Bush's New Plan...A new version of stay the course.

With pressure from the American people, a new Democratic Congress, and the upcoming report from Bush's Iraq Task Force Bush is responding with a preemptive strike--a new version of “stay the course.”

Bush’s New Plan has the following goals: keep the troops in Iraq stationed at permanent bases, reduce American casualties, and reduce Iran’s influence. This is NOT the plan of the American people who voted loud and clear that they want the troops out of Iraq asap.

John McCain is an ally of the so called “new” Bush Plan. It’s not difficult to assume that Robert Gates is on board with this new plan also. Why else would Bush move so quickly to put his Rumsfeld replacement before a Congress that remains Republican controlled for a very short time. Bush had to move quickly to get “his” new “Rumsfeld” on board.

Bush plans to negotiate a ceasefire with the insurgent Sunni’s and then create an alliance with them that will either strengthen Prime Mininster Maliki or replace hime with a Sunni strong man. Then Bush will have the US troops work with the Sunni’s to restore order to Iraq and install a government “friendly” to America to strongarm the Iraqi people. (Bush’s version of a democratic government. Then Bush will keep US troops in Iraq at the permanent bases.

Unfortunately Bush is not living in the real world. Just like his other plans this plan will not succeed. According to Nir Rosen:

“....Shias own Iraq now. Sunnis can never get it back. There's nothing Americans can do about this.
So, for Sunnis, whether these reports are true or not, for Sunnis to ever imagine that they could ever regain power, that the Baathists could ever be restored to power, that Americans actually matter in Iraq anymore is naïve in the extreme. Iraq is Shia now. They have the majority, the security forces, they have the militias. What you are going to see in Iraq I think, in Baghdad especially, is a virtual genocide of the Sunnis. And the Americans are going to be unable to stop that.”

The reality of what is happening in Iraq is that the Sunni’s are going to go down in defeat. Whether or not American troops are there. The plans on the table with the best chance of success are the plans proposed by Senator Jim Webb--an orderly troop withdrawal while simultaneously working with Syria and Iran who have influence in Iraq and who have a strong interest in a stabilized, peaceful Iraq.

If Bush and his team are unwilling or unable to face reality they need to be replaced with a tean that can. A team that is able to work with Syria and Iran to help the US do the best we can with the awful disaster Beorge W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and their neocon cronies have created in the middle east.

Unfortunately, it looks like Jim Webb was right when he said that the people that made this mess are not going to be able to fix it.

Americans need to stop letting their President try to blame the victims--the Iraqis--or anyone else for this mess. It's time for Bush and the neocons to take responsibility and be held accountable for this disaster (and others).

According to Nir Rosen:

There is no solution. We’ve destroyed Iraq and we’ve destroyed the region, and Americans need to know this. This isn’t Rwanda where we can just sit back and watch the Hutus and Tutsis kill each other, and be like wow this is terrible should we do something? We destroyed Iraq. There was no civil war in Iraq until we got there. And there was no civil war in Iraq, until we took certain steps to pit Sunnis against Shias. And now it is just too late. But, we need to know we are responsible for what’s happening in Iraq today. I don't think Americans are aware of this. We've managed to make Saddam Hussein look good even to Shias at this point. And what we’ve managed to do is not only destabilize Iraq, but destabilize Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iran. This is going to spread for decades, the region won’t recover from this, I think for decades. And Americans are responsible . AMY GOODMAN: Do you think troop withdrawal now, if not an answer, a necessity? NIR ROSEN: Troop withdrawal, if I was an American, then I would want troop withdrawal, because why are Americans dying in Iraq? Every single American who dies in Iraq, who is injured in Iraq, dies for nothing. He didn’t die for freedom, he didn’t die to defend his country, he died to occupy Iraq. And if withdrawal the troops you’ll have less Americans killing Iraqis. Everyday the Americans are there they kill innocent Iraqis, they torture innocent Iraqis, and the occupy Iraqis and terrorize Iraqis. They should leave today.

Americans also need to face reality. I agree with Nir Rosen that there is no solution and we need to withdraw our troops immediately.

Bush Denies Reality of Civil War

At a press conference today U.S. President Bush said, "There's a lot of sectarian violence taking place, formented in my opinion because of the attacks by al-Qaida causing people to seek reprisal." Bush believes the escalating violence is nothing new. “We’ve been in this phase for awhile.” Bush, continues to dodge acknowledging that a civil war exists in Iraq. "When you see a young democracy beginning to emerge in the Middle East, the extremists try to defeat its emergence," Bush said.

Bush said he will meet with al Maliki, Iraq’s prime minister for his plan to “quell” the violence. According to Bush, "The Maliki government is going to have to deal with that violence and we want to help them do so. It's in our interest that we succeed."

In spite of the anticipated recommendations of talks with Iran and Syria from the White House Iraq Commission, Bush does not affirm plans to talk with Iran or Syria. The U.S. President repeated the demand that Iran has to suspend their uranium enrichment program before the U.S. will enter talks.

Bush continues to promote his belief (with the help of the Western Corporate Media) that Iran and Syria are to blame for contributing to the violence in Iraq. "The Iranians and the Syrians should help — not destabilize — this young democracy," he said. "That government is being undermined, in my opinion, by extremist forces encouraged out of Syria and Iran," Bush said. "Why? Because a democracy will be a major defeat for those who articulate extremist points of view."

This "Bush belief" is debunked by many middle eastern experts. The US is seen as the creator of the Iraq civil war and the current unrest. This goal of the US--to create a civil war in Iraq--was put into action with Negroponte's (who has experience with death squads and fermenting civil wars in South America) appointment to Iraq. It is not in Syria's nor Iran's best interest to have a destabilized Iraq as a next door neighbor. Syria is already reeling from providing refuge to over 1 million Iraqi's with thousands more flooding Syria's borders every day.(Kaveh L Afrasiabi, Nir Rosen, Robert Fisk)

Meanwhile in Bush World, the Bush diplomacy continues with no recognition of what the United States has done to Iraq, the Iraqi's, and the people living in the Mid East Region. Bush refuses to acknowledge the damage and chaos that is the result of his actions--the illegal invasion of Iraq. Everyone is to blame except for George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Dick Rumsfeld, Condeleeza Rice and their minions.

Now George W. Bush expects the major victims of his failed plans--the Iraqi's--to create the solution. The "minor" victims--the American people--will continue to put their lives on the line and "foot the bill." This sounds like the expectations of someone who has been protected from accountability and responsibility for his entire lifetime.

Heaven help us all.
Sources:
Cartoon by Steve Bradenton
Yahoo News
Asia Times
Information Clearing House
DemocracyNow.org Nov 27, 2006 report

End This War

We need more Public Service Announcements--PSA--like this on television.....

Media Watch--Hampton Roads

Local television newscasts are difficult for many of us to keep up with. Yesterday, I was flipping through channels and I caught the tail end of a WVEC tv (channel 13) broadcast. They were comparing drug prices of three popular prescription drugs (I have no idea if these were generics, etc). However, unlike the Virginian Pilot's recent drug story WVEC included COSTCO in it's report. I saw that the lowest COSTCO competitor's prices for the three drugs was approximately $116.00

Costco's price was approximately $47.00. The $69.00 savings is significant. It would definitely be worth the time and gas to travel to Costco to get this kind of savings.

So three and a half buzzes for WVEC for doing a competent job reporting on local drug prices.

CheneyBush will NOT visit the troops on Thanksgiving

According to Dekafile Cheney's office confirms that there are NO plans for VP Dick Cheney to visit the troops on Thanksgiving day.

We should have already known this...It's not a PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR. So the troops in Iraq backdrop is not needed for a "photo op."

The Bush administration needs to learn the difference between USING the troops and SUPPORTING the troops.

Buzz...Buzz...

George Allen misses with this last shot

Thank heavens George Allen is on his way out. However, he is giving all of us one last shot...and it really misses the mark on what we want or need.

Anyone who enjoys the national parks in this country are sure to feel more threatened if Allen's legislation is approved. Allen wants citizens to be able to carry guns into our national parks.

I'd feel safer with more park rangers and no guns. The park rangers are not looking forward to having to deal with armed citizens in the parks.

The Republicans are not attending to the spending bills that they have failed to address (and are leaving behind in an attempt to thwart and slow down the agenda that got the Democrats elected. Instead they are trying to rush this kind of nonsense through the Congress.

Hopefully you will contact Warner, Allen, and your Representatives in the House and get this bill killed.

That would be "our" parting shot to Senator Allen.

The New York Times is correct is accessing this bill as one that fails to provide protection and increases the dangers for all of us.

Source is The New York Times

Richmond Times Dispatch and the Corporate Bias

The Richmond Times Dispatch columnist A. Barton Hinkle is definitely writing from a corporate viewpoint in his article Class Warfare: Jim Webb's Populism Merely Skims the Economic Surface

He ignores current health statistics for poor children in our country, the increasing rates of poverty and homelessness, and he definitely isn't listening to middle class folks who are finding it more difficult to maintain their current standard of living as Bush and the other wealthy elitists celebrate and crow about the current booming economy...the rewards fail to trickle down to the majority of the American people. The people who are working harder every day to keep the economy booming.

IF I was a subscriber to this corporate rag I'd be canceling my subscription. Why would I pay to help them continue to promote a corporate anti-American citizen viewpoint?

Buzz...Buzz...

George W. Bush--Pre and Post Presidential Statements

It's valuable to remember George Bush's pre-election statements and promises and then his post election statements and actions.

It's a shame the Corporate Media has not accurately reported the lying that has become so commonplace in the election process....But then they would have to do something other than just repeating what the latest Republican Propaganda is....and that would entail a little work.

The Republicans have really raised the bar on saying anything to get elected...IMO

Buy George Bush

If you must buy something for Christmas check out this George Bush Doll. It definitely captures his essence.



You can participate in the Buy Nothing Day Campaign and order this doll online on any day but Nov 24th.. Heck it may end up being a collector's item...at least it's amusing.

You can buy the Bush Doll here

Participate by NOT Participating

Buy Nothing Day

Every November, for 24 hours, we remember that no one was born to shop. If you’ve never taken part in Buy Nothing Day, or if you’ve taken part in the past but haven’t really committed to doing it again, consider this: 2006 will go down as the year in which mainstream dialogue about global warming finally reached its critical mass. What better way to bring the Year of Global Warming to a close than to point in the direction of real alternatives to the unbridled consumption that has created this quagmire?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Buy Nothing Day Link

NOVEMBER 24 IS BUY NOTHING DAY - NO PURCHASE NECESSARY
(November 25 outside of North America)


THE ULTIMATE REFUND: On November 24th and 25th – the busiest days in the American retail calendar and the unofficial start of the international Christmas-shopping season – thousands of activists and concerned citizens in 65 countries will take a 24-hour consumer detox as part of the 14th annual Buy Nothing Day, a global phenomenon that originated in Vancouver, Canada.

From joining zombie marches through malls to organizing credit card cut-ups and shopoholic clinics, Buy Nothing Day activists aim to challenge themselves, their families and their friends to switch off from shopping and tune back into life for one day. Featured in recent years by the likes of CNN, Wired, the BBC, and the CBC, the global event is celebrated as a relaxed family holiday, as a non-commercial street party, or even as a politically charged public protest. Anyone can take part provided they spend a day without spending.

Reasons for participating in Buy Nothing Day are as varied as the people who choose to participate. Some see it as an escape from the marketing mind games and frantic consumer binge that has come to characterize the holiday season, and our culture in general. Others use it to expose the environmental and ethical consequences of overconsumption.

Two recent, high-profile disaster warnings outline the sudden urgency of our dilemma. First, in October, a global warming report by economist Sir Nicholas Stern predicted that climate change will lead to the most massive and widest-ranging market failure the world has ever seen. Soon after, a major study published in the journal Science forecast the near-total collapse of global fisheries within 40 years.

Kalle Lasn, co-founder of the Adbusters Media Foundation, which was responsible for turning Buy Nothing Day into an international annual event, said, “Our headlong plunge into ecological collapse requires a profound shift in the way we see things. Driving hybrid cars and limiting industrial emissions is great, but they are band-aid solutions if we don’t address the core problem: we have to consume less. This is the message of Buy Nothing Day.”

As Lasn suggests, Buy Nothing Day isn't just about changing your habits for one day. It’s about starting a lasting lifestyle commitment to consuming less and producing less waste. With six billion people on the planet, the onus if on the most affluent – the upper 20% that consumes 80% of the world’s resources – to begin setting the example.



For more information and media interviews contact

MEDIA LIASON: Laura Fauth
TELEPHONE NUMBER: 604-736-9401
EMAIL: media-pr [at] adbusters [dot] org



Editor’s Notes

[1] For more information on Adbusters, Buy Nothing Day, or to watch Kalle Lasn’s 2004 Buy Nothing Day interview with CNN visit www.adbusters.org

[2] Buy Nothing Day facts:
* The first BND was organized in Vancouver in September 1992, an idea by artist Ted Dave, as a day for society to examine the issue of over-consumption.
* In 1997, it was moved to the Friday after American Thanksgiving, which is the busiest shopping pre-Christmas weekend in the US. Outside of North America, BND is usually celebrated on the following Saturday.
* Despite controversies, Adbusters managed to advertise BND on CNN, but many other major TV networks declined to air their ads.
* Soon, campaigns started appearing in US, UK, Israel, Germany, New Zealand, Japan, the Netherlands, and Norway. Participation now spans over 65 nations.

[3] Shopping and consumption facts:
* Per capita consumption in the U.S. has risen 45 per cent in the last 20 years.
* Although people today are, on average, four-and-a-half times richer than our great-grandparents were at the turn of the century, Americans report feeling “significantly less well off” than in 1958.
* A recent article in New Scientist featured research suggesting that the more consumer goods you have the more you think you need to make you happy. Happiness through consumption is always out of reach (New Scientist, 4th October 2003, Vol.180, Issue 2415, p44. Available online after registering at www.newscientist.co.uk).

Is Bush "guilty?" You be the judge...

This Thanksgiving Holiday will be spent browsing You Tube and posting the more interesting clips for you.

The thing about the following clip is that Bush gives such a detached yet strained response (IMO) to the question.

What do you think about the response and it's significance?

Judge This one for yourself.

Donald Trump Speaks Out on Bush

No one can accuse Donald Trump of being a flaming liberal. It appears that Bush wouldn't have made it on The Apprentice.

Maybe we need to have future candidates go through an Apprentice process before we vote next time?

If it would have weeded out this "worst President ever" I'd be tempted to try something like this.

Only in America....

Media Blackout

Since the Corporate Media refuses to cover protests (such as the one at the School of the Assassins in Fort Benning GA)...I thought I would put up this clip to remind others that protests have occurred and continue to occur....

In spite of the continued propaganda from Corporate Media George W. Bush's approval rating is now at 32% and below. They won't run an official impeachment poll but a resent online impeachment poll 87% voted to impeach Bush. America has now joined with the rest of the world to oppose the agenda of George W. Bush.

Enjoy the video and remember the Corporate Media Blackout included NOT playing peace or protest songs on the radio.

Bush Gang Can't Keep Barbara Bush's Purse Safe

George Bush's daughter, Barbara, had her purse stolen from under her table while dining at a restaurant in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Secret Service men were on duty at the time.

It seems that one or two purse snatcherw were able to outwit the United States Secret Service. Thank heavens the purse snatcher wasn't planting a bomb.

Here's the link

Remembering some Bush moments...

The Incumbent Dems are a HUGE Disappointment

Hopefully the newly elected Dems will be able to shape up the Democratic party.

Right now the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer are embracing the Republican's agenda in this lame duck Congress. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if Senator Harry Reid doesn't allow the Bush agenda pusher Joseph Lieberman to set the Democratic agenda in the Senate.

Reid says that Gates will be a "shoo-in" for his nomination. So much for the seriousness they are taking for their role of oversight and accountability of the current White House. This appointment should be seriously assessed and take some time to do it...especially given Gates past record with the Iran Contra Scandal. They need to know that they are installing a Secretary of Defense who will stand up to VP Dick Cheney.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is saying he will accommodate continuing to pay for Bush's endless invasion of Iraq and will even go along with temporarily increasing troop numbers.

Texas Democrat Jim Hightower hit the nail on the head when he stated so long ago that it would be nice to have two parties in Washington DC

I believe it's not too soon for concerned Americans to start creating a third party and flushing ALL the incumbent DEMS and REPUBLICANS down the nearest toilet if they continue their business as usual.

I can assure the Dems of one thing....this will be the last victory they will have for a long, long time if they proceed as they have in the past. The grassroots will not give them any more energy or time until they "show us the 'results'!!"

Buzz....Buzz....

New Survey: Iraqis Want a Speedy U.S. Exit

According to the Editor and Publisher:

The latest new polls state that 74% of the Shiites and 91% of the Sunnis want the US to leave Iraq within a year. A "much-respected" organization--The World Public Opinion--conducted the survey.

By a wide margin, both groups believe U.S. forces are provoking more violence than they're preventing -- and that day-to-day security would improve if we left. Support for attacks on U.S. forces now commands majority support among both Shiites and Sunnis.

Both groups believe the US presence creates more violence.

Let the Browser Beware:

Beware the Power of Online Advertisers and Marketers. Your privacy is invaded on the internet in ways you would never approve in your off line life.

Consumer Groups Call for FTC Investigation of Online Advertising and Consumer Tracking and Targeting Practices

Consumer Privacy Must Be Protected from Digital Commercial Shadowing

Privacy Violations Demand an Injunction Against Microsoft and Others

Washington, DC: The Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (US PIRG), two of the leading public-interest advocacy groups working on behalf of a more diverse and competitive online environment, filed a complaint today with the Federal Trade Commission, calling on the commission to undertake an immediate, formal investigation of online advertising practices. As the groups make clear in their 50-page filing (PDF), the data collection and interactive marketing system that is shaping the entire U.S. electronic marketplace is being built to aggressively track Internet users wherever they go, creating data profiles used in ever-more sophisticated and personalized "one-to-one" targeting schemes.

"Unfortunately, over the last several years the FTC has largely ignored the critical developments of the electronic marketplace that have placed the privacy of every American at risk," declared Jeff Chester, CDD executive director. "The FTC should long ago have sounded a very public alarm--and called for action--concerning the data collection practices stemming from such fields as Web analytics, online advertising networks, behavioral targeting, and rich 'virtual reality' media, all of which threaten the privacy of the U.S. public."

Current privacy disclosure policies, CDD and US PIRG contend, are totally inadequate, failing to effectively inform users what data are being collected and how that information is subsequently used. While many companies claim they collect only "non-personally identifiable" information, they fail to acknowledge the tremendous amounts of data compiled and associated with each unique visitor who visits their website. Thus even if these companies don't know the names and addresses of users, they literally know every move those users make online, through sophisticated online tracking and analysis technologies.

“The emergence of this on-line tracking and profiling system has snuck up on both consumers and policymakers and is much more than a privacy issue,” said U.S. PIRG Consumer Program Director Ed Mierzwinski. “Its effect has been to put enormous amounts of consumer information into the hands of sellers, leaving buyer-consumers at risk of unfair pricing schemes and with fewer choices than the Internet is touted to provide.”

It is therefore incumbent on the Federal Trade Commission, according to the CDD/PIRG complaint, to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive practices by using its authority under Section 5 of the FTC Act to address this issue on a variety of fronts:

• launching an immediate investigation into the online marketplace in light of this new environment

• exposing practices that compromise user privacy

• issuing the necessary injunctions to halt current practices that abuse consumers

• crafting policies—and recommending federal legislation—to prevent such abuses.

As a first step in this direction, the complaint urges the FTC to look closely at Microsoft's new set of adCenter services, a wide-ranging data-collection and ad-targeting scheme that is deceptive and unfair to millions of users. Especially disturbing is Microsoft's use of data gleaned from its Hotmail service (which attracts over 30 million users every month) to sharpen its ad-targeting efforts, and those of its adCenter clients.

"Microsoft, like Google and Yahoo, is actively rewriting the rules that govern the online marketplace," explained Chester. "It is the FTC's job to make certain that these rules reflect more than corporate self-interest. The public interest matters, too, and it is the FTC's responsibility to protect and promote that vital perspective, by issuing injunctions against the most egregious of the new invasive advertising practices, which are fully described in our complaint."

---

The Center for Digital Democracy (www.democraticmedia.org) is a Washington-based nonprofit organization dedicated to maintaining the diversity and openness of the media, focusing especially on the new broadband communications systems. CDD's executive director played a leading role in the passage of the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998.

U.S. Public Interest Research Group (www.uspirg.org) serves as the federation of state PIRGs, which are non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy organizations that take on powerful interests on behalf of the American public. Source

More From The Center for Digital Democracy:

A Tour of Online Advertising's Two-Way Mirrors

On 1 November the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) and the U.S. Public Internet Research Group (US PIRG) filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, calling for an immediate, formal investigation of online advertising, consumer tracking, and targeting practices. (A copy of the 50-page filing is available online [PDF], along with an accompanying press release.) Current privacy policies are inadequate, CDD and US PIRG believe, failing as they do to inform users what data are being collected and how that information will subsequently be used. Nor are consumers prepared for the sophisticated technologies and techniques--ranging from user tracking and Web analytics to behavioral targeting and audience segmentation--that online advertisers employ in their effort to create personalized, "one-to-one" marketing campaigns. Needed is a policy of opt-in and full disclosure, in which Internet users are fully apprised of the data collection practices of the sites they visit, along with a requirement that companies secure a visitor's explicit consent before collecting any personal information. Currently, the ad and marketing industries enjoy the advantage of automatically (and surreptitiously) collecting whatever data they desire, without disclosing the extent and subsequent use of the data collected.

In their call for the FTC to address these important issues (by investigating and exposing unfair and deceptive practices, issuing the necessary injunctions to halt those practices that violate consumer privacy, and establishing policies to prevent such abuses in the future), CDD and US PIRG identified four areas of particular concern:

• User Tracking/Web Analytics

• Behavioral Targeting

• Audience Segmentation

• Information Gathering/Data Mining

While these are complex areas that involve sophisticated (and often transparent) technologies, it's possible to get a better sense of how online advertisers monitor, track, and target us online by visiting their websites, to get a glimpse "behind the curtain" of the new online marketing machinery.

Included in the discussion below are links to many of the key players in the online advertising industry, focusing on those, including Microsoft, whose marketing practices routinely threaten the privacy of millions of Internet users.

You might want to check out the CDC's 10 question FAQ PDF File

Buzz...Buzz...

COSTCO--The Great Alternative

If you haven't heard of Costco maybe you should. Besides keeping costs down and competitive with Wal-Mart and Sam's Club Price Club pledges they will not raise ANY item above a 15% mark up. Costco also treats it's employees well...A cashier at the store after four years makes over 4ok a year and employees with a 26 hour or more work week can sign up for insurance benefits.

Wall Street criticizes Costco Management for granting generous employee benefits and Costco's refusal to never charge a consumer more than a 15% mark up on any item. (15% is the maximum mark up Costco will charge and items are often priced less than the 15%) Costco's largest competeitor--the Wal-Mart/Sam's Club Gang--are famous for pricing some items very low and then making a profit with extravagant mark ups on other items in the store. Costco holds firm to their business ethics. They are rewarded with very loyal customers. They don't spend billions on advertising and these savings are passed onto their customers. Amazingly, Costco stock is doing well while Wal-Mart is plummetting.

I don't like to shop. But I always have a good experience to shopping at Costco. I am willing to drive 30 minutes to shop there. The employees are great and give great customer service unlike Wal-Mart and Sam's Club.

Goes to show...if you treat your employees with respect and dignity they will do the same with the customers.

So if you must shop why not shop somewhere where your money supports other folks in your community instead of some rich heir/heiress living halfway across the country?

You may learn to enjoy shopping when you "like" the folks you are handing your money over too.

Vote with your dollar and support good business ethics.

Media Watch--Virginian Pilot Fails it's Readers

On Wed, November 15 The Virginian Pilot ran a story entitled "Pills and Bills" comparing generic drug costs and advising its readers on pharmacies they could choose from.

Amazingly enough they left out a major cost cutting pharmacy in the region. Consumer Reports has identified Costco as providing the best deal on medications in the country. There are three Costco stores in our region AND the medications are also available via the internet.

Costco also allows non-members to use their pharmacy so the annual membership price is not a factor.

I contacted Michelle E. Shaw, one of the reporters of this story, During our conversation Ms. Shaw affirmed she was familiar with Costco and the Consumer Reports information. When asked why Costco was excluded from the story Ms. Shaw stated that it was because they only had three stores in the Hampton Roads region and the criteria for selecting the pharmacies was clearly stated in the story.

I read the story and I "missed the criteria that Ms. Shaw was referring too.

It's too bad that the Virginian Pilot readers were not given the information that would have directed them to what is most likely "the best deal in town."

One has to wonder if advertising revenues have anything to do with "leaving out 'Costco'." Costco is often called the biggest retailer that you haven't heard of. Costco relies on word of mouth, internal advertising, and rarely spends money advertising with corporate media.

The Virginian Pilot did a disservice to it's readers by not mentioning Costco as a valuable resource to check out when comparing prescription drug costs.

MEDIA WATCH

The United States now ranks 53rd in the world concerning news reporting. The represents a free fall of 34 spots in four years (The US started as 17th in the world.)

The Corporate Media rivals the power of governments, it is hypothesisized that George Bush's cousin, working in the notorious Fox News Dept. gave the okay to announce that George Bush had won Florida which helped set the environment for the election of George Bush in 2000. Bush's appointment to the Presidency was approved by the Supreme Court which bypassed the votes of the American people.

The media can make or break the reputation of a politician, a military leader, a civic leader, or any citizen activist.

The Corporate Media is the largest and least reported special interest lobbying group in the USA.

Hopefully bloggers will consistently keep a watch on the Media, locally and nationwide and call them to task for corporate bias, corporate agendas, "influencing" Congress, distorting the facts, refusing to cover important stories....and the list goes on and on.

It needs to be blogged about when the Corporate Media tries to paint the new Democratic party as split and divisive while ignoring a greater split and dividing currently occurring in the Republican party.

If you read an article in the national or local press that you know is not giving a full factual picture (perhaps it is in your area of expertise?) call them on it.

The Corporate Media is going to continue the corporate agenda and NOT report the news accurately....unless other forces kick in to stop this pattern of behavior.

Calling them on it is one step to reversing this process. Blogs are a valuable tool to OUTING the Corporate Media.

Where in the World is Dick Cheney now?

Some folks are wondering once again where VP Dick Cheney is.

During his reign as one of the most powerful Vice Presidents in this nation's history Dick Cheney has been able to literally fly under the radar. The President is held to more accountability than the vice president.

Hopefully, the new Congress will fix this problem and demand that the Vice President's schedule (including visitors) and travel is transparent and open. Folks are still fighting to find out who was on the secret energy commission that Cheney convened years back....

It is not in America's interest to allow Cheney to continue his Machiavellian operations behind the scenes in clandestine invisible ways

No Olive Branch for Bush, Frist and McConnell

Considering Bush's decision to not act in a bipartisan manner (i.e. his recent RE-submission of five extremist judges and pushing this lame duck comgress to act rashly and hastily pass unacceptable legislation). Neocon Republicans Bill Frist and Mitch McDonnell's (the next Senate Minority Leader) are rejecting bi-artisanship to continue Bush's arrogant agenda....this song has become a national anthem for these times.

Thank you Dixie Chicks!

A Liberal's Pledge to Disheartened Republicans

To My Conservative Brothers and Sisters,

I know you are dismayed and disheartened at the results of last week's election. You're worried that the country is heading toward a very bad place you don't want it to go. Your 12-year Republican Revolution has ended with so much yet to do, so many promises left unfulfilled. You are in a funk, and I understand.

Well, cheer up, my friends! Do not despair. I have good news for you. I, and the millions of others who are now in charge with our Democratic Congress, have a pledge we would like to make to you, a list of promises that we offer you because we value you as our fellow Americans. You deserve to know what we plan to do with our newfound power -- and, to be specific, what we will do to you and for you.

Thus, here is our Liberal's Pledge to Disheartened Conservatives:

Dear Conservatives and Republicans,

I, and my fellow signatories, hereby make these promises to you:

1. We will always respect you for your conservative beliefs. We will never, ever, call you "unpatriotic" simply because you disagree with us. In fact, we encourage you to dissent and disagree with us.

2. We will let you marry whomever you want, even when some of us consider your behavior to be "different" or "immoral." Who you marry is none of our business. Love and be in love -- it's a wonderful gift.

3. We will not spend your grandchildren's money on our personal whims or to enrich our friends. It's your checkbook, too, and we will balance it for you.

4. When we soon bring our sons and daughters home from Iraq, we will bring your sons and daughters home, too. They deserve to live. We promise never to send your kids off to war based on either a mistake or a lie.

5. When we make America the last Western democracy to have universal health coverage, and all Americans are able to get help when they fall ill, we promise that you, too, will be able to see a doctor, regardless of your ability to pay. And when stem cell research delivers treatments and cures for diseases that affect you and your loved ones, we'll make sure those advances are available to you and your family, too.

6. Even though you have opposed environmental regulation, when we clean up our air and water, we, the Democratic majority, will let you, too, breathe the cleaner air and drink the purer water.

7. Should a mass murderer ever kill 3,000 people on our soil, we will devote every single resource to tracking him down and bringing him to justice. Immediately. We will protect you.

8. We will never stick our nose in your bedroom or your womb. What you do there as consenting adults is your business. We will continue to count your age from the moment you were born, not the moment you were conceived.

9. We will not take away your hunting guns. If you need an automatic weapon or a handgun to kill a bird or a deer, then you really aren't much of a hunter and you should, perhaps, pick up another sport. We will make our streets and schools as free as we can from these weapons and we will protect your children just as we would protect ours.

10. When we raise the minimum wage, we will pay you -- and your employees -- that new wage, too. When women are finally paid what men make, we will pay conservative women that wage, too.

11. We will respect your religious beliefs, even when you don't put those beliefs into practice. In fact, we will actively seek to promote your most radical religious beliefs ("Blessed are the poor," "Blessed are the peacemakers," "Love your enemies," "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God," and "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."). We will let people in other countries know that God doesn't just bless America, he blesses everyone. We will discourage religious intolerance and fanaticism -- starting with the fanaticism here at home, thus setting a good example for the rest of the world.

12. We will not tolerate politicians who are corrupt and who are bought and paid for by the rich. We will go after any elected leader who puts him or herself ahead of the people. And we promise you we will go after the corrupt politicians on our side FIRST. If we fail to do this, we need you to call us on it. Simply because we are in power does not give us the right to turn our heads the other way when our party goes astray. Please perform this important duty as the loyal opposition.

I promise all of the above to you because this is your country, too. You are every bit as American as we are. We are all in this together. We sink or swim as one. Thank you for your years of service to this country and for giving us the opportunity to see if we can make things a bit better for our 300 million fellow Americans -- and for the rest of the world.

Signed,

Michael Moore
mmflint@aol.com
(Click here to sign the pledge)
www.michaelmoore.com

Mosquito
mosquito-blog.blogspot.com

P.S. Please feel free to pass this on.

Authors Bio: Michael Francis Moore (born April 23, 1954) is an American film director, author, and social commentator. He is widely known for his outspoken, critical views on globalization, large corporations, gun violence, the Iraq War, and the George W. Bush administration. wikipedia profile mmflint@aol.com www.michaelmoore.com

Michael Moore said it so well. I posted it because I believe it needs to be disseminated widely. I don't know a single "left winger" who has expressed sentiments that vary from this. So calm down you conservative folks....you're going to be treated fairly. Hopefully, many of you will want to reciprocate. One day maybe the more extreme radical neo cons will "see the light" and give up their dirty, power grabbing tricks and divisive wedge tactics.

Bush Impeachment poll...

MSNBC is running a poll on how the American people feel about impeaching Bush....Looks like more Americans are behind impeaching Bush than impeaching Clinton.

Live Vote
Do you believe President Bush's actions justify impeachment? * 384402 responses
Yes, between the secret spying, the deceptions leading to war and more, there is plenty to justify putting him on trial.
87%
No, like any president, he has made a few missteps, but nothing approaching "high crimes and misdemeanors."
4.4%
No, the man has done absolutely nothing wrong. Impeachment would just be a political lynching.
6.4%
I don't know.
1.9%
Not a scientific survey. Click to learn more. Results may not total 100% due to rounding.

Here's the link in case you'd like to cast your own vote.

My Buzz on George Bush

Lately, when my thoughts have turned to the sudden "bi-partisan" PR blitz put on by George Bush I was just too angry to write anything.

Bush's sudden turn around was so artful....He dumped Rumsfeld!! That was great! But then he quickly nominated this Gates guy....I started to check out this Gates guy and the more I read the angrier I became.

I feel like the entire Bush "turn around" is nothing more than another Rovian PR job to enable Bush to continue the "same ole same ole" stay the course with this new guy.

Even worse...it looks like Bush's folks still have their guns aimed at Iran and want to create another disaster for America. (Hell, why does Al Queda even need to plan an attack on American soil as long as Bush is in office and deadset on such disastrous goals?)

I have come to the conclusion that Gates is just another Bush loyalist "yes" man and is another bad move. He "politicized" the CIA. That IS the major problem with the "faulty intelligence" and cherry picking that got us into Iraq. The fact that Bush is wanting the man that helped him lead this nation astray to be rewarded with the position of Secretary of Defense is typical Bush. Promote incompetent yes folks who are loyal and get rid of the competent folks who have skills and integrity.

The next Secretary of Defense needs to be carefully considered. I'm very happy to hear from local Webb folks (and the Virginia Beach Dems blogger)--Beach Mom) that Jim Webb will question the Gates nomination. I "thought" this would be the case. I didn't get the idea that Webb prefers "yes" men.

During this congress we will get a chance to see which Republicans are willing to work together with the Democrats to pull our nation from this fiery quagmire that Bush insisted on.

It will also give us a chance to assess if there are TWO parties up in Washington. I'm hoping the Democrats will prove themselves. But if the Democrats go with the status quo and let Gates through then I'll be singing the David Rovics new song, "Democrats make me want to vomit."

In my book BOTH parties have to prove themselves now.

Soldier's Dad will speak at Free Event

Bob Watada, father of LT Ehren Watada, will speak about his son's opposition to the Iraq War at the 40th Street Stage in Norfolk. LT Watada is facing court martial. He is the first officer in the armed forces to refuse deployment to Iraq.

There will also be a question and answer period.

WHEN: 7 pm Wednesday
WHERE: 40th St. Stage
809 40th St. Norfolk (In the back section of the building across the street from Felinis Restaurant on Colley Ave.)

FREE EVENT

Five Buzz Night

David Rovics came to town and Hampton Roads underground and activist communities came together to create an unforgettable Five Buzz night.

I'd heard the buzz on Rovics so I had to go....the people who have seen him are passionate about him. I came prepared. I read the reviews comparing this protest folk singer to the likes of Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Phil Ochs. I didn't expect to end the night knowing that Rovics is our modern day troubadour and is the rightful heir to take the stage once dominated by the likes of Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Phil Ochs.

The 40th Street Theatre was almost packed....but that was the only near miss of the night.

Rovics revived us....He is a master of being with an audience. The charisma and camaraderie ricocheted back and forth between Rovics and the people. It was warm, tender, funny, insightful and everyone got charged up together....

I rarely give something Five Buzz night....But for any educated grassroots activist Rovics is the king of protest folk.

If you missed this evening you missed the chance to mingle with a diverse, colorful community filled with young anarchists, older socialists, a self defined "communitist", progressive democrats, progressive entrepreneurs, and even surburban yuppies who have simply had enough.

The entire left stage area was filled with young anarchists who knew the chorus to many of the songs. Right stage had an older crowd of activists settled down with families, and the middle, larger area was filled with folks of all ages, and from various walks of life from Ghent business folk, entrepreneurs, college kids, and even some gray haired hippies.

You also missed out on the opportunity to hear a great indy artist in the perfect environment. Unlike Dylan who never participated in demonstrations and according to Joan Baez wrote peace songs because they sold well...Rovics is in the trenchs and this is obvious in his music. His music is real and in your face...there is nothing distant or subtle about it. Rovics is direct with his message and many of his songs could be called anthems for the worldwide people's movement.

After the concert, my friend Star asked David Rovics what he thought about performing in Norfolk. According to Star, Rovics said Norfolk was an exciting and enjoyable venue. He loved the theatre setting and he loves Norfolk's underground progressive community. It seems that places like New York City and San Francisco can seem jaded in comparison. The folks there have an abundence of progressive artists on a regular basis.....Rovics gets a charge playing for the Norfolk Community.

Do did we David....So did we...

So Rovics will return....IF it happens in the same place the show will be undoubtedly be sold out because everyone left saying they were going to have to get their best friend to see Rovics when he comes back to town. So if you want to catch Rovics when he returns to Norfolk I suggest you purchase an advance tickets so you'll know you'll be able to attend. This is truly a must experience event for all folks desiring a more compassionate, saner, and humane world.

Kudos to Hampton Roads Indy Media Coalition and their producer Luna for this fabulous event.



NEW ORLEANS

David Rovics is a firm believer in the commons so he makes all his music available for download at his website Do yourself a favor....download David Rovics...Then I'll see you at his next attendence in Norfolk, hopefully in 2007.

A glimpse of Norfolk life tonight

Hope you can make the David Rovics concert tonight and network with other Hampton Roads grassroots activists. You'll also be supporting an Indy Artist.

WHERE: 40th Street Theatre
Norfolk, VA 23508
(757) 423-4084Norfolk VA
Tickets:sliding fee scale of $15.00-$20.000 at the door
WHEN: 7:30 pm Monday nite Nov 13th

David Rovics Performing In Norfolk

WHERE: 40th Street Theatre
Norfolk, VA 23508
(757) 423-4084Norfolk VA
WHEN: 7:30 pm Monday nite Nov 13th

WHY: A "Perfect" way for Virginians of all stripes and colors to come together and celebrate a new unity in Virginia with the recent Jim Webb Victory!

"Listen to David Rovics..."
Pete Seeger

"Rovics has his fist tight on the pulse of intervention through music."
Sing Out! Magazine

"David Rovics is the musical version of Democracy Now!"
Amy Goodman, host, Democracy Now!

"David Rovics is a guy George W. Bush would probably like to clamp in chains at Guantanamo Bay -- the last American protest singer (or so it seems)... In these days of ongoing neo-conservatism he carries the torch of dissent and protest -- in fact if the great Phil Ochs were to come back from the dead tonight he'd probably be hailed as the new David Rovics."
Andy Kershaw, BBC Radio 3

"If Alternative Radio had a musical voice, it would be David Rovics. He will tell the people."
David Barsamian, host, Alternative Radio

"David Rovics' music gives life and hope in the struggle for peace and justice. He is an inspiration."
Reverend Roy Bourgeois, founder, SOA Watch

"If the key to building a mass movement is to make it 'irresistible,' David is opening the flood gates."
Medea Benjamin, Founding Director, Global Exchange

"In that Wobbly tradition of sharp social commentary, David is a master."
The Industrial Worker

"Inspiring, and inspired... For anyone despairing of finding the next generation, worry no more!"
AK Press

"David Rovics is the peace poet and troubador for our time."
Cindy Sheehan

"David Rovics is the musical version of PBS — that is, if PBS had more cojones!"
The Lone Star Iconoclast, Crawford, Texas

Come on OUT, have a GREAT TIME, and SUPPORT an indy artist and the local Hampton Roads Indy Media Coalition. Tickets are $15.00 BUT if you buy an advance ticket over the weekend they are $10.00...Buzz...Buzz....Buzz...Mosquito

Deer breaks fence in Portsmouth...and life goes on

We are on the long road to taking our country back....hopefully we celebrated some last night...I know I did. I couldn't go to sleep and kept checking the election returns...but now I'm short on time. I have to shower and dress to leave in an hour for a big community activist meet up tonight....

But life goes on....my dear friend called to say a large buck was spotted in her Portsmouth neighborhood....not only spotted but it broke her fence...so I went over to help her fix her fence b/c her dogs "have" to have their space. It's an old Portsmouth working class neighborhood...you probably know it...Park Manor...so we are all wondering where in the world that deer came from?

Approximately three decades ago, some bears were cut off from the dismal swamp and they lived for quite a while where Manor High School is located. No one believed the children in the neighborhood who spoke of "strange creatures" in the area. But when a Portsmouth police officer saw a momma bear and her cub in his next door naighbors yard the bear hunt was on. They caught 3-4 bears and transplanted them to the great Dismal Swamp.

Hopefully this "deer" Buck will have the same fate.

My big wish for the day is that Allen will take the advice he gave to Gore when Florida was "stolen"....just concede and let the nation move on. Well Webb did not "steal" the VA election...the dirty tricks that are being investigated have ties to Allen's staffers....(e pluribus media...the link can be found at Daily Kos).....

Amazing...the media knows that Montana's Senator has been declared a winner with 2,000 votes....so why is Webb with over 7 thousand votes?

Hopefully as soon as the canvassing is done Allen will spare Virginians the cost of a recount. But with what I know of Allen's character...it would be a BIG LEAP for Allen to concede gracefully. But on this point I do hope I'm wrong.

Hope all is well is your world....Buzz...Buzz...

Dems have the Senate too....WOW...Almost perfect!!

Almost perfect here in VA. The results here probably won't be "official" until near the end of November but I'll bet that Webb keeps his lead. So with Webb from VA and Tester from Montana maintaining their wins at the end of this month the Dems will have the majority of the Senate and the House.

It's about time to get some accountability back in DC....

Buzz...Buzz...Buzz....

White House Video Re-Writes History

There should be a law against this sort of propagandistic historical revision....

Check it out.

Buzz...Buzz...VA is trying to turn blue...

And many of us living in VA are getting blue faces and red eyes from checking the VA state board election returns....

But it does look like Webb is going to get this by a squeaker.....the majority of the remaining precints are Webb Country....But this election is probably going to have to have a recount to make any results official...

So go ahead and celebrate Webb supporters....mis me a marguerita...it's time to start partying and maybe our eyes will "un-cross" while we continue to monitor thewe election returns.

Unfortunately, the 2nd district will continue to have to put up with the bought off, sold out Drake.

Thankfully I don't live in that district.

Buzz...Buzz...Buzz....

My Town is Webb Country

CANDIDATES Party Vote Totals Percentage
J. H. Webb JR Democratic 7,235 62.09
G. F. Allen Republican 4,277 36.71
G. G. Parker Independent 121 1.04
Write Ins 19 0.16

Precincts Reporting: 16 of 31 (51.61%)
Registered Voters: 57,644 Total Voting: 11,652 Voter Turnout: 20.21 %

Will Hussein's Verdict include the Republican WMD aid?

I wonder if on Thursday when Hussein's verdict is expected to be completed IF there will be any mention of the fact that Germany and a US Republican administration actually supplied Saddam with the chemical resources necessary for his horrendous gas attacks on his own people.

Or, if one year after these attacks, Rumsfeld is photographed shaking Saddam Hussein's hand. The Republicans don't want us to remember they counted Hussein as a great ally a year after he gassed his people.

The great Corporate Media is not going to remind you of the history....

Fox News can't spell it out

The Fox News crew who love to crow that they are fair and balanced....need to learn how to spell Democrat....

Check this out.




Here's the source

For those of you who want REAL investigative journalism link to democracynow.org

For those of you that would love to see some GREAT television sign up for the basic Dish Network package...the FSTV (Free Speech TV) and LINKTV provide great news programs and documentaries with sound investigative journalism. Cancel the cable and switch to Dish Network...you won't regret it.

Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death without a verdict

It Looks like the Corporate Media continue to collarboarate with the Bush/Cheney/Rove propaganda team.

On Sunday we watched Saddam Hussein sentenced to death. Didn't you find it interesting that there wasn't a verdict? The news sure "pretended" like there was a verdict.

A sentence of death without a court verdict is itself newsworth. So why wasn't that reported? (B/C it would have exposed this "news" as nothing more than spin and propaganda with the purpose of "influencing" the midterm elections.)

The "actual verdict" won't be ready until Thursday. The judicial system is obviously under some heavy duty Bush administration influence...Have you ever heard of a court trial give the sentencing first and wait for the verdict?

The reports did not mention that former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark actually walked out of the trial but I haven't heard why Maybe it was this new Court system of sentence first verdict later?

Reality in Bush World is so bizarre...How much more of this charade can we take?

Here's the source

Nov. Surprise? Bush has everything in place to attack Iran....

Exclusive to DEBKAfile’s military sources: US aircraft carriers USS Eisenhower and USS Enterprise in the Red Sea off the Saudi Arabian coast. It is considered “extraordinary” that the US has two large aircraft carriers and their battle groups in such a small body of water as the Red Sea.

A fourth US aircraft carrier, the USS Boxer, is expected to be “on the scene” at the beginning of next week, as soon as it has completed it’s military training exercises off the coast of India. According to DEBKAfile, “…the intelligence reaching Iran, the Boxer and its escorts carry 850 Marines who have just spent months in special training for operations on offshore oil rigs and platforms.”

If the US attacks Iran before the November 7th elections this could be the dreaded October/November surprise promised by Karl Rove.

However, breaking news reports show that the Bush administration now has a it’s own public relations disaster brewing regarding Bush administration's incompetence in defense matters. According to the Chicago Times, the Bush administration put up a website to make public some of the documents seized when they invaded Iraq. Unfortunately, they recently posted extremely sensitive documents that could assist terrorists in building a nuclear bomb.

This latest incident of incompetence may be enough to deter Bush’s longstanding plans to invade Iran.

Sources are:

Nov 01

Oct 30

Chicago Times

Saudi's Say Iraq is Lost

The Saudi's released a study concluding that Iraq is lost and there is no way the US. can win it.

According to the Hindustan Times:

The question in Iraq is not "if the US succeeds - it has failed by every single measure that you can think of," said Obaid, private security and energy advisor to the Saudi ambassador to Washington, Prince Turki al-Faisal.

"The failure is only compounded by the fact that we just don't know what the endgame is." said Obaid, head of the Riyadh-based independent consultancy which advises the Saudi government....

The study concluded that a Kurdish drive for quasi-independence within Iraq would gather speed, as would the insurgency, and Iranian influence in the country could be expected to increase as American influence waned.

Vice President Dick Cheney said in an interview yesterday violence would go on "for some considerable period of time in Iraq," but argued progress had been made.

Here's the source

Gas Sale ENDS on Nov 7th

As if you hadn't already figured this one out.

It is predicted that gasoline is going to go up right after the elections. We had a pre-election sale on gas courtesy of the Saudi's and Big Oil....

So tell all your friends to top off their tanks now....heck we all might want to buy some gas containers and top them off too!

But the Grand Oil Party was susing this pre-election sale for their benefit not yours. Don't worry about Big Oil...The GOP will make make sure Big Oil gets theirs...and at our expense.

Vote all the bums out!!

Buzz....Buzz....Buzz.....Mosquito

Here's the source

VDOT NEEDS TO ELIMINATE COMMERCIAL BILLBOARDS

With the argument that VDOT is using to get rid of a Webb sign--that it's "distracting" drivers--then no commercial billboards should be allowed on any of Virginia's highways.It's ILLEGAL to put campaign signs up on public property...notice how many Allen signs are on public property...they've seem to be having trouble getting private property owners to put up Allen signs.

IF a driver is that distractable should they be driving?

It reeks of politics to me.

Here's the story.

George Allen's best doesn't trump Keith Olbermann

George Allen has a video up at his website which is his response to Keith Olbermann. If that's the best Allen can do I would "normally" say that George Allen is in trouble.

The pudgy fellow (who's built like a tank) is the same guy that ran interference on Webb's tracker and would rudely get in the way of any shot she tried to take of Allen. I've seen him before at Allen's stops and he's like a linebacker on a football team...His job is to keep you away from his quarterback. He's "pushing" Mike Stark with his heavy body...that's what this clown does...and is preventing Stark from getting close enough to ask Senator Allen a question. So the assault started there...with the body push...Stark is simply trying to leave the room and yes he does use his arms to push the body off of his so he can exit the room.

I say "normally" b/c with all of Allen's "connections" in this case I'm sure he's going to pull every string he can to get his folks off of the assault charge they so soundly deserve.

ALL Virginia elected officials should make themselves available to constituents questions.

Allen's staff is notorious for shielding him from his constituents. IF you were one of the many constituents calling Allen on any issue (let's use Net Neutrality for example) you will know from experience that they are good at putting up a castle wall around their king.

I'm also tired of the corporate media painting Allen as a "popular" VA Senator. Obviously they did not do any research. One glance at Allen's approval ratings would show this is not the case. Allen may have been a popular governor but as a Senator he has let Virginians down.

I'll be so glad when Webb replaces Allen.

Buzz...Buzz...Buzz...

George Allen is a Rotting Fish Head--Sign Wars Part 2

Jim Webb is right....The fish rots from the head down.

Mosquito says that George Allen is a BIG Rotting Fish Head

Allen's Goons not only attack Virginians who ask legitimate questions about Allen's character but his "supporters" think it's okay to break the law....My Portsmouth friend has been taking her Webb yard signs in at night so they won't be stolen. Allen's supporters STOLE her Webb yard signs at 1 pm today. These folks are shameless.

Well my industrious friend had a back up plan....She actually attended one of those Vote Yes rallies to study the opposition and they gave her vote yes yard signs to put up in her yard. So she's reversing them and making her own yard signs.....

"THEY" STOLE MY JIM WEBB YARD SIGNS.
THEY ARE LIARS AND CHEATERS!
VOTE THEM OUT!!

We are all proud Webb Supporters and we do NOT Lie, we do NOT Cheat, and we do NOT Steal!!

George Allen is going down!

Big Brother's PENTAGON to Monitor BLOGS....

According to United Press International:

Pentagon expanding PR office

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Defense is creating a Public Affairs "rapid response team" to respond to what it sees as unfair or inaccurate coverage.

Many of the additional staff at the Pentagon Public Affairs Office will be dedicated to booking television news appearances for DOD officials and their representatives, and to trying to convince reporters and newspapers to cover the stories that the Pentagon wants to see more of.

Others will be dedicated to monitoring the Internet, creating podcasts and responding to reports on blogs, negative stories and terrorist propaganda.

The Pentagon press office in the last few weeks has also inaugurated a new blog on its Web site defenselink.mil to respond immediately to news reports it objects to.

Now Mosquito has to wonder....did those folks up in Washington get their letters mixed up again and misidentify their countries? It looks like they think this is the old USSR instead of the USA.....

Buzz....Buzz.....

George Allen has alot of questions he needs to answer!

Here's a letter from the marine veteran, University of VA law Student who was attacked by George Allen's goons the other day....I wish Allen was going to be appearing in my neck of the woods....I hope that other Virginians will show up and ask Allen why he won't release his bar application and open the book on why he was arrested when he attended UVA. Was it a hate crime? Was it an assault? Was it worst than this? "Many" are thinking that his divorce records are closed due to domestic violence.

So if George Allen is going to be the "open book" he says he is...then he needs to open the books and let Virginians take a look at the book for themselves.....

Too bad the media failed to accurately report this major "macaca" incident of Allen's campaign. The attackers were NOT simply supporters showing up for the event. They are in George's inncer campaign circle...I saw two of these guys at other campaign appearances in other parts of the state.....But Virginians won't forget what happened....

Letter from Mike Stark

The following is a letter to NBC29 from Mike Stark, the man who was tackled for a comment he made at Senator Allen's campaign stop in Charlottesville on Tuesday.

My name is Mike Stark. I am a law student at the University of Virginia, a marine, and a citizen journalist. Earlier today at a public event, I was attempting to ask Senator Allen a question about his sealed divorce record and his arrest in the 1970s, both of which are in the public domain. His people assaulted me, put me in a headlock, and wrestled me to the ground. Video footage is available here, from an NBC affiliate.

I demand that Senator Allen fire the staffers who beat up a constituent attempting to use his constitutional right to petition his government. I also want to know why Senator Allen would want his staffers to assault someone asking questions about matters of public record in the heat of a political campaign. Why are his divorce records sealed? Why was he arrested in the 1970s? And why did his campaign batter me when I asked him about these questions.

George Allen defends his support of the Iraq war by saying that our troops are defending the ideals America stands for. Indeed, he says our troops are defending our very freedom. What kind of country is it when a Senator's constituent is assaulted for asking difficult and uncomfortable questions? What freedoms do we have left? Maybe we need to bring the troops home so that they can fight for freedom at George Allen's campaign events. Demanding accountability should not be an offense worthy of assault.

I will be pressing charges against George Allen and his surrogates later today. George Allen, at any time, could have stopped the fray. All he had to do was say, "This is not how my campaign is run. Take your hands off that man." He could have ignored my questions. Instead he and his thugs chose violence. I spent four years in the Marine Corps. I'll be damned if I'll let my country be taken from me by thugs that are afraid of taking responsibility for themselves.

It just isn't the America I know and love. Somebody needs to take a stand against those that would bully and intimidate their fellow citizens. That stand begins right here, right now.

W. Michael Stark

When will they call out the Bush Cabal?

The press has gone on "ad nauseum" about Kerry's botched joke.... I'm wondering why they ignored the botched DEEDS of the Bush Cabal related to the Iraqi War. It's not too late to call them out on this stuff...Since the same thing is often repeated by different members of the Cabal these are not just gaffes….they are often actual Bush Policy….

On the IRAQI War
"Bring 'em on."
-President George Bush [source: CNN]

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."—Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004 (Truer words have never been spoken George…)

"My belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators."
-Vice President Dick Cheney [source: Washington Post] Too bad “belief” is not a fact.

"It could last, you know, six days, six weeks. I doubt six months."
-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld [source: Washington Post] another belief vs. fact scenario.

"...weeks rather than months."
-Vice President Dick Cheney [source: Washington Post]

"Support for Saddam, including within his military organization, will collapse at the first whiff of gunpowder."
-Former Pentagon Chairman Richard Perle [source: Washington Post] When is this regime going to get it….FACTS are necessary for good governance

"I don't know anyone who thought this would be a war without resistance."
- Former Pentagon Chairman Richard Perle (after the war began) [source: Washington Post] What were all those protestors and experts (that were not given airtime saying?) You need to expand your circle of advisors….

"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed."
-President George Bush [source: Whitehouse.gov] LOL…Life is interesting in Bush World…

"I have a special word for Secretary Rumsfeld, for General Franks, and for all the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States: America is grateful for a job well done."
-President George Bush (using the troops as shields to praise Rumsfeld and Franks) [source: Whitehouse.gov]

"It's very important for us to stay the course, and we will stay the course."
-President George Bush [source: US Department of Defense] Repeated Ad Nauseum by Bush and other administration officials

"You know, when I campaigned here in 2000, I said, I want to be a war President. No President wants to be a war President, but I am one."—Des Moines, Iowa, Oct. 26, 2006 Yes George and you still treat the troops like they are your personal toy soldiers….

"One has a stronger hand when there's more people playing your same cards."—Washington, D.C., Oct. 11, 2006 Only in the Bush World you grew up in George. The rest of us only get a stacked deck AGAINST us…courtesy of you and other ELITES….

"You know, one of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror."—Interview with CBS News, Washington D.C., Sept. 6, 2006 Funny how facts get in the way….

On IRAN….


"This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. And having said that, all options are on the table." --Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 22, 2005

Seymour Hersh and others have been warning us that Bush has made up his mind to invade Iran next….We now have two major Naval battlegroups off the coast of Iran and the alleged plan is to start a war with Iran.

The Press is not doing it’s job…but we need to do ours….

VOTE THE REPUBLICANS OUT AND HOLD THESE BUFFOONS RESPONSIBLE BEFORE THEY DRAG AMERICAN DOWN TO DEPTHS WE’VE NEVER KNOWN….

Buzz…Buzz….