Johnloki

Yes, the American people learned they are liars, cowards, and war criminals. And the proof of that is the public opinion polls on the war.

But, it that not true of the public opinion throughout the world? Governments are representatives of the people who bribe them period.

There is no love, trust, or friendship between the government and the people, and if there ever was; do tell!

I can't remember where I heard or read it...probably while I was in the UK a few months ago, calling Bush "lame duck". I don't think so. He still has veto powers that he administers with glee and a spineless Senate! It's more like lame duck Senate.

MY GODS DID ANYONE WITH AUTHORITY LEARN ANYTHING FROM VIET NAM!?!
Chalmers Johnson's book NEMISIS is too, too true!

ike Kay I read you, oh so, clearly!!

"For those who do not know, refusal to follow orders, regardless of how heinous is a military crime punishable by a long prison terms or even death. Few would have the courage to defy a direct order in the military, regardless of what it was. The problem is not with the military generally, it a problem with the career soldier or the officer, that is brainwashed to defend the American Dream at any price."

Totalitarian structures are contrary to (being by definition a counter force to) mature individual reflection and response-ability (Thus totalitarian excesses are rarely amenable to being changed). And this is why military dictatorships are so evil. And why our military and ALL militaries are likewise evil... they absolutely preclude individuals acting responsibly.

We are currently living in a global totalitarian military social order. That we are and why we are needs to be understood by all.

The consequences of militarism are dear to nearly everyone, including those we have been schooled to see as 'undeserving' or 'unfeeling'.

Every creature on this planet is profoundly and negatively impacted by the stupidity of our militaristic and hierarchical model of government.

And little good is accomplished by dressing it up in a semblance-only (and completely ineffectual) display of 'democracy'.

So many people who hate war including those, like myself - who have a history in military service- doing their best resist this and any war. Those of us, who for no fault of their own, and for a variety of reasons become embroiled in the US military, found themselves there as a result of being a citizen of a militaristic power America.

For those who do not know, refusal to follow orders, regardless of how heinous is a military crime punishable by a long prison terms or even death. Few would have the courage to defy a direct order in the military, regardless of what it was. The problem is not with the military generally, it a problem with the career soldier or the officer, that is brainwashed to defend the American Dream at any price. Also, with the civilian political control of the military, the politics of those that exercise that control, and the value system of the elected leaders that selects the commander in chief.

The people of the USA are a much responsible for the military being in Iraq as the peoples elected congress who allowed the president to have unrestricted powers because they were frightened and voted like sheep, to allow him to do as he wished. Whether one likes it not the excessive life style which the political leaders were elected to uphold is a much responsible as the military for carrying out the illegal war that the president conducts in the name of the "national interest" to secure oil supplies and control of most of the world's oil reserves in the world. It is that motive that motivates most US policy in the world and the economic hegemony the USA exerts on the Globe with its partner in crime the UK.

It is oil that fuels the USA and its consumer lifestyle and it is oil despite the new resistance of the people against the use of oil that motivates situations like the Iraq wars. It is oil and its dependence, warned against for years by thinking people and politicians that will cause the economic breakdown of the Western world. It is not the ecological damage that hydrocarbons cause to the western world that is making the average consumer cry out but the rising costs that may limit that life style. Don't blame the troops they are merely following your orders so that you can continue to drive those Hummers on urban shopping trips to the consumer paradise, the shopping mall.

As usual it is a catch 22, if one votes against; one votes against funding education for our veterans, and many will be hung in their re-election bids on that perk, hidden in the bill.

We really need more Democrats in the Senate, and especially a Democrat President.

Namaste

Members of Congress do NOT read their mail, take unknown phone calls, and use their staff as buffers to keep all but those giving MONEY out of their ear and face.

I have a witness for this claim, Senator Fritz Hollings who if anything, was precisely concise as adamantly outspoken.:

Retired U.S. Senator Calls for Amending Constitution to Let Senators Do Their Job

'... from the beginning of the summer of that year until that fall's elections, policy lunches were canceled so that senators could go to their parties' headquarters and call all over the country, begging for money.

The result of this nonsense is that almost one-third of a senator's time is spent fundraising

Little time is left for talking to the staff or to constituents, answering mail, phone calls, etc. Every evening there is an average of three receptions or fundraisers, followed by three breakfasts or fundraisers the next morning. A senator has so many committee assignments that there is no way to attend all the functions he or she should. He's constantly asking the staff or a colleague, "What happened?"

The Supreme Court ruling that left us with this mess was Buckley v. Valeo. The court held in that decision 30 years ago that the limit on campaign spending constituted a limit on free speech and was thus unconstitutional. On the other hand, limiting the speech of a contributor was deemed constitutional. In this decision, the court frustrated the intent of Congress. We wanted to limit both.

Recently the cancer of money has metastasized. The Jack Abramoff scandal has revealed the poisoning of our democracy. The K Street lobbyists have become a cottage industry. A legislator who seeks money will do well to take onto his or her staff someone a lobbyist recommends. The staffer then arranges the industry fundraisers. And K Street tells you outright that if you don't have a Republican lobbyist, your legislation is not going anywhere.

The lobbyists don't bother with the senator; they take the staff to lunch. Legislation is not drafted in the Senate but in the law offices. Staffs are queried to make sure the senator is favorably disposed and once there are enough senators so inclined, the measure moves to the party leadership's staff. The next thing you know, the measure is a party position and becomes "must" legislation. Sometimes a senator is on the way to the floor to vote on it, asking his staff, "What's this all about?" and the staff replies, "You're for this, vote 'aye,' or you're against this, vote 'nay.' "

The money crowd has the money, and representatives and senators need the money. But no one wants to touch the reason for the ethical misconduct.'

I see it as sell their votes, their offices, their seats in the US Senate itself. They are mercenaries consequently by their actions, and listen to donors, not those they have to bullshit or avoid because they can't! We have what was intended, and certainly has been in the main all along. A fascist imperialist plutocracy. US Empire Inc.

And let's not kid ourselves with candidates, with few exceptions, and never "viable" as getting elected, which is no longer left to chance, the fix is in, it is in our face, the country is disgraced by the unconstitutional governance, a military of war criminals, mere hirelings obeying unlawful orders, and like boys scouts, wanting merit badges and costume regalia. Mother's don't let your sons and your daughters become war criminals, teach them what you have to learn deeper in detail, and you can do it with the internet.

It is like there is a total detachment between the voters and what the voters want in this country and the people you elect.

well let these people know how you feel. Not post it on some web site that goes no where. If you are truly against the war then phone these people in your state and remind them of WE THE PEOPLE who got you butt where it is today are not happy. If you want change then stop waiting for others to do it for you.

Wow, that was our tax dollars ... and it just goes to fund more pointless death and destruction.

Will the Democratic voting faithful remember this vote? Naw, they won't. So the cycle will continue until financial collapse sets in maybe.

disgraceful so-called democrats

"Incremental change can be progress and pretending when it comes time to vote that the little league is in the game is OK if it makes you feel clean or above the fray."

Try sparing me the condescension and actually addressing my argument about aiming for small change.

"And if you think there is no difference between McCain and Obama, nobody will change your mind."

Nice strawman. I never said there was no difference.

"Vote third party and pray for a home run or touchdown. I can agree with Nader and I could vote for myself and have the same outcome…. it is a protest vote but it don't count in the Hard Tackle NFL."

I just explained to you how third parties have pressured the Democrats and Republicans into adopting their agendas. If you want some specific examples, the Populist Party fought for direct election of Senators, the progresive income tax, regulation of banks and railroads, shorter working hours, referendums, and ballot initiatives. The Socialist Party advanced women's suffrage, unemployment insurance, the abolition of child labor, and many of the programs of the New Deal.

"But back to reality, War and Peace is not a sports game of Touch or Tackle so you do what you gotta do and I will do what I gotta do."

Please don't insult my intelligence by pretending to not understand what a metaphor is. I never said it was a sports game. I was saying that if the right aims for big change and we aim for small change, we're going to get hosed in the long run.

Democrats against war funding bill:

...Tom Lantos...

Lantos voted from the grave? (he died in February).

Where did you get your info, ezeflyer?

US Map of Senate Seats Up For Election on November 4, 2008

Below are the US Senators by name, up for re-election, divided by party and using BOLD to identify those who voted in the majority 70-26 for the additional $165,000,000,000.00 for funding of the unconstitutional wars of aggression.

A Duty to Disobey All Unlawful Orders

Democrats

Baucus, Max (D-MT)
Biden, Joseph R., Jr. (D-DE)
Durbin, Richard (D-IL)
Harkin, Tom (D-IA)
Johnson, Tim (D-SD)
Kerry, John F. (D-MA)
Landrieu, Mary L. (D-LA)
Lautenberg, Frank R. (D-NJ)
Levin, Carl (D-MI)
Pryor, Mark L. (D-AR)
Reed, Jack (D-RI)
Rockefeller, John D., IV (D-WV)

Republicans

Alexander, Lamar (R-TN)
Allard, Wayne (R-CO)
Chambliss, Saxby (R-GA)
Cochran, Thad (R-MS)
Coleman, Norm (R-MN)
Collins, Susan M. (R-ME)
Cornyn, John (R-TX)
Craig, Larry E. (R-ID)
Dole, Elizabeth (R-NC)
Domenici, Pete V. (R-NM)
Enzi, Michael B. (R-WY)
Graham, Lindsey (R-SC)
Hagel, Chuck (R-NE)
Inhofe, James M. (R-OK)
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY)
Roberts, Pat (R-KS)
Sessions, Jeff (R-AL)
Smith, Gordon H. (R-OR)
Stevens, Ted (R-AK)
Sununu, John E. (R-NH)
Warner, John (R-VA)

Now, get this, I no longer think that representative government is a viable option for a democratic form of government, and therefore do propose a solution.

The reasons to do so have been documented and go back generations upon generations. Just two examples from above, among the many wonderful post.:

rtdrury May 23rd, 2008 5:04 pm

All of the acts of Congress over the past 7-8 years are null and void. The people don't even recognize the government let alone its actions.

FVHorn May 23rd, 2008 6:40 pm

Even Osama bin Laden could have been tried in absentia,

Qui bono? The motive makes the crime. 9/11 was an inside job, a false-flag black op by a small, criminal, hidden group of zealots in the classified secret-celled blackworld that knew how to get Americans to back their agendas by turning on people's vengeance and fear emotions. These criminals and traitors within the government must have been in positions of secrecy and knowledge and power that could get this dastardly deed done. And killing inocent Americans? Just collateral damage necessary to move the agendas forward. As if our leaders don't kill innocent people by decisions! They do it all the time, and know they do. And this small dedicated group will hold its secrets.

And what can we do about it? Huh

TAKE BACK OUR PROXIES! We, people must make charge by exercising of Rights and Powers of self-government by direct popular vote on the national level, as is currently done in making law at the state level in 24 states.

We have to replace the congress that has systemically and arrogantly misrepresented us from July 4th, 1776, by conscious design to make this country a plutocracy in all but by name!

Likewise, decisions of the US Supreme Court must be put to National Referendum, as our own safeguard to the meaning of the US Constitution, and in the interest of justice.

Abolishing the Executive Branch is certainly appealing, but that calls for a great debate, and with Constitutional Amendments submitted as a National Initiative for Constitutional Amendment.

The only people to be petitioned, is each other, we are the legislators, judges, and jury. The "middleman" is dead, an anachronism that should have never happened, but today with our means of communication, we can decide more wisely and honorably than those we really do not hold accountable under the system, it is rigged from the beginning. It is time for a new revolution, The Pure Democracy Revolution.

BTW, of interest for all of us is, that a Google search will bring up your posted comments on Common Dreams, among others. Allowing each of us, to find and read further from one anothers posting here and elsewhere, as with Digg.

Incremental change can be progress and pretending when it comes time to vote that the little league is in the game is OK if it makes you feel clean or above the fray.

And if you think there is no difference between McCain and Obama, nobody will change your mind.

Vote third party and pray for a home run or touchdown. I can agree with Nader and I could vote for myself and have the same outcome.... it is a protest vote but it don't count in the Hard Tackle NFL.

But back to reality, War and Peace is not a sports game of Touch or Tackle so you do what you gotta do and I will do what I gotta do.

Jim Glover May 24th, 2008 11:27 am

"takes time to change a huge system, but if you want it all your way now, good luck."

You're right that compromise is inevitable, but we need to start negotiating from a strong position. If we go in asking for the whole loaf, we might get half a loaf. If we go in asking for one slice of bread, we might end up with half a slice.

This is why I think that progressive third parties are necessary to provide pressure on the two major parties. Historically, the Democrats and Republicans have adopted the agenda of third parties like the Socialists, the Progressives, and the Populists. More recently, the Democrats made balancing the budget the centerpiece of their economic agenda after Perot got 19% of the vote in 1992.

The right goes for radical change when they are in power, and they have been largely successful in getting it. If we aim for incremental change, the right will end up winning over time. It's like trading field goals for touchdowns.

Thanks Doom n Gloom. Love is still the greatest power in the universe. When I actively studied Buddhism, it came to me that we humans misunderstand suffering. We judge it without understanding its value. While I condemn ignorant actions that would lead innocents to suffer, I try to observe my own suffering with non-judgemental equanimity. There is a lesson. A crucible, which if faced as bravely as possible can lead to a deepening of character, which will ultimately provide the wisdom and strength to be possibly victorious.

I am seriously thinking about writing in the candidate of my choice.

VA green,

We are all part of the problem... problems of War and Peace are not solved overnight.

You are right when you say "It's hard to keep issues on the table when one and a half parties supports Bush, and only half a party opposes him."

That is my point... the peace people in congress need your support more than ever so that they will have more votes.

Nobody can predict about "all troops" ... but a start in that direction is needed and Obama says that his first day in office he will order the military to begin ending the war in Iraq.

That is a start in the direction we need to go and it is realistic for a world dominated by a war economy... and it could lead to peace in other places as well because Obama is willing to talk about peace with all adversaries.

You do what you think is right... If we are citizens we are all responsible for the government.

If you don't vote or vote 3rd party or vote Dem or Repub, We are all still responsible…
Before you blame others ask yourself "What have I done?" and if you think that you can't do anything that counts, you are still responsible…and that goes for all the keyboard rebels who point blame here.
You are responsible because you point out what you don't like so you are aware and you better start swimin' or you'll sink like a stone cause the times they are a changin'.

It takes time to change a huge system, but if you want it all your way now, good luck.

It is times like these I think about changing my name to Bites Not Barks. Complicity all around, one big gag, barf, occupation. THERE IS NO WAR.

Who to vote for?

ANYBODY BUT THE TWO PARTIES.

How about that?

itsaNaziWorldOrder, the more I read the more I find that supports your argument that our 'corporatist Empire' is acting like the Nazi 'fascist/corporatist Empire' with respect to intentional genocide.

This excellently researched article by DAVE LINDORFF, in the current Counterpunch, documents the genocidal actions in the city of Fallujah in 2004 after four 'corporate' mercenaries were killed:

http://www.counterpunch.org/lindorff05242008.html

One can't help but recall from this indcident that the level of retribution for killing private 'corporate' mercenaries was greater and more genocidal than for the killing of any regular, public, US government soldiers. This lesson to Iraqis seems obvious now --- kill a US soldier and we may or may not take your weapon away, but kill a 'corporate mercenary' and we will slaughter you all.

Jim Glover May 24th, 2008 10:08 am

"Many more Dems voted against the bill than the blue dogs who voted for it."

Enough Democrats vote for Bush's agenda for him to claim bipartisan support. It's hard to keep issues on the table when one and a half parties supports Bush, and only half a party opposes him.

"I repeat the Democratic party did not promise to end the War…."

That's why they are part of the problem.

"There are Dem candidates for president now who promise to end the war."

Clinton and Obama say that want to "end the war", but what they are talking about is withdrawing "combat" troops. Probably tens of thousands of troops will be still in Iraq. Clinton and Obama won't commit to getting ALL troops out by 2013.

itsaNaziWorldOrder May 23rd, 2008 2:24 pm, you raise an interesting point about corporate involvement in genocide.

Is today's ruling-elite global 'corporatist Empire' hiding behind the facade of our two-party, 'Vichy' sham of a pro-war government really any different than IG Farben standing behind the Nazi Empire's death camps?

Hopefully, the election cry of 2008 will not follow the simplistic, distractive, and wrong-headed 1992 Clinton fear-mongering, "It's the economy, stupid", but will have learned and evolved from the last 16 years of BIPARTISAN 'corporatist control' and rise to the only real and serious issue of the day ---- "It's the 'corporatist Empire', stupid."

FreeQuark.

Thank you for Illustrating my point.

Every Dem who is against the war hopes that there will be enough votes to make the difference, but you sound like you won't help that happen because you seem to want it all now.

You seem to think everyone who doesn't agree with you is a "fool" or a "Republican mole"...

Thank you for telling the world your feelings and intentions that will have consequences.

Jim Glover - "I repeat the Democratic party did not promise to end the War…."

Jim Webb and other *Democratic* candidates continually complained about *Bush's handling of the war,* and promised things would be different when they got in office. Well, things aren't different, and Democrats continue to be a rubber stamp for Bush on the war and almost every other issue. Face it, these people are nothing but water carriers for the GOP, and anyone who can't see that at this point is either a fool or a Republican mole.

Time magazine's report, "Bombing Iran: The Clamor Persists", accurately reflects the dangerous fear-mongering and sense of the Senate in their latest pro-war vote --- which has now voted 70-26 to give junior his next $165B war allowance to spend in Iran.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1808811,00.html

I watched the Senate vote on continuing Iraq war funding (with Iran bombing
options), but I must have been tired and slipped off to sleep a few times
during the debate and amendments because this is all I vaguely recall ---
almost as if I were in some kind of an old dream:

"For what purpose does the gentleman from Bavaria rise?"

"Madam president, I rise today to submit an amendment to the bill for
continued funding for the Fuhrer's glorious war."

"The clerk will register the amendment, and the gentleman from Bavaria is
allotted five minutes."

"Madam president, while many of our German soldiers share the glory of being
recognized for fighting on both the western and eastern fronts, many other
soldiers are engaged in activities at the Reich's 'special camps' in which
they can not achieve public recognition, because of the secret nature of
their service, and from which they often receive mental scares.

"While all of us here in our honored seat of government recognize that such
activities do not constitute torture and are necessary to protect the
fatherland, our German soldiers engaged in these 'other activities' deserve
additional medical benefits and extended educational benefits.

"My amendment to the Fuhrer's fifth year emergency war funding bill would
not restrict or limit the activities of these special units, but rather
recognizes that additional GI (German Issue) educational benefits should be
added to this war funding.

"I believe that I speak for both sides of the aisle in saying that adding
these special medical and educational benefits to our war funding bill will
help to assuage any concerns that the German people have about the
unexpectedly long duration of the war, and help to add a fig-leaf of
responsible concern to this otherwise nasty business ---- without, I might
say, having any adverse effect on the Fuhrer getting the full measure of
deutchmarks and blood for unhindered continuation and expansion of his war.

"We can all be sure that the loyal German media will report this amendment
as adding a successful show of NSDAP's concern, prudence, and responsibility
to the Fuhrer's war funding bill, and that all good Germans will recognize
that we have done our duty --- without us having to actually stand-up to the
Fuhrer and do anything substantial about this long, bloody, costly and
immoral war."

[Editorial note by the Berlin Times: The amendment and the emergency war
funding bill passed 70-26, and there was general enthusiasm by the Fuhrer,
both parties, and the media that the addition of the medical and educational
benefits for our troops and some addition heating aid for poor Germans
created a successful outcome ---- although the war and the 'special camps'
continued unabated].

Sincerely,
Alan MacDonald

Sanford, Maine

This Inter Press Service reporting by Mohammed A. Salih is the first I have seen which accurately reports the shameful and dangerous vote by our gutless and fully complicit, and bipartisan Senate --- or as I call them the "70 war mongers".

The 70 Senators who voted Bush $165 Billion more to continue the Iraq war and to start the Iran 'nukular' war:

YEAs ---70
Akaka (D-HI)
Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Bennett (R-UT)
Biden (D-DE)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Cochran (R-MS)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Dole (R-NC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Inouye (D-HI)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCaskill (D-MO)
McConnell (R-KY)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)
Tester (D-MT)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)
Webb (D-VA)
Wicker (R-MS)

May they all rot in hell.

If one of these bastards is from your state, it's your responsibility to get them out of the Senate.

How many times has senate approval for war funding gone unchecked? How many times have we sent letters and emails to our senators and representatives to stop war funding, to get out of Iraq, and to 'impeach' Bush and Cheney? Here we are again.

Dammit

Rat Bastards

All Republicans voted for this bill but a couple.

Many more Dems voted against the bill than the blue dogs who voted for it.

The Democratic party never promised to end the war or to Impeach, the party is for raising money for the Dems that have the best chance to beat a Republican.

If you expect radical change in one or two elections you need to go back to college.

I repeat the Democratic party did not promise to end the War....

Only a president can bring the troops home.

There are Dems running against incumbent Republicans who promise to vote to end the War, like Doug Tudor http://teamtudor.org/index.asp

There are Dem candidates for president now who promise to end the war.

if you are a citizen you are responsible for your actions weather you vote or don't vote and if you want peace it is your responsibility if you vote to make it count.

The choice is yours and you will have to live with the consequences even the unintentional ones.

get off your ass and vote people. I feel this is the last time America can be saved. 8 years of total outside control has destroyed America.

So many of those seemingly outraged at this vote, which so obviously goes against the wishes of a majority of American citizens, will almost unthinkingly vote for democrats in the coming election...Why?

So many of those commenting above will cast a ballot for either Clinton or Obama, honestly believing that they are better serving this nation. Thus the status quo is maintained, thus the same corporate controls are left in place. I state without equivocation that the only candidate in this race worth my vote is Ralph Nader.

Of course I do not believe he will win, neither does he in fact. But his message is so important, and so unspoken by any other candidate with access to a public forum, that , if we wish to make any difference whatsoever we must perforce take votes away from the Duopoly Party that masquerades as a two party system. Every vote cast for a democrat reinforces the control of the conservative DLC over the policies and directions of that party, every single well meaning voter who continues to remain a democrat helps further the corporate control of this nation.

Washington will not change things for the better. We must do it. We must do it while walking through the crucible. Each man and woman will be tested. Live with love and respect for all things and you will be transformed. We cannot and should not carry the burdens of those who live in hatred. Hatred can only prevail if we surrender ourselves to it. Each person has a fundamental choice to make, love or hate. I choose love.

Correction: "True; I just saw that he didn't vote and at or via the following article or resource, and which I think was the link someone provided further above by Betsy, ...".

Goofy is that wording, ", and which I think was ... provided ...", replaced with ", and which was provided ...".

And it's 'refunding', not 'refuding'.

Turce wrote:

"Vote Counts come out on thomas.org 1 hour after vote. I waited 2 then 3 hours, I said F it, I phoned. My Senators both Yea, Barack Nay, Hillary Nay. McInsane NOT VOTING, how Presidential Dear John.
So richgriffin, albeit senator Obama has yet to be Sainted
he voted against funding the ILLEGAL OCCUPATION, as did Hillary. McSame could care less, he never showed up."

NOT QUITE RIGHT if FCNL.org is right; the link Betsy provided.

That says neither Obama nor McCain voted, 'NV', while Billary voted correctly for once and as you say, 'NO'.

I checked thomas.org, but find nothing there on these votes. www.fcnl.org provides a link in the homepage and to an interactive map for selecting states, so FAR BETTER is that resource.

" Turce May 24th, 2008 1:23 am

Rich Griffin May 23rd, 2008 4:01 pm
Saint Barack, you know the anti-war candidate, did not cast a vote. He's busy with running for President, and besides, he doesn't want to be on record."

True; I just saw that he didn't vote and at or via the following article or resource, and which I think was the link someone provided further above by Betsy, whom I'll take this moment to THANK for this link.

"Iraq: If the U.S. is ultimately leaving Iraq, why is the military building 'permanent' bases? ... details of the permanent U.S. bases in Iraq",
FCNL.org, reviewed Feb 20 2008

http://www.fcnl.org/iraq/bases.htm

The above says that by end of 2006, the U.S. still had over 55 bases and/or facilities, but which I think are bases (?); while having initially had 106 in May 2005, although also stated is that the U.S. had 14 permanent, 'enduring', bases by the end of 2003.

And that provides a link to the source, which is the following and from which I just want to list the translated names of some of the bases.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/iraq-intro.htm

"Interesting" base names: Justice, Hope, Union I, II and III, Solidarity, Prosperity, Patriot, Freedom I and II, Liberty, and Honor.

Mehdi Army or Sadrists' bases? "Of course" not.

DISGUSTING! And sure fitting is the article by Robert Parry of Consortium News and for which I posted a link further above; about the very documented fact that the Bush family has always been a major Nazi-regime profiteer, and aider (financing anyway) and abetter. Not only that, quite MOST of the U.S. Congress and Senate always played along with, including covering up the guilt of, the racket Bush family; thereby, all of them being more-or-less guilty of the same crime Prescott Bush was charged for, 'TRADING WITH THE ENEMY'.

The USA has no foreign enemies; ALL of the real ones being DOMESTIC.

=======================

Oh, back to Rich Griffin having said, "Saint Barack, you know the anti-war candidate, did not cast a vote. He's busy with running for President, and besides, he doesn't want to be on record".

Yeah, his Senate voting record has been of continuously voting with the war criminals of the Senate, always refuding a totally criminal war of aggression, which the above FCNL.org and GlobalSecurity.org pages illustrate being nothing less than an absolutely certain TRUTH.

By refusing to vote, I take it to mean that he's not against passage of this hellbent refuding bill of the Senate, $168bn.

I wonder what the House of Reps will vote in terms of that Senate bill after the long undue recess; deciding only after Memorial Day.

In any case, I don't consider his non-vote anything but silent approval of the bill.

Yawn. Democrats, as well as Republicans vote for more death in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Ok, we all realize this.

LETS ALL NOW WAKE UP AND REFUSE TO VOTE FOR BOTH MAJOR PARTIES! BOTH OF THESE PARTIES ARE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE OK WITH KILLING PEOPLE DEFENDING THEIR OWN COUNTRIES(WHICH HAVE BEEN INVADED) AND KILLING INNOCENT CIVILIANS(WHO ARE THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE KILLED IN ANY WAR).

SCREW THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS. THEY CAN GO TO HELL.

The only thing I believe in about Amerika is; we've been public school brainwashed into not knowing how to start a people's movement in this country. Maybe an economic mess is the only thing that will get us off our butts.

Rich Griffin May 23rd, 2008 4:01 pm
Saint Barack, you know the anti-war candidate, did not cast a vote. He's busy with running for President, and besides, he doesn't want to be on record.

GKL May 23rd, 2008 10:27 pm
How did McSame vote on this bill? How did Hillary vote on this bill?

Vote Counts come out on thomas.org 1 hour after vote. I waited 2 then 3 hours, I said F it, I phoned. My Senators both Yea, Barack Nay, Hillary Nay. McInsane NOT VOTING, how Presidential Dear John.
So richgriffin, albeit senator Obama has yet to be Sainted
he voted against funding the ILLEGAL OCCUPATION, as did Hillary. McSame could care less, he never showed up.

Consider the above from Robert Parry against GHW Bush's words of supposed nobility regarding his service in WWII; having said this over the past few years. He was of course doing the usual Bush family thing and which is to blatantly and wittingly LIE.

truthmonger,

BREAK UP LONG links, like over two lines, or three if necessary, to avoid forcing the horizontal scroll bar on top of the vertical scrolling we already need to do; SVP.

"overkill May 23rd, 2008 12:25 pm

Please reserve 70 more places at the warcrimes trials."

Definitely, but we're not going to get anywhere with a Nazi regime govt that is not newly this, but has been for many decades already.

"The Bushes and Hitler's Appeasement

by Robert Parry

Global Research, May 20, 2008
Consortium News "

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=9036

QUOTE:

The irony of George W. Bush going before the Knesset and mocking the late Sen. William Borah for expressing surprise at Adolf Hitler's 1939 invasion of Poland is that Bush's own family played a much bigger role assisting the Nazis.

...

The archival evidence is now clear that Prescott Bush, the president's grandfather, was a director and shareholder of companies that profited from and collaborated with key financial backers of Nazi Germany.

That business relationship continued after Hitler invaded Poland in 1939 and even after Germany declared war on the United States following Japan's bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941. It stopped only when the U.S. government seized assets of Bush-connected companies in late 1942 under the "Trading with the Enemy Act."

... Bush might have acknowledged in his May 15 speech that his forebears also were blind to the dangers of Hitler.

Bush might have noted that his family's wealth, which fueled his own political rise, was partly derived from Nazi collaboration and possibly from slave labor provided by Auschwitz and other concentration camps.

A more honest speech before the Knesset - on the 60th anniversary of Israel's founding - might have contained an apology to the Jewish people from a leading son of the Bush family for letting its greed contribute to Nazi power and to the horrors of the Holocaust. Instead, there was just the jab at Sen. Borah, who died in 1940.

...

Protected by layers of well-connected friends, Prescott Bush brushed aside the Nazi scandal and won a U.S. Senate seat from Connecticut, which enabled him to start laying the foundation for the family's political dynasty.

In recent years, however, the archival records from the pre-war era have been assembled, drawing from the Harriman family papers at the Library of Congress, documents at the National Archives, and records from war-crimes trials after Germany's surrender.

...

One can trace the origins of this story back more than a century to the emergence of Samuel Bush, George W. Bush's great-grandfather, as a key manager for a set of powerful American business families, including the Rockefellers and the Harrimans. [See Consortiumnews.com's "Bush Family Chronicles: The Patriarchs."]

That chapter took an important turn in 1919 when investment banker George Herbert Walker teamed up with Averell Harriman, scion to a railroad fortune, to found a new investment banking firm, W.A. Harriman Company.

The Harriman firm was backed by the Rockefellers' National City Bank and the Morgan family's Guaranty Trust. ...

...

By the mid-Thirties, Prescott Bush had become a managing partner at the merged firm of Brown Brothers Harriman. The archival records also show that Brown Brothers Harriman served as the U.S. financial service arm for German industrialist Fritz Thyssen, an early funder of the Nazi Party.

...

Other evidence shows that Prescott Bush served as the director of the Union Banking Corp. of New York, which represented Thyssen's interests in the United States and was owned by a Thyssen-controlled bank in the Netherlands.

As a steel magnate, Thyssen was amassing a fortune as Hitler rearmed Germany. Documents also linked Bush to Thyssen's Consolidated Silesian Steel Company, which was based in mineral-rich Silesia on the German-Polish border and exploited slave labor from Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz.

...

It wasn't until August 1942 that newspaper stories disclosed the secretive ties between Union Banking Corp. and Nazi Germany.

After an investigation, the U.S. government seized the property of the Hamburg-Amerika line and moved against affiliates of the Union Banking Corp. In November 1942, the government seized the assets of the Silesian-American Corp.
...

...

For most public figures, allegations of trading with the enemy would have been a political kiss of death, but the disclosures barely left a lipstick smudge on Averell Harriman, Prescott Bush and other business associates implicated in the Nazi business dealings.

"Politically, the significance of these dealings - the great surprise - is that none of it seemed to matter much over the next decade or so," wrote Kevin Phillips in American Dynasty.

"A few questions would be raised, but Democrat Averell Harriman would not be stopped from becoming federal mutual security administrator in 1951 or winning election as governor of New York in 1954. Nor would Republican Prescott Bush (who was elected senator from Connecticut in 1952) and his presidential descendants be hurt in any of their future elections."

...

To this day - as President Bush showed by mocking the long-forgotten Sen. Borah and then wielding the Nazi "appeasement" club against Barack Obama and other Democrats - the assumption remains that the bubble will continue to protect the Bush family name.

However, the evidence from dusty archives suggests that the Bush family went way beyond appeasement of Adolf Hitler to aiding and abetting the Nazis.

END QUOTE.

The WHOLE of the U.S. executive, congressional, and senate branches have been doing what all of these years? Remaining complicit in treason?

again, from down under..what a spineless bunch .your democrat.party has turned out to be..where does your nancy pelosi,come into play...everyday i read ,that pastor so and so,said this or that..to me how can people say they believe in god..then continue to vote unashameably for moore death and destruction..all i can say is thanks to your democrats,for continuing.to lead the western world into bankruptcy.financialy and morraly

This vote was obscene. The behavior of the Democrats is disgusting since they said vote us in power and we'll stop the war.

Have they? All you Obama supporters...have they? All you Pelosi fans...have they?

Pathetic.

Petraeus also described Iranian influence in Iraq as "malign" and "lethal"...
He would, wouldn't he?? Another unspeakable evil shill calling for yet more mass murder of innocents.
Has Iran and its allies illegally attacked and destroyed a country, killed 1,000,000+ people and rendered approximately 3,000,000+ people refugees?

I don't understand how creatures like these can live in their own skins..

"Unless, maybe, you have a half-way credible strategy for violent revolution. I'm not into violence, but since we're already violently controlled, I'd listen to any good suggestions along these lines, in a heartbeat!"

The cure is not violence but self understanding.

THIS is the revolution.

No one who has recovered natural understanding will be easily controlled by the architects of violence and the deception scripts (such as 9/11) that serve their interests.

"...truth is the enemy of the state." Goebbels

Understanding of the radical depth of deception in human society is paramount.

Once understood, necessary solutions become incredibly obvious and former mistakes, political and otherwise, quite easy to avoid.

Jaybones,

You have raised all the obvious objections and necessary reflections.

I am a very 'results oriented' person.

And, I have been grappling with these questions since the age of four when I first noticed that humans were disconnected, desensitized, often sadistic, mean, and deadened by the time they reached adulthood. I knew it was unnatural but not what was causing the disease.

I entered the political process early, at the age of eleven, became an anti-war organizer, labor issues worker, etc.

And I did discover and define a number of solutions. And I was stymied repeatedly in my consistent attempts to implement those solutions… whether by government agencies, corporate interests or combinations of both.

And I also dealt personally with outrages of "Rule by techno-empowered moral monsters". You may think it is still a threat, I assure you, it has been going on for a very longtime.

I am completely convinced that nothing can change until the infrastructures of society are determined for purposes of providing all with better, more sustainable, life experiences that are based upon natural requirements rather than elitist power and preservation of exclusive right.

Our entire social organization has been structured to enable rule by a minority. Since I have appealed time and again to these structures at the highest, lowest and middle levels to embrace change, even modest changes, and discovered that these structures are highly paranoid and not amenable to change;

I am certain that the best chance for us all is to turn from knee-jerk cooperative support by accepting 'choices' pre-selected to continue more of the same and toward an effort to redefine social and political realities.

Nowhere in the political process or the courts is the ability to arrest the power of a self-serving military, a complicit secret services and the major gluttonous corporations nor the fact that these entities are simply aspects of the same oligarchic and totalitarian paradigm. Our political structures are completely deceitful and corrupt. They will not be changed by a 'vote' but by the recognition of the corrupt nature of the whole.

Of these facts I am certain. Change will only come when those structures (political and judicial) provided to keep us busy while a secret elite determine resource allocation and destruction and war/genocide policies are seen for what they are; efforts to thwart effective citizen action and responses.

THE most radical thing we can do is get understanding.
http://allinharmony.org

Our place is one of connection. If we can come to this understanding, we may have a chance. Without this understanding, there is simply NO chance for long term human survival, including political survival.

If understanding is deep enough, it will affect our actions. And those actions will run counter to continuing complicity with control structures that serve the power-oriented, ignorance-based and psychotic forces that currently rule human affairs and determine our negative impacts on the rest of the biosphere.

How did McSame vote on this bill? How did Hillary vote on this bill?

Lockheed Murder is embracing science this weekend, the question is asked: "Is their life on Mars?" . While Lockheed destroys human life, you're invited to watch PBS and celebrate the entitled scientists who labor against tight constraints to deliver all the wonder of technology. (on behalf of a cold blooded bottom line by a legendary Death industry stalwart.)
Don't think about women and children blown to pieces, think about those proud deletants in the womb of a corporate giant, a bespectacled NASA spokesman for politics and greed.
When will they learn? The table is set for everyone, not a chosen militant few. They'll continue however; narcissitically ambivalent to bloodshed and suffering. There may be water on Mars, but there isn't any clean water here on earth for some unfortunate masses.

itsaNaziWorldOrder -

You agree with some others here that we should all stop voting?

OK. But where do you suggest that good citizens go from there?

Are you counting on the hope that such a protest will bring about a needed revolution? Tell us, if so, HOW?

Have you considered that such a non-voting strategy might instead bring about the opposite of what you aparenyl intend: an entrenchment of the state's corrupt/anti-democratic power? -- even admitting that the choices we vote for now are mostly phony.

Personally, I think the latter would happen [a Dark/Darker Age], and that we'd be inviting an indefinitely long Rule by techno-empowered moral monsters, by doing what you suggest.

I share your emotional state of being utterly pissed-off; but I don't understand how you think, in detail, how your recommended strategy would work to ultimately rescue or re-empower democratic governance (such as it even marginally was before, or is now marginally.)

If you can't use your mind to formulate practical answers to these 'consequence' questions that any sensible person will raise, please consider self-admitting that you're just furiously flummoxed at the present situation, and that you're just uselessly venting theoretical and practical steam at the expense of better solutions.

Then, please use your otherwise (seemingly) good head and heart to create a strategy that doesn't run the disastrous practical risks which your advocacy of tactical mass-voter passivity implies.

Unless, maybe, you have a half-way credible strategy for violent revolution. I'm not into violence, but since we're already violently controlled, I'd listen to any good suggestions along these lines, in a heartbeat!

Respectfully for now,
Jaybones

All Repugs except these 2 voted for War Funding Bill:

Jimmy Duncan, Ron Paul

Democrats who voted for war funding bill:

Jason Altmire, Robert Andrews, Joe Baca, Brian Baird, John Barrow, Melissa Bean, Shelley Berkley, Marion Berry, Sanford Bishop, Dan Boren, Leonard Boswell, Rick Boucher, Allen Boyd, Nancy Boyda, G.K. Butterfield, Dennis Cardoza, Christopher Carney, Ben Chandler, James Clyburn, Jim Cooper, Jim Costa, Bud Cramer, Henry Cuellar, Susan Davis, Lincoln Davis, Norman Dicks, John Dingell, Joe Donnelly, Chet Edwards, Brad Ellsworth, Rahm Emanuel, Bob Etheridge, Gabrielle Giffords, Kirsten Gillibrand, Charles Gonzalez, Bart Gordon, Gene Green, Baron Hill, Ruben Hinojosa, Tim Holden, Steny Hoyer, Steve Kagen, Paul Kanjorski, Dale Kildee, Ron Kind, Nicholas Lampson, Rick Larsen, Sander Levin, Daniel Lipinski, Tim Mahoney, Jim Marshall, Jim Matheson, Mike McIntyre, Kendrick Meek, Charles Melancon, Harry Mitchell, Alan Mollohan, Dennis Moore, John Murtha, Solomon Ortiz, Collin Peterson, Earl Pomeroy, Nick Rahall, Silvestre Reyes, Ciro Rodriguez, Mike Ross, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Salazar, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Allyson Schwartz, David Scott, Joe Sestak, Heath Shuler, Ike Skelton, Vic Snyder, Zachary Space, John Spratt, Bart Stupak, John Tanner, Gene Taylor, Bennie Thompson, Mark Udall, Peter Visclosky, Timothy Walz, Charles Wilson

Democrats against war funding bill:

Neil Abercrombie, Gary Ackerman, Thomas Allen, Michael Arcuri, Tammy Baldwin, Xavier Becerra, Timothy Bishop, Earl Blumenauer, Robert Brady, Bruce Braley, Corrine Brown, Lois Capps, Michael Capuano, Russ Carnahan, Julia Carson, Kathy Castor, Yvette Clarke, William Clay, Emanuel Cleaver, Steve Cohen, John Conyers, Jerry Costello, Joe Courtney, Joseph Crowley, Elijah Cummings, Danny Davis, Artur Davis, Peter DeFazio, Rosa DeLauro, William Delahunt, Lloyd Doggett, Michael Doyle, Keith Ellison, Anna Eshoo, Sam Farr, Chaka Fattah, Bob Filner, Barney Frank, Al Green, Raul Grijalva, Luis Gutierrez, John Hall, Phil Hare, Jane Harman, Alcee Hastings, Brian Higgins, Maurice Hinchey, Mazie Hirono, Paul Hodes, Chris Van Hollen, Rush Holt, Mike Honda, Darlene Hooley, Jay Inslee, Steve Israel, Jesse Jackson, Sheila Jackson-Lee, William Jefferson, Eddie Johnson, Hank Johnson, Marcy Kaptur, Patrick Kennedy, Carolyn Kilpatrick, Ron Klein, Dennis Kucinich, James Langevin, Tom Lantos, John Larson, Barbara Lee, David Loebsack, Zoe Lofgren, Nita Lowey, Stephen Lynch, Carolyn Maloney, Edward Markey, Doris Matsui, Carolyn McCarthy, Betty McCollum, Jim McDermott, James McGovern, Jerry McNerney, Michael McNulty, Martin Meehan, Gregory Meeks, Michael Michaud, Brad Miller, George Miller, Gwen Moore, James Moran, Christopher Murphy, Patrick Murphy, Jerrold Nadler, Grace Napolitano, Richard Neal, David Obey, John Olver, Frank Pallone, Bill Pascrell, Ed Pastor, Donald Payne, Nancy Pelosi, Ed Perlmutter, David Price, Charles Rangel, Steven Rothman, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Bobby Rush, Tim Ryan, Loretta Sanchez, Linda Sanchez, John Sarbanes, Jan Schakowsky, Adam Schiff, Robert Scott, Jose Serrano, Carol Shea-Porter, Brad Sherman, Albio Sires, Louise Slaughter, Adam Smith, Hilda Solis, Pete Stark, Betty Sutton, Ellen Tauscher, Mike Thompson, John Tierney, Edolphus Towns, Tom Udall, Nydia Velazquez, Maxine Waters, Diane Watson, Melvin Watt, Henry Waxman, Anthony Weiner, Peter Welch, Robert Wexler, Lynn Woolsey, David Wu, Al Wynn, John Yarmuth

Our government is a totalitarian one run by the secret services of the CIA, FBI, DoD, NSA, NASA, etc.

Together they maintain the 'illusion culture' in which we are schooled; that this is a 'capitalist' (implying an adherence to free and open market influences) and democratic society.

In fact, it is a completely managed social reality beginning with what false histories and scientific 'findings' we are taught (and how it is taught) to what opportunities will definitely be closed or opened to us individually.

The emphasis of ALL these secret programs is control.

Our society is not only totalitarian in infrastructure, it is also best described as the Semblance Society for its makeup is meant to utterly disguise the actual nature of 'how things work' and 'who wields influence and power' over 'how things work'.

Officials are not 'elected' they are positioned through careful management of popular perception and the ability to get members of society to accept/participate in the grand deception.

Those unpopular with elitist interests, whether on the 'left' or the 'right' will be silenced/neutralized long before they could ever threaten the tight controls our secret managers wield over the 'political' process and any who are chosen to become its 'representatives'.

Our government is no different than other governments around the world. We may have played a different role on the world's stage (that of principal defender of the world's empire), but it has been and is crafted not by ourselves but rather by those who have selected for us all.

The world is run by a corporate military elite. This will be addressed before substantive life supporting changes can be made. Deception must cease to be a principal and respected foundation of government.

"Please stop voting "

...

"Please stop voting "

My thoughts exactly! Those who run this country also manage the congress and the Presidency.

Anyone who enters office will be under scrutiny and the orders of those who have always run this country.

New face, same policy, over and over again ad nauseum.

Anyone who tries to change that fact will either be 'retired', or 'fired' just like Kennedy was. Is this not obvious?

95% of Iraq War opponents in congress won't ever vote their so-called conscience on this issue until Bush is out of office. And even then, they'll do so only if either a Clinton or Obama presidency acts to create unified public/congressional support to quickly and decisively bring US troops home.

We can bemoan and condemn our federal lawmakers all we want (they disgust me plently.) But given the corrupted system they get elected by, it's only pissing into the wind to expect the beter-inclined of them to slit their political throats in the name their lone voice for Justice and Truth.

Our elitist political culture and elitist-serving news media no longer produce or affirm commonly-shared human values like universal Justice and Truth, to begin with, and this makes it impossible to elect the 'impractical' representatives of such values in any significant number.

Your could say the same thing about the sell-out of presidential candidates, except for the fact that at some similar crisis points in US history, presidential candidates have managed to squeek-in on a wave of nationally-based hope for change, despite the corruption and self-serving interest of a majority of congress members.

Voting now, today, for a Green or other progressive/reformist presidential candidate is certainly not a moral mistake; although it may be a worse-than-useless expenditure of political energy. A McCain presidency indirectly enabled by such purely moral votes will, after all, surely help to bring about the end of what remains of our republic.

We can only now act to ensure that if one of the Democrat candidates gets elected in 2008, and leads the conscience of congress to action, backed-up by presidential messages to the people, the worst of our country's current political maddness, the Iraq War, will be wound-down and ended promptly soon.

But no matter that a Democrat is elected president in 2008, all of this kind of political maddness is guarantted to happen again unless fundamental changes are made in the next 4 yrs.

Until we publicly finance campaigns, the conscience of congress will always play guaranteed second fiddle to its members' personal ambitions to get re-elected. In the present case, this means not opening themselves to being 'pre-maturely' tagged by a dominant rightwing news media as troop betrayers, defeatists, coddlers of terrorism, ad nauseum, and therefore being cutoff from entrenched, corrupt, election campaing financing.

Public financing of campaigns obviously won't solve all the problems of democracy, but it will help lawmakers of conscience to act on their conscience w/o the all-too-human fear of being politically cut off at the knees by ruthless, democracy-hating, behind-the-scenes paymasters.

Please stop voting Democrat!

Yet again, we see that voting Democrat does nothing to change things. The propaganda experts in the Dem party know this of course, which is why they try to con the American people by putting their candidate behind a podium with the word change on it and make him say the word change in every sentence of every speech. But, watch actions. Voting Democrat does nothing to create change. What it really is is just a giant con that prevents change. It fools the American people into electing a party that will not change anything, and cripples any movement towards voting for candidates that might really provide change.

Please stop voting Democrat!

WHAT A 4PLUS DISGRACE THIS CONGRESS IS.

I wrote my Senator, Bill Nelson and told him how deeply disappointed I was in his vote to extend this war. We have to let them know we are watching and that we object. Spaceman Bill has voted with the Republican war mongers way more than I can tolerate.

Someone asked about seeing how the senators voted on this. I believe this is the link. The only Republican to vote against it was Smith.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vo...

"...but this right-wing general says, "Yes, it is about oil.""

NO it is NOT about oil!

It is about control. The oil economy was not implemented (early last century) until control of oil reserves was assured.

What is happening in the Middle East is genocide. Following this genocide, a "conditioning of the soil", a 'new' social and economic order will be established.

Oil in the Middle East was controlled by the British (with some participation of its elite partners) at the start of the oil economy.

Installing Saddam, the Shah, and many others to power has been orchestrated by these same interests...

And so too was the preparation for full-scale genocide in Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran by the revision to an easy-to- demonize society.

Khomeini's first appointments were CIA collaborators both in the Office of Foreign Affairs and the Office of Information.

The world is ruled by a super elite that foments various types of genocides ('wars', hunger, disease) as the all essential governing (crippling) policy to keep the poor poor, defeated and sufficiently incapacitated to challenge the powers that be and their insane machinations.

"My people are happier when they are hungry, they do not complain so much."

Cyrus Samrad, Iranian industrialist, CIA and MI6 collaborator and darling of the US State Department.

This War was NOT explained to the American people as Commonreader's colonel above does thusly: we need the oil, we take the oil. And fuck anyone in our way. To be honest, it should have been, and should be now.

It was instead Sold AFTER 9/11 through some bullshit about 'terrorists' and 'democratization'. Well, please parade the real terrorists we have caught so far in this five-year-and-ongoing war on terrorism, along with the transcripts of their trials. Even Osama bin Laden could have been tried in absentia, IF the evidence existed. And as far as democracy, well, when the Palestinians voted the 'wrong' way, they were attacked in all ways and without mercy. So, so much for 'democracy'!

Yup, the parade o'terrorists in America would be a little short one. In fact, it would be a parade of None. And the trial of Osama? Never will be held. And Saddam's testimony against Rumsfeld and Cheney and Bush the First and so on? Fat chance getting it now! And the joke is on the American people. (I think the FBI's announced "main American terrorist threat" is the EarthFirst 'tree-huggers'!?! What crap!)

And this article posits that Iran will not sell us oil, so we will run out. To do this, Iran would have to sell NO oil, for oil not to reach America, as oil is fungible. We do not now get oil from Iran. So his point is utterly without merit. Another used-war salesman with his foot in the door.

In fact, if you ask who ACTUALLY benefitted from the 9/11 tragedy itself, would you say Iraq did? Saddam did? Afghanistan did? The Taliban did? The Muslim community did? Even that Osama himself did? It benefitted none of these at all, quite the reverse. And no one would have thought otherwise, beforehand, either.

OR would you say that the American Military Industrial Complex benefitted, having just lost one big 'enemy' with which to justify its overkill budgets, at the collapse of the Soviet Union? And that the NeoCon Corporatists benefitted? And that the Hard Rightwing Chauvinist Extremists did? And that the Zionists of Israel did? And that the CIA did? And that the Oil Magnates did? And that Bush and Cheney did? In fact, it benefitted ALL of these ENORMOUSLY! And anyone would have thought that a 9/11 sort of tragedy would benefit these elements, beforehand, also.

Qui bono? The motive makes the crime. 9/11 was an inside job, a false-flag black op by a small, criminal, hidden group of zealots in the classified secret-celled blackworld that knew how to get Americans to back their agendas by turning on people's vengeance and fear emotions. These criminals and traitors within the government must have been in positions of secrecy and knowledge and power that could get this dastardly deed done. And killing inocent Americans? Just collateral damage necessary to move the agendas forward. As if our leaders don't kill innocent people by decisions! They do it all the time, and know they do. And this small dedicated group will hold its secrets.

Now the colonel explains the Oil War to us. But he leaves out the part where that Three Trillion dollar expenditure for the Iraq War COULD HAVE BEEN EXPENDED to FREE US from dependence on oil, instead! How STUPID has the current course of action been? How criminal?

Yet, there sit the criminals for all to see, sitting in the White House and in the seats of power, daring us all to knock them off their thrones. They know no one will, so they act with impunity and without regard to life, liberty or happiness, without regard to the Constitution, without regard to rational thought, without regard to human empathy or compassion. And in so doing, they snort, "so whadda ya gonna do 'bout it, huh?"

And I fear by the words of this colonel that American military officers may not defend the Constitution, as they are sworn to do, if the time comes, when he says that "a lack of oil in the near future will be the final straw that dooms this Republic", almost as though he were wishing this, or threatening us with this end he has devised if War For Oil does not proceed with Iran as the next target.

As posse comitatus is already mooted, and the military is ready with homeland command, all is prepared now for the end of the democracy of the United States, through an overthrow of the people's government by a military junta under the guise of 'saving' the government of, by and for the People, while really destroying it.

And what can we do about it? Huh?

Imperial War, the powermongers know that without war, they are lost. Humans have the ability, the knowledge and foremost the courage to change this world into the paradise it was meant to be, though it takes sacrifice, or at least perceived sacrifice on a grand scale. Do another 3 trillion hard earned dollars need to be wasted to serve the powermongers (Stiglitz, Nobel Prize Winner, Economics)?

Imagine what an impact 3 trillion dollars could have on the world if we would shift our focus from serving the powermongers to the oppressed, the hungry, the sick, the needy.

He who has it worse than you, he should be your king, only then will we finally shake off the shackles that keep us ALL in bondage.

http://www.truthdig.com/cartoon/item/20080521_weather_report/

http://www.juancole.com/2008/05/will-sistani-declare-jihad-on-us.html

Iraq's provincial elections are one of the several benchmarks set by the U.S. government

Hilarious! The US government is still pretending that it has somekind of authority over the Iraqi people. It doesn't even have any authority over Americans. All of the acts of Congress over the past 7-8 years are null and void. The people don't even recognize the government let alone its actions.

Vote Green or wither away!

poetjude: I've emailed my worthless Senators and spread the word about the vote. Now how about some information about Cynthia McKinney, a green party candidate for president. She sure does sound good. Wish I knew what more to do.

President Cynthia McKinney will send the corporate persons scrambling for cover. They'll know that under her watch the people will put the teeth back into the anti-trust laws, and predator and prey will switch roles. Those corporate persons will be kicking dust, and will get their tails chewed on. It will be a feast for the hungry.

What more to do? Develop methods of self-sufficiency, shift all of your exchange/association away from the power centers and to your local community, support the worldwide network of progressives/peasants, teach to fish instead of giving fish, exchange information freely, and enjoy the bounty of nature.

Every Senator that approved this bill needs to be ousted in the next election they are in. Hope you are all keeping track. This is yet another example that our Congress does NOT represent the wishes of we the people, who have signified in every conceivable major poll in the last year that we want OUT of Iraq and to REIGN IN the over-reach of this monarch and his power-grabbing.

Every one who voted "yes" needs to be booted out of office for failure to live up to their oath of office to defend the Constitution and to vote what the majority of their constituents want. Bunch of Republican-Lite spineless cowards, the lot of 'em.

I have not checked this source and have trimmed the orginal, but this right-wing general says, "Yes, it is about oil." Read on. When will the presidential debate take up whether or not we want to go to war for oil?

BY: JIM L. CASH, Brig. Gen., USAF, Ret.

Understand, the current battle we are engaged in is much bigger than just Iraq. What happens in the next year will affect this country and how our kids and grandkids live throughout their lifetime, and beyond

There are eight terror-sponsoring countries that make up the grand threat to the West. Two, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, just need firm pressure from the West to make major reforms. The other six, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, North Korea and Libya will require regime change or a major policy shift. Now, let's look more closely.

Afghanistan and Iraq have both had regime changes, but are being fueled by outsiders from Syria and Iran …. I don't think Libya is now a threat.

North Korea can be handled diplomatically by buying them off. They are starving. That leaves Syria and Iran. Syria is like a frightened puppy. Sooner or later, we are going to be forced to confront Iran, and it better be before they gain nuclear capability.

In 1989 I served as a Command Director inside the Cheyenne Mountain complex located in Colorado Springs…. I watched Iran and Iraq shoot missiles at each other every day…. They were fighting for control of the Middle East and that enormous oil supply.

Do you have any idea what will happen if the entire Middle East turns their support to Iran, which they will obviously do if we pull out? Oil WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE to this country at any price.

The economy in this country will totally die if that Middle East supply is cut off right now. It will not be a recession. It will be a depression that will make 1929 look like the 'good-old-days'.

This Republic is the longest standing the world has ever known, but it is vulnerable. It would take so little to change it through economic upheaval.

JUST HOW GOOD IS THAT FOR OUR COUNTRY?

A lack of oil in the near future will be the final straw that dooms this Republic. However, if we refuse to let this happen and really get serious about an energy self- sufficiency program, this can be avoided. I am afraid, however, that we are going in the opposite direction.

… allowing Iran to take control of the Middle East, continue to refuse development of nuclear energy, refuse to allow drilling for new oil … it will be over in terms of what we view as the good life in the USA.

A President must make the war decision wisely, and insure that the cause is right before using his last political option. However, CONTROLLING IRAN AND DEMOCRATIZING THE MIDDLE EAST IS THE ONLY CHOICE IF WE ARE HELL- BENT ON DEPENDING ON THEM FOR OUR FUTURE ENERGY NEEDS.

Surrender May 23rd, 2008 4:04 pm -- "As long as this is a dysfunctional country, the leadership will be dysfunctional. Until humankind, in general, changes ..."

Excuse me, but I think you are over-generalizing both the problem and its sources. If, for example, you examine UN voting records, exceptions to nearly unanimous resolutions, non-obvervances of established covenants, etc., I think you'll see a pattern of behavior that is much more particular than all of humankind.

I've emailed my worthless Senators and spread the word about the vote. Now how about some information about Cynthia McKinney, a green party candidate for president. She sure does sound good. Wish I knew what more to do.

http://neighborhooduniversecity.blogspot.com/

Blow up your T.V.,
Throw away the paper,
Read no more online,
Get you a Life....

Why are we wasting our energy, good moods, stress levels, and positive attitudes on a "NO WIN" scenario, Folks?

It must be clear SOMEWHERE in your minds that we have no more voice in our own (?) government. The times have changed. The corporations run the country and, short of a REAL revolution--which ain't happening--there is not going to be any changes made by the peons and worker bees. Months ago, Dennis Kucinich offered, what I believe, to have been our last hope at REAL CHANGE (not just political rhetoric) and he was thrashed not only by the media but by "We The People" as well because of "The Program".

As long as this is a dysfunctional country, the leadership will be dysfunctional. Until humankind, in general, changes their thinking to a healthy, positive, loving, and GIVING-NOT-GETTING mentality you can expect same old/same old.

Saint Barack, you know the anti-war candidate, did not cast a vote. He's busy with running for President, and besides, he doesn't want to be on record.

Stop voting for Democrats! of course, don't vote for Republicans, either! Support greens and other third parties!

Isn't it a cruel irony - HONORING VETERANS AND SOLDIERS BY FUNDING WAR!!!!!!!!!!!

Isn't the funding of wars a kind of payments for the killings of soldiers (and innocent civilians)? By funding wars, soldiers are forced to be away from their spouces and children for an uncertain period of time, and remain rooted in the occupied countries so that both the political leaders and transnational companies can plunder these countries to satisfy their greed. In this sense, soldiers (at least in the case of Iraq and Afghanistan) are being used as mercenaries, since in both Iraq and Afghanistan, the role of the US soldiers is to safeguard the interests of the American political leaders and the transnational companies, by perpetuating occupation and suppressing any local opposition to the occupation and plunder.

If the American government and the American public really meant in honoring veterans and soldiers, why is that more than 25% of the homeless in America are veterans? Why are the conditions in the military hospitals and the treatment given to the wounded soldiers soooooooooooooo appalling and depressing??????? What about the families of the wounded and fallen soldiers? How is their situation???

When I look at the REALITY OF SITUATION OF THE VETERANS AND SOLDIERS,AND THEIR FAMILIES, I cannot but come to a conclusion that the American concept of HONORING VETERANS AND SOLDIERS underlines SELFISHNESS AND PROFIT MOTIVE. Veterans and soldiers are honored because they are safeguarding the interests of not only the political leaders and transnational companies, but also of the general public. Setting apart a day for this RITUAL does not cost anything. On the other hand, by making it a RITUAL, both the political leaders and the weapons industries gain a lot.

Therefore, soldiers are made scapegoats by the predatory capitalism and heartless, absolute greed that leaves mass human wreckage everywhere.

The list of who voted which way is easy to find. The FCNL website (www.fcnl.org) has an easy link.

If your senator voted "no" on the final vote, call him or her up (or go into their local office, as I did this morning) to say thank you. If not, call them up and tell them what you think about endless money for endless war/occupation. Keep the heat on.

The "Military Congressional Industrial Complex" has no conscience; never did and never will. Happy Memorial Day !

Spinless Bastards

GET UP. GO TO WASHINGTON. GRAB THE CROOKS AND THROW THEM IN THE POTOMAC.

It takes a lot of gas to fly halfway around the world just to drop bombs on women and children. I think our senators have set us up for $5+ gas. I think I'll vote Green in November.

http://www.wethepeoplefoundation.org/Update/Update2008-05-22.htm

Why would there be any strings attached? They're on the same team. The good news is that in another year or so we won't have any more money to "invest" in the Middle East. Guns/butter really will play out

Political whores collaborating with corporate whores, all being pimped by lobbyists, and brought to you by media whores and orchestrated by the biggest WhoreHouse in the world.
Hoa binh

realveive

Bush doesn't work as efficiently nor does he have the brain power to do the hard work because as you know being president is hard work. So, he needs all the help he can get.

Learn the word, GENOCIDE

This has NEVER been a 'war'. That is the core of the disinfo!

Short memories we surely do have:

1) Saddam helped to prominence by MI6 and CIA.

2) American advisors basically ran the Iran/Iraq child 'war'/genocide on the Iraq side while their secret service German counterparts controlled its operations from inside Iran.

3) Saddam contacted Bush, Sr.'s State Department to obtain the green light for invasion of Kuwait.

Genocide is a continuous feature of the military industrial complex that has essentially ruled over our lives for a very long time. Policies of genocide and deception (to disguise the architects, nature and purpose of these operations) are the twin pillars of imperial power.

A number of euphemisms (war, disease, economic hardship, hunger) are used to disguise this essential an extremely ugly truth.

Could George W. Bush be the anti-Christ? If he is, how come he gets to have 70 "apostles" when the real-Christ only had 12? Doesn't hardly seem fair does it?

QUESTION FOR READERS:
There are various sites that report how congresspersons voted. I like recommendations from readers on the site they find most accessible, up-to-date, easiest to scan. Thanks in advance.

No surprises here. Just disappointment in the complacency of those who attempt to represent. I agree w/Bushrod--they need a reminder at just how badly they represent. Haven't they been listening that the overwhelming majority of Americans are against continuing the occupation in Iraq? Or do they think that we are now so overwhelmed by the price of gas and food that we don't have time to notice? Maybe they think we are all so stupid that we can't make the connections between the two.

PIGS WITH SHOES. ALL of them. The most gutless, brainless, spineless gaggle of "lawmakers" since Nero's crumbling Rome...

It is interesting how the Corporate Media portrays this story as a defeat for Bush, who threatened to veto the bill if it exceeded his monetary limit. The other day, I took a taxicab to the airport, and the cab driver was one of the most ignorant, ill-informed, racist people I ever met. I said very little and he could not understand why I was so quiet. If we had another half-hour, I would have put him in his place, but unfortunately we were three minutes from the terminal, so I elected to remain quiet. Oh, I gave him a very small tip, which left him even more confused (I really should not have given him a tip at all). It indeed, is frightening to see the profound ignorance that circulates among our society.

They didn't vote to fund the war, they voted to fund the occupation. I wish everyone who voted yes be voted out of office regardless of party.

Please reserve 70 more places at the warcrimes trials.

Once again the Senate, including candidates who have voiced opposition to the illegal war and occupation of Iraq, has bent over in favor of the spineless perpetuation of unnecessary death and destruction. Bush proves himself invincible once again. This is why McCain will win the presidency. There is no serious opposition. What a joke our congress has become.

The corporate soldiers vote for death and destruction like they are suppose to.