator Gravel has advocated that carbon energy should be taxed to provide the funding for a global effort to bring together the world's scientific and engineering communities to develop energy alternatives to significantly reduce the world’s energy dependence on carbon. (So, he wants to tax only the US to pay for a global effort. Typical.)
Gay Agenda: Gravel had explicitly stated his support of the full range of gay civil rights including same-sex marriage recognition, opposition to Don't ask, don't tell policy, extension of the scope and effect of hate crimes legislation to cover hate violence against gays and lesbians, and the removal of all other remaining legal discrimination against gay people.
Drug policy, including marijuana: Senator Gravel has stated that drug abuse should be treated as a medical problem rather than a criminal matter and that marijuana should be sold in stores next to alcohol. When asked his policy would be on cocaine and methamphetamine. He responded, "We need to legalize the regulation of drugs. The drug problem is a public health problem. It’s not a criminal problem” (So will his health care program pay for me to become addicted to meth?)
Stem cell research: Gravel in principle (or rather lack there of) does not object to the use of embryonic stem cells for medical research purposes.
Abortion: Gravel is avowedly pro-abortion. Concerning the legality of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003, he issued the following statement "I am opposed to today's ruling or any ruling that places restrictions on reproductive freedom.”
Immigration: Gravel has said that he disfavors wholesale or widespread deportation of illegal immigrants found residing in the United States. He favors bringing existing illegal immigrants into legal status.
Foreign policy
Israel: Gravel wants the US to sponsor direct negotiations between Israel and all Palestinian factions, including terrorist groups like Hamas. He support for a Palestinian state to exist alongside Israel (Like that will work.) He wants the US to act as a guarantor for the demilitarization of Israel's border with a future Palestinian state Gravel wants the US to commit to help raise the economic standards in a future Palestinian State to compare with those in Israel. (He not only wants to create a terrorist nation but wants to fund it as well.)
Nuclear Weapons: He wants to get rid of the US’s nuclear first-strike ability. And wants to cut the number of nuclear devices in US hands to a couple of hundred
Iraq: (Yep he is a surrender monkey.) He and all the Islamic terrorist in the world want the Immediate US military withdrawal from Iraq and support for a UN-sponsored regional peace process. Because Lord knows the UN was doing such a good job enforcing the Suctions it passed against Iraq.
My take?
Of the Seven Dwarfs running against Snow White for the Democrat nod. I would have to say he most resembles Sleepy.
Gravel has lost touch with the political world of the last 25 years since last held office. But he needs a job badly since he is bankrupt and lost his pension to his first wife. I would suggest he apply for a job at Wal*mart. I hear they are hiring door greeters.
He is a cookie cutter left wing liberal. He has no sense of financial responsibility.
And I will not vote for Mike Gravel.
So, tonight I am blogging about why I will not vote for the only self confessed dyslexic candidate. I am only doing so I can finish off my collection of blog posts about Democrat candidates I will not vote for. Although, I give this fired and bankrupt senator less of a chance of making it past the primaries than Dal "Tweezerman" LaMagna, at least his campaign staff figured out how to get him on the stage for some of the debates.
Tonight’s Topic: Why I will not vote for Mike Gravel.
So, who is Mike Gravel? Good question. And unless you lived in Alaska between the late 1950's to the late 1970s or you rode the short yellow bus to school with Mikey when he was a wee lad you most likely don’t know him except as one of the book ends that stands on the stage during the Democrat debates.
Meet Mike Gravel:
Maurice Robert "Mike" Gravel is a former Democratic United States Senator from Alaska, having served for two terms (1969 to 1981). He is primarily known for his efforts to lose the Vietnam War and for using his position as Senator to make military plans part the public record. He is currently a candidate for the 2008 Democratic nomination for President of the United States.
He was raised in a working class neighborhood and his immigrant parents sent him to parochial schools as a Roman Catholic, attending Assumption College Preparatory School.
Gravel studied for one year at American International College in Springfield, then enlisted in the United States Army in 1951 and served in West Germany as a Special Adjutant in the Communication and Intelligent Services and as a Special Agent in the Counter Intelligence Corps until 1954. A dyslexic, who talks about his learning disability openly, he attended Columbia University's School of General Studies in New York City, a B.S. in 1956. He drove a taxicab to support himself.
In a classic Gravel move of leaping before you look, he moved to Alaska in 1956, without funds or a job, looking for a place where an extreme liberal like him could be a viable candidate for public office. He found work in several areas, including real estate sales, brakeman for the Alaska Railroad, and property development with very limited success.
Gravel married local beauty queen, Rita Jeannette Martin,("Miss Fur Rendezvous" of 1958) on April 29, 1959. In the early 1960’s, they had two children, Martin Anthony Gravel and Lynne Denise Gravel. In the early 1980s, she divorced him and won all of his Senate pension income in the settlement.
Gravel’s political career so far has been exercise in mediocrity. he ran unsuccessfully for the territorial legislature in 1958. He went on a national speaking tour concerning tax reform in 1959, sponsored by the Jaycees. He ran unsuccessfully for the Anchorage City Council in 1960. He ran for the Alaska House of Representatives representing Anchorage in 1962 and won his first political office.
Gravel served in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1963 to 1966, winning re-election in 1964. During 1965 and 1966, he served as the Speaker of the House. He did not run for re-election in 1966, instead choosing leap before looking and run for Alaska's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He of course lost to incumbent Democrat Ralph Rivers.
In 1968 he ran a deceitful campaign against the 81-year-old incumbent Democratic Senator Ernest Gruening, a former governor of the Alaska Territory who was considered one of the fathers of Alaska's statehood, for Democrat party's nomination to the U.S. Senate. Gravel's campaign was based on the heavy use of well-produced television advertisements, and by being deliberately ambiguous about his Vietnam policy (Gruening had been one of only two Senators to vote against the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution..) According to Gravel, "...all I had to do was stand up and not deal with the subject, and people would assume that I was to the right of Ernest Gruening, when in point of fact I was to the left of him." Gravel unexpectedly beat Gruening in a tight result in the primary and went on to win the general election, with less than half of the vote.
In 1974 Gravel was re-elected to the Senate, winning 58% of the vote against 42% for Republican C. R. Lewis. But by 1980, the Alaskan people had come to their collective senses and booted him out of office. In 1980 Gravel was challenged for the Democratic Party's nomination by State Representative Clark Gruening (the grandson of the man Gravel had deceitfully defeated in a primary 12 years earlier). Gruening won the primary.
Gravel had never established a firm party base. A group of Democrats (including future governor Steve Cowper) led the campaign against Gravel. Gravel not doing what was best for his people (actions against 1978 and 1980 lands bills in Alaska)was a major issue. Gravel would later concede that by the time of his defeat, he had alienated "almost every constituency in Alaska." Gruening went on to lose in the general election to Republican Frank Murkowski. To date, Gravel is the last Democrat to represent Alaska in Congress.
Gravel took the 1980 defeat hard, recalling years later: "I had lost my career. I lost my marriage. I was in the doldrums for ten years after my defeat." During the 1980s, Gravel was a real estate developer in Anchorage and Kenai, Alaska, a consultant, and a stockbroker. One of his real estate ventures, a condominium business, was forced to declare bankruptcy and a lawsuit ensued.
Gravel married his second wife, Whitney Stewart Gravel in 1984. They live in Arlington County, Virginia. In the 2000s, Gravel suffered from serious health issues, requiring three surgeries in 2003 for back pain and neuropathy.
In June 2003 Gravel gave a speech on direct democracy at a conference cosponsored by the Barnes Review (a journal that endorses Holocaust denial.)
In 2004 he declared personal bankruptcy.
In 2007, he declared that he has "zero net worth." (Financially, politically, morally, and intelligently I would say.)
So where does this bankrupt “never was” stand on the issues?
Domestic Policy:
Taxation: Like most Democrats he wants more of your tax money. And I can guarantee you that he would be irresponsible with your money just like he has been with his own. One of his bright ideas is to create a national sales tax of between tax inclusive 19 and 23 percent on newly manufactured items and services. (Funny, he seems to forget that the American Revelation was started over a tax placed on common products.)
National health care: In his campaign pronouncements Gravel identified medical costs as “one of the leading causes of bankruptcies”. He is an advocate for a national, universal single-payer not-for-profit health care system in the United States. But has no reasonable plan for how to pay for it. (Seeing how he is bankrupt and in failing health, he probably is the candidate most likely to need it.)
Energy, environment and climate change: Senator Gravel has advocated that carbon energy should be taxed to provide the funding for a global effort to bring together the world's scientific and engineering communities to develop energy alternatives to significantly reduce the world’s energy dependence on carbon. (So, he wants to tax only the US to pay for a global effort. Typical.)
Gay Agenda: Gravel had explicitly stated his support of the full range of gay civil rights including same-sex marriage recognition, opposition to Don't ask, don't tell policy, extension of the scope and effect of hate crimes legislation to cover hate violence against gays and lesbians, and the removal of all other remaining legal discrimination against gay people.
Drug policy, including marijuana: Senator Gravel has stated that drug abuse should be treated as a medical problem rather than a criminal matter and that marijuana should be sold in stores next to alcohol. When asked his policy would be on cocaine and methamphetamine. He responded, "We need to legalize the regulation of drugs. The drug problem is a public health problem. It’s not a criminal problem” (So will his health care program pay for me to become addicted to meth?)
Stem cell research: Gravel in principle (or rather lack there of) does not object to the use of embryonic stem cells for medical research purposes.
Abortion: Gravel is avowedly pro-abortion. Concerning the legality of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003, he issued the following statement "I am opposed to today's ruling or any ruling that places restrictions on reproductive freedom.”
Immigration: Gravel has said that he disfavors wholesale or widespread deportation of illegal immigrants found residing in the United States. He favors bringing existing illegal immigrants into legal status.
Foreign policy
Israel: Gravel wants the US to sponsor direct negotiations between Israel and all Palestinian factions, including terrorist groups like Hamas. He support for a Palestinian state to exist alongside Israel (Like that will work.) He wants the US to act as a guarantor for the demilitarization of Israel's border with a future Palestinian state Gravel wants the US to commit to help raise the economic standards in a future Palestinian State to compare with those in Israel. (He not only wants to create a terrorist nation but wants to fund it as well.)
Nuclear Weapons: He wants to get rid of the US’s nuclear first-strike ability. And wants to cut the number of nuclear devices in US hands to a couple of hundred
Iraq: (Yep he is a surrender monkey.) He and all the Islamic terrorist in the world want the Immediate US military withdrawal from Iraq and support for a UN-sponsored regional peace process. Because Lord knows the UN was doing such a good job enforcing the Suctions it passed against Iraq.
My take?
Of the Seven Dwarfs running against Snow White for the Democrat nod. I would have to say he most resembles Sleepy.
Gravel has lost touch with the political world of the last 25 years since last held office. But he needs a job badly since he is bankrupt and lost his pension to his first wife. I would suggest he apply for a job at Wal*mart. I hear they are hiring door greeters.
He is a cookie cutter left wing liberal. He has no sense of financial responsibility.
And I will not vote for Mike Gravel.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Why I will not vote for Bill Richardson
I live in San Diego, which is the northern most state of Mexico. It must be because about a quarter of the people I meet out in town every day speak Spanish not English.
Where I live there are two of the same fast food restaurants about equal distance from my house. One is on my way to the highway and has a huge parking lot. The other is in the opposite direction and has a very small parking lot.
My wife and I refer to the as “the Mc Donald’s with good parking” and “the Mc Donald’s with good English”.
Trust me it’s worth the inconvenience to got to “the good English” one.
Because far to many of the illegal and legal immigrants from the south fail to learn English, living in San Diego sometimes feels like living in a foreign country.
Speaking of living in foreign country, that brings me to my topic tonight: Aquí es porqué no votaré por Bill Richardson. Which is Spanish for:
Here is why I will not vote for Bill Richardson.
So, who is Bill Richardson? Well, he is a Clinton insider, a snot-nosed surrender monkey, and a deceitful weasel. He’s the Governor of New Mexico. He’s the only Hispanic candidate for the 2008 presidential election. He is the only candidate that was raised in Mexico. He is the only candidate who’s parents live in Mexico.
So, what are his qualifications?
Up bringing:
Well, to figure out his family history I had to reread his website three times. Here’s the boiled down version of it. His mother, María Luisa López-Collada Richardson Márquez, is a Mexican banker born in Mexico City, D.F., Mexico. She still resides in Mexico City where Bill was raised. His father, William Blaney Richardson II (AKA William Blaine Richardson) was born in Chinandega, Nicaragua. His parents were married in Colonia del Valle, Mexico City, D.F., Mexico. His father has passed away and is buried in Mexico. According to Bill Richardson, the reason his mom was always sent across the border to have her kids was that his father “had a complex about not having been born in the United States." (I think it almost goes without saying which side of the immigration debate this guy will fall on.)
Schooling:
His parents sent him to Massachusetts at age 13 to attend a Boston-area preparatory school. While still in high school, he met his wife, Barbara Flavin. They married in 1972, and have no children. Richardson played baseball in high school at Middlesex School in Concord, and was a pitcher. Richardson went on to play for Tufts University, (where he was said to have developed a wicked left-sided curve ball.) He claimed to have been scouted, recruited and drafted in the 1966 Major League Baseball amateur draft. (Although, this turned out to be a lie. It is true that he was heavily scouted, recruited and told that he would be drafted, which did not occur. He later claimed he chose to attend college rather than play professionally. “Arm trouble” would later further prevented him from pursuing a professional career in baseball.
At Tufts, he majored in French (which explains his stance on the War on Terror) and political science and was a brother and president of Delta Tau Delta. (Other famous Delta Tau Delta’s include Halliburton CEO Thomas Cruikshank, Devon Energy Chairman J. Larry Nichols, ARCO President Robert Wycoff, NBC-TV Reporter Bob Dotson, and MSNBC Host Dan Abrams of The Abrams Report, to name a few.
He then earned a master's degree from Tufts' Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.. Although the Vietnam War was raging during the years Richardson was in college, and although Richardson was a good athlete, he did not serve in the military.
Early Career:
After college, Richardson worked on congressional relations for the State Department. He was later a staff member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In 1978, he moved to Santa Fe and ran for Congress in 1980, losing narrowly to longtime 1st District congressman and future United States Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lujan (R). Two years later, Richardson was elected to New Mexico's newly created third district, taking in most of the northern part of the state.
Richardson spent a little more than 14 years in Congress. As a congressman, he kept his interest in foreign relations. He visited Nicaragua, Guatemala, Cuba, Peru, India, North Korea, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Sudan.
Richardson served one term as Chairman of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Native American Affairs in the 103rd Congress (1993–1994). While in the House, Richardson sponsored bills such as the Indian Tribal Justice Act, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act Amendments, the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act, the American Indian Agricultural Resource Management Act, the Indian Dams Safety Act, the Tribal Self-Governance Act, the Indian Tribal Jurisdiction Bill (commonly known as the “Duro Fix”) and the Jicarilla Apache Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act.
Clinton years:
In 1995, he traveled to Baghdad engaged in lengthy one-on-one negotiations with Saddam Hussein to secure the release of two American aerospace workers. He became a member of the Democratic leadership, where he worked closely with Bill Clinton on several issues.
Bill Clinton rewarded him by making him U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. As ambassador, he represented the United States in UN proceedings regarding the Palestinian National Authority and the State of Israel, the completion of negotiations that strengthened the role and mandate of the United Nations Environment Program regarding ecologically sustainable development, as well as other duties of an ambassador to the UN. Richardson served there until 1998, when he was appointed U.S. Secretary of Energy, a post that he held for the remainder of the Clinton administration. According to his autobiography, Richardson was asked by the White House in 1997 to interview Monica Lewinsky for a job on his staff at the UN. Richardson did so, and offered her a position.
The Senate confirmed Richardson to be Clinton's Secretary of Energy on July 31, 1998. His tenure at the Department of Energy was marred by the Wen Ho Lee nuclear espionage scandal. Richardson was also criticized by the Senate for his handling of the espionage inquiry by not testifying in front of Congress sooner. (Decietful Weasel.)
Post Clinton years:
With the end of the Clinton administration, Richardson took on a number of different positions including a lecturer at the very socialist friendly Armand Hammer United World College of the American West. He spent about a year researching and writing on the negotiations with North Korea and the energy dimensions of U.S. relations with North Korea. (North Korea again hmmm)
Richardson also joined Kissinger McLarty Associates, a "strategic advisory firm" headed by former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former Clinton White House chief of staff Mack McLarty, as Senior Managing Director. He also served on the corporate boards of several energy companies, including Valero Energy Corporation and Diamond Offshore Drilling. He withdrew from these boards after being nominated by the Democratic Party for governor of New Mexico, but retained considerable stock holdings in Valero and Diamond Offshore. He would later sell these stocks during his campaign for President in 2007, saying he was "getting questions" about the propriety of these holdings, especially given his past as energy secretary, and that it had become a "distraction".
Governorship:
Richardson was elected governor of New Mexico in November 2002 and took office in January 2003 as the only Hispanic Governor in the United States. In a bizarre move for a Democrat, in his first year, Richardson proposed "tax cuts to promote growth and investment" and passed a broad personal income tax cut and won a statewide special election to transfer money from the state's Permanent Fund to meet current expenses and projects.
He supported the gay agenda during his career as governor; he added sexual orientation and gender identity to New Mexico's list of civil rights categories. During the summer of 2003, he met with a delegation from North Korea at their request to discuss concerns over that country's use of nuclear energy. He also flew to North Korea in 2005, and met with another North Korean delegation in 2006..
In December 2005, Richardson announced the intention of New Mexico to partner with flamboyant British billionaire Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson to bring space tourism to the proposed Spaceport America located near Las Cruces, New Mexico. According to an Associated Press report, it currently consists of "a 100-foot by 25-foot concrete slab" and has been a colossal waste of government money. To date only two launches have occurred from Spaceport America. The first launch from the site was the unsuccessful maiden flight of the SpaceLoft XL rocket. It veered off course shortly after lift-off. A second Spaceloft XL was successfully launched however, the primary payload failed to maintain orbit and crashed back to earth. (The payload consisted of the cremated human remains, including those of astronaut Gordon Cooper and Star Trek actor James Doohan.
On September 7, 2006 Richardson flew to Sudan to meet Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir and successfully negotiated the release of imprisoned journalist Paul Salopek. Salopek had been charged by the Sudanese with espionage on August 26th, 2006 while on a National Geographic assignment.
In January 2007, at the request of the Save Darfur Coalition, he brokered a 60-day cease fire between al-Bashir and leaders of several rebel factions in Darfur, the western Sudanese region. The cease-fire never became effective, however, with allegations of breaches on all sides.
During New Mexico's most recent legislative session, Richardson signed a bill into law that made New Mexico the 12th state to legalize marijuana for medical reasons. When asked if this would hurt him in a Presidential election, he stated that it did not matter, as it was "the right thing to do."
OK, So what are Richardson’s Political views?
Domestic issues:Richardson is pro-choice like every other Democrat and wants socialized health care. However, in a rear break from Democrat policies, he supports the death penalty and gun rights. He is a big supporter of affirmative action policies.
Immigration: I think it goes without saying he is very much for giving citizenship to illegal immigrants. He also gave driver's licenses to illegal aliens and sought to give monetary help for college tuition to the children of illegal immigrants.
Gay Agenda: Richardson opposes the "don't ask, don't tell" policy and does not believe homosexuals choose their orientation.
Education: Richardson has called for completely scrapping the No Child Left Behind Act.
Foreign Policy: Richardson is buddy-buddy with North Korea and Cuba. He initially supported the war in Iraq but has now called for the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from the region by the end of 2007. Richardson has stressed that he would leave "zero troops" in Iraq. He denies that the surge worked and we are winning in Iraq. Richardson takes the liberal talking point position that only political progress is measurable. Apparently, reduced violence can have no bearing on the ability to have political progress and reconciliation to Billy and the Leftards. He is oh so fond of saying one American life is too many to bring peace and freedom to the rest of the world.
My Take?
Richardson’s one big issue is Immigration. And when it comes to immigration, he and I stand on different sides of the fence. (Ha I made a pun.) ....It's unrealistic to think we're going to deport 12 million people,'' Richardson said. ....We ought to create a path to legalization.'' As New Mexico governor, Richardson allowed illegal immigrants to earn drivers' licenses and attend public colleges at in-state tuition rates. (That's right. Wave the white flag and surrender. A cowardly liberals' favorite course of action. Simply legalize and reward people for breaking our laws. The "One time" amnesty of 1986 worked so well, didn't it? “)
I think Richardson should move back to his home country and run for president of Mexico. Most of his policies would work there … no wait … Mexico’s Southern border is shut down tighter than a ant’s bung hole.
It’s unrealistic to think any of Richardson’s policies would protect America.
No votaré por Bill Richardson.
I will not vote for Bill Richardson.
Where I live there are two of the same fast food restaurants about equal distance from my house. One is on my way to the highway and has a huge parking lot. The other is in the opposite direction and has a very small parking lot.
My wife and I refer to the as “the Mc Donald’s with good parking” and “the Mc Donald’s with good English”.
Trust me it’s worth the inconvenience to got to “the good English” one.
Because far to many of the illegal and legal immigrants from the south fail to learn English, living in San Diego sometimes feels like living in a foreign country.
Speaking of living in foreign country, that brings me to my topic tonight: Aquí es porqué no votaré por Bill Richardson. Which is Spanish for:
Here is why I will not vote for Bill Richardson.
So, who is Bill Richardson? Well, he is a Clinton insider, a snot-nosed surrender monkey, and a deceitful weasel. He’s the Governor of New Mexico. He’s the only Hispanic candidate for the 2008 presidential election. He is the only candidate that was raised in Mexico. He is the only candidate who’s parents live in Mexico.
So, what are his qualifications?
Up bringing:
Well, to figure out his family history I had to reread his website three times. Here’s the boiled down version of it. His mother, María Luisa López-Collada Richardson Márquez, is a Mexican banker born in Mexico City, D.F., Mexico. She still resides in Mexico City where Bill was raised. His father, William Blaney Richardson II (AKA William Blaine Richardson) was born in Chinandega, Nicaragua. His parents were married in Colonia del Valle, Mexico City, D.F., Mexico. His father has passed away and is buried in Mexico. According to Bill Richardson, the reason his mom was always sent across the border to have her kids was that his father “had a complex about not having been born in the United States." (I think it almost goes without saying which side of the immigration debate this guy will fall on.)
Schooling:
His parents sent him to Massachusetts at age 13 to attend a Boston-area preparatory school. While still in high school, he met his wife, Barbara Flavin. They married in 1972, and have no children. Richardson played baseball in high school at Middlesex School in Concord, and was a pitcher. Richardson went on to play for Tufts University, (where he was said to have developed a wicked left-sided curve ball.) He claimed to have been scouted, recruited and drafted in the 1966 Major League Baseball amateur draft. (Although, this turned out to be a lie. It is true that he was heavily scouted, recruited and told that he would be drafted, which did not occur. He later claimed he chose to attend college rather than play professionally. “Arm trouble” would later further prevented him from pursuing a professional career in baseball.
At Tufts, he majored in French (which explains his stance on the War on Terror) and political science and was a brother and president of Delta Tau Delta. (Other famous Delta Tau Delta’s include Halliburton CEO Thomas Cruikshank, Devon Energy Chairman J. Larry Nichols, ARCO President Robert Wycoff, NBC-TV Reporter Bob Dotson, and MSNBC Host Dan Abrams of The Abrams Report, to name a few.
He then earned a master's degree from Tufts' Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.. Although the Vietnam War was raging during the years Richardson was in college, and although Richardson was a good athlete, he did not serve in the military.
Early Career:
After college, Richardson worked on congressional relations for the State Department. He was later a staff member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In 1978, he moved to Santa Fe and ran for Congress in 1980, losing narrowly to longtime 1st District congressman and future United States Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lujan (R). Two years later, Richardson was elected to New Mexico's newly created third district, taking in most of the northern part of the state.
Richardson spent a little more than 14 years in Congress. As a congressman, he kept his interest in foreign relations. He visited Nicaragua, Guatemala, Cuba, Peru, India, North Korea, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Sudan.
Richardson served one term as Chairman of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Native American Affairs in the 103rd Congress (1993–1994). While in the House, Richardson sponsored bills such as the Indian Tribal Justice Act, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act Amendments, the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act, the American Indian Agricultural Resource Management Act, the Indian Dams Safety Act, the Tribal Self-Governance Act, the Indian Tribal Jurisdiction Bill (commonly known as the “Duro Fix”) and the Jicarilla Apache Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act.
Clinton years:
In 1995, he traveled to Baghdad engaged in lengthy one-on-one negotiations with Saddam Hussein to secure the release of two American aerospace workers. He became a member of the Democratic leadership, where he worked closely with Bill Clinton on several issues.
Bill Clinton rewarded him by making him U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. As ambassador, he represented the United States in UN proceedings regarding the Palestinian National Authority and the State of Israel, the completion of negotiations that strengthened the role and mandate of the United Nations Environment Program regarding ecologically sustainable development, as well as other duties of an ambassador to the UN. Richardson served there until 1998, when he was appointed U.S. Secretary of Energy, a post that he held for the remainder of the Clinton administration. According to his autobiography, Richardson was asked by the White House in 1997 to interview Monica Lewinsky for a job on his staff at the UN. Richardson did so, and offered her a position.
The Senate confirmed Richardson to be Clinton's Secretary of Energy on July 31, 1998. His tenure at the Department of Energy was marred by the Wen Ho Lee nuclear espionage scandal. Richardson was also criticized by the Senate for his handling of the espionage inquiry by not testifying in front of Congress sooner. (Decietful Weasel.)
Post Clinton years:
With the end of the Clinton administration, Richardson took on a number of different positions including a lecturer at the very socialist friendly Armand Hammer United World College of the American West. He spent about a year researching and writing on the negotiations with North Korea and the energy dimensions of U.S. relations with North Korea. (North Korea again hmmm)
Richardson also joined Kissinger McLarty Associates, a "strategic advisory firm" headed by former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former Clinton White House chief of staff Mack McLarty, as Senior Managing Director. He also served on the corporate boards of several energy companies, including Valero Energy Corporation and Diamond Offshore Drilling. He withdrew from these boards after being nominated by the Democratic Party for governor of New Mexico, but retained considerable stock holdings in Valero and Diamond Offshore. He would later sell these stocks during his campaign for President in 2007, saying he was "getting questions" about the propriety of these holdings, especially given his past as energy secretary, and that it had become a "distraction".
Governorship:
Richardson was elected governor of New Mexico in November 2002 and took office in January 2003 as the only Hispanic Governor in the United States. In a bizarre move for a Democrat, in his first year, Richardson proposed "tax cuts to promote growth and investment" and passed a broad personal income tax cut and won a statewide special election to transfer money from the state's Permanent Fund to meet current expenses and projects.
He supported the gay agenda during his career as governor; he added sexual orientation and gender identity to New Mexico's list of civil rights categories. During the summer of 2003, he met with a delegation from North Korea at their request to discuss concerns over that country's use of nuclear energy. He also flew to North Korea in 2005, and met with another North Korean delegation in 2006..
In December 2005, Richardson announced the intention of New Mexico to partner with flamboyant British billionaire Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson to bring space tourism to the proposed Spaceport America located near Las Cruces, New Mexico. According to an Associated Press report, it currently consists of "a 100-foot by 25-foot concrete slab" and has been a colossal waste of government money. To date only two launches have occurred from Spaceport America. The first launch from the site was the unsuccessful maiden flight of the SpaceLoft XL rocket. It veered off course shortly after lift-off. A second Spaceloft XL was successfully launched however, the primary payload failed to maintain orbit and crashed back to earth. (The payload consisted of the cremated human remains, including those of astronaut Gordon Cooper and Star Trek actor James Doohan.
On September 7, 2006 Richardson flew to Sudan to meet Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir and successfully negotiated the release of imprisoned journalist Paul Salopek. Salopek had been charged by the Sudanese with espionage on August 26th, 2006 while on a National Geographic assignment.
In January 2007, at the request of the Save Darfur Coalition, he brokered a 60-day cease fire between al-Bashir and leaders of several rebel factions in Darfur, the western Sudanese region. The cease-fire never became effective, however, with allegations of breaches on all sides.
During New Mexico's most recent legislative session, Richardson signed a bill into law that made New Mexico the 12th state to legalize marijuana for medical reasons. When asked if this would hurt him in a Presidential election, he stated that it did not matter, as it was "the right thing to do."
OK, So what are Richardson’s Political views?
Domestic issues:Richardson is pro-choice like every other Democrat and wants socialized health care. However, in a rear break from Democrat policies, he supports the death penalty and gun rights. He is a big supporter of affirmative action policies.
Immigration: I think it goes without saying he is very much for giving citizenship to illegal immigrants. He also gave driver's licenses to illegal aliens and sought to give monetary help for college tuition to the children of illegal immigrants.
Gay Agenda: Richardson opposes the "don't ask, don't tell" policy and does not believe homosexuals choose their orientation.
Education: Richardson has called for completely scrapping the No Child Left Behind Act.
Foreign Policy: Richardson is buddy-buddy with North Korea and Cuba. He initially supported the war in Iraq but has now called for the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from the region by the end of 2007. Richardson has stressed that he would leave "zero troops" in Iraq. He denies that the surge worked and we are winning in Iraq. Richardson takes the liberal talking point position that only political progress is measurable. Apparently, reduced violence can have no bearing on the ability to have political progress and reconciliation to Billy and the Leftards. He is oh so fond of saying one American life is too many to bring peace and freedom to the rest of the world.
My Take?
Richardson’s one big issue is Immigration. And when it comes to immigration, he and I stand on different sides of the fence. (Ha I made a pun.) ....It's unrealistic to think we're going to deport 12 million people,'' Richardson said. ....We ought to create a path to legalization.'' As New Mexico governor, Richardson allowed illegal immigrants to earn drivers' licenses and attend public colleges at in-state tuition rates. (That's right. Wave the white flag and surrender. A cowardly liberals' favorite course of action. Simply legalize and reward people for breaking our laws. The "One time" amnesty of 1986 worked so well, didn't it? “)
I think Richardson should move back to his home country and run for president of Mexico. Most of his policies would work there … no wait … Mexico’s Southern border is shut down tighter than a ant’s bung hole.
It’s unrealistic to think any of Richardson’s policies would protect America.
No votaré por Bill Richardson.
I will not vote for Bill Richardson.
Are the Clinton's Hazardous to your Health?
A large number of people connected to Bill and Hillary Clinton have turned up dead apparently from Arkansas Sudden Death Syndrome. Victims include:
James McDougal - 3/8/98 The Clintons' convicted Whitewater partner died of an apparent heart attack, while in solitary confinement. He was a key witness in Ken Starr's investigation. Cause of death ruled as a Heart attack. Serious health problems; died while in solitary. On 12 medications. Unusual Prozac level found during autopsy. Questions about other drugs given, including Lasix, which is contraindicated for heart patients. Despite being key witness against the Clintons, had been treated at a welfare hospital. Was James McDougal Murdered In A Federal Prison To Silence Him?
Ron Brown -4/4/96 Secretary of Commerce and former DNC Chairman. Reported to have died by impact in a plane crash. A pathologist close to the investigation reported that there was a hole in the top of Brown's skull resembling a gunshot wound. At the time of his death Brown was being investigated, and spoke publicly of his willingness to cut a deal with prosecutors. The Botched Ron Brown Investigation An Interview with AFIP Forensic Photographer Kathleen Janoskiby Wesley Phelan. Despite serious questions raised by examining pathologist, no autopsy. Other anomalies at site of crash. Was on the verge of being indicted.
Shelly Kelly - Shelly Kelly was the flight attendent on Ron Brown's ill fated flight (April 3, 1996) James Nugent of the Wall Street Underground wrote, "Four hours and 20 minutes after the crash, the first Croatian Special Forces search party arrives on the scene and finds only Ms. Kelly surviving. They call for a helicopter to evacuate her to the hospital. When it arrives, she is able to get aboard without assistance from the medics. But Kelly never completes the short hop. She dies enroute. According to multiple reports given to journalist/editor Joe L. Jordan, an autopsy later reveals a neat three-inch incision over her main femoral artery. It also shows that the incision came at least three hours after her other cuts and bruises."
Mohamed Samir Ferrat - The Guardian of London, May 27, 1998: "Police are investigating the possibility that insurance fraud by a Swiss resident listed among the 230 people killed in the TWA Flight 800 explosion might have been behind the disaster, Swiss television reported last night. Swiss authorities have been investigating Algerian-born Mohammed Samir Ferrat, for 18 months, the report said. . . A Geneva lawyer, Gerald Page, alleged in an interview for the Swiss television report that Ferrat took out life insurance policies worth several million Swiss francs in the weeks before the plane crashed in July 1996, half an hour after taking off from New York . . . On August 19, a month after the crash, the local medical examiner in Suffolk County - in whose jurisdiction the disaster occurred - declared that Mohammed Ferrat had been positively identified as a dead passenger from TWA Flight 800. US investigators counted him out as a suspect early. . . The report showed footage of the late US commerce secretary, Ron Brown, at the Washington signing with Ferrat of a pounds 62.5 million contract between Sofin and the US construction firm Chatwick Inc, which was to build residences in the Ivory Coast." According to a CNN international report, Mohamed Samir Ferrat, an Algerian business associate of Secretary Brown, who was scheduled to accompany Brown on the Bosnian trip but withdrew at the last moment for reasons still unclear, died July 17, on the ill fated TWA Flight 800.
Niko Jerkuic - Chief Niko Jerkuic, technician in charge of the radio beacons used during the fatal Ron Brown flight committed suicide May 6, 1996. Christopher Ruddy and Hugh Sprunt wrote, "Brown's plane was probably relying on Croatian ground beacons for navigation. In the minutes before Brown's plane crashed, five other planes landed at Dubrovnik without difficulty, and none experienced problems with the beacons. But additional questions about the beacons and the crash will remain unanswered because, as the Air Force acknowledges, airport maintenance chief Niko Junic died by gunshot just three days after the crash and before he could be interviewed by investigators. Within a day of his death, officials determined the death was a suicide."
Vince Foster - 7/21/93 Former white House councelor, and colleague of Hillary Clinton at Little Rock's Rose law firm. Died of a gunshot wound to the head, ruled a suicide. Snippets From The Vince Foster Death Investigation Scores of anomalies remain despite two investigations. White House engaged in major obstruction of investigation including refusing to allow police officers to search office. Some experts consider Foster's suicide note to be a forgery.
Mary Mahoney - 7/6/97 A former White House intern was murdered July 1997 at a Starbucks Coffee Shop in Georgetown. The murder happened just as she was to go public with her story of sexual harassment in the White House.Mary C. Mahoney and Eric Butera
Was this just a robbery gone bad? - See: Starbucks Suspect Faces Host of Charges By Bill Miller Washington Post, August 5, 1999. Former White House intern shot five times during the murder of three Starbucks employees in an execution-style slaying. No money was taken. Informant assisting police in case was murdered when sent by DC police into a botched drug sting. The handling of the 1997 Starbucks murder case continues to raise questions. Why, of all the 301 slayings that took place in DC that same year, did only these three killings attract the attention not only of the FBI but of Attorney General Reno herself? Reno overruled her own US Attorney and called for the death penalty in the case. Reno had intervened in only one other local case -- a gang leader accused of 14 deaths. Carl Derek Cooper pleaded guilty to the crimes in April 2000 after being threatened with the death penalty by Reno.
Eric Butera- An informant in the murder of White House intern Mary Mahoney. Assigned by DC police to make an undercover drug buy and was beaten to death.
Carlos Ghigliotti - Ghigliotti: 42, was found dead in his office just outside of Washington D.C. on April 28, 2000. Ghigliotti, a thermal imaging analyst hired by the House Government Reform Committee to review tape of the Waco siege, had said he determined the FBI fired shots during the incident. The FBI explained the light bursts on infrared footage as reflections of sun rays on shards of glass or other debris that littered the scene. "I conclude this based on the ground view videotapes taken from several different angles simultaneously and based on the overhead thermal tape," Ghigliotti told The Washington Post Ghigliotti said the tapes also confirm the Davidians fired repeatedly at FBI agents during the assault, which ended when flames raced through the compound.
C. Victor Raiser II - & - Montgomery Raiser: Major players in the Clinton fund raising organization scandals died in a private plane crash in July 1992.
Paul Tulley - Democratic National Committee Political Director found dead in a hotel room in Little Rock, September 1992. Described by Clinton as a "Dear friend and trusted advisor".
Charles Wilbourne Miller - Charles Wilbourne Miller, 63, was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head on November 17, 1998 in a shallow pit about 300 yards from his ranch house near Little Rock. Police found a .410 gauge shotgun near Miller's body and a Ruger .357-caliber revolver submerged in water. Investigators concluded the Ruger was the weapon used by Miller to kill himself. Yet, two rounds in the handgun's cylinder had been spent. He had long served as executive vice president and member of the board of directors for a company called Alltel and was deeply involved in his own software engineering company until the day he died. Alltel is the successor to Jackson Stephens' Systematics, the company that provided the software for the White House's "Big Brother" data base system and that was behind the administration's plan to develop the secret computer "Clipper" chip to bug every phone, fax and email transmission in America.
Ed Willey - Clinton fund raiser, found dead November 1993 deep in the woods in Virginia of a gunshot wound to the head. Ruled a suicide. Ed Willey died on the same day his wife Kathleen Willey claimed Bill Clinton groped her in the oval office in the White House. Ed Willey was involved in several Clinton fund raising events.
Jerry Parks - 9/26/93 Head of Clinton's gubernatorial security team in Little Rock. Gunned down in his car at a deserted intersection outside Little Rock. Park's son said his father was building a dossier on Clinton. He allegedly threatened to reveal this information. After he died the files were mysteriously removed from his house. Clinton security aide in Arkansas, known to have been keeping dossier on Clinton, gunned down in his car outside of Little Rock. Parks was shot through the rear window of his car and shot three more times, thru the side window, with a 9mm pistol. Parks ran American Contract Services, the business which supplied bodyguards for Clinton during his presidential campaign and the following transition. Bill Clinton still owed him $81,000. Parks had collected detailed data on Clinton's sexual escapades, including pictures and dates. Wife claims federal agents subsequently removed files and computer. She also says that upon learning of Vincent Foster's death, he told her, "I'm a dead man." Two months later he was. Wife also says he made large transfers of cash to Vince Foster.
James Bunch - Died from a gunshot suicide. It was reported that he had a "Black Book" of people containing names of influential people who visited prostitutes in Texas and Arkansas.
James Wilson - Was found dead in May 1993 from an aparent hanging suicide. He was reported to have ties to Whitewater.
Kathy Ferguson -5/11/93 Ex-wife of Arkansas Trooper Danny Ferguson died in May 1994 was found dead in her living roon with a gunshot to her head. It was ruled a suicide even though there were several packed suitcases, as if she was going somewhere. Danny Ferguson was a co-defendant along with Bill Clinton in the Paula Jones lawsuit. Kathy Ferguson was a possible corroborating witness for Paula Jones. Gunshot to head. Death came five days after her ex-husband, Danny Ferguson, was named a co-defendant in the Paula Jones law suit. Left suicide note but body was found in her living room next to her packed bags as though she was planning to take a trip. Bullet hole behind the left ear, execution style, although she was right handed and found with the gun in her right hand.
Bill Shelton - 6/12/93 Arkansas state Trooper and fiancee of Kathy Ferguson. Critical of the suicide ruling of his fiancee, he was found dead in June, 1994 of a gunshot wound also ruled a suicide at the gravesite of his fiancee. Arkansas state trooper. Kathy Ferguson's fiancée. Gunshot to behind ear at Ferguson's gravesite. Left note saying "I can't stand it any more." Local police chief says, "It puts big questions in your mind. Why?"
Gandy Baugh - 2/9/94 Attorney for Clinton friend Dan Lassater died by jumping out a window of a tall building January, 1994. His client was a convicted drug distributor. Attorney who had represented Clinton buddy and drug distributor Dan Lasater allegedly jumped to his death. Baugh's law partner commited suicide one month later.
Florence Martin - Accountant - Sub-contractor for the CIA related to the Barry Seal Mena Airport drug smuggling case. Died of three gunshot wounds.
Suzanne Coleman - Reportedly had an affair with Clinton when he was Arkansas Attorney General. Died of a gunshot wound to the back of the head, ruled a suicide. Was pregnant at the time of her death.
Paula Grober -12/9/92 Clinton's speech interpreter for the deaf from 1978 until her death December 9, 1992. She died in a one car accident, high-speed, no witness. Had traveled extensively with Clinton since 1978.
Danny Casolaro - Investigative reporter. Investigating Mena Airport and Arkansas Development Finance Authority. He slit his wrists, apparent suicide in the middle of his investigation.
Paul Wilcher - 6/23/93 Attorney investigating corruption at Mena Airport with Casolaro and the 1980 "October Surprise" was found dead on a toilet June 22, 1993 in his Washington DC apartment. Had delivered a report to Janet Reno 3 weeks before his death. Washington attorney found dead on a toilet in apartment. Said to be investigating various scandals including the October Surprise, the 1980 election campaign, drug and gun-running through Mena and the Waco assault. Was planning a TV documentary on his findings. Delivered extensive affidavit to Janet Reno three weeks before his death.
Jon Parnell Walker - Whitewater investigator for Resolution Trust Corp. Jumped to his death from his Arlington, Virginia apartment balcony August 15,1993 Was investigating Morgan Guarantee scandal.
Barbara Wise -11/29/96 Commerce Department staffer. Worked closely with Ron Brown and John Huang. Cause of death unknown. Died November 29, 1996. Her bruised nude body was found locked in her office at the Department of Commerce. Commerce Department (International Trade Administration) secretary and associate of John Huang found bruised and partially nude in a locked office at Commerce. Cause of death unknown.
Charles Meissner - Assistant Secretary of Commerce who gave John Huang special security clearance, died shortly thereafter in a small plane crash. Assistant Commerce Secretrary responsible for giving John Huang a department contract with security clearances.
Dr. Stanley Heard - Chairman of the National Chiropractic Health Care Advisory Committee died with his attorney Steve Dickson in a small plane crash. Dr. Heard, in addition to serving on Clinton's advisory council personally treated Clinton's mother, stepfather and brother.
Barry Seal - Drug running pilot out of Mena Arkansas, Death was no accident.
Johnny Lawhorn Jr. - 3/26/98 Mechanic, found a check made out to Clinton in the trunk of a car left in his repair shop. Died when his car hit a utility pole. Single-car crash at 1 am after leaving gas station at high rate of speed.
Stanley Huggins - Suicide. Investigated Madison Guarantee. His report was never released.
Hershell Friday - 3/01/94 Attorney and Clinton fund raiser died March 1, 1994 when his plane exploded.
Ron Miller- 10/12/97 Was under investigation for financial irregularities, Miller had turned over evidence of campaign finance wrongdoing to congressional investigators. Miller, suddenly took ill and died 9 days later. The death was strange enough that doctors referred it to the Oklahoma medical examiner which has refused to release the results of its tests.
William Colby - Colby's death, allegedly while canoeing, raises a number of questions. For example, the retired CIA head had left his home unlocked, his computer on, and a partly eaten dinner on the table. Colby had recently become an editor of Strategic Investment which was doing investigative reporting on the Vince Foster death. 4/96.
Dr. Ronald Rogers - Plane crashed while this Arkansas dentist was on his way to an interview with a London Telegraph reporter covering the Clinton scandals. Plane went down far off its planned route after generator overheated.
Neil Moody - 8/25/96 Son of the man Vince Foster's widow married was killed in a single car crash against a brick wall. Reports that he had been talking to reporters. There were other reports that Neil Moody had discovered something unsettling among his stepmother's private papers and was threatening to go public with it just prior to the beginning of the Democratic National Convention. Witnesses said they saw Neil sitting in his car arguing with another person and suddenly speeding off out of control and hitting a brick wall.
Admiral Jerermy Boorda - Boorda allegedly killed himself after going home for lunch. Explanations for suicide include his wearing an improper medal and stresses over Navy downsizing. Explanations for Boorda's suicide focused on a claim that he was embarrassed over two "V for Valor" pins he was not authorized to wear. When it turned out that Boorda was entitled to those decorations, blame shifted to stresses over down sizing of the Navy and the adverse affect that feminism was having on the Navy's morale.
Jim Wilhite - 12/21/92 Vice chair of Arkla with ties to Clinton and Mack McLarty. Wilhite was an associate of Mack McClarty's former firm.
Robert Bates - Mena Airport mechanic and a prospective witness in the Terry Reed case, allegedly drank himself to death on mouthwash.
Herby Branscum - Arkansas bankers Herby Branscum and Robert Hill were tried on charges in connection with Clinton's 1990 gubernatorial campaign. They were acquitted on some, but a mistrial was declared on others. Branscum subsequently killed in a suspicious auto accident.
Kevin Ives & Don Henry - Known as "The boys on the track" case. Reports say the boys may have stumbled upon the Mena arkansas airport drug operation. Controversal case where initial report of death was due to falling asleep on railroad track. Later reports claim the 2 boys had been slain before being placed on the tracks. Many linked to the case died before their testimony could come before a Grand Jury. see: The Train Deaths - plus some comments from a mother of one of the boys about the connection to Bill Clinton.
Nine persons reportedly had information on the Ives-Henry murders. McKaskle had expressed fear for his life of the "railroad track thing." Told his parents good-bye. Inmate reported being offered $4,000 to kill McKaskle. Collins death was ruled a suicide. Earlier he had failed to answer a subpoena before the Ives-Henry grand jury. Winters was a suspect in the murders. He was killed in what was initially thought to have been a robbery turned out to have been a set-up. Bearden was apparently murdered under mysterious circumstances March 1989.According to Micah Morrison in the Wall Street Journal, "he was a friend of both Greg Collins and Keith Coney. He 'vanished' without a trace. It was rumored he knew exactly what had happened at the tracks. An anonymous caller said he knew where he had been murdered. The police found a piece of a shirt, nothing more." Milam was found decapitated; nonetheless, the state medical examiner, Fahmy Malak - notorious for his curious rulings -- declared the death to be of natural causes. Mike Samples, murdered June 1995, was another grand jury witness in the train deaths. Wrote Morrison in the WSJ: "He was reported as knowing a great deal about the deaths of Ives and Henry. Sources say he had been involved with picking up drugs that were dropped out of planes at the Mena drop sites. He was shot to death in the head and was not found for some time."
THE FOLLOWING NINE PERSONS HAD INFORMATION ON THE IVES / HENRY CASE:
Keith Coney - Died when his motorcycle slammed into the back of a truck July, 1988
Keith McMaskle - Died stabbed 113 times, Nov, 1988
Gregory Collins - Died from a gunshot wound January 1989.
Jeff Rhodes - He was shot, mutilated and found burned in a trash dump in April 1989.
James Milan - Found decapitated. Coroner ruled death due to natural causes.
Jordan Kettleson - Was found shot to death in the front seat of his pickup truck in June 1990.
Richard Winters - Was a suspect in the Ives / Henry deaths. Was killed in a set-up robbery July 1989.
Boonie Bearden - Vanished, believed murdered
Mike Samples - Murdered
Even being a Clinton bodyguard is not good for your health.
17 bodyguards for clinton during his visit to the USS Roosevelt all died within
These 4 Clinton bodyguards died in a helicopter crash in woods near Quantico VA. Reporters barred from site, but fire department chief reported security tight with "lots of Marines with guns." Videotape made by firefighter seized by Marines.
Major William S. Barkley Jr. -5/19/93
Captain Scott J. Reynolds - 5/19/93
Sgt. Brian Hanley - 5/19/93
Sgt. Tim Sabel - 5/19/93
Five Navy aviators who acted as Clinton's bodyguards/escorts (names not determined) died: 3/26/93 - all died in a crash of an E-2C Hawkeye in Italy. The crash occurred shortly after the plane was "waved off" from a landing attempt on the Carrier Roosevelt, due to a "fouled deck". All five men had been Clinton's escorts during Clinton's visit to the Roosevelt 2 weeks prior.
These men were - killed when the helicopter he was in crashed in Weisbaden, Germany. No cause was ever determined. - V Corps figured prominently in the US Bosnia-Serbia peacekeeping operations, along with the carrier Roosevelt.
William Robertson - 2/23/93
William Densberger - 2/23/93
Robert Kelly - 2/23/93
Gary Rhodes - 2/23/93
These four former ATF agents were killed during the Waco Massacre had served as bodyguards to Bill Clinton. Questions still remain as to to the nature and source of their wounds.
All 4 died of single gunshot wounds to the left temple. However, According to Linda Thompson, videotapes and other evidence indicates that none died from guns fired by Branch Davidians.
Steve Willis -2/28/93
Robert Williams - 2/28/93
Conway LeBleu - 2/28/93
Todd McKeehan - 2/28/93
For a more detailed list of people that have died form Arkansas Sudden Death Syndrome visit:
http://cbn2.tripod.com/iflink.html
James McDougal - 3/8/98 The Clintons' convicted Whitewater partner died of an apparent heart attack, while in solitary confinement. He was a key witness in Ken Starr's investigation. Cause of death ruled as a Heart attack. Serious health problems; died while in solitary. On 12 medications. Unusual Prozac level found during autopsy. Questions about other drugs given, including Lasix, which is contraindicated for heart patients. Despite being key witness against the Clintons, had been treated at a welfare hospital. Was James McDougal Murdered In A Federal Prison To Silence Him?
Ron Brown -4/4/96 Secretary of Commerce and former DNC Chairman. Reported to have died by impact in a plane crash. A pathologist close to the investigation reported that there was a hole in the top of Brown's skull resembling a gunshot wound. At the time of his death Brown was being investigated, and spoke publicly of his willingness to cut a deal with prosecutors. The Botched Ron Brown Investigation An Interview with AFIP Forensic Photographer Kathleen Janoskiby Wesley Phelan. Despite serious questions raised by examining pathologist, no autopsy. Other anomalies at site of crash. Was on the verge of being indicted.
Shelly Kelly - Shelly Kelly was the flight attendent on Ron Brown's ill fated flight (April 3, 1996) James Nugent of the Wall Street Underground wrote, "Four hours and 20 minutes after the crash, the first Croatian Special Forces search party arrives on the scene and finds only Ms. Kelly surviving. They call for a helicopter to evacuate her to the hospital. When it arrives, she is able to get aboard without assistance from the medics. But Kelly never completes the short hop. She dies enroute. According to multiple reports given to journalist/editor Joe L. Jordan, an autopsy later reveals a neat three-inch incision over her main femoral artery. It also shows that the incision came at least three hours after her other cuts and bruises."
Mohamed Samir Ferrat - The Guardian of London, May 27, 1998: "Police are investigating the possibility that insurance fraud by a Swiss resident listed among the 230 people killed in the TWA Flight 800 explosion might have been behind the disaster, Swiss television reported last night. Swiss authorities have been investigating Algerian-born Mohammed Samir Ferrat, for 18 months, the report said. . . A Geneva lawyer, Gerald Page, alleged in an interview for the Swiss television report that Ferrat took out life insurance policies worth several million Swiss francs in the weeks before the plane crashed in July 1996, half an hour after taking off from New York . . . On August 19, a month after the crash, the local medical examiner in Suffolk County - in whose jurisdiction the disaster occurred - declared that Mohammed Ferrat had been positively identified as a dead passenger from TWA Flight 800. US investigators counted him out as a suspect early. . . The report showed footage of the late US commerce secretary, Ron Brown, at the Washington signing with Ferrat of a pounds 62.5 million contract between Sofin and the US construction firm Chatwick Inc, which was to build residences in the Ivory Coast." According to a CNN international report, Mohamed Samir Ferrat, an Algerian business associate of Secretary Brown, who was scheduled to accompany Brown on the Bosnian trip but withdrew at the last moment for reasons still unclear, died July 17, on the ill fated TWA Flight 800.
Niko Jerkuic - Chief Niko Jerkuic, technician in charge of the radio beacons used during the fatal Ron Brown flight committed suicide May 6, 1996. Christopher Ruddy and Hugh Sprunt wrote, "Brown's plane was probably relying on Croatian ground beacons for navigation. In the minutes before Brown's plane crashed, five other planes landed at Dubrovnik without difficulty, and none experienced problems with the beacons. But additional questions about the beacons and the crash will remain unanswered because, as the Air Force acknowledges, airport maintenance chief Niko Junic died by gunshot just three days after the crash and before he could be interviewed by investigators. Within a day of his death, officials determined the death was a suicide."
Vince Foster - 7/21/93 Former white House councelor, and colleague of Hillary Clinton at Little Rock's Rose law firm. Died of a gunshot wound to the head, ruled a suicide. Snippets From The Vince Foster Death Investigation Scores of anomalies remain despite two investigations. White House engaged in major obstruction of investigation including refusing to allow police officers to search office. Some experts consider Foster's suicide note to be a forgery.
Mary Mahoney - 7/6/97 A former White House intern was murdered July 1997 at a Starbucks Coffee Shop in Georgetown. The murder happened just as she was to go public with her story of sexual harassment in the White House.Mary C. Mahoney and Eric Butera
Was this just a robbery gone bad? - See: Starbucks Suspect Faces Host of Charges By Bill Miller Washington Post, August 5, 1999. Former White House intern shot five times during the murder of three Starbucks employees in an execution-style slaying. No money was taken. Informant assisting police in case was murdered when sent by DC police into a botched drug sting. The handling of the 1997 Starbucks murder case continues to raise questions. Why, of all the 301 slayings that took place in DC that same year, did only these three killings attract the attention not only of the FBI but of Attorney General Reno herself? Reno overruled her own US Attorney and called for the death penalty in the case. Reno had intervened in only one other local case -- a gang leader accused of 14 deaths. Carl Derek Cooper pleaded guilty to the crimes in April 2000 after being threatened with the death penalty by Reno.
Eric Butera- An informant in the murder of White House intern Mary Mahoney. Assigned by DC police to make an undercover drug buy and was beaten to death.
Carlos Ghigliotti - Ghigliotti: 42, was found dead in his office just outside of Washington D.C. on April 28, 2000. Ghigliotti, a thermal imaging analyst hired by the House Government Reform Committee to review tape of the Waco siege, had said he determined the FBI fired shots during the incident. The FBI explained the light bursts on infrared footage as reflections of sun rays on shards of glass or other debris that littered the scene. "I conclude this based on the ground view videotapes taken from several different angles simultaneously and based on the overhead thermal tape," Ghigliotti told The Washington Post Ghigliotti said the tapes also confirm the Davidians fired repeatedly at FBI agents during the assault, which ended when flames raced through the compound.
C. Victor Raiser II - & - Montgomery Raiser: Major players in the Clinton fund raising organization scandals died in a private plane crash in July 1992.
Paul Tulley - Democratic National Committee Political Director found dead in a hotel room in Little Rock, September 1992. Described by Clinton as a "Dear friend and trusted advisor".
Charles Wilbourne Miller - Charles Wilbourne Miller, 63, was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head on November 17, 1998 in a shallow pit about 300 yards from his ranch house near Little Rock. Police found a .410 gauge shotgun near Miller's body and a Ruger .357-caliber revolver submerged in water. Investigators concluded the Ruger was the weapon used by Miller to kill himself. Yet, two rounds in the handgun's cylinder had been spent. He had long served as executive vice president and member of the board of directors for a company called Alltel and was deeply involved in his own software engineering company until the day he died. Alltel is the successor to Jackson Stephens' Systematics, the company that provided the software for the White House's "Big Brother" data base system and that was behind the administration's plan to develop the secret computer "Clipper" chip to bug every phone, fax and email transmission in America.
Ed Willey - Clinton fund raiser, found dead November 1993 deep in the woods in Virginia of a gunshot wound to the head. Ruled a suicide. Ed Willey died on the same day his wife Kathleen Willey claimed Bill Clinton groped her in the oval office in the White House. Ed Willey was involved in several Clinton fund raising events.
Jerry Parks - 9/26/93 Head of Clinton's gubernatorial security team in Little Rock. Gunned down in his car at a deserted intersection outside Little Rock. Park's son said his father was building a dossier on Clinton. He allegedly threatened to reveal this information. After he died the files were mysteriously removed from his house. Clinton security aide in Arkansas, known to have been keeping dossier on Clinton, gunned down in his car outside of Little Rock. Parks was shot through the rear window of his car and shot three more times, thru the side window, with a 9mm pistol. Parks ran American Contract Services, the business which supplied bodyguards for Clinton during his presidential campaign and the following transition. Bill Clinton still owed him $81,000. Parks had collected detailed data on Clinton's sexual escapades, including pictures and dates. Wife claims federal agents subsequently removed files and computer. She also says that upon learning of Vincent Foster's death, he told her, "I'm a dead man." Two months later he was. Wife also says he made large transfers of cash to Vince Foster.
James Bunch - Died from a gunshot suicide. It was reported that he had a "Black Book" of people containing names of influential people who visited prostitutes in Texas and Arkansas.
James Wilson - Was found dead in May 1993 from an aparent hanging suicide. He was reported to have ties to Whitewater.
Kathy Ferguson -5/11/93 Ex-wife of Arkansas Trooper Danny Ferguson died in May 1994 was found dead in her living roon with a gunshot to her head. It was ruled a suicide even though there were several packed suitcases, as if she was going somewhere. Danny Ferguson was a co-defendant along with Bill Clinton in the Paula Jones lawsuit. Kathy Ferguson was a possible corroborating witness for Paula Jones. Gunshot to head. Death came five days after her ex-husband, Danny Ferguson, was named a co-defendant in the Paula Jones law suit. Left suicide note but body was found in her living room next to her packed bags as though she was planning to take a trip. Bullet hole behind the left ear, execution style, although she was right handed and found with the gun in her right hand.
Bill Shelton - 6/12/93 Arkansas state Trooper and fiancee of Kathy Ferguson. Critical of the suicide ruling of his fiancee, he was found dead in June, 1994 of a gunshot wound also ruled a suicide at the gravesite of his fiancee. Arkansas state trooper. Kathy Ferguson's fiancée. Gunshot to behind ear at Ferguson's gravesite. Left note saying "I can't stand it any more." Local police chief says, "It puts big questions in your mind. Why?"
Gandy Baugh - 2/9/94 Attorney for Clinton friend Dan Lassater died by jumping out a window of a tall building January, 1994. His client was a convicted drug distributor. Attorney who had represented Clinton buddy and drug distributor Dan Lasater allegedly jumped to his death. Baugh's law partner commited suicide one month later.
Florence Martin - Accountant - Sub-contractor for the CIA related to the Barry Seal Mena Airport drug smuggling case. Died of three gunshot wounds.
Suzanne Coleman - Reportedly had an affair with Clinton when he was Arkansas Attorney General. Died of a gunshot wound to the back of the head, ruled a suicide. Was pregnant at the time of her death.
Paula Grober -12/9/92 Clinton's speech interpreter for the deaf from 1978 until her death December 9, 1992. She died in a one car accident, high-speed, no witness. Had traveled extensively with Clinton since 1978.
Danny Casolaro - Investigative reporter. Investigating Mena Airport and Arkansas Development Finance Authority. He slit his wrists, apparent suicide in the middle of his investigation.
Paul Wilcher - 6/23/93 Attorney investigating corruption at Mena Airport with Casolaro and the 1980 "October Surprise" was found dead on a toilet June 22, 1993 in his Washington DC apartment. Had delivered a report to Janet Reno 3 weeks before his death. Washington attorney found dead on a toilet in apartment. Said to be investigating various scandals including the October Surprise, the 1980 election campaign, drug and gun-running through Mena and the Waco assault. Was planning a TV documentary on his findings. Delivered extensive affidavit to Janet Reno three weeks before his death.
Jon Parnell Walker - Whitewater investigator for Resolution Trust Corp. Jumped to his death from his Arlington, Virginia apartment balcony August 15,1993 Was investigating Morgan Guarantee scandal.
Barbara Wise -11/29/96 Commerce Department staffer. Worked closely with Ron Brown and John Huang. Cause of death unknown. Died November 29, 1996. Her bruised nude body was found locked in her office at the Department of Commerce. Commerce Department (International Trade Administration) secretary and associate of John Huang found bruised and partially nude in a locked office at Commerce. Cause of death unknown.
Charles Meissner - Assistant Secretary of Commerce who gave John Huang special security clearance, died shortly thereafter in a small plane crash. Assistant Commerce Secretrary responsible for giving John Huang a department contract with security clearances.
Dr. Stanley Heard - Chairman of the National Chiropractic Health Care Advisory Committee died with his attorney Steve Dickson in a small plane crash. Dr. Heard, in addition to serving on Clinton's advisory council personally treated Clinton's mother, stepfather and brother.
Barry Seal - Drug running pilot out of Mena Arkansas, Death was no accident.
Johnny Lawhorn Jr. - 3/26/98 Mechanic, found a check made out to Clinton in the trunk of a car left in his repair shop. Died when his car hit a utility pole. Single-car crash at 1 am after leaving gas station at high rate of speed.
Stanley Huggins - Suicide. Investigated Madison Guarantee. His report was never released.
Hershell Friday - 3/01/94 Attorney and Clinton fund raiser died March 1, 1994 when his plane exploded.
Ron Miller- 10/12/97 Was under investigation for financial irregularities, Miller had turned over evidence of campaign finance wrongdoing to congressional investigators. Miller, suddenly took ill and died 9 days later. The death was strange enough that doctors referred it to the Oklahoma medical examiner which has refused to release the results of its tests.
William Colby - Colby's death, allegedly while canoeing, raises a number of questions. For example, the retired CIA head had left his home unlocked, his computer on, and a partly eaten dinner on the table. Colby had recently become an editor of Strategic Investment which was doing investigative reporting on the Vince Foster death. 4/96.
Dr. Ronald Rogers - Plane crashed while this Arkansas dentist was on his way to an interview with a London Telegraph reporter covering the Clinton scandals. Plane went down far off its planned route after generator overheated.
Neil Moody - 8/25/96 Son of the man Vince Foster's widow married was killed in a single car crash against a brick wall. Reports that he had been talking to reporters. There were other reports that Neil Moody had discovered something unsettling among his stepmother's private papers and was threatening to go public with it just prior to the beginning of the Democratic National Convention. Witnesses said they saw Neil sitting in his car arguing with another person and suddenly speeding off out of control and hitting a brick wall.
Admiral Jerermy Boorda - Boorda allegedly killed himself after going home for lunch. Explanations for suicide include his wearing an improper medal and stresses over Navy downsizing. Explanations for Boorda's suicide focused on a claim that he was embarrassed over two "V for Valor" pins he was not authorized to wear. When it turned out that Boorda was entitled to those decorations, blame shifted to stresses over down sizing of the Navy and the adverse affect that feminism was having on the Navy's morale.
Jim Wilhite - 12/21/92 Vice chair of Arkla with ties to Clinton and Mack McLarty. Wilhite was an associate of Mack McClarty's former firm.
Robert Bates - Mena Airport mechanic and a prospective witness in the Terry Reed case, allegedly drank himself to death on mouthwash.
Herby Branscum - Arkansas bankers Herby Branscum and Robert Hill were tried on charges in connection with Clinton's 1990 gubernatorial campaign. They were acquitted on some, but a mistrial was declared on others. Branscum subsequently killed in a suspicious auto accident.
Kevin Ives & Don Henry - Known as "The boys on the track" case. Reports say the boys may have stumbled upon the Mena arkansas airport drug operation. Controversal case where initial report of death was due to falling asleep on railroad track. Later reports claim the 2 boys had been slain before being placed on the tracks. Many linked to the case died before their testimony could come before a Grand Jury. see: The Train Deaths - plus some comments from a mother of one of the boys about the connection to Bill Clinton.
Nine persons reportedly had information on the Ives-Henry murders. McKaskle had expressed fear for his life of the "railroad track thing." Told his parents good-bye. Inmate reported being offered $4,000 to kill McKaskle. Collins death was ruled a suicide. Earlier he had failed to answer a subpoena before the Ives-Henry grand jury. Winters was a suspect in the murders. He was killed in what was initially thought to have been a robbery turned out to have been a set-up. Bearden was apparently murdered under mysterious circumstances March 1989.According to Micah Morrison in the Wall Street Journal, "he was a friend of both Greg Collins and Keith Coney. He 'vanished' without a trace. It was rumored he knew exactly what had happened at the tracks. An anonymous caller said he knew where he had been murdered. The police found a piece of a shirt, nothing more." Milam was found decapitated; nonetheless, the state medical examiner, Fahmy Malak - notorious for his curious rulings -- declared the death to be of natural causes. Mike Samples, murdered June 1995, was another grand jury witness in the train deaths. Wrote Morrison in the WSJ: "He was reported as knowing a great deal about the deaths of Ives and Henry. Sources say he had been involved with picking up drugs that were dropped out of planes at the Mena drop sites. He was shot to death in the head and was not found for some time."
THE FOLLOWING NINE PERSONS HAD INFORMATION ON THE IVES / HENRY CASE:
Keith Coney - Died when his motorcycle slammed into the back of a truck July, 1988
Keith McMaskle - Died stabbed 113 times, Nov, 1988
Gregory Collins - Died from a gunshot wound January 1989.
Jeff Rhodes - He was shot, mutilated and found burned in a trash dump in April 1989.
James Milan - Found decapitated. Coroner ruled death due to natural causes.
Jordan Kettleson - Was found shot to death in the front seat of his pickup truck in June 1990.
Richard Winters - Was a suspect in the Ives / Henry deaths. Was killed in a set-up robbery July 1989.
Boonie Bearden - Vanished, believed murdered
Mike Samples - Murdered
Even being a Clinton bodyguard is not good for your health.
17 bodyguards for clinton during his visit to the USS Roosevelt all died within
These 4 Clinton bodyguards died in a helicopter crash in woods near Quantico VA. Reporters barred from site, but fire department chief reported security tight with "lots of Marines with guns." Videotape made by firefighter seized by Marines.
Major William S. Barkley Jr. -5/19/93
Captain Scott J. Reynolds - 5/19/93
Sgt. Brian Hanley - 5/19/93
Sgt. Tim Sabel - 5/19/93
Five Navy aviators who acted as Clinton's bodyguards/escorts (names not determined) died: 3/26/93 - all died in a crash of an E-2C Hawkeye in Italy. The crash occurred shortly after the plane was "waved off" from a landing attempt on the Carrier Roosevelt, due to a "fouled deck". All five men had been Clinton's escorts during Clinton's visit to the Roosevelt 2 weeks prior.
These men were - killed when the helicopter he was in crashed in Weisbaden, Germany. No cause was ever determined. - V Corps figured prominently in the US Bosnia-Serbia peacekeeping operations, along with the carrier Roosevelt.
William Robertson - 2/23/93
William Densberger - 2/23/93
Robert Kelly - 2/23/93
Gary Rhodes - 2/23/93
These four former ATF agents were killed during the Waco Massacre had served as bodyguards to Bill Clinton. Questions still remain as to to the nature and source of their wounds.
All 4 died of single gunshot wounds to the left temple. However, According to Linda Thompson, videotapes and other evidence indicates that none died from guns fired by Branch Davidians.
Steve Willis -2/28/93
Robert Williams - 2/28/93
Conway LeBleu - 2/28/93
Todd McKeehan - 2/28/93
For a more detailed list of people that have died form Arkansas Sudden Death Syndrome visit:
http://cbn2.tripod.com/iflink.html
Why I will not Vote for Chris Dodd
PLEASE NOTE: This blog contains references to Star Wars, Winnie the Pooh and The Wizzard of OZ.
On my drive home last night (Friday) my I-pod qued up some CCR. (Credence Clearwater Revival for you guys that don't know what good music is.) Anyway, one of the best songs J.C. Fogarty wrote was soon cranking out of my truck's speakers. As I listened to "Fortunate Son" I began to think about you guessed it., the son of U.S. Senator Thomas Joseph Dodd, Christopher John Dodd. (Or as I like to call him John Kerry lite.)
The topic today:
Why I am not voting for Christopher John Dodd.
This nut that has fallen far from the tree.
As a refresher for those that have a limited musical memory, the song go like this:
Fortunate Son by J. C. Fogarty, (Credence Clearwater Revival)
"Some folks are born made to wave the flag,Ooh, they're red, white and blue.And when the band plays "Hail to the chief",Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord,It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no senator's son, son.It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no,Yeah! "
"Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,Lord, don't they help themselves, oh.But when the taxman comes to the door,Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes,It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son, no.It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no. Some folks inherit star spangled eyes,Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord,And when you ask them, "How much should we give?"Ooh, they only answer More! more! more! yoh,It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no military son, son.It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, one.It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no no no,It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate son, no no no."
Who is Chris Dodd?
This fortune son is a 2nd generation Career politician and was Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's second congressional district as part of the "Watergate class of '74" and was hailed as brining "a fresh burst of liberal energy to the Capitol." (I submit to you that fresh burst has spoiled.) He was reelected twice, he served from 1975 to 1981. Dodd was elected to the Senate in the 1980 election and was subsequently reelected in the 1986, 1992, 1998, and 2004 elections. He is the first Senator from Connecticut to serve five consecutive terms.
From 1995 to 1997, while Clinton was in office, he served as General Chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Dodd briefly considered running for President in 2004, but ultimately decided against such a campaign. This might be because of his family history of losing elections to Bushs. His father lost a Senate election in 1956 to Prescott S. Bush who was the father of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush and the grandfather of current President George W. Bush. (History … don't make me repeat myself!)
Dodd has announced in a letter to the Federal Election Commission that he is no longer a candidate for the Senate in 2010. (THANK GOD!)
On 11 January 2007, Dodd announced his candidacy for the office of President of the United States on the "Imus in the Morning show". (Please, no nappy headed comments.) In May of 2007 he trailed in state and national polls and acknowledged he wasn't keeping pace with rival campaigns' fund raising. However, he said that as more voters became aware of his opposition to the Iraq War, anti-war protesters would support his campaign.
Dodd's rankings from Americans for Democratic Action (The ADA is a political organization advocating liberal policies.) have been 95 percent and above since 2000. Understandably, Dodd receives low ratings from conservative groups, such as the John Birch Society, the American Conservative Union, and the Christian Coalition of America.
Ok, here's a little back ground on this Millionaire's son. Dodd attended Georgetown Preparatory School, a Jesuit boys school in Bethesda, Maryland. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Providence College in 1966. He served in the Peace Corps while less Fortunate sons were serving in Vietnam. In 1969, Dodd then joined the U.S. Army Reserve, and served until 1975. He didn't go to war in Vietnam he instead went to law school.
In 1972, Dodd earned a Juris Doctor at the University of Louisville, where he served as vice magistrate of the law school's student body. The following year, he was admitted to the Connecticut bar, and began practicing law in New London.
In July 1970, he married Susan Mooney; they divorced in October 1982. After their divorce, he became one of Washington's most alluring divorcees. For a whiles dating Bianca Jagger (She was formerly married to Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones and has devoted her life to more liberal causes than Jane Fonda ever thought about most of her activities could be classified as extremely liberal or Anti-American. Example: Earning the World Achievement Award from Mikhail Gorbachev and earning an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)Award ).
He also dated Carrie Fisher (Wow, he actually boned Princess Lea. I wonder if she wore her metal bikini that Jabba the Hut made famous.).
In 1999, he married his second wife, Jackie Marie Clegg, who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (So, he went from being a Jesuit to being a Moron …I meant Mormon … Way to stick to your convictions there Chris.)
Christopher John Dodd is almost the bi-polar opposite of his father, the late Senator Thomas Joseph Dodd. In fact, this nut has not only fallen far from the tree but has rolled so far from across the 1000 Acre Woods that he should change his name to Christopher Robin. (There's the Winnie the Pooh reference I promised.)
OK, lets just compare The late Senator Joseph Dodd to his son the liberal Senator Christopher Dodd.
+ Joseph was an FBI special agent that tried to capture depression era gangster John Dillinger in the 1930's.
- Christopher is soft on crime and wants to legalize marijuana.
+ Joseph prosecuted members of the Klu Klux Klan in the 1930's.
- Christopher wants to force all high school kids to perform a minimum of 50 community service hours per semester. (He wants slave labor for liberal causes.)
+Joseph prosecuted a major spy ring case in 1942 where five of five defendants were convicted or plea guilty of violating the Espionage Act of 1917 by conspiring to gather and deliver U.S. Army, Navy and defense information to Germany or Japan.
-Christopher placed a hold on a Senate bill revamping the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a procedural move that denies the party leadership the unanimous consent they needed to bring a bill to the Senate floor effectively preventing the search for terrorist inside the United States.
+Joseph was vice chairman of the Board of Review and later executive trial counsel for the Office of the United States Chief of Counsel for the Prosecution of Axis Criminality at Nuremberg, Germany, in 1945 and 1946. (Joseph tried NAZI war criminals in a military court).
-Christopher has called our troops war criminals and has pushed for turning Terrorist POWs over to civilian courts for trial and for giving these same terrorist the same civil and legal rights a US citizen would receive.
+ Joseph pushed for the embargo on Cuba. Phil Ochs references Joseph Dodd in his song "Draft Dodger Rag": "I believe in God and Senator Dodd and keeping old Castro down."
-Christopher has vowed to end the embargo of Cuba if elected president.
I think the above comparison clearly shows that Christopher Dodd is not half the man is father was and I am pretty sure his father is spinning in his grave.
Now, I will compare Christopher Dodd to a flash light battery.
+A flash light battery has a positive side.
-Christopher Dodd does not.
OK, so I have explained who Christopher Dodd is not, now let me explain who he is. Well, at least where he stands on some of the issues.
Foreign policy
The Iraq War: Dodd voted for the war. Then he Flip –Flopped and but has consistently voted against funding it. Of the 2008 presidential candidates, he was the only one to co-sponsor the Democrats' most aggressive anti-war bill. On 16 November, 2008 he was the only Democrat in the Senate to vote against a bill which would have funded the war while requiring the beginning of troops withdrawals, because, he said, the bill did not go far enough to end the war. Dodd has criticized his congressional colleagues for failing to be more forceful penetrating President George W. Bush's Iraq War troop surge of 2007. "This was debating about debating. This was the House and the Senate at some of its worst. ... I think we missed an opportunity to put our foot down and stop [the surge]." (Wonder if he regrets that the Surge actually worked.)
Trade policy: Dodd voted for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and said in 2003 that such trade agreements have "...brought increased cooperation and communication. They have been positive forces that promote political and economic stability, as well as growth and democracy." He believed then that "successful efforts to achieve a Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), and eventually in 2005, a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), will help further these goals. As well, the United States stands to benefit along with our neighbors from increased trade relations throughout the hemisphere." Then he Flip Flopped and on 9 November 2007, and said of both the CAFTA and NAFTA "Americans are looking for change - but there's nothing new in supporting the failed trade policy of the last six years, which is partially responsible for the loss of 3 million manufacturing jobs." (Well, duh even a huge Idiot like Ross Perot knew NAFTA would cost jobs. But Dodd the DoDo voted for them anyway.)
Latin American relations: Dodd is highly critical of the United States embargo against Cuba. In January 2005, he met with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and brown nosed him so much that it was hard to tell were Dodd head's stop and Chávez's butt began. (I was going to make a Dirty Sanchez joke here but thought it may offend people. I'm trying to be P.C. but it's like a shoe that is too small.) Dodd's views on Latin America terrorist groups, like the Sandinistas in Nicaragua and the Farabundo Martí rebels in El Salvador, border on treason. Speaking of borders, Dodd favors more lenient U.S. immigration laws. (Guess it's a good thing he is fluent in Spanish.)
Domestic policy:Civil liberties: Dodd supported the interests of the American Civil Liberties Union between 60 and 80 percent of the time from 2000 to 2006. And has proposed laws to protect journalist from having to revel their sources. His "Shield Law" is so sweeping that if reporter had 1st hand knowledge of a terrorist cell's plans for attacks, the reporter could not forced to testify as to information and/or sources of information obtained during the newsgathering and dissemination process. (Oh and BTW anyone with a web blog would be considered a reporter under his proposed "Shield Law" unnamed sources say.)
Homeland Security: On 18 October 2007, he placed a hold on a Senate bill revamping the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a procedural move that denies the party leadership the unanimous consent they need to bring a bill to the Senate floor. (Effectively he made it easier for terrorist to operate inside the United States.)
Environmental issues: Dodd has proposed a "carbon tax" as a measure to reduced carbon dioxide emissions and reduce global warming. (Had his proposal passed, I wonder how much San Diego would owe for our recent wild fires which released an estimated 26 million tons of carbon. And you thought global warming was not only real but manmade.)
National service: Dodd has proposed mandatory community service for all high school students. (Basically free slave labor for liberal causes.)
Child care: Dodd has spent almost a decade fighting to enact the Family and Medical Leave Act, which would give yet another government hand out to people who can not afford to have kids. (Democrats are all about expanding the welfare class.)
Gun control: Dodd was one of 16 senators who voted against the Vitter Amendment, which under the Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006 prohibits the confiscation of a firearm during an emergency or major disaster if the possession of such firearm is not prohibited under Federal or State law. (So, basically if you were a law bidding citizen and a natural disaster happened like …lets say … Hurricane Katrina …then Dodd thinks it's a good idea that you give up you guns so that you won't feel compelled to shoot the looters as they cart off all your stuff.)
Health care: He is for socialized medicine and has been a champion of mental health patient's rights. (I guess he know which side of his bread is buttered.)
Marijuana decriminalization: Dodd said during a recent debate, "So I would decriminalize, or certainly advocate as president, the decriminalization of statutes that would incarcerate or severely penalize people for using marijuana." (I guess he thinks if everyone smoked enough pot maybe they would figure out who Obama is.)
Tort Reform: Trying to figure out where he stands on this issue was like watching a tennis match until I figured out he votes his pocketbook.
Immigration reform: (I hate tennis by the way.) But here we go again. On a December 4, 2006 Democratic Hispanic radio address he said we need to "bring millions of undocumented workers out of the shadows." In May 2007, Dodd expressed support for a version of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 that would give about 22 million illegal aliens free citizenship without having to pay back taxes or go thru a background check and criticized Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain for abandoning the debate. The immigration reform bill ultimately failed a cloture vote on 28 June 2007, despite Dodd's vote to close debate. (His aim in doing this was to force the Senate to vote on it before anyone was really able to read it.) But during the Democratic presidential debate on 30 October, Dodd expressed opposition the proposal by New York Governor Eliot Spitzer to allow illegal aliens to obtain driver's licenses, calling a license a "privilege" and contrasting his position to the equivocations of Senator Hillary Clinton, who came out in support of the proposal the following day. I guess he thought I would have forgotten his earlier position and the fact that he is fluent in Spanish.
My Take? If you're not a liberal at age 20, you have no heart. If you're not a conservative by age 40, you have no brain.
He ain't the Tin Man … He's the Scare Crow … and we all ought to be afraid of him.
I ain't no senator's son.
I ain't no millionaire's son.
I ain't no fortunate one.
This ain't my Dad's Senator Dodd.
I ain't voting for him.
On my drive home last night (Friday) my I-pod qued up some CCR. (Credence Clearwater Revival for you guys that don't know what good music is.) Anyway, one of the best songs J.C. Fogarty wrote was soon cranking out of my truck's speakers. As I listened to "Fortunate Son" I began to think about you guessed it., the son of U.S. Senator Thomas Joseph Dodd, Christopher John Dodd. (Or as I like to call him John Kerry lite.)
The topic today:
Why I am not voting for Christopher John Dodd.
This nut that has fallen far from the tree.
As a refresher for those that have a limited musical memory, the song go like this:
Fortunate Son by J. C. Fogarty, (Credence Clearwater Revival)
"Some folks are born made to wave the flag,Ooh, they're red, white and blue.And when the band plays "Hail to the chief",Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord,It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no senator's son, son.It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no,Yeah! "
"Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,Lord, don't they help themselves, oh.But when the taxman comes to the door,Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes,It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son, no.It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no. Some folks inherit star spangled eyes,Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord,And when you ask them, "How much should we give?"Ooh, they only answer More! more! more! yoh,It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no military son, son.It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, one.It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no no no,It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate son, no no no."
Who is Chris Dodd?
This fortune son is a 2nd generation Career politician and was Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's second congressional district as part of the "Watergate class of '74" and was hailed as brining "a fresh burst of liberal energy to the Capitol." (I submit to you that fresh burst has spoiled.) He was reelected twice, he served from 1975 to 1981. Dodd was elected to the Senate in the 1980 election and was subsequently reelected in the 1986, 1992, 1998, and 2004 elections. He is the first Senator from Connecticut to serve five consecutive terms.
From 1995 to 1997, while Clinton was in office, he served as General Chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Dodd briefly considered running for President in 2004, but ultimately decided against such a campaign. This might be because of his family history of losing elections to Bushs. His father lost a Senate election in 1956 to Prescott S. Bush who was the father of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush and the grandfather of current President George W. Bush. (History … don't make me repeat myself!)
Dodd has announced in a letter to the Federal Election Commission that he is no longer a candidate for the Senate in 2010. (THANK GOD!)
On 11 January 2007, Dodd announced his candidacy for the office of President of the United States on the "Imus in the Morning show". (Please, no nappy headed comments.) In May of 2007 he trailed in state and national polls and acknowledged he wasn't keeping pace with rival campaigns' fund raising. However, he said that as more voters became aware of his opposition to the Iraq War, anti-war protesters would support his campaign.
Dodd's rankings from Americans for Democratic Action (The ADA is a political organization advocating liberal policies.) have been 95 percent and above since 2000. Understandably, Dodd receives low ratings from conservative groups, such as the John Birch Society, the American Conservative Union, and the Christian Coalition of America.
Ok, here's a little back ground on this Millionaire's son. Dodd attended Georgetown Preparatory School, a Jesuit boys school in Bethesda, Maryland. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Providence College in 1966. He served in the Peace Corps while less Fortunate sons were serving in Vietnam. In 1969, Dodd then joined the U.S. Army Reserve, and served until 1975. He didn't go to war in Vietnam he instead went to law school.
In 1972, Dodd earned a Juris Doctor at the University of Louisville, where he served as vice magistrate of the law school's student body. The following year, he was admitted to the Connecticut bar, and began practicing law in New London.
In July 1970, he married Susan Mooney; they divorced in October 1982. After their divorce, he became one of Washington's most alluring divorcees. For a whiles dating Bianca Jagger (She was formerly married to Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones and has devoted her life to more liberal causes than Jane Fonda ever thought about most of her activities could be classified as extremely liberal or Anti-American. Example: Earning the World Achievement Award from Mikhail Gorbachev and earning an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)Award ).
He also dated Carrie Fisher (Wow, he actually boned Princess Lea. I wonder if she wore her metal bikini that Jabba the Hut made famous.).
In 1999, he married his second wife, Jackie Marie Clegg, who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (So, he went from being a Jesuit to being a Moron …I meant Mormon … Way to stick to your convictions there Chris.)
Christopher John Dodd is almost the bi-polar opposite of his father, the late Senator Thomas Joseph Dodd. In fact, this nut has not only fallen far from the tree but has rolled so far from across the 1000 Acre Woods that he should change his name to Christopher Robin. (There's the Winnie the Pooh reference I promised.)
OK, lets just compare The late Senator Joseph Dodd to his son the liberal Senator Christopher Dodd.
+ Joseph was an FBI special agent that tried to capture depression era gangster John Dillinger in the 1930's.
- Christopher is soft on crime and wants to legalize marijuana.
+ Joseph prosecuted members of the Klu Klux Klan in the 1930's.
- Christopher wants to force all high school kids to perform a minimum of 50 community service hours per semester. (He wants slave labor for liberal causes.)
+Joseph prosecuted a major spy ring case in 1942 where five of five defendants were convicted or plea guilty of violating the Espionage Act of 1917 by conspiring to gather and deliver U.S. Army, Navy and defense information to Germany or Japan.
-Christopher placed a hold on a Senate bill revamping the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a procedural move that denies the party leadership the unanimous consent they needed to bring a bill to the Senate floor effectively preventing the search for terrorist inside the United States.
+Joseph was vice chairman of the Board of Review and later executive trial counsel for the Office of the United States Chief of Counsel for the Prosecution of Axis Criminality at Nuremberg, Germany, in 1945 and 1946. (Joseph tried NAZI war criminals in a military court).
-Christopher has called our troops war criminals and has pushed for turning Terrorist POWs over to civilian courts for trial and for giving these same terrorist the same civil and legal rights a US citizen would receive.
+ Joseph pushed for the embargo on Cuba. Phil Ochs references Joseph Dodd in his song "Draft Dodger Rag": "I believe in God and Senator Dodd and keeping old Castro down."
-Christopher has vowed to end the embargo of Cuba if elected president.
I think the above comparison clearly shows that Christopher Dodd is not half the man is father was and I am pretty sure his father is spinning in his grave.
Now, I will compare Christopher Dodd to a flash light battery.
+A flash light battery has a positive side.
-Christopher Dodd does not.
OK, so I have explained who Christopher Dodd is not, now let me explain who he is. Well, at least where he stands on some of the issues.
Foreign policy
The Iraq War: Dodd voted for the war. Then he Flip –Flopped and but has consistently voted against funding it. Of the 2008 presidential candidates, he was the only one to co-sponsor the Democrats' most aggressive anti-war bill. On 16 November, 2008 he was the only Democrat in the Senate to vote against a bill which would have funded the war while requiring the beginning of troops withdrawals, because, he said, the bill did not go far enough to end the war. Dodd has criticized his congressional colleagues for failing to be more forceful penetrating President George W. Bush's Iraq War troop surge of 2007. "This was debating about debating. This was the House and the Senate at some of its worst. ... I think we missed an opportunity to put our foot down and stop [the surge]." (Wonder if he regrets that the Surge actually worked.)
Trade policy: Dodd voted for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and said in 2003 that such trade agreements have "...brought increased cooperation and communication. They have been positive forces that promote political and economic stability, as well as growth and democracy." He believed then that "successful efforts to achieve a Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), and eventually in 2005, a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), will help further these goals. As well, the United States stands to benefit along with our neighbors from increased trade relations throughout the hemisphere." Then he Flip Flopped and on 9 November 2007, and said of both the CAFTA and NAFTA "Americans are looking for change - but there's nothing new in supporting the failed trade policy of the last six years, which is partially responsible for the loss of 3 million manufacturing jobs." (Well, duh even a huge Idiot like Ross Perot knew NAFTA would cost jobs. But Dodd the DoDo voted for them anyway.)
Latin American relations: Dodd is highly critical of the United States embargo against Cuba. In January 2005, he met with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and brown nosed him so much that it was hard to tell were Dodd head's stop and Chávez's butt began. (I was going to make a Dirty Sanchez joke here but thought it may offend people. I'm trying to be P.C. but it's like a shoe that is too small.) Dodd's views on Latin America terrorist groups, like the Sandinistas in Nicaragua and the Farabundo Martí rebels in El Salvador, border on treason. Speaking of borders, Dodd favors more lenient U.S. immigration laws. (Guess it's a good thing he is fluent in Spanish.)
Domestic policy:Civil liberties: Dodd supported the interests of the American Civil Liberties Union between 60 and 80 percent of the time from 2000 to 2006. And has proposed laws to protect journalist from having to revel their sources. His "Shield Law" is so sweeping that if reporter had 1st hand knowledge of a terrorist cell's plans for attacks, the reporter could not forced to testify as to information and/or sources of information obtained during the newsgathering and dissemination process. (Oh and BTW anyone with a web blog would be considered a reporter under his proposed "Shield Law" unnamed sources say.)
Homeland Security: On 18 October 2007, he placed a hold on a Senate bill revamping the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a procedural move that denies the party leadership the unanimous consent they need to bring a bill to the Senate floor. (Effectively he made it easier for terrorist to operate inside the United States.)
Environmental issues: Dodd has proposed a "carbon tax" as a measure to reduced carbon dioxide emissions and reduce global warming. (Had his proposal passed, I wonder how much San Diego would owe for our recent wild fires which released an estimated 26 million tons of carbon. And you thought global warming was not only real but manmade.)
National service: Dodd has proposed mandatory community service for all high school students. (Basically free slave labor for liberal causes.)
Child care: Dodd has spent almost a decade fighting to enact the Family and Medical Leave Act, which would give yet another government hand out to people who can not afford to have kids. (Democrats are all about expanding the welfare class.)
Gun control: Dodd was one of 16 senators who voted against the Vitter Amendment, which under the Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006 prohibits the confiscation of a firearm during an emergency or major disaster if the possession of such firearm is not prohibited under Federal or State law. (So, basically if you were a law bidding citizen and a natural disaster happened like …lets say … Hurricane Katrina …then Dodd thinks it's a good idea that you give up you guns so that you won't feel compelled to shoot the looters as they cart off all your stuff.)
Health care: He is for socialized medicine and has been a champion of mental health patient's rights. (I guess he know which side of his bread is buttered.)
Marijuana decriminalization: Dodd said during a recent debate, "So I would decriminalize, or certainly advocate as president, the decriminalization of statutes that would incarcerate or severely penalize people for using marijuana." (I guess he thinks if everyone smoked enough pot maybe they would figure out who Obama is.)
Tort Reform: Trying to figure out where he stands on this issue was like watching a tennis match until I figured out he votes his pocketbook.
Immigration reform: (I hate tennis by the way.) But here we go again. On a December 4, 2006 Democratic Hispanic radio address he said we need to "bring millions of undocumented workers out of the shadows." In May 2007, Dodd expressed support for a version of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 that would give about 22 million illegal aliens free citizenship without having to pay back taxes or go thru a background check and criticized Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain for abandoning the debate. The immigration reform bill ultimately failed a cloture vote on 28 June 2007, despite Dodd's vote to close debate. (His aim in doing this was to force the Senate to vote on it before anyone was really able to read it.) But during the Democratic presidential debate on 30 October, Dodd expressed opposition the proposal by New York Governor Eliot Spitzer to allow illegal aliens to obtain driver's licenses, calling a license a "privilege" and contrasting his position to the equivocations of Senator Hillary Clinton, who came out in support of the proposal the following day. I guess he thought I would have forgotten his earlier position and the fact that he is fluent in Spanish.
My Take? If you're not a liberal at age 20, you have no heart. If you're not a conservative by age 40, you have no brain.
He ain't the Tin Man … He's the Scare Crow … and we all ought to be afraid of him.
I ain't no senator's son.
I ain't no millionaire's son.
I ain't no fortunate one.
This ain't my Dad's Senator Dodd.
I ain't voting for him.
Why I will not Vote for Dennis Kucinich
While I was on my way home today (Thursday) some little cell phone talking jerk in a Fiat cut me off. He switched lanes so close in front of me that I could not see his back window or the "Impeach Cheney", "Greenpeace", "P.E.T.A.", rainbow, peace sign and up side down U.S. flag stickers that kept him from seeing thru it. I locked my brakes and managed to not run over his tinker toy of a car.
For my thanks, he gave me the one finger salute. My heart rate shot up. I was upset to say the least. Thoughts of using the pit maneuver to push this ass hat off the road, then using my tire tool to open his driver side window so I could politely ask him for $3.89 to pay for the Starbucks coffee that he had just made me spill raced thru my head. MY parents raised me better than that. Lucky for him huh? I mean wouldn't my dad be mad to find out I had got blue paint all over my red truck. So, I decided to channel my anger in a better way.
Well, after I got home, I sat down and started writing. No, not this blog post but a letter to Santa asking for a brush guard so that the next time some short new age jerk tries to force his will on me I could put him into the wall without messing up my truck's paint job.
Speaking of short new age jerks … tonight's topic is why I will not vote for Dennis Kucinich. (Or as I like to call him "Dennis the menace Ku-Ku-cinich".)
Ok, everyone grab you tin-foil hats and lets go.
Dennis Kucinich is a very scrappy little (5'7") guy with a tough background. As a kid, his parents moved 21 times, cramming 7 kids into 2 bedroom apartments or even, at times, a car parked outside the steel mill where his dad worked. He was elected as the nation's youngest mayor (of Cleveland … and yes, Jerry Springer was also a Mayor of Cleveland) in 1977, and was known mostly for scrapping with established politicians, banks and just about everybody else. After he fired his police chief (live, on the 6 O'Clock news) he was so unpopular that he wore a bulletproof vest when he threw out the first pitch at an Indian's baseball game, and had police sharpshooters lined up all along the roof of the building.
Mayor "Dennis the Menace" Ku-ku-cinich quickly led Cleveland into bankruptcy. His administration was certainly a messy one. The book "Best and Worst of the Big-City Leaders, 1820–1993" names Kucinich as the 7th worst mayor of American history. (Not for reasons of corruption or scandal, but due to his abrasive, intemperate, and chaotic administration.) He barely survived a recall vote after only ten months in office (by 231 votes out of 120,000 less votes than Al Gore lost Florida by in the 2000 election). He was voted out after one term by Republican George Voinovich, even through Democrats outnumbered Republicans 8 to 1 in Cleveland.
After he was unceremoniously booted from the mayors office in 1979 he lived for a while in his "dear friend" Shirley MacLaine's house, and began what he calls ""a journey into the poetry of my own life."Shirley Maclaine has an interesting story about him in her book, "Sage-ing While Age-ing." (Yeah, I know.) Shirley says he had a close encounter with a UFO at her house in Washington state that he found very moving. According to Maclaine "The smell of roses drew him out to my balcony where, when he looked up, he saw a gigantic triangular craft, silent, and observing him. It hovered, soundless, for 10 minutes or so, and sped away with a speed he couldn't comprehend. He said he felt a connection in his heart and heard directions in his mind." (Sorry I tired but I can't make that one any weirder or funnier, either. You are wearing your tin-foil hat right?)
Kucinich likes to portray himself as a progressive, but for him that takes a turn not seen in mainstream politics since Jerry "Moonbeam" Brown ran for president. While his website tries to paint him as a down to earth mid-westerner with a page titled "Polka, Bowling and Kielbasa", Kucinich is certainly the only admitted Vegan in the race (that is, a vegetarian who won't consume any animal products at all, including milk and honey.) The only kielbasa he'll be eating is made of tofurkey. The blue collar kid from Cleveland now supports creating a "Department of Peace." "I have a holistic view of the world," Kucinich explains. "I see the world as interconnected and interdependent and that leaves no room for war." As I mentioned earlier, he is also friends with Shirley MacLaine, who is the godmother of his daughter and attended his third wedding in 2005. Other policy positions of his get a bit "out there" as well.
In 2001, he introduced a bill to ban space-based and other exotic weapons, including "radiation, electromagnetic, psychotronic, sonic, laser, or other energies . . . for the purpose of information war, mood management, or mind control of such populations." (If you'll recall I told ya to grab your tin foil hat earlier.) Included in the ban were "chemtrails," supposed airplane emissions that change the weather or cause rashes in school kids, if you listen to the Art Bell radio show anyway. Chemtrails were removed in a revised draft of the bill. "I'm not into that," Kucinich told The Cleveland Plain Dealer. (Really? Ku-ku-cinich was the legislation's sole author.)
As snide as I like to be, I don't know if I can improve on Kucinich's own nutty mysticism. But I will try.
Like so many New Age devotees desperately searching for universal love, Kucinich lacked a steady love partner. The twice-divorced dad, however, not only admits it but went public with his search for a love connection during a 2004 debate in Manchester, New Hampshire, announcing his criteria for a first lady: "As a bachelor, I get a chance to fantasize about my first lady. And you know maybe Fox will want to sponsor it as a national contest or something. But in any event I would want definitely want someone who would not just be there by my side, but be a working partner because I think we're in a day in age when partnerships are imperative to making anything happening in the world. And I certainly want a dynamic, out-spoken woman who was fearless in her desire for peace in the world and for universal single-payer health care and a full employment economy. If you are out there call me."
To help me out, the PoliticsNH website started a personals area for Kucinich women wannabees. Well, something must have worked, because in 2005, Dennis married his third wife, Elizabeth Harper of London England. She's an attractive, 6 foot tall woman 31 years younger than him. If he's elected, she will be the first First Lady with a tongue piercing.
OK ... OK... some of you will point out that my wife has a tongue piercing as well. She is my lady… not a potential First Lady of the United States. We dated for two years before getting married. They met when she visited his congressional office; he proposed on the second date, and they married 30 days later. I'd love to tell you exactly what Kucinich's true stance is on some of the issues but I can't seem to find my flip-flops.
While most politicians change their positions from time to time, (in fact, all good ones do, because they are learning and open to change) Kucinich has made a dizzying switch on most topics with no apparent principle to back it up other than, "I want to win me some Democratic primaries."
As a Congressman, he amassed one of the most anti-abortion voting records in Congress. (Unusual for a Democrat. Fair enough, Kucinich was raised Catholic.) He voted to criminalize partial birth abortions, to deny American servicewoman the right even to pay for their own abortions overseas, to prevent Washington, D.C. from funding abortions for poor women with nonfederal dollars, against research on RU-486, even against health coverage of basic contraception for federal employees. In 1996 he told Planned Parenthood that he did not support the substance of Roe v. Wade. He received a 95 percent position rating from the National Right to Life Committee, versus 10 percent from Planned Parenthood and 0 percent from NARAL. Now that he wants to run as a progressive Democrat though, he is waffling all over that stance. He told The Nation magazine that "I believe life begins at conception and that it doesn't end at birth." (Huh?) He said he was not in favor of either a Human Life Amendment that would constitutionally protect "life" from the moment of conception, nor the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and presented his votes as votes not against abortion per se but against federal funding of the procedure. (That's not consistent with his votes on the servicewomen and Washington DC issues I mentioned above.)
And whilehe told The Nation he was not in favor of "criminalizing" abortion, he voted for a partial-birth-abortion ban that included fines and up to two years in jail for doctors who performed them, except to save the woman's life. When pressed, Kucinich said "I haven't been a leader on this. These are issues I would not have chosen to bring up." Well, he has been at least a devoted follower of the pro-life position, until it became politically inconvenient. (And if he's not a leader, why should anyone elect him as president?)
Another example?
OK here's another flip-flop.
He voted for the resolution calling for an investigation into President Bill Clinton's role in the Monica Lewinsky scandal, while most of his party opposed this resolution. But then he voted against the impeachment of President Clinton.
Because his voting record is not always in line with that of the Democratic Party and it seems his stances on almost everything jump back and forth with out any real rhyme or reason it is hard to figure out where he stands on the issues but here is what I can best figure out.
Domestic policy:
Health Care: Ku-ku-cinich is one of 75 cosponsors in the House of Representatives of the United States National Health Insurance Act or HR 676. (Clinton style health care)
Homeland Security: Ku-ku-cinich voted against the USA PATRIOT Act. His voting record is not always in line with that of the Democratic Party. Kucinich also criticized the flag-burning amendment. Kucinich is the only congressional representative to vote against the symbolic "9/11 Commemoration" resolution.
Abortion: His congressional voting record has leaned toward a pro-life stance, although he noted that he has never supported a constitutional amendment prohibiting abortion altogether. In 2003, however, he began describing himself as pro-choice and said he had shifted away from his earlier position on the issue. Press releases have indicated that he is pro-choice and supports ending the "abstinence-only" policy of sex education and increasing the use of contraception to make abortion "less necessary" over time. (Flipity Flip Flop.)
Election Reform: He was one of the 31 who voted in the House to not count the electoral votes from Ohio in the United States presidential election, 2004. (Every vote counts except for the ones from his home state?)
Immigration: Even his website doesn't mention were he stands on immigration. He has spent more time during the debates talking about UFO's than the southern border. (My guess is because it is more concerned with aliens from outer space than illegal aliens.)
Foreign policy:
Iraq: Ku-ku-cinich is the only Democratic presidential candidate who voted against the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He has since voted against funding it 100% of the time. In a visit to the rest of the Middle East in September 2007, Kucinich said he did not visit Iraq because "I feel the United States is engaging in an illegal occupation." Kucinich was criticized for his visit to Syria and praise of the President Bashar al-Assad on Syria's national TV. He praised Syria for taking in Iraqi refugees. "What most people are not aware of is that Syria has taken in more than 1.5 million Iraqi refugees," Kucinich said. "The Syrian government has actually shown a lot of compassion in keeping its doors open, and being a host for so many refugees."
Iran: In 2005, Ku-ku-cinich voted against the Iran Freedom and Support Act. Kucinich is also in favor of increased dialog with Iran in order to avoid a militaristic confrontation at ALL COSTS. Kucinich is one of only two congressional representatives who voted against the Rothman-Kirk Resolution, which calls on the United Nations to charge Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with violating the genocide convention of the United Nations Charter.
Venezeuela: The Ku-Ku-Cinich signed a letter of solidarity with Hugo Chávez in Venezuela in 2004.
My take?
Those of you that know me, know that I am a big fan of Ronald Reagan. One of Reagan's big catch phrases was Peace thru Strength. In fact, that is the USS Ronald Reagan's motto. Ku-ku-cinich is the exact opposite of Ronald Reagan. Reagan built up our military so that we won the cold war with out having to get into war with the USSR. Reagan pushed for the SDI program to ensure we would be protected. Reagan made sure we saw peace because we were strong.
It was not lost on me that Ku-ku-cinich's campaign slogan is the exact opposite Strength thru Peace. He advocates the abolition of all nuclear weapons calling on the United States to be the first to dismantle. Kucinich has also been a strong opponent of space based weapons.
So, if we lay down our swords and cast away our shields we will live peacefully? Well, at least until our enemies all ram their spears thru our rib cages.
This is not his 1st time running for the White House. Kucinich was unable to carry any states in the 2004 Democratic Primaries. I hate to agree with Ted Koppel, Kucinich's 2004 run was merely a "vanity campaign" as is his 2008 run in my opinion.
I'm not going to vote for this nut job.
That is unless an alien abducts me and I get some kind of mind control device implanted into my brain.
I'll leave you with a couple of quotes:
"Dennis Kucinich has spent his life fighting for the little guy -- and that little guy is Dennis." -- David Martin, the Cleveland Scene
"The energy of the stars becomes us. We become the energy of the stars. Stardust and spirit unite and we begin: one with the universe, whole and holy. From one source, endless creative energy, bursting forth, kinetic, elemental; we, the earth, air, water and fire-source of nearly fifteen billion years of cosmic spiraling." -- Kucinich, in the "Journal of Concious Evolution".
OK, I think it's safe to take off your tin-foil hats now.
For my thanks, he gave me the one finger salute. My heart rate shot up. I was upset to say the least. Thoughts of using the pit maneuver to push this ass hat off the road, then using my tire tool to open his driver side window so I could politely ask him for $3.89 to pay for the Starbucks coffee that he had just made me spill raced thru my head. MY parents raised me better than that. Lucky for him huh? I mean wouldn't my dad be mad to find out I had got blue paint all over my red truck. So, I decided to channel my anger in a better way.
Well, after I got home, I sat down and started writing. No, not this blog post but a letter to Santa asking for a brush guard so that the next time some short new age jerk tries to force his will on me I could put him into the wall without messing up my truck's paint job.
Speaking of short new age jerks … tonight's topic is why I will not vote for Dennis Kucinich. (Or as I like to call him "Dennis the menace Ku-Ku-cinich".)
Ok, everyone grab you tin-foil hats and lets go.
Dennis Kucinich is a very scrappy little (5'7") guy with a tough background. As a kid, his parents moved 21 times, cramming 7 kids into 2 bedroom apartments or even, at times, a car parked outside the steel mill where his dad worked. He was elected as the nation's youngest mayor (of Cleveland … and yes, Jerry Springer was also a Mayor of Cleveland) in 1977, and was known mostly for scrapping with established politicians, banks and just about everybody else. After he fired his police chief (live, on the 6 O'Clock news) he was so unpopular that he wore a bulletproof vest when he threw out the first pitch at an Indian's baseball game, and had police sharpshooters lined up all along the roof of the building.
Mayor "Dennis the Menace" Ku-ku-cinich quickly led Cleveland into bankruptcy. His administration was certainly a messy one. The book "Best and Worst of the Big-City Leaders, 1820–1993" names Kucinich as the 7th worst mayor of American history. (Not for reasons of corruption or scandal, but due to his abrasive, intemperate, and chaotic administration.) He barely survived a recall vote after only ten months in office (by 231 votes out of 120,000 less votes than Al Gore lost Florida by in the 2000 election). He was voted out after one term by Republican George Voinovich, even through Democrats outnumbered Republicans 8 to 1 in Cleveland.
After he was unceremoniously booted from the mayors office in 1979 he lived for a while in his "dear friend" Shirley MacLaine's house, and began what he calls ""a journey into the poetry of my own life."Shirley Maclaine has an interesting story about him in her book, "Sage-ing While Age-ing." (Yeah, I know.) Shirley says he had a close encounter with a UFO at her house in Washington state that he found very moving. According to Maclaine "The smell of roses drew him out to my balcony where, when he looked up, he saw a gigantic triangular craft, silent, and observing him. It hovered, soundless, for 10 minutes or so, and sped away with a speed he couldn't comprehend. He said he felt a connection in his heart and heard directions in his mind." (Sorry I tired but I can't make that one any weirder or funnier, either. You are wearing your tin-foil hat right?)
Kucinich likes to portray himself as a progressive, but for him that takes a turn not seen in mainstream politics since Jerry "Moonbeam" Brown ran for president. While his website tries to paint him as a down to earth mid-westerner with a page titled "Polka, Bowling and Kielbasa", Kucinich is certainly the only admitted Vegan in the race (that is, a vegetarian who won't consume any animal products at all, including milk and honey.) The only kielbasa he'll be eating is made of tofurkey. The blue collar kid from Cleveland now supports creating a "Department of Peace." "I have a holistic view of the world," Kucinich explains. "I see the world as interconnected and interdependent and that leaves no room for war." As I mentioned earlier, he is also friends with Shirley MacLaine, who is the godmother of his daughter and attended his third wedding in 2005. Other policy positions of his get a bit "out there" as well.
In 2001, he introduced a bill to ban space-based and other exotic weapons, including "radiation, electromagnetic, psychotronic, sonic, laser, or other energies . . . for the purpose of information war, mood management, or mind control of such populations." (If you'll recall I told ya to grab your tin foil hat earlier.) Included in the ban were "chemtrails," supposed airplane emissions that change the weather or cause rashes in school kids, if you listen to the Art Bell radio show anyway. Chemtrails were removed in a revised draft of the bill. "I'm not into that," Kucinich told The Cleveland Plain Dealer. (Really? Ku-ku-cinich was the legislation's sole author.)
As snide as I like to be, I don't know if I can improve on Kucinich's own nutty mysticism. But I will try.
Like so many New Age devotees desperately searching for universal love, Kucinich lacked a steady love partner. The twice-divorced dad, however, not only admits it but went public with his search for a love connection during a 2004 debate in Manchester, New Hampshire, announcing his criteria for a first lady: "As a bachelor, I get a chance to fantasize about my first lady. And you know maybe Fox will want to sponsor it as a national contest or something. But in any event I would want definitely want someone who would not just be there by my side, but be a working partner because I think we're in a day in age when partnerships are imperative to making anything happening in the world. And I certainly want a dynamic, out-spoken woman who was fearless in her desire for peace in the world and for universal single-payer health care and a full employment economy. If you are out there call me."
To help me out, the PoliticsNH website started a personals area for Kucinich women wannabees. Well, something must have worked, because in 2005, Dennis married his third wife, Elizabeth Harper of London England. She's an attractive, 6 foot tall woman 31 years younger than him. If he's elected, she will be the first First Lady with a tongue piercing.
OK ... OK... some of you will point out that my wife has a tongue piercing as well. She is my lady… not a potential First Lady of the United States. We dated for two years before getting married. They met when she visited his congressional office; he proposed on the second date, and they married 30 days later. I'd love to tell you exactly what Kucinich's true stance is on some of the issues but I can't seem to find my flip-flops.
While most politicians change their positions from time to time, (in fact, all good ones do, because they are learning and open to change) Kucinich has made a dizzying switch on most topics with no apparent principle to back it up other than, "I want to win me some Democratic primaries."
As a Congressman, he amassed one of the most anti-abortion voting records in Congress. (Unusual for a Democrat. Fair enough, Kucinich was raised Catholic.) He voted to criminalize partial birth abortions, to deny American servicewoman the right even to pay for their own abortions overseas, to prevent Washington, D.C. from funding abortions for poor women with nonfederal dollars, against research on RU-486, even against health coverage of basic contraception for federal employees. In 1996 he told Planned Parenthood that he did not support the substance of Roe v. Wade. He received a 95 percent position rating from the National Right to Life Committee, versus 10 percent from Planned Parenthood and 0 percent from NARAL. Now that he wants to run as a progressive Democrat though, he is waffling all over that stance. He told The Nation magazine that "I believe life begins at conception and that it doesn't end at birth." (Huh?) He said he was not in favor of either a Human Life Amendment that would constitutionally protect "life" from the moment of conception, nor the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and presented his votes as votes not against abortion per se but against federal funding of the procedure. (That's not consistent with his votes on the servicewomen and Washington DC issues I mentioned above.)
And whilehe told The Nation he was not in favor of "criminalizing" abortion, he voted for a partial-birth-abortion ban that included fines and up to two years in jail for doctors who performed them, except to save the woman's life. When pressed, Kucinich said "I haven't been a leader on this. These are issues I would not have chosen to bring up." Well, he has been at least a devoted follower of the pro-life position, until it became politically inconvenient. (And if he's not a leader, why should anyone elect him as president?)
Another example?
OK here's another flip-flop.
He voted for the resolution calling for an investigation into President Bill Clinton's role in the Monica Lewinsky scandal, while most of his party opposed this resolution. But then he voted against the impeachment of President Clinton.
Because his voting record is not always in line with that of the Democratic Party and it seems his stances on almost everything jump back and forth with out any real rhyme or reason it is hard to figure out where he stands on the issues but here is what I can best figure out.
Domestic policy:
Health Care: Ku-ku-cinich is one of 75 cosponsors in the House of Representatives of the United States National Health Insurance Act or HR 676. (Clinton style health care)
Homeland Security: Ku-ku-cinich voted against the USA PATRIOT Act. His voting record is not always in line with that of the Democratic Party. Kucinich also criticized the flag-burning amendment. Kucinich is the only congressional representative to vote against the symbolic "9/11 Commemoration" resolution.
Abortion: His congressional voting record has leaned toward a pro-life stance, although he noted that he has never supported a constitutional amendment prohibiting abortion altogether. In 2003, however, he began describing himself as pro-choice and said he had shifted away from his earlier position on the issue. Press releases have indicated that he is pro-choice and supports ending the "abstinence-only" policy of sex education and increasing the use of contraception to make abortion "less necessary" over time. (Flipity Flip Flop.)
Election Reform: He was one of the 31 who voted in the House to not count the electoral votes from Ohio in the United States presidential election, 2004. (Every vote counts except for the ones from his home state?)
Immigration: Even his website doesn't mention were he stands on immigration. He has spent more time during the debates talking about UFO's than the southern border. (My guess is because it is more concerned with aliens from outer space than illegal aliens.)
Foreign policy:
Iraq: Ku-ku-cinich is the only Democratic presidential candidate who voted against the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He has since voted against funding it 100% of the time. In a visit to the rest of the Middle East in September 2007, Kucinich said he did not visit Iraq because "I feel the United States is engaging in an illegal occupation." Kucinich was criticized for his visit to Syria and praise of the President Bashar al-Assad on Syria's national TV. He praised Syria for taking in Iraqi refugees. "What most people are not aware of is that Syria has taken in more than 1.5 million Iraqi refugees," Kucinich said. "The Syrian government has actually shown a lot of compassion in keeping its doors open, and being a host for so many refugees."
Iran: In 2005, Ku-ku-cinich voted against the Iran Freedom and Support Act. Kucinich is also in favor of increased dialog with Iran in order to avoid a militaristic confrontation at ALL COSTS. Kucinich is one of only two congressional representatives who voted against the Rothman-Kirk Resolution, which calls on the United Nations to charge Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with violating the genocide convention of the United Nations Charter.
Venezeuela: The Ku-Ku-Cinich signed a letter of solidarity with Hugo Chávez in Venezuela in 2004.
My take?
Those of you that know me, know that I am a big fan of Ronald Reagan. One of Reagan's big catch phrases was Peace thru Strength. In fact, that is the USS Ronald Reagan's motto. Ku-ku-cinich is the exact opposite of Ronald Reagan. Reagan built up our military so that we won the cold war with out having to get into war with the USSR. Reagan pushed for the SDI program to ensure we would be protected. Reagan made sure we saw peace because we were strong.
It was not lost on me that Ku-ku-cinich's campaign slogan is the exact opposite Strength thru Peace. He advocates the abolition of all nuclear weapons calling on the United States to be the first to dismantle. Kucinich has also been a strong opponent of space based weapons.
So, if we lay down our swords and cast away our shields we will live peacefully? Well, at least until our enemies all ram their spears thru our rib cages.
This is not his 1st time running for the White House. Kucinich was unable to carry any states in the 2004 Democratic Primaries. I hate to agree with Ted Koppel, Kucinich's 2004 run was merely a "vanity campaign" as is his 2008 run in my opinion.
I'm not going to vote for this nut job.
That is unless an alien abducts me and I get some kind of mind control device implanted into my brain.
I'll leave you with a couple of quotes:
"Dennis Kucinich has spent his life fighting for the little guy -- and that little guy is Dennis." -- David Martin, the Cleveland Scene
"The energy of the stars becomes us. We become the energy of the stars. Stardust and spirit unite and we begin: one with the universe, whole and holy. From one source, endless creative energy, bursting forth, kinetic, elemental; we, the earth, air, water and fire-source of nearly fifteen billion years of cosmic spiraling." -- Kucinich, in the "Journal of Concious Evolution".
OK, I think it's safe to take off your tin-foil hats now.
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Well, that just about sums it up!
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