Another memo, and once again very little coverage in the United States media. This from the New York Times.

Bush Was Set on Path to War, British Memo Says

"...behind closed doors, the president was certain that war was inevitable. During a private two-hour meeting in the Oval Office on Jan. 31, 2003, he made clear to Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain that he was determined to invade Iraq without the second resolution, or even if international arms inspectors failed to find unconventional weapons, said a confidential memo about the meeting written by Mr. Blair's top foreign policy adviser and reviewed by The New York Times."

Oh I'm sure the top foreign policy adviser to Tony Blair is just a partisan hack who has an ax to grind, and this memo means nothing, and proves nothing.

"'Our diplomatic strategy had to be arranged around the military planning,' David Manning, Mr. Blair's chief foreign policy adviser at the time, wrote in the memo that summarized the discussion between Mr. Bush, Mr. Blair and six of their top aides.

'The start date for the military campaign was now penciled in for 10 March,' Mr. Manning wrote, paraphrasing the president. 'This was when the bombing would begin.'"

And even more disturbing, at least to me, are these comments from our fearless leader.

"The memo also shows that the president and the prime minister acknowledged that no unconventional weapons had been found inside Iraq. Faced with the possibility of not finding any before the planned invasion, Mr. Bush talked about several ways to provoke a confrontation, including a proposal to paint a United States surveillance plane in the colors of the United Nations in hopes of drawing fire, or assassinating Mr. Hussein."

Ok everyone, remember there is nothing to see here, go on your merry way. War is no big deal. This president violated our trust that he would never send our troops into harms way unless it was absolutely warranted. He has made this country the schoolyard bully, and it makes me sad.

Well there was this today.

Abu Ghraib dog handler gets jail for abuse

"A U.S. Army dog handler was sentenced to six months in prison for tormenting detainees at Baghdad's notorious Abu Ghraib jail with his unmuzzled Belgian shepherd, an Army spokeswoman said on Wednesday."

Well good, so he got some prison time for committing these terrible acts. But there's a problem see.

"Human rights observers at Smith's trial said it implicated higher-ranking military officials who so far have not been held accountable for the abuses at Abu Ghraib.

'Our soldiers shouldn't be forced to sort out what manners of interrogation are permissible by watching who is convicted of what,' said Jean Aylward, a lawyer with Human Rights First, an activist group. 'The rules need to be clear in advance and senior commanders and civilian leaders who intentionally muddy those waters must be held accountable.'"

It is truly truly disgraceful that these soldiers who were simply following orders are taking the fall for this, and NO one higher up in the chain of command is being held accountable. It's wrong. I hope these people are marched out of the Pentagon in chains, that is what they deserve.

F*CK YOU Rumsfield!

FBI Agent Slams Bosses at Moussaoui Trial

"The FBI agent who arrested Zacarias Moussaoui in August 2001 testified Monday he spent almost four weeks trying to warn U.S. officials about the radical Islamic student pilot but 'criminal negligence' by superiors in Washington thwarted a chance to stop the 9/11 attacks."

Read the full story it is very disturbing indeed.

"Under questioning from MacMahon, Samit acknowledged that he had told the Justice Department inspector general that "obstructionism, criminal negligence and careerism" on the part of FBI headquarters officials had prevented him from getting a warrant that would have revealed more about Moussaoui's associates. He said that opposition blocked 'a serious opportunity to stop the 9/11 attacks.'"

You see there is incompetence in all levels of our government, what a damn shame. I'm sorry I just can't say how I feel about all of this. Anyways, I grew up thinking that we had the brightest and best, most competent individuals protecting our fine country. I guess its a fact of life that when we grow up we realize the world is a very different place.

Happy Saint Pat's!

So I didn't mention before I left that we were going to Denver. Well I am back and out of the political loop now. I saw today that at the same time Congress is debating extending tax cuts including the tax cuts on dividends and capital gains, they are also going to vote to up the national debt limit for the fifth time since shrub has been in office.

Senate, House begin talks on tax cut bill

"Congressional negotiators on Wednesday began negotiations on a $70 billion tax cut package that Republican leaders are insisting include an extension of tax breaks for capital gains and dividends."

Likely Vote to Up National Debt Looms

"Senate Republicans cast symbolic campaign-season votes Wednesday to increase spending for border and port security - one day before a likely vote to increase the national debt by an additional $781 billion, to $9 trillion.

The uncomfortable vote to increase the debt is the fourth since President Bush took office"

Speaks volumes about this government and its utter failure.

At least people seem to be finally catching on.

Poll: Bush approval at 33 percent

"President George W. Bush has hit a new public approval low in the Pew poll, with just 33 percent of adults saying they approve of his performance in office."

Dubai pulls out. The prez says he had nothing to do with it, oh sure.

DP World pulls out of US ports, rescuing Bush from firestorm

"A Dubai government-owned company said it will sell its US port operations in a move that spared President George W. Bush a showdown with Congress.

Dubai Ports World (DP World) made the announcement after leading Republicans told Bush that Congress would block the takeover."

Oh and today he signed the "Patriot" Act back into law, bravo.

Bush signs Patriot Act renewal

"President George W. Bush signed a renewal of the USA Patriot Act on Thursday, hailing it as vital to the war on terrorism, but a key congressional critic said it lacked adequate safeguards for civil liberties."

Finally Congress is getting smarter and realizes that something needs to be done about this port deal. Or maybe they just want to try to save their asses in the upcoming election. But either way a win for America.

GOP House Panel Votes to Block Ports Deal

"In a congressional election-year repudiation of President Bush, a House panel dominated by Republicans voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to block a Dubai-owned firm from taking control of some U.S port operations. Democrats clamored for a vote in the Senate, too.

By 62-2, the House Appropriations Committee voted to bar DP World, run by the government of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, from holding leases or contracts at U.S. ports. The landslide vote was the strongest signal yet that more than three weeks of White House efforts to stunt congressional opposition to the deal have not been successful."

Now Democrats are trying to get a similar vote in the Senate. If that is successful lets see shrub commit political suicide for his entire party by vetoing the bill.

Your time is over. Our momentum is building.

Well this just proves that your representatives in congress do not care about your civil liberties.

Congress Renews Patriot Act; Bush to Sign

"The House renewed the USA Patriot Act in a cliffhanger vote Tuesday night, extending a centerpiece of the war on terrorism at President Bush's urging after months of political combat over the balance between privacy rights and the pursuit of potential terrorists.
...
The vote was 280-138, just two more than needed under special rules that required a two-thirds majority. The close vote caught senior Republican aides in both chambers by surprise."

I'm sorry this set of laws is just so flawed that, for me, it trumps all value it has in fighting terrorism. And the fact that the representatives gave their blessing to this law with really no concessions to protect our civil liberties makes me sad. These lawmakers had it in their power to force real protections for our civil liberties into a new "Patriot Act" and at the same time strengthening the terrorism protection clauses, but they chose to give this administration a small political win at our expense. Well great, that makes me feel all wonderful.

In other news

Senate panel rejects bid for NSA inquiry

"Senate Republicans on Tuesday agreed to expand oversight of President George W. Bush's domestic spying program but rejected Democratic pressure for a broad inquiry into eavesdropping on U.S. citizens."

Yeah this really isn't any big thing. I think we have all decided that everything is on the up and up, and the prez did nothing wrong, and that these powers would never be abused. Right right, oh well no big. Good luck. The sooner these bastards are out of power the better.

The punchline to that lawyer joke, about lawyers at the bottom of the sea or something. Anyways, In the news today;

GOOD!

Ex-congressman Cunningham sentenced to 8 years

"Former U.S. Congressman Randy 'Duke' Cunningham, who pleaded guilty last year to taking $2.4 million in bribes, was sentenced by a federal judge on Friday to eight years and four months in prison."

Now if we can just get good old boy Tom Delay in the can too, and while we are at it;



I'm sorry to be the typical, "hysterical" liberal, but you know what, I have had enough. This country is scarred forever. September 11th really hurt this country but all that has happened since is just as damaging.

I know, the title may seem like an oxymoron, but seriously, what else does America need to see that this man is completely and utterly incapable of taking meeting the intense and gravely important responsibility of the highest office in the country?

So today I read a report of a video that was obtained by the media, in which shrub is literally phoning it in.

Tape: Bush, Chertoff Warned Before Katrina

"In dramatic and sometimes agonizing terms, federal disaster officials warned President Bush and his homeland security chief before Hurricane Katrina struck that the storm could breach levees, put lives at risk in New Orleans' Superdome and overwhelm rescuers, according to confidential video footage.

Bush didn't ask a single question during the final briefing before Katrina struck on Aug. 29, but he assured soon-to-be-battered state officials: 'We are fully prepared.'"

Unfortunately he was gravely wrong.

"Linked by secure video, Bush expressed a confidence on Aug. 28 that starkly contrasted with the dire warnings his disaster chief and numerous federal, state and local officials provided during the four days before the storm.

A top hurricane expert voiced 'grave concerns' about the levees and then-Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Michael Brown told the president and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff that he feared there weren't enough disaster teams to help evacuees at the Superdome."

Any response from the top official in this country? NO. We pray for everyone, and we are prepared; hollow words.

So why am I so critical of the prez based on one video where he doesn't ask any questions, and seems rather disconnected from reality? Well because of the defense from the White House.

"The White House and Homeland Security Department urged the public Wednesday not to read too much into the video footage.

'I hope people don't draw conclusions from the president getting a single briefing,' presidential spokesman Trent Duffy said, citing a variety of orders and disaster declarations Bush signed before the storm made landfall. 'He received multiple briefings from multiple officials, and he was completely engaged at all times.'"

The fact that these handlers think it is needed to say things like "the president was fully engaged", and "don't judge the president's response from this ONE video", blah blah. Uh huh, I think thee doth protest too much.

Oh in other news:

Bush poll slump put Republicans on edge

"Bush's approval rating dropped to an all-time low of 34 percent in a CBS poll this week and has been mired around a lackluster 40 percent in other recent polls."

Yes he is one of the worst Presidents this fine country has ever had. What a shame that we could not remove him in November of 2004. Oh well.