How Cute

When I saw this photo of Arnold Schwarzenegger, it immediately reminded me of Bush looking out of the window of Air Force One over New Orleans. So I thought I'd put the two pictures up for you. I have to say that the Terminator's photo is way more dramatic than Bush's; Arnold looks more sincere. But he's a real actor.

CNN on Hemp

CNN has put together a timeline about hemp and the movement to legalize its production in the US. See the timeline and read the article here.
Thanks to VoteHemp.org for sharing this with me and for providing much of the information for CNN's story.

"Hemp won't get you high," the article says.

We already knew this. So why is it outlawed when hemp could revive our economy, not to mention save our environment?? Could it be that hemp would be a major competitor in a number of industries, namely energy?

Hemp is a weed, so it requires much less water than corn or other crops. It's a hardy plant, too, less susceptible to disease and pests.

According to the article, the DEA says it's just doing its job by enforcing the Controlled Substances Act. DEA spokesman Michael Sanders said that, "Until Congress does something, we have to enforce the laws."

Great. We have to wait for Congress to do something? Then I'm afraid it will never be done.

"Asked if the DEA opposes the stalled House Resolution 1009, which would nix industrial hemp from the definition of marijuana, Sanders said the Justice Department and President Bush would make that call.

"When it comes to laws, we don't have a dog in that fight," he said.

The Justice Department has no position yet on the resolution, said spokesman Erik Ablin. The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, however, is skeptical because of the burden hemp would place on law enforcement resources. Also, hemp advocates are regularly backed -- sometimes surreptitiously -- by the pro-marijuana movement, the office alleges."

And marijuana is just so BAD. Right?

Shambolic

Time flies. Guess you could say I've been busy or just shambolic. I love that word. It perfectly describes me.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates requested today another $50 billion from Congress for the "wars" in Iraq and Afghanistan, after $141.5 billion has already been appropriated THIS YEAR. If Congress approves it, this year will be the most expensive yet.

Sens Joe LIE-berman (I-CT) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ) are trying to push one of Cheney's babies through the Senate: war with Iran. That's what it boils down to, anyway.

Now the House has joined the Senate in condemning Moveon.org for its ad in the NY Times that read "General Betrayus." Hello??? The ad was paid for, right?

Why is OK for corporations to exercise their "free speech" and sell us a bunch of junk but not OK for a grassroots political watchdog group to buy an ad that questions our government, its military leaders and motivate us ask important questions about the so-called war in Iraq?

The invasion and OCCUPATION of Iraq was not because of WMD or Saddam Hussein or democracy. It had nothing to do with saving the Iraqi people -- well, maybe the rich ones. It was about global hegemony, oil and political power. The narrative that Bush and his military commanders are pushing means nothing to me because they've already proven themselves to be liars. They do practice rendition and torture. They do use information extracted through torture as "intelligence." And they can deny it until the cows come home, but they smell like bullshit already.

Suggestion: re-read the Declaration of Independence.

National Priorities Project

Want to know how your tax dollars are spent? The NPP has put together a great resource for curious citizens. I especially like their Interactive Tax Chart. Try to have fun with it, but be warned -- it's depressing.

Sounds like a plan, Dick

This is just creepy. Check out Dick Cheney in 1994 literally divining the "quaqmire" in Iraq.


But that was all before...the new Pearl Harbor.

Double standards as wedge issues

Newt Gingrich says it's sickening that President Bush and Congress went on vacation while young Americans are being "massacred" by illegal immigrants, according to a report by Eunice Moscoso for Cox Newspapers.

Although the three victims - college students from Newark, N.J. - were buried last week, and there's been a week-long investigation, Gingrich apparently has already convicted the three suspects in the case based on their immigration status. The Newark Star Ledger has reported that one of the suspects had obtained residency in 2001.

Maybe these guys do have criminal records, maybe they are from other countries - illegally - does this prove they committed the crime? Couldn't it just as well have been three white suspects or three black suspects or three Asian suspects?

Why is ol' Newt so concerned about these three Americans? If he is so concerned about Americans being killed, why hasn't he balked about the thousands of Americans who are killed every year because they don't have any, or enough, health care coverage?

I'm certain Newt knows why there's a flood of illegal immigrants into this country. However, instead of talking about globalization or America's so-called "free trade" agreements like NAFTA and CAFTA, he deliberately distracts his audience.

"As an American, I am sickened," says the former House Speaker, "that the political leadership of America could continue to go on vacation and do nothing. Why are the August vacations for the president and the Congress more precious than the lives of young Americans who are being killed because of government incompetence and inaction?"

Exactly, Newt. Ya think?

And because of this incompetence and inaction, our military is in the middle of a manufactured quaqmire in Iraq, bin Laden is still OUT THERE, the Taliban is doing well in Afghanistan, millions of innocent Americans are without medical or dental care, our nation's infrastructure is crumbling...

I think I also read that Newt is "considering a run for the White House." Well now we know what his choice wedge issue will be.

Canada Going On Offense in Artic

Did you read about Russia planting a flag on the Arctic Ocean's floor? Well, now Canada is beefing up its security of the area, and the Canadian prime minister is off on a three-day trip across the Arctic region to assert Canada's sovereignty over the resource-rich territory.

To read more...