:(

103 this month.

2816 thus far.

Vote 'em out on Tuesday.

R.I.P. Posse Comitatus

Double murder. On the same day that he killed Habeas Corpus, Bush killed the Posse Comitatus Act. In a "private Oval Office ceremony," Bush signed H.R. 5122: John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007.

You need to take a few minutes to read this article.

In short, the Defense Authorizaiton act allows Bush to declare an emergency, determine that the local government is incapable of handling the situation, and then send in the National Guard without the consent of the governor of that state. Bush can declare marshall law if he so chooses. He can round up "insurgents." He can stop "domestic violence."

So, imagine that he decides we need to go to war with Iran (or any other country). Then imagine that there are some protests in the streets. And lets suppose that Bush determines that the local goverment is "incapable" of handling the situation. Protestors get rounded up (the definition of 'terrorist' is mighty thin in that good ol' USA PATRIOT Act, ya know) and Bush sends in the National Guard. POOF. Military state.

Think it's far fetched? I don't. I remember, very well, the "you're either with us or with them" rhetoric in 2003. Either with the Bush administration or with the terrorists.

Free speech zones during the Republican National Convention in 2004. Free fucking speech zones in the United States of America.

The death of habeas corpus and the Posse Comitatus Act. Something tells me that George W. Bush is not going to go gently into the 2008 night.

From the article linked above: Despite the unprecedented and shocking nature of this act, there has been no outcry in the American media, and little reaction from our elected officials in Congress. On September 19th, a lone Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) noted that 2007's Defense Authorization Act contained a "widely opposed provision to allow the President more control over the National Guard [adopting] changes to the Insurrection Act, which will make it easier for this or any future President to use the military to restore domestic order WITHOUT the consent of the nation's governors."

Senator Leahy went on to stress that, "we certainly do not need to make it easier for Presidents to declare martial law. Invoking the Insurrection Act and using the military for law enforcement activities goes against some of the central tenets of our democracy. One can easily envision governors and mayors in charge of an emergency having to constantly look over their shoulders while someone who has never visited their communities gives the orders."

wow

I was just looking through some pics on MSNBC and saw this. Amazing. How mankind can even begin to think we are the only sentient beings in this universe is beyond me.

Shut Up And Sing

Think Progress » The Dixie Chicks Ad NBC Doesn’t Want You To See: "NBC is refusing to air an ad for the new Dixie Chicks documentary, “Shut Up & Sing.” Variety reports, “NBC’s commercial clearance department said in writing that it ‘cannot accept these spots as they are disparaging to President Bush.’”"

Didn't think a station in 5th place could afford to refuse advertising dollars. Oh well, I used to like Law & Order and ER. Guess it's CBS from here on out. Not that they'll miss my one little TV. But I'll feel better.

Supporting the Troops, Staying the Course.

Troops With Stress Disorders Fit For Duty?, Some Soldiers With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Are Being Re-Deployed To Iraq - CBS News: "Under pressure to maintain troop levels, military doctors tell CBS News it's become a 'common practice' to recycle soldiers with mental disorders back into combat. The military's actions were first reported by the Hartford Courant newspaper.

'It's flat-out not a good idea,' says Dr. John Wilson, an expert in combat trauma.

One study estimates that about 16 percent of soldiers returning from Iraq have PTSD. But military officials say they don't keep tabs on how many troops still fighting have been diagnosed. Most soldiers are never screened, a GAO report finds."

Well now, that's how to support 'em, huh? Now, if I was a conservative, I'd say these boys just need to pull themselves together and cowboy up. But, since I'm a bleeding heart liberal, I'm gonna say we need to get these boys the help they need. We need to bring them home, get them treatment.

One of FBI's 'Most Wanted Terrorists' confirmed dead

One of FBI's 'Most Wanted Terrorists' confirmed dead - CNN.com

IN APRIL!! Yet CNN is running the story now. Christ. So much for 'breaking news.' I suppose the Bush/Republican poll numbers were a tad higher this past spring. I mean, why sit on the story for six months? Clinton News Network, my ass. Bush lackies, more like it.

Ah, who gives a shit about the First Amendment, anyway.

Reporters sans frontières - Annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index - 2006: "The United States (53rd) has fallen nine places since last year, after being in 17th position in the first year of the Index, in 2002. Relations between the media and the Bush administration sharply deteriorated after the president used the pretext of “national security” to regard as suspicious any journalist who questioned his “war on terrorism.” The zeal of federal courts which, unlike those in 33 US states, refuse to recognise the media’s right not to reveal its sources, even threatens journalists whose investigations have no connection at all with terrorism.

Freelance journalist and blogger Josh Wolf was imprisoned when he refused to hand over his video archives. Sudanese cameraman Sami al-Haj, who works for the pan-Arab broadcaster Al-Jazeera, has been held without trial since June 2002 at the US military base at Guantanamo, and Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein has been held by US authorities in Iraq since April this year."

Such a shame. You oughta go to the site and check out the nifty chart. We're #53. The Czech Republic is ahead of us. Bosnia and Herzegovina are ahead of us. So is Namibia. And Serbia and Montenegro. We are tied with Botswana, Croatia and Tonga. The Founding Fathers would be proud of the United States we've grown up to be, eh?

Is it any wonder that more than 33% of American high school students think the First Amendment goes "too far"? "Yet, when told of the exact text of the First Amendment, more than one in three high school students said it goes “too far” in the rights it guarantees. Only half of the students said newspapers should be allowed to publish freely without government approval of stories."

Such a shame. Shame on America.

This is sad

This is really a shame. Quick vote from CNN today.

Just Because

Rascal Flatts
Bless the Broken Road

Cult leader says he's too obese for execution - CNN.com

Oh, poor baby. Seems since he's obese and diabetic, he thinks he'll experience "pain and suffering" that a not-obese and not-diabetic inmate would feel.

Did he give a shit about the "pain and suffering" of the people he killed? Likely not.

I have an idea. Instead of giving him a "lethal injection," how 'bout we dig a pit outside the prison, stick him in it and find another death-row inmate to shoot him?

Cult leader says he's too obese for execution - CNN.com: "Lundgren's sentence stems from a conviction for the fatal shooting of a family of five in 1989. The family, which included three children, were killed while they stood in a pit dug inside his barn in northeast Ohio.

Lundgren formed a cult after he was dismissed in 1987 as a lay minister of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, now known as the Community of Christ.

He said passages in the Bible told him to kill the family. Several witnesses said the family was not as enthusiastic about the cult as Lundgren would have liked.

The family he killed had moved from Missouri in 1987 to follow Lundgren's teachings."

Huh??

Ok, so I'm going through my Amazon 'recommendations' to see what's there. They suggested Crash for me because I rated March of the Penguins?

Along with "I own it" and "not interested" they need to add an "I don't get it" option.

My Record Collection

The Band
The Weight

This is from The Last Waltz. A great version of the song.

You know, there are a handful of songs that I could listen to over and over again. This is certainly one of them. I never get tired of this song.

I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' about half past dead;
I just need some place where I can lay my head.
"Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?"
He just grinned and shook my hand, and "No!", was all he said.

(Chorus:)
Take a load off Annie, take a load for free;
Take a load off Annie, And (and) (and) you can put the load right on me.

I picked up my bag, I went lookin' for a place to hide;
When I saw Carmen and the Devil walkin' side by side.
I said, "Hey, Carmen, come on, let's go downtown."
She said, "I gotta go, but m'friend is still around."

(Chorus)

Go down, Miss Moses, there's nothin' you can say
It's just ol' Luke, and Luke's waitin' on the Judgement Day.
"Well, Luke, my friend, what about young Anna Lee?"
He said, "Do me a favor, son, woncha stay an' keep Anna Lee company?"

(Chorus)

Crazy Chester followed me, and he caught me in the fog.
He said, "I will fix your raft, if you'll take Jack, my dog."
I said, "Wait a minute, Chester, you know I'm a peaceful man."
He said, "That's okay, boy, won't you feed him when you can."

(Chorus)

Catch a cannon ball now, t'take me down the line
My bag is sinkin' low and I do believe it's time.
To get back to Miss Fanny, you know she's the only one.
Who sent me here with her regards for everyone.

How many more?

So, our troops are dying over there. 72 this month, and we're 18 days into it. That's an average of 4 a day. Hasn't been that high since January of 2005. But this is just a "comma" in history, eh?

So says Brian on NBC: On track to be the deadliest month in nearly two years.

Yep. And Bush's withdrawl plan? Someone else will be president before too long. After all, when history judges him, we'll all be dead. (oh, the quote is waaayyy buried in the article. Just ctrl+f on "dead.")

It's probably because there's a civil war going on over there.

STAY THE COURSE!!!!!

R.I.P Habeas Corpus

Well, it's law now. The Military Commisson's Act of 2006. The "terrorists" have won, haven't they? Our Constitution is just a piece of paper with which the Bush administration can wipe it's ass.

The AFA on the "Christ"mas kick again...

Tell me, is there nothing more urgent going on in the world than this? Posted below you'll see the text of an AFA alert reminding us that, once again, "Christmas" is under attack. The subject line was, "Take a Stand for Merry Christmas Not Happy Holidays."

Wow.

Now, how many holidays occur in the holiday season? There's:

Thanksgiving
Yule
Hanukka
Christmas Day
Kwanza
Boxing Day
St. Stephen's Day
New Year's Day

Now, I know not all of these are "major" holidays. But most of us, I'd guess, know more than just Christians celebrating something or other from the end of November through the start of January. So, for us, they truly are "happy holidays."

"Happy Holidays" is rather inclusive, don't ya think? Recognizing all types and stripes of people. Something that, oh, Jesus might have done.

Anyway, the letter and then their cute little graphic:

Take a Stand for Merry Christmas, Not Happy Holidays!
Use AFA's attractive car magnets and lapel buttons to remind others that it is Christmas, the birthday of Christ, not just another holiday.

At a time when many want to turn the birthday of our Lord into simply another holiday, here is your way to make a silent reminder.

These attractive magnets and buttons feature Mary and the baby Jesus with the phrase Merry Christmas, It's Worth Saying. They are a non-offensive way to remind those you come into contact with that there is a Reason for the season.

Order enough to give one to your family and friends, even to every member in your church. Display the magnet and wear your button with pride.

Order Today! Your order will be shipped at the end of October, giving you plenty of time to join thousands of others in making the silent witness.

R.I.P CBGB's

Bummer.

"After Sunday, memories are all that will remain when the cramped club with its capacity of barely 300 people goes out of business after 33 years. Although its boom years are long gone, CBGB's remained a Manhattan music scene fixture: part museum, part barroom, home to more than a few rock and roll ghosts.

The club didn't exit without a fight. An assortment of high-profile backers, including E Street Band guitarist Little Steven Van Zandt, battled to keep the legendary club open. But in the end, it was a simple landlord-tenant dispute -- and owner Hilly Kristal saw the handwriting on the club's dank walls."

My record collection...

Perfect, doncha think?

Damn, there's some odd shit on the internet...

So, I was looking through the stats of my website and for some reason, I had two hits from links on this site. I don't know...

Anyway, abundantly curious, I went to the site. Scrolled down to the bottom and saw this:
Next Article: What the Bible says about Penis Enlargement

Now, I've read the Bible. (Yeah, I know. I don't seem the type. But I have read it from Genesis 1:1 through to Revelation 22:21. Twice. And bits and pieces dozens of times). I have never read anything about "penis enlargement." Not once. But evidently Jesus was actually talking about penis enlargement when he told his parable about the mustard seed. Who'da thunk it?

The Bible and Penis Enlargement - A Christian Perspective: "The Bible says in Matthew Chapter 17 that if you only have faith the size of a mustard seed nothing is impossible, and in Luke when Jesus healed the blind man it was revealed to us that our faith alone allows us to receive miracles.

The same miracle power exists today, not for any selfish or unhelpful reasons, but because your having a larger penis not only will make you feel more confident but undoubtedly you will be able to enjoy more pleasurable sensations and a better loving relationship."

Norah, Robert, Mo...

So, Norah Vincent has a book out, Self Made Man, in which she describes her 18 month odessey into the world of men. She posed as a man, joined a bowling league, went to a monastery, and had other various adventures. There was a great interview with her on NPR. Sounds like it would be a very interesting read. It's no light and fluffy topic.

That aside, doens't Norah in drag look like a cross between Robert Downey, Jr., and Mo Rocca?

This is irony

I think it's irony anyway. Alanis Morrisette has permanently screwed that up for me. At any rate, I'm sure this fits in to the "ironic" category.

Take a trip on over to Crooks and Liars and take a gander at Keith Olberman talking about the recent vote to pass the Military Commissions Act of 2006 and thus eliminate Habeas Corpus.

No court, justice, or judge shall have jurisdiction to hear or consider an application for a writ of habeas corpus filed by or on behalf of an alien detained by the United States who has been determined by the United States to have been properly detained as an enemy combatant or is awaiting such determination. (now, to find this, you're gonna have to go page 93, lines 16-21)

Then, take a trip over to the Senate home page.



Like half of Congress knows shit about the Constitution. Or maybe they are celebrating it 'cause they know it's not long for this world. It's enough to make you laugh. Or cry. Now, Senator Specter did try to "strike the provision regarding habeas review." No such luck.

Three responsible Republicans:
Smith (R-OR)
Specter (R-PA)
Sununu (R-NH)

One Democrat that needs a refresher course in the Constitution:
Nelson (D-NE)

McCain runs against (Bill) Clinton

McCain criticizes Bill Clinton on North Korea - Politics - MSNBC.com: "SOUTHFIELD, Mich. - Republican Sen. John McCain on Tuesday accused former President Clinton, the husband of his potential 2008 White House rival, of failing to act in the 1990s to stop North Korea from developing nuclear weapons."

LOL. Oh, boy. Poor McCain can't run on any accomplishments of the Bush Administration, so he's got to run against Bill Clinton.

Uh, who's been in office since January 20, 2001?
That'd be Bush.

Who's been in control of Congress since 1994?
Uh, that'd be the Republicans.

It was an AK-47?

CNN.com - Student, 13, fires assault rifle in Missouri school - Oct 9, 2006: "Officers arrested the teen behind a nearby building. Police described his weapon as a Mac-90, a replica of an AK-47 assault rifle."

Wow.

Jones said the gun belonged to the boy's parents, who kept the weapon in a safe at home. The parents told police their son apparently knew the combination to the gun safe. Farmer said it is not uncommon for people in the area to own assault weapons.

Double wow. "It is not uncommon" for pepole that live in this relatively small town to own assault weapons?? why?

Joplin is in Jasper County. Jasper County voted 71% for Bush. The NRA, early on in the Bush administration, noted that they now had an "office" in the White House. And the NRA pressured members of congress to let the assualt weapons ban expire. S'pose the good people of Joplin see an connection?

My Record Collection

Harvest is another record I've had since forever. They just don't make music like this anymore.

Another one bites the dust.

Party of "family values," and all that...

Congressman apologizes for affair in TV ad - Politics - MSNBC.com: "SCRANTON, Pa. - Rep. Don Sherwood, a Republican fighting for re-election in northeastern Pennsylvania, says in a TV ad that he is “truly sorry” for cheating on his wife but denies ever abusing the woman he had the affair with.
In the ad, he acknowledges that the affair nearly cost him the love of his wife and his daughters."

Baghdad bombings hit new high

Baghdad bombings hit new high Reuters.com: "BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Bomb attacks in Baghdad have hit an all-time high, the U.S. military said on Wednesday, as one of the capital's frontline police units was pulled off the streets on suspicion of involvement with sectarian death squads."

STAY THE COURSE!!!

For the second time in two days, four U.S. soldiers were killed in a single incident around Baghdad, this time in what appears to have been a substantial skirmish involving mortars or rockets and gunfire to the northwest. It took the death toll in four days of the month to 15 around Baghdad and 22 in total.

STAY THE COURSE!!!

Fourteen people were killed and 75 wounded when a car bomb struck a government motorcade in Baghdad.

STAY THE COURSE!!!

Fox "News" - blamin' the Dems for Foley

LOL. Too funny.

My Weekend

There's gonna be a few pictures on this one. My mom, aunt and cousin came for a visit and we went to the I-25 Speedway. When I was a kid, it was known as Beacon Hill. It's a paved 1/4 mile track. My uncle is the pit chief for a fellow that runs figure-8's. Lance Proctor is his name. He was crowned track champ in his class last night. We also saw Grand American Modifieds, Super Stocks and Mini Stocks. I'd never seen Mini Stocks before. They were cute. I've also not seen Grand American Mods, either. I'm used to watching IMCA Modifieds or IMCA Late Models, on a dirt 3/8's mile.

These are the Grand American Modifieds:


This is a Super Stock


These are the Mini's


This is Lance's Figure-8 car:


The driver of this super stock was from Bailey, Colorado. He drove this banner around the track with the American Flag during the National Anthem.


Then today we went to the San Isabel National Forrest. It's in the southern part of the Colorado Rockies. We used to take a trip nearly every summer to San Isabel when I was growing up. And the Aspen are simply beautiful this time of year.