Al Gore was on NPR’s Fresh Air yesterday. You can listen to the audio here. Gore was asked what surprises him most about how the Bush presidency has turned out. He responded that he has been surprised at how incurious the president is. When confronted with a number of crises and challenges, such as Katrina, Bush asks no questions. That may surprise some, like Al Gore, but isn’t it better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt? Yes, George War Bush is smart. He’s smart enough not to ask any questions so that people won’t find out how uninformed he really is. With regard to 2008, Gore still says he’s not running, but he hasn’t made a Shermanesque statement of disavowal yet, so I am ever hopeful that he will finally be persuaded to run. I think an Al Gore presidency would go a long way toward healing our nation. The only problem is, if you get a Democrat like Gore in the White House in 2008, he not only has to pursue his own agenda, but he has to spend a lot of time and energy repairing the damage created by his predecessor. But it is a job that must be done, and the sooner the better.

I mentioned yesterday the number of journalists killed in Iraq. I didn’t realize that number, 71, now exceeds the number killed in World War II. So whenever we talk about the losses suffered in Iraq, please let us not forget the journalists.

And please let us not badmouth the journalists either. They don’t deserve to be called whiny and soft, especially with so many of them dying.


Iraq, war, Al Gore, Afghanistan, Bush, middle east, Democrats, Republicans, 2008, politics,

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George War Bush keeps trying to formulate and articulate a rationale for his policies, especially with regard to invading Iraq. To me that just means he’s not telling the truth. If he was, I don’t think it would keep changing. What he should say (although it might be political suicide) is this: “We’re fighting the war in Iraq because I really wanted to get Saddam Hussein out of power.” Or he could say, “We’re fighting the war in Iraq because members of my administration saw 9/11 as an opportunity to reshape the Middle East, with the full support of the American people.” Both of these statements, or something like them, would be closer to the truth, and then he and his advisors wouldn’t have to keep squirming and trying to figure out how to justify an unjustifiable war.

Jesus’ General bemoans the losses suffered by our soldiers in Iraq, as well as those suffered by thousands of Iraqi citizens who have “paid the price” for Bush’s hubris, as he states it. I might add that at least 71 journalists have been killed in Iraq, which merely adds to our daily dose of pain.

Apparently Henry M. Paulson Jr., and not Donald Evans as was previously speculated in the news, will be Bush’s new Treasury Secretary.

Do you want to understand Republicans better? Huffingtonpost has an interesting graphic worth looking at. And here are some more humorous links. I especially liked Judy Miller’s MySpace page. We all need to laugh sometimes, especially since we have so much to cry about.

Iraq, war, Afghanistan, military, middle east, humor, Bush, Democrats, Republicans, politics,

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Also check here for The Tao of Love. And for a good time, anytime, visit Miss Cellania online.

There is so much going on it is difficult to get my mind around it all. Afghanistan is turning into a hell hole, if it wasn’t one already. There have been reports that as many as 34 civilians were killed there recently, with a growing insurgency. (Yeah, this is Afghanistan, not Iraq.) Today there are riots in Kabul, with demonstrators shouting Death to America, after US forces apparently caused some huge traffic accident during rush hour, followed by small arms fire (check out the videotape) and more civilian deaths.

Republican Senator Chuck Hagel apparently said on Meet the Press “I think you could make a pretty strong case that things are worse off in the Middle East today than they were three years ago.” Ya think? (So what’s Hagel doing, positioning himself to run for president in 2008? He has apparently been critical of Bush before.)

Then I ran into this article by Tom Porteous, which says we are losing the Long War. I don’t really know Tom Porteous, and I don’t really want to pass along opinions from others that I can’t vouch for. But the article is interesting, and in some ways he’s not saying anything more than a lot of other people are saying.

Then there’s more on the riots in Kabul, and more deaths in Iraq. To top it all off, I didn’t know Tony Blair was a comedian. Maybe he can’t speak truth to power, but sometimes people blurt out the truth like Tony apparently did in a Georgetown speech when a cell phone rang in the audience. ” I hope that isn't the White House (calling to tell) me they don't agree with that,” he said. “They act very quickly, these guys.” Yeah, that’s funny, but scary as hell at the same time. Sometimes I get the feeling that Washington is turning into a hell hole, and guess who’s in charge. George War Bush.


Iraq, war, Afghanistan, Chuck Hagel, 2008, middle east, Long War, Tony Blair, Bush, hell, politics,

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Frank Rich urges Al Gore to run in 2008 if for no other reason than to help frame the national debate. Now that’s not a bad idea. I frankly don’t see how Hillary, Kerry, or Edwards can frame the national debate. They all voted for the Iraq war, and they are therefore part of the problem. Just face it: you all got tricked by the Republicans into voting for the war because you knew if you didn’t you would seem weak on national security and unpatriotic. You voted for the war for political reasons. You should not be rewarded for making a political mistake. There were plenty of people out there who were vocal in their opposition to the war. They had the guts and they should get the glory.

On the other hand, if you can make a strong enough case that you were unethically presented with a no-win choice, which you were, then maybe you can pass GO and collect $200. But you’re going to have to be a lot more honest and vigorous in stating your case than you’ve been heretofore. Of course, that leaves Hillary out altogether. She still thinks the war was a good idea, doesn’t she? Or does anyone know where she really stands? For my part, I’m sticking with folks like Al Gore who clearly opposed the war. What about Wesley Clark? He didn’t vote for the war, no matter what he said he might have done. Wesley Clark is not part of the problem. George War Bush is the problem. I can't wait until he is out of office.

Speaking of 2008, whoever becomes the Democratic nominee at that time must guard against letting the Republicans do to him (or her) what they did to John Kerry in 2004, when they turned one of Kerry’s biggest assets (his service in Viet Nam) into one of his biggest liabilities. Of course you can’t make all of the American people suddenly smart or intelligent, but you can have a Democratic candidate who energizes the base and fights back vigorously against lies. Then maybe we can overcome the tide of ignorance that, for example, swept George War Bush into office for a second term.


Iraq, war, Al Gore, Bush, Wesley Clark, John Kerry, John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, 2008, Democrats, Republicans, politics,

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Also check here for The Tao of Love. And for a good time, anytime, visit Miss Cellania online.

President George War Bush today said, “America will fight the terrorists on every battlefront.” We will “never back down, we will never give in, and we will never accept anything less than complete victory.” Yep, I think that is what the people of Iraq and Afghanistan are worried about.


This sounds like a good idea: according to reports, George War Bush may appoint his friend Donald Evans to be the new Treasury Secretary. Seems to me like an intensely political choice by an intensely political president.


Debra at Debsweb has some interesting perspectives on the situation in Washington and elsewhere. Check her out.

Iraq, war, Afghanistan, Bush, politics,

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Also check here for The Tao of Love. And for a good time, anytime, visit Miss Cellania online.

I wrote a post on Monday in which I said I would not be surprised if John Corzine ran for president in 2008. Some person named Buzz thought that suggestion was laughable. I didn’t say Corzine might win, I just said he might run. After a career in business, Corzine seems to have been bitten by the politics bug. In the span of seven years he went from being CEO of Goldman Sachs, to serving one term in the US Senate, to being the governor of New Jersey. Along the way he has spent a lot of his own money to be elected to public office. Of course the ultimate prize for an ambitious man, particularly one as successful as John Corzine, is the presidency. Will he run in 2008? Who knows? I certainly don’t, but I enjoy speculating about who is going to replace George War Bush and his disastrous presidency. And I don’t think Corzine is so laughable. After all, as Woody says, who could be worse than Bush?

I think Wesley Clark might run for president in 2008. He is certainly not going quietly into that good night, maintaining a high visibility, and speaking out on a variety of issues. What we need in 2008, I think, is someone who did not vote for the Iraq war, and someone who could do well in the red states. To me, Wesley Clark seems to fit the bill.

And what about Al Gore? He’s still my favorite. I still haven’t gotten over 2000. Of course the fact that George War Bush has led our country so far down the wrong path continually reminds me that it didn’t have to be this way. The press may not particularly like him, but maybe the American electorate has learned its lesson. Maybe it has finally had enough. Maybe we can finally, or at least in two and a half years, as the president reminded us in his press conference last night, get this country out of its hole and back on track. Of course all that begins with the elections of 2006 when the Democrats take control of Congress.


Iraq, war, Al Gore, 2006, 2008, Democrats, Republicans, John Corzine, Wesley Clark, Bush, politics,

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Al Gore is still not completely ruling out another campaign for president. But he does say that he really enjoys his life right now. As we all know, especially those of us who are older, that is a very important point in your life to be at. I don’t know why anyone would want to change once he had arrived at that point. On the other hand, no one wants to remain stagnant. But for Al Gore, maybe global warming is his last campaign, one that he is uniquely suited for. I wish he would wage one more campaign – one for president. But then I don’t get to vote on that. Al Gore does. And he says he’s pretty happy right now. More power to you, Al.

Officials in Indonesia say they cannot find an animal source for six deaths from bird flu. Could this be the human-to-human transmission that has been so feared?

So, Osama bin Laden has vouched for Zacarias Moussaoui, saying he was not the twentieth 9/11 hijacker. Great. Too bad he couldn’t have testified at the trial. Next thing you know, he will be calling in on Larry King Live to set the record straight on something else. Bin Laden has been marginalized in recent years, but it seems that he is trying to make a comeback. But seriously, this guy is dangerous. Too bad we couldn’t have caught him instead of embarking on this ill-conceived war in Iraq.

Everybody’s so distraught over Barbaro’s breaking his leg in the Preakness. I wish we showed as much concern for those killed and wounded in Iraq.


Iraq, war, pandemic, H5N1, flu, influenza, bird flu, Barbaro, bin Laden, politics, Al Gore, global warming, al Qaeda,

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Also check here for The Tao of Love. And for a good time, anytime, visit Miss Cellania online.

Many of the people who insist that immigrants to this country learn English, could not and would not learn a foreign language if their life depended on it. So I think it is hypocritical for these people to insist that immigrants do something that they could not or would not do themselves.

How to win in 2006 and 2008? Tim Russert said yesterday on Meet the Press, “You believe that states like New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado—swing states—could go Democratic if Hispanic voters are angry at the Republicans.” Senator Lindsey Graham answered yes to this statement. The Republicans have taken an issue here -- immigration -- that could cost them votes in future elections. Democrats need to know how to take advantage of that. In fact, there is evidence that Hispanics are already souring on GOP policies. Are you listening Hillary?

Additionally, here is an article that talks about key races in the upcoming Congressional elections. Don’t forget to look at the interactive map.

I would not be surprised to see John Corzine run for president in 2008. After all, I think that is why he ran for governor of New Jersey and left the Senate. Don’t forget you saw it here first.

I can’t wait until November. We have an election coming up then, and college basketball season starts not long after that. I really couldn’t ask for anything more. I'm pumped.

immigration, Hillary Clinton, John Corzine, 2006, 2008, Democrats, Republicans, politics,

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General Tommy Franks, speaking at a meeting of the NRA, said we are missing the bigger picture if we focus on the number of lives lost in Iraq instead of on the war against terror. I wonder what the families of our dead soldiers would have to say about that. I know some of them would agree, but I think some of them would disagree. And I wonder what the Iraqi people would have to say as well. Tens of thousands of Iraqis have also died in this misbegotten war. Did they also die so that America can be secure? Did anyone ask them to make that sacrifice for us? Is such a sacrifice moral?

General Franks: if you won’t let us focus on the number of Americans lost in this war, do you mind if we focus on the number of Iraqis killed? Do you mind if we focus on all the money we have squandered in Iraq? Do you mind if we focus on how the war is wrecking our economy? Do you mind if we focus on the number of terrorists we have created by our actions? I am willing to not focus on the number of American lives lost in Iraq. But neither do I wish to focus on the war against terrorism. I would like to focus on the morality of attacking a country that was no threat to us. I would like to focus on the morality of causing the deaths of countless innocent people. I think we need to ask more questions about Haditha. One reason I want to focus on these issues is because you can bet that these are the issues upon which many terrorists will focus. We’re just giving them the ammunition that fuels their hatred. And if we have another terrorist attack in the United States, or in Egypt, or in Spain, or in England, or in Bali, I think we should ask ourselves what role George War Bush and his policies had in that attack.

We’re fighting an insurgency in Iraq, not the terrorists, and now we’re also faced with an insurgency in Afghanistan. (But the insurgency is in its last throes, right? Looks to me like it is growing and spreading.) The administration keeps telling us over and over that Iraq is the central front in the war on terror. But the war on terror doesn’t have a front. We may be fighting some people in Iraq, but that in itself is not going to prevent another 9/11.

And what about General Franks? Well, he comes across to me as a spokesman for the administration. I don’t respect the administration anymore, so I don’t really pay any attention to what their spokesmen say. It’s all just politics.


Iraq, war, Tommy Franks, Bush, peace, Haditha, terrorism, Middle East, politics,

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There is an election today to find out which bald guy gets to be mayor of New Orleans. My money is on Mitch Landrieu simply because I feel that if Ray Nagin didn’t win outright, he won’t win the runoff. I think the April primary was his best shot. Besides, he only got 38% first time around. That means 62% voted against him.


It looks like the Republicans are getting serious about the 2006 elections, with initiatives like the gay marriage amendment, English as a national language, etc; issues meant to inflame certain segments of our society; issues meant to divide, not unite. They also seem to be trying to scare the electorate by “identifying a parade of horrors to come if Democrats gain the majority.”

What scares me, and I think the majority of voters, is more years of the STATUS QUO; more years of GOP policy; more spending, more deficits, more dying in Afghanistan and Iraq; more high gasoline prices; more corruption; more scandals; more miles traveled by our country in the wrong direction. We have a chance in 2006 to turn all that around. The future is bright if you think about that. It’s pretty dark if you think about more of the same, which is what the Republicans are offering us now.


Iraq, war, New Orleans, 2006, gay marriage, Bush, Democrats, Republicans, politics,

NOW AVAILABLE

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A lot of good ideas seem to come from Europe and work their way west to the US: Who Wants to be a Millionaire and American Idol are just a couple of examples. Now the newly elected Prime Minister of Italy, Romano Prodi, has proposed pulling that country’s troops out of Iraq. Is this a portent of things to come for our country in 2009 when we will have a newly elected president in office? The conflict may have dragged on for six years by then, with more lives lost, more money squandered, more deficits accumulated. We’re tired of the war now. Can you imagine the national mood in 2008 when Americans go to the polls and elect a new president? I don’t think we will want to elect someone who voted for the war. They are part of the problem. That includes Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, and John Kerry. The time will be ripe for someone like Al Gore or Wesley Clark.

Bob Herbert, in a recent opinion piece, says there is a good chance that Hillary Clinton can get the Democratic nomination in 2008, but it is still uncertain that she could win the presidency. That, of course, is another part of the puzzle. As I have said before, the only red state I can imagine Hillary carrying is Florida. And it is by no means certain that she would carry all the blue states. I think a Gore or a Clark would carry all the blue states, and would be competitive in some red states, particularly given their stances on the war and the mood of the country in 2008. How about a Gore-Clark ticket for 2008? Sounds a winner to me, especially for our country.

Iraq, war, Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, Wesley Clark, Democrats, 2008, Prodi, politics,

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It is no secret that I am a big fan of Al Gore. I think The Huffington Post kind of likes him too.

This year’s midterm elections might end up being a referendum on a lot of things: the president, the Republicans, the Congress, the Iraq War, the deficit, etc. With the popularity of George War Bush hovering in the low 30s or high 20s, this bodes well for the Democrats. Let us hope that all this boding actually translates into some gains. I can't wait until November. Sometimes it seems as if it will never come.

NPR often has some good political analysis. Here is a discussion about Rick Santorum’s Senate race in Pennsylvania.

I spoke recently about the question: do tax cuts pay for themselves or do they end up growing the deficit? Here is another article that discusses that question.

The organization Americans United has an interesting commercial airing on TV. It deals with Bush and the White House leaks. You can catch the video here.


Iraq, war, Al Gore, 2006, 2008, Rick Santorum, Republicans, Democrats, taxes, deficit, Bush, politics,

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In his speech to the country last night, George War Bush said, “We cannot build a unified country by inciting people to anger, or playing anyone’s fears . . . .” That’s right, Mr. President, and that is why we have not had a unified country for years; because for years you have incited people to anger, played on everyone’s fears, and done everything for political gain, not for the good of the country. And the recent polls that show you at 29% approval mean that finally the American people are becoming united once again – united against you and your policies.

Here are some other reactions to George War Bush’s immigration speech last night.

Crooks and Liars is really great sometimes. Here is a video of George War Bush rehearsing his speech last night.

In other Bush-related news, do tax cuts really pay for themselves? Here is an interesting discussion of that question.


immigration, Bush, taxes, budget, Iraq, war, politics,

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Also check here for The Tao of Love. And for a good time, anytime, visit Miss Cellania online.

A CNN poll says that most people think Bill Clinton did a better job than George War Bush has done. That is all well and good, and I’m glad some sanity seems to be coming back into the minds of the American people, but if it doesn’t translate into gains for the Democrats in 2006, then what good is it? None.

I think it is likely that George Allen (oh no, not another George) of Virginia will be the GOP nominee for president in 2008, although it is difficult for me to understand why they would want to put forward someone who voted 96% of the time with George War Bush. In the meantime, Senator Allen is not having the easiest time being re-elected.

The Biotech Industry, it seems, just can’t leave our food alone. Now they have developed a genetically engineered rice that produces two human proteins and helps treat diarrhea. The rice crops have been run out of two states, California and Missouri, and have now ended up being grown near Greenville, North Carolina. Much of the world finds crops such as these to be disturbing. I do too. I wish that people in this country took a more critical approach to genetically engineered crops instead of just accepting them without further thought.

Clinton, Bush, 2006, 2008, George Allen, gmo, genetic engineering, politics,

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For those of you who didn’t see Al Gore on Saturday Night Live last night, here is a link to the video of his performance. It’s hilarious. I think he’s running in 2008. I certainly hope so.

On a more serious note, Laura Bush says that she does not believe the polls which show her husband George War Bush with a 29% approval rating. Collateral Damage says that denial is a family problem. Evidently.


This Mother’s Day there is a protest at the White House led by a group of mothers against the war in Iraq. Hooray for the mothers. More concerned people need to speak out on this subject.

There is a great deal of discussion about the possible indictment of Karl Rove. Well, we could use some more good news, I guess.


Iraq, war, Al Gore, 2008, Bush, Laura Bush, Rove, Mother's Day, politics,

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Also check here for The Tao of Love. And for a good time, anytime, visit Miss Cellania online.

Four Marines may not have died in enemy action in Iraq, but they are dead nonetheless. They’ll be coming home in boxes. Bring our soldiers home alive before it’s too late.


There has been some discussion that John Dean is spending too much money trying to build broad support for the Democratic Party, and not paying enough attention to the upcoming election at hand. One way you can build broad support is by governing and governing well. You can’t govern at all if you don’t win the election of 2006. There needs to be more of a balance between building the party and winning the election. If you have an opportunity to gain control of Congress you should seize it. It is easier to build the party from a position of power than from a position of weakness.


According to an article at CNN.com, the United States has a very high rate of newborn mortality. Part of the reason for this is that the rate among blacks is almost twice that of the country as a whole. Similarly, life expectancy for blacks in this country is considerably lower, by at least five years, than it is for whites. These two concerns – newborn mortality and overall life expectancy – have profound implications for American blacks. These concerns need to be studied, and something needs to be done about them. Blacks should not be dying at higher rates than whites. If they are, then something is dreadfully wrong.


Iraq, war, health care, Republicans, Democrats, 2006, health, politics,

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Also check here for The Tao of Love. And for a good time, anytime, visit Miss Cellania online.

They say that the approval rating for Congress is very low. I was thinking, if Congress did a better job of providing checks and balances for the executive branch, maybe more people would approve of the job Congress is doing.

I think it was Abraham Lincoln who said something to the effect that you can’t pull the wage earners up by pulling the wage payers down. The implication of that idea is that you can’t pull people out of poverty by taxing the rich, or something like that. And I might agree with that. But I would like to say that the rich can be expected to pay their fair share, which I don’t think they are doing under George War Bush.

NPR has interesting coverage of the 2006 elections, including coverage of the Senate and House races, as well as articles on what happens if the Democrats gain control of Congress, etc.

Congress, 2006, Bush, Democrats, Republicans, taxes, politics,

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The talk now is that Rumsfeld is a war criminal and should be indicted for war crimes. Look, let’s just wait until we regain control of Congress, and then we can talk about what actions should and should not be taken. And at that time, hopefully, cooler heads will prevail. Sure, I’d love to see some accountability in this administration. I’d love to see them nailed for what they’ve done to our country, but let’s keep our own counsel for now, focus all our energy on the 2006 elections, and not count our chickens before they hatch. (Enough metaphors for you?)

Tax cuts that are intended to reduce the size of government spending have been shown to actually have the opposite effect. Several theories have been put forward to explain this phenomenon, but I think the answer is that the people who cut taxes are the ones who spend the most, and the people who raise taxes are the ones who strive for fiscal responsibility. Our current president is an excellent example. He cuts taxes, but spends like there is no tomorrow, literally. This brings me back to an issue that is a little tangential to this discussion: it is easy to appear prosperous when you are using credit cards and spending liberally. That, in effect is what the Bush administration is doing. (I didn’t make this up. We’ve talked about this before.) The only problem is that sooner or later a person or a government spends too much and ends up bankrupt. The US government may never bankrupt itself, but the spending and tax cutting policies of this administration are immoral, and they should be held accountable for them.


Iraq, war, peace, Rumsfeld, 2006, Bush, Republicans, Democrats, Abu Graib, torture, politics,

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Also check here for The Tao of Love. And for a good time, anytime, visit Miss Cellania online.

Markos Moulitsas has an extensive article about Hillary Clinton. He says she does not appear electable. I agree, but not necessarily for the same reasons as he. Hillary might win the Democratic nomination (if the party wants to shoot itself in the foot.) She’s got the money to pull it off. But for Hillary Clinton, the election of 2008 hinges on Florida, whether or not she can carry it. I think there is a big chance that she won’t. (And it’s by no means certain that she would carry all the blue states.) Al Gore, on the other hand, or someone like him who did not vote for the war in Iraq, would have a lot more flexibility in which red states might carry him to victory. For this reason, I hope Al Gore can be persuaded to run in 2008. Our country needs him at this moment in her history.

I wonder if George H. W. Bush is proud of his son George War Bush. The father created a mess, but not one as big as the son’s.

How does Condo’s show play in Boston? Apparently not all that well.

No matter what Donald Rumsfeld might say now, we remember what he said before the invasion of Iraq.

Iraq, war, peace, Rumsfeld, Condoleeza Rice, Hillary Clinton, Bush, politics, 2006, 2008, Al Gore, Republicans, Democrats,

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E. J. Dionne Jr. discusses the lengths to which Republicans will go to avoid losing in the Fall. I don’t think the American public will be fooled this time. Enough is enough, and it is time for a change in this country, not for a change of positions by unscrupulous politicians.


Lavartus Prodeo says he’s shocked to find that WWIII started while he was out for coffee. Talk about unscrupulous politicians . . . .


Nancy Pelosi says, “We have to be prepared to win” in the Fall. Democrats are setting out an agenda in case they gain control of the House as a result of the mid-term elections. Look for them to try and get the budget under control. They also intend to do a lot of investigating of the Bush administration, but not necessarily go for impeachment. You know, I could get excited about politics again if the Democrats win big this November.


war, peace, terrorism, United 93, World War III, Bush, politics, Republicans, Democrats,

NOW AVAILABLE

As reviewed by Miss Cellania, you now get four books in one volume, including, for the first time in print, The Tao of America. Click here for more information about this volume, including excerpts.

The Tao of Politics Anthology, now available as e-book (only $6.00), or as paperback.

Also check here for The Tao of Love. And for a good time, anytime, visit Miss Cellania online.

Oh God, now they’re calling the war on terror World War Three. They seem to come up with a new spin every few months. This is just the latest one. This, of course, is something I would expect from George War Bush. He knows war, and he never met a war he didn’t like. This could have a way of becoming a self-fulfilling prophesy, though. If we go out and attack many more countries, the conflict could morph into a World War, which I would dread, but which our president seems to welcome, and even perhaps be willing to initiate.

Mr. Bush is supposed to be a religious man, even a Christian, but Jesus didn’t say, Blessed are the war makers, did He? No. He said, Blessed are the peacemakers. Now, I’m not some peacenik, at least I don’t think I am. But I am also not a warmonger like I think our president is. I don’t look for every opportunity to start a new war, to spend our taxpayers’ money, and to send our young men to their deaths in faraway lands. The war in Iraq helped get the president re-elected, but it has gone on so long, with such disastrous results, that it may help his party get defeated in November (I hope.) It is therefore not surprising to me that he is cranking up the rhetoric on a new war, World War Three. In some ways war is all he knows. He’s like a guy who only knows one song. Everything he does is a variation on that. He now thinks he can raise his approval ratings by declaring a new war, but the American public is weary of war, and they know the war on terror is not World War Three.

I think the president has missed the boat with the war on terror by pursuing his policy of preemptive war. History does not remember kindly the men who start the wars. History does smile on those who end wars, and on those who achieve peace. At the rate he is now going, George War Bush will not accomplish either of these worthy goals.


Iraq, war, World War III, peace, terrorism, United 93, Bush, politics,

NOW AVAILABLE

As reviewed by Miss Cellania, you now get four books in one volume, including, for the first time in print, The Tao of America. Click here for more information about this volume, including excerpts.

The Tao of Politics Anthology, now available as e-book (only $6.00), or as paperback.

Also check here for The Tao of Love. And for a good time, anytime, visit Miss Cellania online.

Stephen Colbert did a biting, stinging routine that angered George War Bush and about 33% of the American public; Ray McGovern, a 27-year CIA veteran grilled Donald Rumsfeld about lies leading up to the Iraq War during a question and answer session after a speech in Atlanta; a 10-year-old Florida girl wants to sing a song that contains lyrics critical of the President at her school talent show; and even members of the president’s own party are contributing to his drop in the polls. It sounds to me like the wheels are coming off the wagon, folks. There is a small core of staunch supporters who continue to deny reality, but everybody else is speaking out, loudly, publicly, and aggressively. Virtually no one else is cutting this administration any slack. It is as if we have all lost respect for them, no respect is deserved, and none is given. No one is censoring their criticism. It reminds me of the saying by Harry Truman, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” There is certainly a lot heat coming the president’s way these days. He and his subordinates are still in the kitchen, but it is getting very uncomfortable. In fact, this must be what Hell is like. Their situation is of their own making, however, and I have no sympathy for them at all. I can’t wait until the next election, and the one after that. Let’s vote these guys out and get the country back on the right track again.


Iraq, war, peace, Colbert, Bush, Rumsfeld, 2006, 2008, politics,

NOW AVAILABLE

As reviewed by Miss Cellania, you now get four books in one volume, including, for the first time in print, The Tao of America. Click here for more information about this volume, including excerpts.

The Tao of Politics Anthology, now available as e-book (only $6.00), or as paperback.

Also check here for The Tao of Love. And for a good time, anytime, visit Miss Cellania online.

Police State USA reports that the United States is “significantly closer” to attacking Iran. I am not that familiar with Police State USA, but the more news I read, the more I too believe that an attack is becoming more likely.

A Moderate from South Dakota has some perspectives on our president’s declaration of “Mission Accomplished” three years on. It makes me wonder what the mission was. If the mission was to get us bogged down in an unpopular, divisive, frustrating, and expensive struggle, then yes I would say “Mission Accomplished.” Heckuva job, Bushie.


Senator Joe Biden has proposed dividing Iraq into three parts, Sunni, Shia, and Kurd. Who says Democrats don’t have ideas? I discussed in mid-2005 my belief that an American style democracy may not be right for Iraq, and I still believe that. Apparently a lot of others believe that too. I just want to put an end to the conflict in Iraq, and find the best solution for the Iraqi people. After reading accounts of Senator Biden’s proposal, I feel optimistic. I don’t feel that way when I read the proposals coming out of the White House.

Iraq, war, middle east, Bush, Biden, peace, Iran, politics,

NOW AVAILABLE

As reviewed by Miss Cellania, you now get four books in one volume, including, for the first time in print, The Tao of America. Click here for more information about this volume, including excerpts.

The Tao of Politics Anthology, now available as e-book (only $6.00), or as paperback.

Also check here for The Tao of Love. And for a good time, anytime, visit Miss Cellania online.

Rachel says, “We have a crappy president, there are a bunch of idiots in this country, but there are so many good things.” She also says, “None of us focus on good things or try to improve the bad things.” She wants to do something like volunteer for the Peace Corps when she grows up. Rachel is 14. We need more people like Rachel in this country: bright, articulate, caring, concerned. I would remind Rachel that our crappy president and the idiots in the White House would like for people to focus on the good things, and not focus on the bad things. There are a lot of bad things today. If we don’t focus on them, they might not ever get better. I know she wants them to get better. Yes, focus on how privileged you are to live in a country like America, and to be able to enjoy her bounty. But also focus on those who are not as privileged as you.


I read bumper stickers. I’ve mentioned one in the past that really irks me: Give War a Chance. Recently I’ve been thinking about all those stickers I see with just the letter W on them. Those stickers, to me, stand for War, and that will be the legacy of George War Bush. And while we’re talking about this, the cost of waging war is going up, “exceeding even the worst-case scenarios.” Thank you, Dubya. I’ve got a bumper sticker idea for you: George W. Bush: He put the W in war.


Artschmart has posted an interesting portrait of George War Bush posing in front of Mount Rushmore, as if that’s where he belongs. The comments to this post are worth perusing.

Iraq, war, peace, Bush, United 93, poverty, 2006, politics,

NOW AVAILABLE

As reviewed by Miss Cellania, you now get four books in one volume, including, for the first time in print, The Tao of America. Click here for more information about this volume, including excerpts.

The Tao of Politics Anthology, now available as e-book (only $6.00), or as paperback.

Also check here for The Tao of Love. And for a good time, anytime, visit Miss Cellania online.