Big Zig Writes for the Grown Ups

My Old Daddy surely thought highly of Zbigniew Brzezinski although he punted on his name referring to him as "Big Zig". Big brain for certain. His recent Second Chance : Three Presidents and the Crisis of American Superpower gives Bu$h the Elder a B, the Clenis a C, and poor old Dubyah a F. Sounds about right!

Here's NPR sharing ten turning points from 1992 to 2006:
TEN MAJOR TURNING POINTS, 1990–2006

Key developments reshaping the world system.

1. The Soviet Union is forced out of Eastern Europe and disintegrates. The United States is on top of the world.
2. The U.S. military victory in the first Gulf War is politically wasted. Middle Eastern peace is not pursued. Islamic hostility toward the United States begins to rise.
3. NATO and the European Union expand into Eastern Europe. The Atlantic community emerges as the predominant influence on the world scene.
4. Globalization is institutionalized with the creation of the World Trade Organization, the new role of the International Monetary Fund with its bailout fund, and the increased anticorruption agenda of the World Bank. "Singapore issues" become the foundation for the Doha Round of WTO negotiations.
5. The Asian financial crisis sets the foundation for a nascent East Asian regional community, to be characterized either by Chinese dominance or by Sino-Japanese competition. China's admission to the WTO encourages its ascent as a major global economic player and a center of regional trade agreements with politically more assertive and impatient poorer countries.
6. Two Chechen wars, the NATO conflict in Kosovo, and Vladimir Putin's election as president of Russia contribute to a rise in Russian authoritarianism and nationalism. Russia exploits its gas and oil resources to become an assertive energy superpower.
7. Facing a permissive attitude from the United States and others, India and Pakistan defy world public opinion to become nuclear powers. North Korea and Iran intensify their covert efforts to acquire nuclear capabilities in the face of inconsistent and inconsequential U.S. efforts to induce their self-restraint.
8. September 11, 2001, shocks the United States into a state of fear and the pursuit of unilateral policies. The United States declares war on terror.
9. The Atlantic community splits over the U.S. war in Iraq. The European Union fails to develop its own political identity or clout.
10. The post–1991 worldwide impression of U.S. global military omnipotence and Washington's illusions about the extent of America's power have been shattered by U.S. failures in postvictory Iraq. The United States acknowledges the need for cooperation with the European Union, China, Japan, and Russia regarding major issues of global security. The Middle East becomes the make-or-break test case of U.S. leadership.

My Old Daddy was hardly a reading man yet I bet he'd find time to sit still for his Big Zig. I'd surely be able to contribute the idea that at this point I think this initial understanding surely makes sense. I'd like to know what he thinks about the next term(s) yet figure he might go with my preferred candidate John Edwards. With all his flaws, if Americans took their politics as serious as the Old Man we'd surely have a better nation. Peace ... or War!

Bu$hCo Human Resource/Loyalty Department

All the coverage of Abu Gonzalez and his DOJ showing some U.S. Attorneys the door reminds one of how this administration tends to handle personnel. Ignore Michael "Heck of Job" Brownie and Bernie Kerik (allegedly facing jail time these days) and Harriet Myers and ... Let's turn our eyes to where historians will often first look when examining this disaster of an administration by looking at Iraq.

Imperial Life in the Emerald City : Life Inside the Green Zone by Washington Post reporter Rajiv Chandrasekaran appears to the left and may be purchased or at least pondered at Amazon. Both Mr. Chandrasekaran's own reporting in The WaPo and Tom Regan's in the CS Monitor can help you get a handle on the mess that was Bu$hCo's Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq.

James O'Beirne, perhaps known by many as the spouse of frequently booked GOP apologist Kate O'Beirne (Old Sixty Grit herself, likely still earning most of her pay at The National Review I'd venture), did the hiring and it should be clear that loyalty and ideology was the foundation of the staffing effort. Peace ... or War!

Maybe Bu$hCo Isn't Always Incompetent?

Antonio Juhasz dropped an Op-Ed in the Gray Lady yesterday (that I'll also link to via the International Herald Tribune so that perhaps when the Select feature of the NYT seals off you can still locate) that asks, "Whose Oil Is It, Anyway?" that I certainly recommend. Her book pictured to the left, available via Amazon, is surely one I'd love to read if time allows.

Here Op-Ed begins with,

TODAY more than three-quarters of the world’s oil is owned and controlled by governments. It wasn’t always this way.

Until about 35 years ago, the world’s oil was largely in the hands of seven corporations based in the United States and Europe. Those seven have since merged into four: ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell and BP. They are among the world’s largest and most powerful financial empires. But ever since they lost their exclusive control of the oil to the governments, the companies have been trying to get it back.

She adds,

In March 2001, the National Energy Policy Development Group (better known as Vice President Dick Cheney’s energy task force), which included executives of America’s largest energy companies, recommended that the United States government support initiatives by Middle Eastern countries “to open up areas of their energy sectors to foreign investment.” One invasion and a great deal of political engineering by the Bush administration later, this is exactly what the proposed Iraq oil law would achieve. It does so to the benefit of the companies, but to the great detriment of Iraq’s economy, democracy and sovereignty.

My gracious if this might explain why the Prince of Darkness has resisted efforts to get access to records of his energy task force.

While I like cheap gas as much as the next fellow, I also know that I'd rather pay much more to have these thousands of Americans and Iraqis alive or whole. Plus, do you really think the Fueltasktic Four will pass the savings on to Joe and Jill Sixpack? Also, wasn't this Iraq adventure supposed to pay for itself? Maybe Chevron and ExxonMobil will be writing that check?

Finally, if we are really fighting "them" over there to keep from fighting "them" over here one must wonder if "they" might not want their oil back and decide to try to take it back. Stay tuned for another post on the CPA we sent into Iraq that really screwed things up after the "cakewalk" yet maybe that was part of the play? Peace ... or War!

The Leader - Two Truths But There's More

Heading to The Randolph Leader for the most recent version of the Cirque de Spec, with full credit going to Miss Frances for the contruct and knowing she's hardly a fan of the "ringmaster", I find The Leader lamenting a voice vote on a pay raise for Alabama legislators, which I do agree should have ideally been done "on the record". However, I certainly think LTE contributor Barbara Evans is correct in the fact that a pay raise might allow folks that are less financially blessed to serve up on Goat Hill.

I'd add that some type of public financing of campaigns would further help hem up the Big Mules. PAC to PAC changes plus other ethics/lobbying reforms would be another step. Trashing that dreadful 1901 Constitution is yet another crucial reform.

Certainly the mess that the City of Roanoke and ALCOTE have wrought is demonstrative of the need to have good folks in office. I'm not sure what Roanoke is paying their "leaders" but one wonders even if a trifle if her citizens are getting much bang for the buck. At least we've got a new jail/spaceport and lots of drug busts to celebrate. Peace ... or War!

Elections Truly Do Have Consequences!

I will likely always think of the above as the "Captain America" image yet it was a great display of what I love about Jerry McNerney. Strong, solid, smart, optimistic, forward looking, etc. Jerry is truly an amazing man that we are fortunate to have in DC! Please visit the McNerney campaign site and then show him some love . That's one certain way we can help make sure he'll be returned in 2008 and ... The contrast between Jerry and Richard Pombo as candidates this past fall is surely the largest in any election that this country boy can recall. Kudos for his being named to the new Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming in the House. I can't imagine a better member and trust he'll deliver some serious leadership in this group. Peace ... or War!

Is History (& Hubris!) Hiding from Heidi?

I just heard Heidi Collins ask CNN military analyst General David Grange (Ret.) if any military members have been let go under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Good grief! Just this one CS Monitor piece by Gordon Lubold cites 11,000! AP/MSNBC plus tons of coverage have referenced the translators and other skilled talent dismissed from Dubyah's GWOT. You'd have thought this would be known to a "journalist"! Smelly bloggers are of course held to a higher standard than these "professionals". Peace ... or War!

Outlander of the Day ~ Sonny Perdue

An early award, after all we've got a long day ahead, but might as well send Sonny some shame. Cynthia Tucker (an Auburn grad to boot so here's the obligatory "War Eagle!") of the AJC nails the man and most of today's GOP with, "Like Perdue, many Southern conservatives struggle to accommodate their love of a stern God and their abhorrence of government." Amen!

I worked with some serious Sonny fans and have a few family members that clearly remain so. In fact, I recently joked with one that married into the family (that I still call "The Republican" although he's hardly the only one!) that I'd give up my ACLU bumper sticker to cover up his Sonny sticker.

While I'm hardly sympathetic to the "heritage" crowd, I'd have had to throw a punch on Sonny "Secret Chamber Man" Perdue's crawfishing on his flag vote promises. You guys got played, sort of like how God's Own Party does regular folks so very often.

I guess if another candidate comes along during the day we can name another Outlander of the Day. Feel free to nominate. Peace ... or War!

The More Things Change The More ...

The image above is from Thomas Nast in Harper's Weekly in early 1871. Tip of the tam to Peterr of FireDogLake for his recent post reminding me of the power of political cartoons prompting me to root around for some Nast. The Southern Poverty Law Center released just yesterday an amazing report titled "Close to Slavery: Guestworker Programs in the United States" that I found dead on. My approach toward immigration begins with a belief in consistent exploitation of the "have nots" by the "haves". Peace ... or War!

Outlander of the Day ~ Alberto Gonzales

Picking Old Abu was real easy for today, especially after that weak press conference. Karl Rove and Kyle Sampson should make Honorary Outlanders however. And not just because they look like they were in fact separated at birth! While Andrew Cohen nails the AG for his total lack of qualifications and lingering questions of loyalty to "Justice" rather than Bu$hCo, at least Abu has John Gibson and other shills (mercy if they don't have impressive discipline as the talking points really did flow almost seamlessly up and down The Mighty Wurlitzer that made it on the TeeVee these last few days) still there for this disaster of an administration. Peace ... or War!
UPDATE - March, 14, 2007 - McClatchy seems to confirms what I thought was the common practice of new adminstrations cleaning house plus the idea that a second term doesn't yield a a dumping at this part of DOJ. That the Clenis bounced the whole lot of U.S. Attorneys after three GOP terms and that then Judiciary Chairman Specter admits his staffer Brett Tolman (Well done Dahlia Lithwick!) slipped in (with Specter's counsel Michael O'Neill blessing!) the end run provision surely isn't the best you've got John Gibson. It can't be all, can it? Then again your Fox Noise Channel fans (and especially the masters that feed you this trash!) don't really demand much do they? Cheer up John, at least Easter is coming. Defending the holidays from the Godless Liberals will be something you can handle.

Republican Principles ... Lying to Congress

Glenn Greenwald, moving over to Salon during my lengthy absence from the blogosphere, reminds us "Lying to Congress has become a Republican principle, literally". Since a good portion of the work was built off the Reagan administration this really resonated with me in that I've been thinking how the GOP is looking for a Reaganesque candidate for 2008. Even locally I often hear some unreconstructed Reaganites, bolstered some by his recent death I'll suppose.

While I can't imagine it ever being worse than Bu$hCo, I also think about how my Old Daddy would have likely said the same thing about Nixon and perhaps even Reagan. From my study of history we've been backing up pretty much since the Reagan years, perhaps even earlier, so to have all this nostalgia worries this country boy.

In a related find, I'll send you to Terry J. Allen, writing for Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting in the fall of 2001 (presumably before September 11th, an event this merry band of neo-cons and other scoundrels have milked for all they could!) "Scandal? What Scandal? Bush's Iran-Contra appointees are barely a story" of how the media was ignoring the formation of this radical administration. As a bonus, there is a grand summary of some of the dirty dealings and tricks of this bunch of outlaws from way back in the day.

Progressives should, as Josh Marshall suggests, craft our messages around respect for the "Rule of Law" and guarding against "creeping authoritarianism" as we try to bring our nation back from the edge. Peace ... or War!

Satan Dumps Newt ... Plus Returns Soul

Andy Borowitz claims that it's over. He writes, Satan’s announcement was particularly hurtful to the potential GOP presidential candidate because ... "Newt and Satan have worked so closely together in the past." He closes with, Elsewhere, President Bush kept expectations low for his tour of Latin America, telling reporters, “I never got good grades in Latin.” Peace ... or War!

A lesson in framing reproductive health?

Lynn M. Paltrow, executive director of National Advocates for Pregnant Women, gives us "Towards A Real Culture Of Life" via Tom Paine that closes with "The time has come to move away from divisive (and inaccurate) “pro-life” and “pro-choice” categorizations and stand together. We need broad based support for laws and policies that genuinely promote a culture of life—one that includes and values the women who give that life." I urge folks to read and ponder. I'll want to revisit when I have more time and think on the points but first glance has me supportive. Peace ... or War!

Some Dubyah Cleansing Needed Here Too!

CNN reports, "Mayan Indian leaders have vowed to "spiritually cleanse" an ancient site in Guatemala after U.S. President George W. Bush visits during his seven-day, five-nation tour of Latin America. To think I just thought he was just doing the Hook 'Em Horns all these years. I'm offended every day he serves and fear his "bad spirit" will linger in DC for many, many moons so maybe we can get these priests up here. Peace ... or War!

Outlander of the Day ~ Andrea Mitchell

Her thinking most people want Scooter Libby pardoned might be due to her skin being stretched just a little too tight? Got to keep the Maestro's wand raised even if he's now just drawing speaking fees I suppose. She's a member of the DC Cocktail set that got us in this mess in the first place and yet she/they are still on the TeeVee! Responsible journalists all know the smelly bloggers are the real problem. Peace ... or War!

Why Captain Plaid Loved The Left Coast!

Mr. Cohen will earn his pay, and more importantly be distracted from March Madness (no Bama teams so I'll go with Florida or UNC), with this one up to a point yet the statement of his boss is a gem. Here in the middle of the Bible Belt I am surely tired of the battle over which pandering pol loves Baby Jesus the most. Tip of the Tam to Representative Pete Stark! Peace ... or War!

Tip of the Tam ~ HBO's Addiction Doc

This might actually justify my DirecTV bill every month. If Christy accepts her Mr. ReddHedd's huge honking TeeVee is legit then my little box can't be all bad. Addiction starts this Thursday evening yet lots of resources on the site. Peace ... or War!

Newt Gingrich Writes About Values

I’ve missed posting on the Alabama Policy Institute as “astroturfing” has long been one of my favorite tricks of the right wing. With his image appearing to the left, API VP Michael Ciamarra has once again teamed up, this time in an open manner, with Newt “Felonious Punk“ Gingrich suggesting “Make English Our Official Language” in this Sunday's Mobile Press-Register.

I’ve figured Newt was back, and if Digby says so that’s certainly good company, yet to have him recently channel Jimmy Swaggart doing the “I’ve sinned against God” trick with my favorite Theocrat (and global warming apologist) James Dobson was confirmation. The Moral Majoritarian Jerry Falwell has now even invited Newt to speak at Liberty’s commencement this spring. We’ll expect GOP frontrunner Giuliani to defend Newt yet surely that has nothing to do with Rudy’s own wanderings. Nor has it any relation to Bu$hCo’s initially tapping Bernie Kerik for Homeland Security at the urgings of his patron Rudy. Of course, John “Straight Talk” McCain better not throw stones either. “High Infidelity” indeed!

Returning to Gingrich and Ciamarra, they offer a relatively pleasant and certainly lengthy analysis of what ails us. "It’s the smelly hippies!” never appears in fact. The trouble is the lack of English and appreciation of “American cultural values”, like that demonstrated by Newt in going after the Clenis while all the time running around on the then trading off his second wife for a younger model. Let’s look at portions of what these two gents shared:

“What lies beneath the immigration controversy today is twofold.

First, the failure of large numbers of immigrants to assimilate into our culture is leading many to fear that we are experiencing the disintegration of American cultural values. American civilization is the most successful in all of human history for a reason. Our rule of law rests on the firm foundation of our cultural values, one of which is a common language.

If assimilation weakens, our foundation will weaken."

Gosh darned if “American Exceptionalism” isn’t a favorite of the right? This coming during the most corrupt administration, at least since Grant’s, is amazing. I actually fear CREW’s Top Twenty Five not even the tip of the iceberg. The GOP Rubber Stamp Congress really pressed that “rule of law” emphasis didn’t it? Who would have thought John Ashcroft would be missed yet we seeing Bu$hCo’s personal lawyer now playing our lawyer make us nostalgic for the blue boobie drapes. I’ll agree it does go well beyond Abu Gonzales as per Aziz Huq.
Specific citizenship reform measures for new legal immigrants should:

--Replace bilingual education with intensive English instruction to help new Americans assimilate into our civilization, thus preserving our culture.

I thought we taught content? Isn’t the best way to teach content with one’s native tongue? I’ll pass on the links but vouch for a nice tasty blend that begins with delivering content in the best way for the child. Most will catch up soon on the English. Give most the resources, and this includes some talented staff and time to learn certainly, and they’ll be fine. The approach advocated by Gingrich and Ciamarra fails in many ways, as do many conservative ideas when examined factually.

--Return ballots to English language format, focus on English language literacy as a prerequisite of citizenship, and insist that dual citizens vote only in the United States and give up voting in their birth nation.

I’d have thought it OK for “our” citizens to vote in another country is allowed under their laws. The right has killed and wounded thousands in their claimed yet clearly misguided efforts to bring our democratic values to Iraq and now they are against American citizens influencing foreign elections. Seems inconsistent to me.

--Rescind Executive Order 13166 requiring multilingualism in federal documents.

EO 13166 doesn’t require “multilingualism” in federal documents. Seems like
good law to this lefty.

--Require an American history test written in English for any legal immigrant who wishes to become a citizen and meets all qualification criteria.

I’d think one for voting or at least holding office might be nice given my experience with so many on the right not knowing the least bit of history. I also recall my last teaching gig having a recent immigrant and an exchange students consistently kicking butt compared to the vast majority of the Good Old Boys and Good Old Gals in my Government and World Geography classes!

--Focus federal funds on teaching American history and the principles of American civilization, and create specific programs to emphasize American heroes, including military heroes.

Heroes? What about rogues? Let’s celebrate our militarism for certain!

This would develop practical skills necessary to actively participate in everyday American life and American productivity.

How about high speed internet for the rural areas? Health care? Learning to think rather than take tests? Lower tuition? Let’s see how far these real solutions go in the GOP?

As we work toward reforming immigration policies, especially citizenship reform measures, we must never lose sight of the self-evident truths affirmed at the founding of our great nation. We are all created equal -- citizen and non-citizen alike -- and we are all endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights, among them life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

For these truths to have meaning, we must recognize that every person has an inherent human dignity that must be respected. These truths morally bind us to create a workable immigration solution founded upon a system of patriotic integration with our language -- the English language -- as the common unifying element.

Human dignity? Like that which your Bu$hCo/GOP has shown at Gitmo and Abu Ghriab? Or for that matter at Walter Reed? Founding principals would include respect for habeas corpus wouldn’t it? Basic constitutional principals have truly been ignored by Bu$hCo and his Rubber Stamp Congress and other apologists. Yet you guys are worried about the immigrants? Revealing!

Bottom line for these guys … I hear some of what you are saying. Hardly the worst I’ve heard from either. I think much of the vibrancy of our nation flows from immigration and yet agree that the best approach for those coming here is to learn some English and certainly to understand our (this doesn’t go as narrow as perhaps it does for Newt and Michael) civics, history, culture, …

Given today’s GOP, and some of the Democratic Party as well, blended together as “The Party of Davos”, I’m still thinking we’ll all need to learn Mandarin anyhow. Peace … or War!

"Six Flags Over Neoprene" Secures Upper Ocoee

If I'm ever back on the Ocoee and get run over by a raft, as I always seem to have occur, I'll be less able to complain since outfitters handling the tourists will have paid for the water. Actually, it has been almost eight years since I've been on the Ocoee and I've yet to paddle the Upper that this deal applies to. Slice and Dice left me with a nice scar over my right eye that last time! I'll still wear my Shred Ready helmet however as that one was surely my fault. Good story here that I'll never reduce to text. Not the ideal river for me even when younger as I'm hardly a playboater and don't care for sharing but she's close and reliable. Mixed feelings. Comments welcome, as always. Peace ... or War!

Tip of the Tam ~ Evan Frisch of The Rockridge Institute

Located originally via Kos, Evan's The Narrow View: Bush's Prosperity for the Few is a great find. Buy George's books! Or get Thinking Points for free yet I hope afterwards you'll then send The Rockridge Institute some money! After helping Jerry McNerney's team out this past fall Thinking Points was one of the first things I tackled. A must read for Progressives! Peace ... or War!

Halliburton to Locate HQ in Dubai

MSNBC/Reuters gives us the news. Wonder how much they'll save in taxes? Another thing I immediately pondered is if their records might not be more secure from subpoenas over there. On a personal note, and I like to bring in those when possible, I recall delivering some horses to a guy along the Oklahoma/Texas line about two years ago. This man was wearing a nasty old Halliburton chore coat but despite the filth you could tell it was a super nice quality cover. I recalled feeling almost sick about the mere sight of that name. This old cowboy was a nice enough fellow and yet any association with this bunch of outlaws hindered my ability to relate to him as I'd have liked. "Free enterprise my rear end!" is my response to this move. The rich get richer? Finally, Cheney's days may well be numbered as the stars are seemingly aligning against old Dead Eye Dick as of late. Yet don't count this old hand out. Past post reveals some of the many "entanglements". Tip of the tam to Danziger at the Trib for the image. Peace ... or War!
UPDATE - Although link rot has taken over much of the prior post above, T.D. Allman's Rolling Stone piece from way back in 2004 is a must read to understand Cheney.

Captain Plaid takes a pause for the cause!

Given that I'll be working with at least one candidate in at least a temporary role this fall, it is perhaps appropriate to take a breather. After the middle of November, I might return to blogging here yet much can happen between now and then. I've really enjoyed sharing my frustrations and hopes but I'll step aside from posting, fearing that I'll have post withdrawals as I stumble across things I'd like to share. The therapy of posting is something I'll vouch for as well, yet my frustration level is far lower now, sans reluctant students, than when I first started blogging.

These next few weeks will have me neck deep I hope in some battles that really count. If the Democrats can retake the House, and maybe even the Senate, we can perhaps begin the hard work of restoring our American democracy to what she can be. If the GOP gets spanked hard enough then they might at least pretend to be bipartisan again.

The chance to work with some young folks and professionals plus simply some new people is very exciting. Getting out of my neck of the woods is also attractive. Actually doing a campaign surely beats ranting and raving via a keyboard, although I might still use writing to vent and refine my ideas, even if you have to put on pants to canvass.

Most everybody that visits (all seven of you?) know how to reach me. I anticipate creating a new mail account, perhaps via G-mail, that I'll be able to check in case you wish to bounce anything off me. While I try to check comments for a bit, after the first of the month I'm liable to not be comfortable with replying. Since I made a whole $2.32 last month from Amazon please feel free to use my various sidebar click throughs to buy stuff. I might even get up enough credits to get a book or two.

Finally , should anybody run across a prior post that troubles them please be assured that I alone am responsible for the content of everything on this blog. I like erring on the side of free speech and might have wanted to continue blogging, should time and technology have allowed, yet would have tried to make that clear before posting anything. Whatever I did before being brought on board, and I don't start officially until Labor Day, surely can't be held against anyone I'm working with, even those using ReThuglican "logic". I've tried to remain generally undercover but also have attempted to be civil, even in the face of people and circumstances that often got my Scots up. There's the Coulter caveat of course! Crazy as a run over dog! I still think that was my favorite post and will amuse myself with memories of that goofy critter nearly ever time I see Ann Coulter. I bet my Old Daddy would recognize him as well.

Thanks again for supporting and challenging me. Peace ... or War!

Who is Brent Budowsky and where has he been?

Brent Budowsky, a former Lloyd Bentsen staffer now also affiliated with The Intelligence Summit, is a new discovery. Mr. Budowsky is posting over on HuffPo and churning out some sharp material. I'd gone to find his recent The Right Stuff, The Wrong War, and the Shameful Politics of Fear but I also located Ann Coulter Sleeps with the Enemy while Democrats Should Launch an October Surprise. I'm hesitant to cut portions to share as the total essays are worthy of reading. If this guy is a legit, and based on what I know now I'm thinking he is, then we ought to put him on the team. Peace ... or War!

Bama Democratic Leaders - Not Deep But Cheap

Alabama Representative Ken Guin is pictured to the left and State Senator E.B. McClain is to the right. They chaired the Alabama Legislative Democratic Leadership Council which has just released their "Covenant for the Future".

Rhonda A. Pickett of The Birmingham News reported on Wednesday "Democrats tour state, unveil plan". She writes:

Seven Democratic legislators traveled to four Alabama cities Tuesday unveiling the party's "Covenant for the Future," a list of initiatives that the members hope to pass in the 2007 state legislative session.

Speaker of the House Seth Hammett, along with state Reps. John Knight of Montgomery, Ken Guin of Carbon Hill, Betty Carol Graham of Alexander City and Frank "Skippy" White of Pollard, as well as state Sens. Zeb Little of Cullman and E.B. McClain of Midfield, outlined the plan during a 15-minute news conference at the Downtown Air Center in Mobile.

"Now it's time to write a new chapter in Alabama's history," said Hammett of Andalusia. "It's time to put into words the Democratic plan for moving Alabama forward." Details of the plan are available at www.covenantforthefuture.com.

Sending folks to the Covenant, apparently a single word page created by a 6th grader and then saved as an .html file, was amazing. They charter a plane, get some coverage, and can't spend a few bucks on a decent splash page? They could have created a slick series of pages that would have been hard for the GOP to refute with just a little effort and creativity.

Additionally, Republican Lite is not how we'll win our voters back, even here in backwards Bible Belt Bama. Confront the GOP. You'll not get the hard core "Values voters" back but you might fire up the dedicated and serious Progressives like yours truly rather than making them shake their heads in frustration. The pandering to the homophobes and the anti-choice crowd was dreadful and I'll be sure to mention it when I get the ear of some of the state and local leaders I know. We can work around the choice issue without just straight out caving to the Dobsonites. Immigration is a national matter as is health care.

There could have been so much more offered that I'd like to think might make a difference yet I'm afraid it will be many, many years before Progressive Democrats have a seat at the table here in Alabama. Peace ... or War!

UPDATE - December 9, 2007 - I linked to this today and noted the original Covenant link was dead. A mercy killing? I tracked down another form. Much better on style points yet it is still Republican Lite. I noted with pleasure some of the comments. Reckon they'll listen?

Doomsday from Dallas in Local Paper

Our image is "Jeremiah lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem" by Rembrandt van Rijn, which has been dated back around 1630 A.D. Mike Sutton of Dallas Texas is using authority from 600 B.C. in applying some bizarre Biblical prophecy materials (Some serious doom and gloom came from Jeremiah!) to current events and policies in Southwest Asia. In this past week's Randolph Leader, Mr. Sutton had a Letter to the Editor which the paper staff presumably entitled "War is the Answer" that I'll just copy in as follows:

O thou sword of the Lord, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? Put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.

How can it be quiet, seeing the Lord hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? There hath he appointed it. Jeremiah 47:6-7

Also thou shalt be cut down, O Madmen: the sword shall pursue thee. Jeremiah 48:2

Finish the job, O Israel! Destroy Hizbolla and then turn your Sword against Madmen in Tehran. The United Nations was created to betray you, and American politicians cannot be trusted or depended upon. The True and Living God will be your deliverer.

Mike Sutton - Dallas, Texas

I've previously noted Mr. Sutton's writings in our paper and frankly I'm glad he's out there in the Big D. However, I expect he'd fit in with some of our more fundamentalist congregations around here. Given that John Hagee is on the shelves at the Roanoke semi-Super-Center Wal-Mart and our local library has all the Jenkins-LaHaye end times literature I expect a good number of people buy what he is shilling. I guess he'd read the NYT as I offered up yesterday when I sent readers to HuffPo. I wonder if he's coming at all of this from a "dispensational premillennialism" perspective? Peace ... or War!

WaPo Tells Schools "Don't Blame Students" Yet "Meaning" of NCLB Accepted

The WaPo Editorial Board urges Montgomery County Schools to not "scapegoat" special education students for the fact their weak marks on high stakes testing have caused many local schools to make AYP. They try to hedge their scolding yet my frustration is that they accept NCLB as if it measures "best education". "Lowering expectations" is not the same as getting the right expectations. I used Tin Shop Tartan to post a missive against standardized testing under NCLB recently. I even dropped a Letter to the Editor of my local small town paper. I expect most of the same conditions apply in the DC area as around my neck of the woods. Peace ... or War!

Captain Plaid - New Approaches for New Days

I'll be cross posting the following across the five efforts. I'll keep Captain Plaid up and running via Blogger, although TypePad continues to call me. Until I announce otherwise, Captain Bama is leaving the building. For the near future at least, I'll abandon Tin Shop Tartan. I'm going to put Captain Jimi in the holster as well in that I can fight the culture war on the main blog. Marque Stuart has long been neglected and my inner Martha will need to be surpressed even further given these next few weeks ... and perhaps even months and years.

I've been slack in posting these last few days but family called. I was unexpectedly called in to help a relative with a business/building project and that has been the priority these last few days. Even though the fam might not always understand me, I am thrilled to help any of my brood. I understand Highlanders had "broken men" that had left their own Clans and joined with another in some respects, generally free to return to or assist their kin as circumstances required. Maybe that is what is going on with me? There have surely been plenty of shifts and changes for me over this summer! Here's the immediate deal ...

I'll be working for a Progressive Political Action Committee until mid-November. Reporting on Labor Day for duty, I'll be in Milwaukee for the first few days but they'll soon farm me out to at least one candidate. Although there may be some races for Governor or other state/local positions, I'm likely going to be working in one of the competitive U.S. House districts. I could be working pretty much anywhere but doubt it will be in Alabama or even the South (Florida doesn't count as the "South" does it?). Country come to town?

I'm hoping to find future work, ideally in politics/policy or some type of non-profit education, away from rural East Alabama. I'm looking in relatively urban areas along the East Coast or in the Mountain West. This PAC I'll work for next will assist in placement and yet I've got friends and contacts that are also looking and helping. The experience will hopefully teach me much plus it will admittedly help expand my resume. By the first of the year I hope to have a long term position nailed down. If anybody knows of something that might suit me please let me know. I'll work like two trojans. I can get along with most folks, event though some family and a few past "significant others" might disagree.

I'm leaving for several reasons. I've mentioned that several fundamentalist family members reacted rather harshly to a letter I sent First Baptist Church on their shilling of Amendment One, the Alabama Contitutional Amendment on banning same-sex marriages that every major paper or reasonable authority in Alabama agreed was not necessary and even foolish. Some have expressed displeasure with my Letters to the Editor to my local paper. I think I've done four since the first of the year and I've yet to have anybody say my facts were wrong. In every letter I challenged Bu$hCo (and often the GOP and conservatism and ...) so I think that was mostly the problem. Again, explain where I was wrong! Until then, and probably even after then, I feel very patriotic to have spoken out against the abuses of this worst administration ever. Additionally, my ex-wife has gone on the warpath so that my ability to have the type of relationship I'd like with my son has become more of a challenge.

I've left the classroom after five years back in the trenches frustrated with NCLB and other bureaucracy, with this last years' experience trying to teach the young adults of Heard County, Georgia being the final nail in that coffin. I was also feeling "cooped up" in that teachers are forced to work inside cement block rooms for most of their day and not always able to engage people and the community as might be ideal for any profession. I'd pondered returning to the practice of "country law", thinking a low overhead practice where I could perhaps avoid the drudgery of merely paying the bills might be rewarding. I'd thought I could do criminal defense and some worthy activism plus simply help folks but I've decided I can't remain here in rural East Alabama and keep my sanity. I'm somewhat afraid I'd wind up an angry, lonely old man. Living in this conservative backwater, even though I cherish some of the rural lifestyle, might do more harm than good. As a single man, the social scene around here is especially scary. I love the dirt and woods and critters and ..., and certainly a few dear friends, but I'm now certain I need another setting.

I've learned to live simple, and the older I get the less I seem to need, but I want "purpose" to my life. I seek intellectual and spiritual experiences. I want to work with people that generally possess a Progressive outlook. I want to find my place in a vibrant community that values learning and art and compassion and service and health and ... I've long though about building a "home" where I'll feel some measure of security and completeness. My experiences as a child, with my mother dying rather young plus several other unfortunate realities, have I think tempered me where I default to seek "place", although I'll argue this is a very Southern, perhaps even Scottish, trait.

My failed marriage and practice, one that I'll submit I've placed in the proper order, plus the resulting troubles, were certainly events I'd have just as soon avoided. Ten to seven/six years later, I'm twice the man I was and I'm just forty. I can still be a good father, even though the idea of moving away from my son is the toughest part of these changes. In fact, given the current attitudes and actions of my ex-wife, I'm perhaps making the best of a bad situation. I wanted to be near "the boy" through these early teen years but if I'm better centered by being elsewhere then more good might result.

I've really enjoyed posting on these five blogs and hope they've been valued for at least effort if not for insight. I've only done a few on Marque Stuart but I've dropped 126 posts on Captain Jimi. Tin Shop Tartan has seen 127. A total of 186 post appeared on Captain Bama. Captain Plaid has had 279. Over seven hundred posts! Many hours of mousing and keyboarding (with Blogger being bloggered often making it take longer!) but I've learned so much. I appreciate the comments and communcations. For those that have honored me with a blogroll link feel free to leave any or none. I'll continue over at Captain Plaid, with the caveat that if my new gig doesn't allow time then posts might be scarce. I anticipate a new email addy once I get settled in.

Thanks again for allowing me to share my thoughts and frustrations plus my hope for a better world. Peace ... or War!

Childhood in Nixon to Adulthood in Bu$hCo

I've been thinking lately about how my earliest memories of my Old Daddy and politics was watching him fuss and fume as Watergate imploded the Nixon White House. As an aside, I heard Nixon described recently as our last liberal President (I've read about his drug policy that was rather liberal in that it was pragmatic in seeking solutions rather than soundbites!) and to think Tricky Dick has been rehabilitated by Bu$hCo seems odd. I'm forty and have lived a fair amount yet I think I made the turn during these Bu$h years. My son might have memories of his Old Daddy fussing about Bu$hCo?

I like how Glenn Greenwald points out how the courts are starting to push back against Bu$hCo. Glenn writes:

Thus, judicial decisions are starting to emerge which come close to branding the conduct of Bush officials as criminal. FISA is a criminal law. The administration has been violating that law on purpose, with no good excuse. Government officials who violate the criminal law deserve to be -- and are required to be -- held accountable just like any other citizens who violate the law. That is a basic, and critically important, principle in our system of government. These are not abstract legalistic questions being decided. They amount to rulings that our highest government officials have been systematically breaking the law -- criminal laws -- in numerous ways. And no country which lives under the rule of law can allow that to happen with impunity.

While I'd like to see the whole lot in jail, at least censure becomes more relevant! Paging Senator Feingold. Worst administration ever. Peace ... or War!

How The Right Winger Reads the New York Times

L. Brent Bozell III is pictured to the left. He is William F. Buckley's nephew and son of L. Brent Bozell, Jr., a Goldwater man. He was the main fund-raiser behind Pat Buchanan when he sought Presidency in 1992.

Mr. Bozell presently leads The Media Research Center (heading their Parents Television Council) plus he serves on the Board of the American Conservative Union.

HuffPo's Contagion Festival offers a clever view on how a Right Wing nut job might read the Gray Lady. With high quality operatives like L. Brent Bozell conning the marginally intelligent "conservatives" into even more paranoia perhaps there's some excuse for the average fool yet I do tire of defaults toward "liberal bias" whenever something challenges their "thinking". Peace ... or War!

White House Press Rolls Over Again for Bu$hCo

Eric Boehlert's "Lapdogs: How the Press Rolled Over for Bush" is on my "one of these days" wish list yet time is scarce and getting even more so. More on that front to follow. For a brief dose of Boehlert, HuffPo's Eat the Press has him posting often. (Gotta move those books Eric! I've heard and read good things but can there ever be too much marketing?) A recent post examines how the press corp has allowed Bu$hCo to wall them off from private fundraisers.

We can only hope that the media will begin pushing back after this fall. While I fear future White House occupants might try something like this I look forward to the time when some of those in Bu$hCo and covering his administration feel free to spill the beans.

In a barely related vein, has Snow Job been asked about his thoughts on Jeff Gannon, Armstrong Williams, ... yet? I'm sure he'd dodge but it would be nice to try to hem him up. Peace ... or War!

Cenk Uygur Nails GWOT on HuffPo

I'm sharing the image of Cenk Uygur, Jill Pike and Ben Mankiewicz of The Young Turks. Cenk has a serious pedigree (UPenn, Wharton, & Columbia Law!) and is scary smart.

Ben's Hollywood name is equally pedigreed plus he's obviously clever and well educated (as only historians can be!) after toiling at Tufts and Columbia. Jill is certainly no slouch in smarts, especially in LA I suspect, plus she's easy on the eyes and admittedly loves learning.

Their media effort is a gem! If nothing else a visit will demonstrate how today's tech provides alternatives to the MSM. I also enjoy how they are assertive but generally respectful with each other and people that call in or otherwise contact them. Listening to smart folks discuss political issues is rare in my neck of the woods (or on CNN, MSNBC and certainly Faux News in many cases) so I like stopping by and think my rare few readers might as well. Let me know what you think.

Cenk posts at HuffPo today with The Better Way of Fighting Terrorism that is a solid and simple read. This makes so much sense and plenty of Americans know it. How the GOP is winning or at least avoiding being wiped away in elections when they don't accept this approach amazes me. The Republican's solutions to terrorist threats are mostly counter-productive and costly and immoral and ...

Consider the post, sharing it with folks that might benefit from reading it, and finally check out YT. Peace ... or War!

Borosage - In CT, triumph of the new moral center

I've followed the Connecticut Lamont/Lieberman race, generally avoiding blogging on it partly because I never think I've spelled the state correctly, and think Uncle Joe got what he deserved and, more importantly, we got what America needs. Robert L. Borosage, one of the editors to the book pictured to the left that I'll discuss later in the post, suggests the same much better that I could provide. Ned Lamont's positions seem rather reasonable to me but please visit his campaign website if you'd like to look for yourself.

In today's Anniston Star, my regional paper, Mr. Borosage writes in part the following:

... Most important, Lamont represents a new moral center in American politics — a challenge to the failed status quo and a demand for a new direction for which a growing majority of Americans are searching.

Bring an end to the disastrous occupation in Iraq and bring the troops home with honor. Change priorities to invest in our schools, in universal pre-kindergarten, in modern infrastructure. Champion affordable national health care for all.

These are not issues from the “edges of our politics,” as Lieberman suggests, but ideas whose time has come. ... (Lieberman's) brand of “getting things done” is exactly what Americans are turning against.

He joined with the president in championing the war in Iraq — got that done.

He joined with Republicans and corporate lobbies in passing corporate trade deals that have destroyed American manufacturing and undermined wages in America — got that done.

He joined with conservatives in championing the privatization of Social Security — at least he was blocked there.

He joined with CEOs in defending off-the-books stock options that gave CEOs a multimillion-dollar personal incentive to cook the books and raid pension funds — got that done.

He doesn't get it.

The problem isn't that things aren't getting done — the problem is that the things he has helped to produce are weakening this country abroad and undermining workers and middle-class families at home.

Lieberman's sore loser campaign will be well financed by the corporate lobbies he has served. Since he has no new ideas to offer, he'll run a nasty negative campaign of personal vilification against Lamont, trying to smear him before voters have a chance hear what Lamont has to say.

And that race will be a test for every Democratic leader. Will they come to support Lamont and the new energy, the new ideas, the new moral center that he represents? Or will they offer nominal support but stay away, refusing to challenge Lieberman's low-road campaign? Their reactions will be a true measure of who is ready to fight for a new direction for this country and who is not.

I'm thrilled that local readers can be exposed to ideas such as these, recognizing that "readers" around my neck of the woods, and much of America to boot, are rare. Robert L. Borosage of the Campaign/Institute for America's Future and Katrina Vanden Heuvel of The Nation are co-editors of "Taking Back America: And Taking Down the Radical Right". This book is a series of essays by some serious thinkers in the Progressive community. The "Take Back America 2006" conference website can provide additional insight into their efforts, yet several centrist leaning Democrats did participate. I can only hope they listened to others present. "Straight Talk" is yet another resource from C/IAF.

I am still hopeful that Joe Lieberman will drop out yet if he stays in the opportunity is there to use his Corporatist brand of politics against the GOP. Republican Lite Democrats might not be prepared to do this so this might be a chance to flush them out. I heard the standard GOP talking points this AM from Ken the Grin Mehlman on Stephanopoulos and they are easily said and swallowed, especially by those less informed than we'd like. Americans have been fooled before as simple sells. Yet if Lefty Progressives can practice jujitsu politics and simply frame things more effectively, now is the time I think for a shift.

The disasters of Bu$hCo give us the best chance we'll perhaps have short of a total meltdown. Given that meltdowns have resulted in the rise of facism in some nations, I'd just as soon solve our troubles now. I'm certain the GOP will fail to roll back the corporate takeover of our government and I fear the DLC will not do enough. If our leaders can't get the message then it is time to get some in DC and the states that will represent middle class and poor people. The Big Mules must be pushed back where there is some balance. "A new moral center" is indeed representative of the best of what America offers here and aboad.

I'm seeking a role in helping create change as I truly fear where this nation is heading. The elections this fall are critical and I'm hoping I'll have a role in one or more campaigns. In the future, I'm looking toward 2008 and beyond. For the time being this is my small effort. Peace ... or War!

Surveillance by Brits/US was LEGAL

Glenn Greenwald's "Legal surveillance, not illegal eavesdropping, stopped the U.K. terrorist attacks" from today rightly calls out right wingers that are simply stretching the reality across the pond, and our own involvement here as well, to shill Bu$hCo's illegal actions. I've noted plenty of pundits and pols heading down this path but if Glenn's facts are correct, and I am very certain they are, they are either stupid or disengenous to make such broad claims. Peace ... or War!

UPDATE - Tip of the tam to FDL for the link to John Rogers/Kung Fu Monkey's "Wait, Aren't You Scared?" that delivers a delicious post related to the above.

Frances Moore Lappe's Democracy's Edge

I'm nearly through Francis Moore Lappe's "Democracy's Edge: Choosing to Save Our Country by Bringing Democracy to Life" and now I'll need to carve out time for some of her other works. I've added several to my Amazon Wish List. Her daughter Anna's Grub is likely another effort to investigate. Mother and daughter's Small Planet Institute is even one more resource to note. All their work appears solid and very inspirational. Peace ... or War!

But Will Dubyah Listen to the Old Man's Men?

Despite this dreadful image, the idea that James A. Baker III and George H.W. Bu$h are attempting to bring some measure of sanity to Bu$hCo's failed foreign policies pleases me.

I'm hardly a fan of either, certainly true for Mr. Baker after his work in Florida in late 2000, but they are "realists" and certainly able to play hardball with the cabal that has taken over this White House.

In this month's upcoming Washington Monthly, you'll find "A Higher Power : James Baker puts Bush's Iraq policy into rehab" by Robert Dreyfuss. The piece stands alone and is worth a read so I'll not pull portions.

While I try to avoid thinking on conspiracies from the powers behind the thrones, I've admittedly wondered if some powerful men and women in this nation and world would step in and force Bu$hCo to act right. While I know some that are still drinking the kool aide, there are surely plenty more at the top of the food chain that lament the damage done by Bu$hCo. Maybe there are competing interests that I'm simply unaware of but Dubyah's dreadful leadership can't be good for many powerful interests. Perhaps this "Iraq Study Group" is part of the movement we simply must have.

While I want Bu$hCo and his GOP enablers saddled with blame and shame for many years to come, the interests of the nation and our world come first. If James Baker and Brent Scowcroft, plus these other mostly internationalist grown ups, can help salvage this mess then I'll welcome them to the effort. Peace ... or War!

Vietnam in 1972 vs. Iraq in 2006 and 2008

David Sirota serves up "Rejecting the McGovern Complex" via Common Dreams. Well reasoned and written as I've grown to expect from young David. (I had turned seven at the time of the 1972 election and David was not yet born so "young", and "wise beyond his years", is accurate.) From the Veep stumble to going againt the Nixon machine to the ..., I'm also frustrated with the comparisons. I'll also suggest the differences between the Democratic Party and the GOP go way, way beyond Iraq. Finally, George McGovern was a wise and decent man that deserved better then and now. Peace ... or War!

Joe Francis and our "Rape Culture Gone Wild"

While just this morning I was frustrated by a WaPo report that Afghanistan government may be reviving the Taliban approach via a "Department for the Promotion of Virtue and the Discouragement of Vice", I was aware of this trend for some time. I have a dear friend that has a friend doing UN work in Kabul helping them set up their legal systems. I get forwarded emails of his adventures, written with world class snark, and always howl with laughter, although there's nothing funny about vodka thieves.

I even have a cousin in Afghanistan, allegedly up for a General's slot, right now so it is interesting to have some personal insights into the country. I think he arrived about two months back, roughly the time the latest flareup happened. While I'm furious that Bu$hCo essentially abandoned the nation that we had a legitimate reason to invade for his misadventures in Iraq, the idea that these people, and thousands more, have served and suffered to have the Taliban step back in bothers me. I understand women are slightly better off but I do worry that setbacks are looming. Chances to create real change for these people, and even our world in seeing a true shift from a fundamentalist theocracy to a somewhat democratic and open society, I fear have been wasted.

That being written, let me now get to the reason for the post. I felt I needed to contrast the above with what troubles me about our culture. I have not done as much posting on feminism as I should have. I've been exposed to enough that I've plenty to share and will try to do a better job.

As a mitigating factor, I've often had the opportunity, while teaching teens these last five years, to confront the work of Joe Francis, the "brain" behind "Girls Gone Wild". My kids often referenced his trash. I don't like the idea of censorship and don't want to appear "Talibanish" in my views but there can be no doubt the "rape culture" is alive and well here in the United States. Shilling the liberal agenda in our public schools perhaps, I talked briefly about the way our society sexualizes women and the idea of the "lie of entitlement" that my friend Red Crowley wrote of. I'll even confess that at times I left a Dworkin or similar book like "Tranforming a Rape Culture" on my desk for kids to note and thus provide a springboard for a quick talk. "Mr. (Captain Plaid), what's that book about?" beats studying history or government or geography or ... I guess.

Jessica Valenti at Feministing serves up commentary and links that stand alone in her "Rape culture gone wild". Read it (and certainly the LA Times reporting of Claire Hoffman plus the images provided) and weep!

Maybe we ought to call "Comedy Central" but I'm not optimistic they'll pull ads for GGW. What we should certainly do is talk to the young people which we might influence. Making our society aware of how this trash shapes these kids' identies is workable. It is hard work, and we've got plenty of barriers in this often worthless mass culture, yet personal contact is effective. I'm betting that I was likely the first person, most certainly adult male, that some of my kids had ever heard talk this way. A token liberal in a sea of conservatism? My angle was hardly Puritan so I think some responded. I shared how marketing and popular culture was not always providing the best examples in many areas yet I expect that sleazy profiteers such as Joe Francis are about as poor excuses for humans as they come. Peace ... or War!

Report of our Constitutional Crisis as prepared by the staff of House Judiciary Ranking Democrat John Conyers, Jr.

If I'd have been handling this I'd have released at another time than a Friday afternoon in August. I'd have also dolled the webpage and document up a bit. Representative John Conyer, Jr. of Michigan is the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee and I'll provide his introduction in just a bit to explain why he felt it necessary to let his staff prepare this report.

Here's the intro webpage and here's the thing in Word Document format. I've of course not read the thing and might not for some time. I might not ever wade through it. From what I understand the media is mostly ignoring yet hope springs eternal. Working through this massive document will take some time but you'd think somebody would be talking about the basic allegations on the Sunday talking heads.

Here's what Representative Conyers wrote for the introduction:

Scandals such as Watergate and Iran-Contra are widely considered to be constitutional crises. They were in the sense that the executive branch was acting in violation of the law and in tension with the Majority Party in the Congress. But the system of checks and balances put in place by the founding fathers worked, the abuses were investigated, and actions were taken – even if presidential pardons ultimately prevented a full measure of justice.

The situation we find ourselves in today under the administration of George W. Bush is systemically different. The alleged acts of wrongdoing my staff has documented– which include making misleading statements about the decision to go to war; manipulating intelligence; facilitating and countenancing torture; using classified information to out a CIA agent; and violating federal surveillance and privacy laws – are quite serious. However, the current Majority Party has shown little inclination to engage in basic oversight, let alone question the Administration directly. The media, though showing some signs of aggressiveness as of late, is increasingly concentrated and all too often unwilling to risk the enmity or legal challenge from the party in charge. At the same time, unlike previous threats to civil liberties posed by the Civil War (suspension of habeas corpus and eviction of the Jews from portions of the Southern States); World War I (anti-immigrant “Palmer Raids”); World War II (internment of Japanese Americans); and the Vietnam War (COINTELPRO); the risks to our citizens’ rights today are potentially more grave, as the war on terror has no specific end point.

Although on occasion the courts are able to serve as a partial check on the unilateral overreaching of the Executive Branch – as they did in the recent Hamdan v. Rumsfeld decision invalidating the President’s military tribunal rules – the unfortunate reality remains that we are a long way from being out of the constitutional woods under the dangerous combination of an imperial Bush presidency and a compliant GOP Congress. I say this for several reasons. The Hamdan decision itself was approved by only five Justices (three Justices dissented, and Chief Justice Roberts recused himself because he had previously ruled in favor of the Administration) and was written by 86-year old Justice Stevens. In the event of his retirement in the next two years, the Court’s balance would likely be tipped back as he would undoubtedly be replaced by another Justice in the Scalia-Thomas-Roberts-Alito mode favoring an all-powerful “unitary” executive. In the very first hearing held on the decision, the Administration witness testified that “the president is always right” and severely chastised the Court’s decision. The Republican Majority also appears poised to use the decision to score political points rather than reassert Congressional prerogatives, as House Majority Leader Boehner disingenuously declared the case “offers a clear choice between Capitol Hill Democrats who celebrate offering special privileges to violent terrorists, and Republicans who want the President to have the necessary tools to prosecute and achieve victory in the Global War on Terror.”

Thus, notwithstanding the eloquence of the Hamdan decision, I believe our Constitution remains in crisis. We cannot count on a single judicial decision to reclaim the rule of law or resurrect the system of checks and balances envisioned by the founding fathers. Rather, we need to restore a vigilant Congress, an independent judiciary, a law-abiding president, and a vigorous free press that has served our Nation so well throughout our history.

Because of the above concerns, I asked my Judiciary Committee staff to prepare the following Report. I made this request in the wake of President Bush’s failure to respond to a letter submitted by 122 Members of Congress and more than 500,000 Americans in July of 2005 asking him whether the assertions set forth in the so-called “Downing Street Minutes” were accurate, and in the aftermath of the disclosure by The New York Times in December 2005 and USA Today in May 2006 that the President had approved widespread warrantless domestic surveillance of innocent Americans. I asked for this Report to be prepared because I believe it is vital that we document these allegations, learn from our mistakes, and consider laws and safeguards necessary to prevent their recurrence.

I believe it is essential that we come together as a Nation to confront religious extremism and despicable regimes abroad as well as terrorist tactics at home. However, as a veteran, I recognize that we do no service to our brave armed forces by asking them to engage in military conflict under false pretenses and without adequate resources. Nor do we advance the cause of fighting terrorism if our government takes constitutionally dubious short cuts of little law enforcement value that alienate the very groups in this country whose cooperation is central to fighting this seminal battle.

Many of us remember a time when the powers of our government were horribly abused. Those of us who lived through Vietnam know the damage that can result when our government misleads its citizens about war. As one who was included on President Nixon’s “enemies list,” I am all too familiar with the specter of unlawful government intrusion. In the face of these lessons, I believe it is imperative that we never lose our voice of dissent, regardless of the political pressure. As Martin Luther King told us, “there comes a time when silence is betrayal.” None of us should be bullied or intimidated when the executive branch charges that those who would criticize their actions are “aiding the terrorists” and “giving ammunition to America’s enemies,” or when they warn that “Americans need to watch what they say,” as this Administration has done.

It is tragic that our Nation has invaded another sovereign nation because “the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy,” and that millions of innocent Americans have been subject to government surveillance outside of proper legal process. However, it is unforgivable that Congress has been unwilling to examine these matters or take actions to prevent these circumstances from occurring again. Since the Majority Party is unwilling to fulfill their oversight responsibilities, it is incumbent on individual Members of Congress as well as the American public to act to protect our constitutional form of government. It is with that purpose and in that spirit that I am releasing this Minority Report.

I would like to thank the “blogosphere” for its myriad and invaluable contributions to my and my staff. Absent the assistance of “blogs” and other Internet-based media, it would have been impossible to assemble all of the information, sources and other materials necessary to the preparation of this Report. Whereas the so-called “mainstream media” has frequently been willing to look past the abuses of the Bush Administration, the blogosophere has proven to be a new and important bulwark of our Nation’s first amendment freedoms.

Certainly even a lightweight Lefty blogger can appreciate the snaps in that last paragraph. I'm in awe of some of the work by the likes of Glenn Greenwald and Christy Hardin Smith and ... Tip of the tam to Representative Conyers and his staff of course. Surely the media will examine these allegations and then , if deemed valid concerns, demand some answers from the White House and the Majority Party. Peace ... or War!

Jim Wallis' "If All You Have Is A Hammer..."

Jim Wallis of Sojourners serves up hope that diplomacy might prevail in the conflict with Iran, perhaps too optimistically given this administration, with his "If All You Have Is A Hammer..." What I admittedly valued was a trip down memory lane on how Bu$hCo bungled (and continues to bungle!) Iraq. At the bottom of the post I've got a link to an alternative that was pushed by religious leaders, including Jim Wallis, back in 2003.

Mr. Wallis begins his writing as follows:

The best line I heard in the period leading up to the war in Iraq was, “If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” It came from my friend Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, when we were on a panel together in England about the best response to terrorism.

The premise of the panel was that the threat of terrorism is real, that there are real dangers prowling about in our world, and that the problem of evil is a very serious one. The question we were addressing was what the best response to the real threats of terrorism should be.

Let me say what we have said before in these pages, before this awful war began: The war with Iraq was not a war of last or only resort, or the best way to deal with the real threats offered by Saddam Hussein. There were other alternatives possible—even some non-administration hawks thought that the “six-point plan” offered by some American religious leaders and released by Sojourners in March 2003 should have been tried—and they were simply not seriously considered by the Bush administration. And it is now undeniably true that this administration lied about the facts in Iraq and consistently manipulated intelligence to justify going to war.

Now the stories come every day, of thousands of young Americans dying and being maimed forever, of wives losing husbands and husbands losing wives, of children losing their parents and parents their children—suffering and pain that I believe was unnecessary.

I NOW CALL THIS the American “hammer habit.” If we don’t know how to solve a problem, we just fight. Diplomacy has become a “weak” word to those who run our foreign policy and, in the House debate on Iraq in June, Republicans made numerous references to those who are “afraid to fight.” Right on cue, Fox News Sunday’s Brit Hume accused Democrats of being a party that just doesn’t like to fight. And according to the neo-conservatives masquerading as journalists, such as Hume and William Kristol, continuous fighting is the only foreign policy that makes any sense.

Even more frightening is how much their friends such as Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld have the same strong preference for fighting over talking. If they had their way, we would have fought or would still be fighting several wars by now—all at the same time—in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Iran at least, and probably against North Korea too, if they thought we could win the war. They act as if talking and negotiating with potential adversaries is just a waste of time. It is truly astonishing and even shocking how people who simply question the efficacy and morality of the continuing American occupation in Iraq—including longtime military supporters such as Rep. John Murtha—are so quickly and viciously accused of “cutting and running” or not having the “courage” to fight. ...

I continue to hear very smart men and women opine that Iraq might be the biggest foreign policy blunder in recent decades. How an administration such as this one came to power is a lesson for us all. Reckon Ralph Nader still thinks there was little if any difference in Bu$hCo and Al Gore? I'd also forgotten about this "six point plan" or "third way" effort. Looks pretty good now doesn't it?

This fall our nation stands at a crossroads. Electing Progressive Democrats can help create conditions where we can understand why this White House (and many in Congress along with the media plus a great deal of regular Americans) chose war over peace. Learning of the abuses of the Bu$h administration is certainly a part of the equation yet it goes even beyond their cabal of liars and manipulators. Our side can win in the marketplace of ideas, which I think begins with domestic policies that impact surely every citizen. However, a foreign policy that defaults to war cannot be acceptable to the vast majority of Americans, or for that matter our world, and will appeal to all but the most militaristic voters. Peace ... or War!

Wingnut 101 via Young America's Foundation

Jason DeParle of the Gray Lady gives us “Passing Down the Legacy of Conservatism” where he examines the Young America’s Foundation. At their marketplace you can purchase your own “stunning Ann Coulter” poster (I could perhaps use in my garden as a Scare Ho?) plus claim your free George W. Bush poster. Another freebie is the “2006-2007 Campus Conservative Battleplan” which provides examples of how to best carry our campus activism.

Good luck on the “Highlight America's success in the Middle East” suggestion! I still think a few tours wearing BDUs into the Middle East might be a good place for these chickenhawks to show their support.

I’ve previously posted on the YAF’s Ruth Malhotra doing her part to earn her Club 100 Columnist credentials. PFAW and SourceWatch reveal more. 501(c)(3) status so the Olin, Scaife, Bradley, Coors, … families/foundations can deduct their support. A good example of what these funders are getting for their money is how a YAF media representative recently denied, in a perfect demonstration of smugness that only a young Republican can demonstrate, press credentials to a college-age Progressive reporter after he had twice covered the Campus Progress conferences!

Perhaps this prime fighting age man needs to enlist? Peace … or War!

Norton Garfinkle - I Want His Book!

I want Norman Garfinkle's “The American Dream vs. the Gospel of Wealth: The Fight for a Productive Middle-Class Economy" Tip of the tam to Professor Eric Alterman for pointing me in that direction. Scroll down Doc's work and you'll begin to get a handle on the shift from demand-side to supply-side. As an unrecontructed Keynesian I've long been in the demand camp.

After the disaster of Reagan and especially Bu$hCo where "growth" is the only concern perhaps the supply siders will crawl off and die. And I think it will if the average American could ever get a handle on economics and policy. Joe Sixpack can I think understand Keynes far easier than "voodoo economics". Even if they can't they can at least accept the fairness of the policy for regular folks. Something has to give and the sooner the better. Peace ... or War!

John Kerry on Health Care

Back on 2003 I decided John Kerry and John Edwards best represented the ideas that I thought were best. I did not reject Howard Dean but found his ideas and approaches perhaps too far ahead for the times. Kerry's war record seemed attractive compared to Dubyah's "service". I ran across a John Kerry HuffPo post that prompted me to look further. John Kerry's recent speech on health care resonates for me. Finally, I've been bloggered lately so I regret the lack of posts. Peace ... or War!