Dear Deborah,

In February of this year, I joined the board of a remarkable organization, VoteVets.org, and I've been supporting them in every way I can. It is part of my personal commitment to help the "Fighting Dems" get elected to office this November.

The idea for VoteVets.org was very simple -- Iraq and Afghanistan veterans standing up for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. VoteVets.org's core mission is to support the veterans of America's most recent conflicts as they run for public office, and to ensure that no politician in Washington gets away with votes or words that hurt the troops and veterans.

Today, I am writing to tell you that they have really hit it out of the park.

Now airing in Virginia is a television ad that holds Senator George Allen accountable for his deplorable vote against giving our troops the proper body armor they need to keep them safe. This ad is the most powerful ad I've seen this election year, and I'm proud to be a part of it. I invite you to take a minute to view it.

Watch the ad "Body Armor" | Help fund this ad

VoteVet.org's new ad features Peter Granato, a brave American who served in Iraq in 2003. Peter went to war with an obsolete flak jacket from the Vietnam era because the Bush Administration and Republicans in Congress failed to ensure that he -- and thousands of others -- had the right equipment.

Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) offered an amendment to give the Guard and Reserve $1 billion to procure additional equipment, including body armor, in April 2003. But every single Republican, including George Allen, voted to kill that amendment.

I cannot overstate the importance of that failure to support the troops. Young men and women continued to go into harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan without the right protection because the Republicans didn't think it was worth spending the money. Yet George Bush and the Republican Party were all too willing to pass billions of dollars of tax cuts for the wealthy.

This vote is a disgrace, and VoteVets.org has launched the bluntest ad of the entire political season to hold George Allen accountable for his foolish -- and deadly -- vote. Please watch it, and then let's keep it on the air.

If you donate to support this effective new ad, you'll also be asked to vote for where you would like to see the ad run next. VoteVets.org already has ads prepared and ready to go against every Republican Senator who voted to kill the Landrieu amendment. So go donate and vote, and have your say.

I'm proud that our newest veterans are standing up and speaking out to make sure the American people know who supports them and who doesn't. I am proud to stand with them. And I hope you will stand with us.

Sincerely
Wes Clark

P.S. Don't take my word for it -- make sure you watch this powerful new ad! Then forward this email to everybody in your address book and help VoteVets.org spread the word.

Thank to hardblue for this morning's wake-up call:

Scary article here

"Blog research may provide information analysts and warfighters with invaluable help in fighting the war on terrorism."

I gotta ask, what DOESN'T provide invaluable help in fighting the fucking war on fucking terrorism? Cuz the list of what supposedly DOES help either scares me or pisses me off.

Happy Freaking Independence Day.

I was just at Congress.org sending an email to Kyl and McCain opposing the gay marriage amendment (Kyl will vote for it, McCain - well, who knows? Oh, ass, I know. He'll vote for it even though last time it came up he voted against it. But that was before he became a "conservative".). I read some of the letters being sent out and the majority of them are for the gay marriage amendment. Not just for it, my friends, but rabid about it. Lots of talk about how "radical homosexuals" are destroying the American family, how "marriage is for procreation"* horrified outrage over "sexual depravity", blah blah blah.

Okay, being a bit blase about it, but the truth is that it made me very depressed.

There are a lot of hateful, self-righteous people out there and they're bombarding your Senators and Congressmen with letters. So, you can either let the PTB think you agree with it all by letting them do the talking for ya, or you can write a letter yourself expressing your view. Hell, you can write them and tell them you want the Gay Marriage amendment. Just speak.

You can go here, if you want: http://www.congress.org

I know I get on this "write to your Reps" soapbox a lot, and I'm sorry, but I think it's important.

*I don't get this, but probably because I don't consider women to be baby making machines or "pre-pregnant" as the Religious Right apparently believes (and the FDA, let's not forget them). What if you can't have children, or don't want them... oh nevermind the last part that would involve Choice and that is bad. Okay, so what if you can't have children? Are you supposed to go into debt trying to get treatments? What if you still can't? Then what? Divorce? What the FUCK is wrong with these people?

Just signed up with Savetheinternet.com and listed myself as a supporter.

From Planned Parenthood:

An Indiana mother recently accompanied her daughter and her daughter's boyfriend to one of Indiana's Planned Parenthood clinics, but they unwittingly walked into a so-called "crisis pregnancy center" run by an anti-abortion group, one that shared a parking lot with the real Planned Parenthood clinic and was designed expressly to lure Planned Parenthood patients and deceive them.

The group took down the girl's confidential personal information and told her to come back for her appointment, which they said would be in their "other office" (the real Planned Parenthood office nearby). When she arrived for her appointment, not only did the Planned Parenthood staff have no record of her, but the police were there. The "crisis pregnancy center" had called them, claiming that a minor was being forced to have an abortion against her will.

The "crisis pregnancy center" staff then proceeded to wage a campaign of intimidation and harassment over the following days, showing up at the girl's home and calling her father's workplace. Planned Parenthood's clinic director reports that the girl was "scared to death to leave her house." They even went to her school and urged classmates to pressure her not to have an abortion.

The anti-choice movement is setting up these "crisis pregnancy centers" across the country. Some of them have neutral-sounding names and run ads that falsely promise the full range of reproductive health services, but they dispense anti-choice propaganda and intimidation instead. And according to a recent article in The New York Times, there are currently more of these centers in the U.S. than there are actual abortion providers. What's more, these centers have received $60 million in government grants. They're being funded by our tax dollars.

A bill has just been introduced in Congress to stop the fraudulent practices of fake clinics, but it desperately needs more support. Tell your representative to take a stand: anti-choice extremists must not get away with this any longer!

Go to: http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/fake

In a recent post discreet_chaos wrote, basically, that if you oppose the Bush Administration and its goals, then your best bet to put a spoke in the wheel is to vote for Democrats in the upcoming House and Senate races in November. This was met with some balking as various commenters noted that there is little difference between the Democrats and the Republicans which, honestly, left me a bit confused. I heard this argument prior to the 2000, 2002, and 2004 elections and I don't get it.

I'm no fortune teller, but there are some things I can say with absolute certainty would not have happened had Gore or Kerry won the Presidency or had there not been a Republican majority in the House and Senate, for example:

Alito would not be on the Supreme Court
The US would not have walked out of the Kyoto conference
A crony would not have been placed as head of FEMA
The Patriot Act would not have been extended (probably not created if Gore was Pres at the time of 9/11)
Illegal wiretaps would not be taking place
Intelligent Design would not be recommended as "good science"
Global warming would not be considered "bad science"
We would not be in Iraq (If Gore had been President)
Environmental scientists would not have their reports altered or deleted to reflect the President's environmental position which is, apparently, environment = enemy
The "Clear Skies" plan would have been killed
The Small Business Conference Committee would not have greenlighted pharmacists who refuse to fill prescriptions
There would have been no attempt to create a Gay Marriage Amendment to the Constitution
My nonprofit would still be funded because Democrats in general think that voter education is a good thing
Billions in tax breaks to the wealthiest would not have been passed while billions of cuts in federal programs took place at the same time

It's a short list, but I've got to take the boy to school and I don't have all day to type this damn thing.

There is obviously a difference between the Democratic Party and the GOP. My problem with the Dems is that they point out the bad on the GOP side rather than draw attention their own strengths and, too often, are afraid to say what they stand for. However, I think they're starting to come out of the shadows.

Off-year elections are always poorly attended, but I can say with confidence that the GOP is going to get their core voters out in numbers because they know exactly how critical this election is. I can only hope that Democrats and Independents understand it as well.

Rove is going to be let loose and is going to unleash a nasty campaign unlike what we've seen in the past, and we've surely seen nasty. For every person who buys it there will be one who decides not to vote at all.

That's a damn shame.

Share this with Conservatives who have a shitty memory, won't you? In other words - all of them.

"I have mightily encouraged by the victories of the Taliban Muslim fundamentalists in Afghanistan, which promised to upset the Greater Russian imperialists and bring an American pipeline project one step closer to reality. As we go to press the Talibans have suffered a reverse, but don't give up on them yet."
-John Dizard, National Review (6/16/97)

"The Taliban, who are the Islamic militants, are not the anti-American Shi'ite variety you get across the border in Iran. They are much closer to the Sunni Islamic fundamentalists of Saudi Arabia, with whom the U.S. has been able to deal quite satisfactorily over the years. Taliban are unpopular with the urbanites of Kabul and with the New York Times, and with feminists, who don't like their admitted repressive strictures on women. But the areas outside Kabul controlled by the Taliban are a lot more peaceful than when they were controlled by bandit groups."
-John Dizard, National Review (11/25/96)

Bush To Nominate Next Person Who Walks Through Door
October 27, 2005 | Issue 41•43

WASHINGTON, DC—After Harriet Miers withdrew her nomination for the Supreme Court Thursday, President Bush announced that he will nominate the next person who walks through his door. "I assure the American people that the next person who enters my field of vision will be a highly qualified candidate of unimpeachable character, with a solid record, and--what's more--a good heart," Bush said. As of press time, 17 people were waiting outside the door, including the president's daughter Jenna, and special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald.

I love the Onion.

Sent by the ever alert Edward:

If Fox News had been around through history

Commerce versus Religion

Unfortunately the religion in question isn't George Bush's so....ignorant fuckers take charge

"After a witness described how the spraying of wastewater to make artificial snow would defile the sanctity of medicinal plants gathered on the mountain, a government lawyer asked if the medicine man knew he could purchase herbs at health food stores."

If you want to try to help, go here

With thanks to Edward for linking me to the story here

In comments, my bud morriganson replied to my post about leaving the DNC and said that they could not take extreme positions on specific hot-button issues

Here's what I don't get.... what is extreme about any of the things I mentioned?

Gay Marriage - The rhetoric from the Right is that it will destroy the institution of marriage (but Britney doesn't, and 50% divorce rate of Baptists doesn't). All the twisting in the world about saving marriage doesn't change the fact, and it is a fact, that gay marriage is a civil rights issue. Opposition to it is not based on some unwavering devotion to "marriage" but is about hatred. It just is. Dems and Reps in, what was it, eleven states? voted to ban gay marriage. But I betcha a million dollars that none of them could give you a reason that doesn't have to do with their own uncomfortableness with homosexuality or isn't based on whatever twisted view they have of the Bible.

The DNC doesn't want to say that gays have the same rights as every other citizen in this country. Fine. I will not be in their party.

Right to privacy and Choice- No one has ever made abortion mandatory, and again the rhetoric of the Right has twisted the issue into something it simply is not. Taking the issue far beyond abortion, there are also increasing attacks on a woman's access to birth control. We are still waiting for emergency contraception to be cleared by the FDA. If anyone wants links on that completely ludicrous battle let me know.

The DNC is, as usual, letting the GOP define the issue. Bending over backwards to avoid the "a" word, and laying placidly in the road as access to contraception is whithered away, averting their eyes when assistance that would aid pregnant women and mothers is destroyed. Nice job, guys! Glad to know you have our backs.

Health Care - I didn't say "universal" (though I wouldn't mind it). There is no denying that the health care system in this country is fubar'd. Did you see the article about the little girl that died? She's not an anamoly. If my thyroid cyst turns out to be cancer, we will not survive. I am uninsurable because of my MS. I'm 39 years old. That's a scary tunnel to be looking down. I'm not the only one, not by a long shot. We work, both my husband and I, but we cannot afford the premiums (even if I could find a company willing to charge me a larger fortune for the priviledge of providing me with coverage). It's not a non-issue, nor is it extreme to say there's a problem.

I would have like to have heard more about Kerry's plan for affordable health care. Bush's only response to it was a whiney, "We can't afford it" and you know that shitheel hadn't taken even a glance at the plan or its numbers. I'd like to see the DNC outline their plan for health care.

Women's Health Issues - See article on the HPV vaccine. I have HPV. I'm supposed to be getting regular pap smears, but I've had no insurance, so I've been using the time-honored tradition in this country of ignoring the situation. Education in this country for young women about their own bodies is abysmal. This also ties in with Right to Privacy and Choice.

The DNC says they are in support of women's health, but do not vote with their rhetoric.

Education - several states have taken the Federal Government to court over the requirements of NCLB without the support to meet the requirements. The NEA, NASSP, NAESP, and AFT have done a fine job of outlining the horrendous failings of this bill. Again, can provide links.

Education is important. There, I said it. I'm all lefty. Again, the DNC can come out against NCLB and provide their solution. They are only doing the former.

Sex Education - do we need to go over the horror that is abstinence "teaching" and the horrendous absurd information provided to young people? Y'all can google that one yourself in about 10 seconds.

Sex education is important. I know. Burn me at the stake.

Separation of Church and State - .... if that's being seen as "extreme", I have no idea how to respond.

Separation of Church and State is a fundamental requirement in this country. Not only a founding principle but even more critical as our population becomes more and more religiously diverse.

Now, the GOP has no problem taking an "extreme" position on any of the issues above.

The reason the GOP is failing so quickly is because the nation gets to finally see what happens to the country when their extreme positions are put into action. Add to the mix absolute corruption, moral bankruptcy, and floundering, you have weakening polls.

That said, Bush not only got reelected, but he hasn't been impeached. If a single thing done by the Bush Administration had been done by the Clinton Administration, Clinton wouldn't have had a chance to run for re-election. He would have been run out on a rail.

And yet, until recently, the DNC did a whole bunch of nothing. Actually all they're doing now is criticizing. They're still doing nothing.

For the first time since being old enough to vote, I am not a Democrat. Took less than five minutes to switch to Independent on the SOS's website.

Also took the time to do my windmill tilting and screech at the DNC. Won't post the whole rant here, will just quote this:

"I'm sick of waiting for the DNC to grow a spine and to stop trying to out Republican the Republicans and still hold on to those who are liberal or moderate - in the process honoring nothing and betraying all."

They can go ahead and continue to let the GOP define the DNC and what it stands for. Gods know the DNC doesn't have a fucking clue.

So there ya go.

**EDIT**

What's making me nuts (of many things): http://www.democrats.org contains lots of hotlinks to blogs and articles about the GOP's screwups. They're plenty to cover. One link on the top bar leads you to what the DNC does stand for. I'm rather tired of them not standing for certain things because it might either piss of the middle or stymie their futile attempts to steal votes from the GOP. Things like: civil rights and gay marriage, the right to privacy and choice, health care, women's health issues, education, sex education, separation of church and state.

But ... they don't. And that's cool. They don't have to. They can try to get GOP voters and independents and work on being as pleasing to all as they can possibly be. I'm just tired of it.

discreet_chaos comments "As of the evening of the fifth, the bill's sponsor has decided to withdraw the legislation."

Couldn't he just give her a thank you card? Or an ambassadorship to Luxembourg?

Why not just say it with flowers, George, you fucking nimrod?

Watching a George Carlin special from the Reagan years. Know what's frightening? Change "Bush" for Reagan and aside from that damn near everything h e says is relevant for today. He's going off on churches involved in politics and Republican corruption and arrests and the party line that they want less government but want to decide what you can read and say and do in your bedroom. He's going off on "prochoice" and censorship and gods help us it's been 25 years and I'm wondering... has anything changed?

Anyway, I leave you with this:

"Have you noticed the people that are against abortion are people you wouldn't want to fuck in the first place?"

There are Christians like dear friends of mine, there is the Sojourner, there are those that are Christian and did not vote for Bush, and there is Garrison Keiller. There are millions of Christians that live their lives the best they can and think it's great that you do the same. There are Christians that are quietly active in making this world a better place - for everyone - regardless of faith, gender, or sexual preference.

I think the key to all of this - as our society faces changes from within and forces that want things that inhibit freedom - is that we must remember that those that shout the loudest about their faith and how it must control all of our lives - believers or not - do not represent true Christianity - not the heart of it, not the spirit of it, not the meaning of it.

This I truly believe.

From Homegrown Democrat by Garrison Keiller

"Legal abortion is due to Roe v Wade, not to Democrats, but we have defended it, even those of us with moral reservations about it. As the teen pregnancy rate declines and the abortion rate along with it, we can see the day approaching when this angry issue recedes, and we pro-choice Democrats can reconcile with our natural allies in the Catholic Church. The Church is morally offended by abortion and it is also offended by poverty and social injustice in ways that Republicans never could be: to oppose abortion, as they do, and also promote low wages and harass welfare mothers and hack away at public services - this is moral dishonesty that staggers the mind. This is stepping on the drowning woman's hand as she grabs onto the gunwale."

"What bewilders me about the Republicans is the coalition of the corporate Bourbon wing of the party and the Bible wing, two groups with little in common, but the Bible wing supplies the votes and the Bourbons take most of the booty. The Bourbons get tax cuts and deregulation and the Bibleists get a few vague gestures on symbolic issues such as gay marriage and school prayer. Like the Pharisees, the Bibleists enjoy public displays of religion. A roomful of movers and shakers gathered for a prayer breakfast that is all about bonding, backslapping, hobnobbing, and the prayers are read off 3X5 index cards, and there is a complete lack of heartfelt witnessing as you'd find among people of faith. At the prayer breakfast, if the Holy Spirit speaks, it is always in favor of tax cuts and less government regulation and preemptive military action. The Holy Spirit never comes out in favor of anything without clearing it with the Republican Party.

The Bibleists vow to put God back in the public schools, as if He were a small plaster icon and not the Creator of the universe. Evidently when they hear public prayer, they sense the Spirit's presence. I don't. The public invocation....is a piece of sanctimonious boilerplate wiht the spiritual weight of a postage stamp. It has no connection to true prayer, the throwing of myself down in the presence of the Creator.... Saying the names of loved ones, putting myself wordlessly under God's wing. That is true prayer. Pharisee prayer is simply a political speech that is addressed to God, as if He needed instruction. Why are the Pharisees so wiling to exploit the Christian faith for political mileage? They will have to answer to that; I can't. But God is not mocked and does not find political cynicism appealing in any way.

Faith is private. It demonstrates itself in good works and love of neighbors but it doesn't need to puff up and blow a horn and bang on kitchen pans...the Republican Party: its Christianity is about half fake because it scorns Jesus's command to love thy neighbor as thyself and it abuses any who take the commandment seriously. Better to be a principled atheist than a Christian for show. A man who employs the Lord as a special effect and makes a public performance of piety deadens his spiritual life and puts his own soul in danger."