According to Steve Clemmons of The Washington Note, Bolton's UN Ambassador nomination is officially dead due to the cancellation of the last possible meeting that could have allowed it to skulk from under a rock.
You have to hand it to the Bushites. They made a silk purse out of this sow's ear. He served longer than anyone thought he would and after having been rejected twice.
Now will we have to endure the President informing the nation that as "Commander in Chief in a time of war", he doesn't have to pay any attention to congress and can have anyone there that he wants. Oh well.
Frist and the Republicans on Internet Gambling (important shit, this is....NOT!)
According to the Washington Post, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is exploiting a Defense Department authorization bill in order to once again, delve into people’s private lives and stop Internet gambling. The House already took, valuable time away from important issues to debate and pass an Internet gambling restriction in July. Frist appears to be sucking up to conservative and anti-gambling groups and, of all things, the National Football League. If, according to Christian mythology it is sinful or, worse yet, “fun”, we can be comforted in knowing the Republicans will be trying to make it illegal! Of course, with Frist looking at the Presidency in 2008, we can expect the good Doctor to slither from under the rock more often to make a few appearances.
The Bill Title: To provide real national security, restore United States leadership, and implement tough and smart policies to win the war on terror should cause The Battle Hymn of the Republic to start playing in the background.
While forty-one Democrat Patriots voted to support Harry Reid's bill, Republicans voted for the terrorists and against the legislation.
This would have to be a significant reason why the terrorists want the Republicans and George W. Bush to remain in control in Washington: they'll stop any grand notions of winning this conflict.
Why do these Republicans hate America?
Why are Republicans so weak on National Security?
Why won't Republicans support policies designed to win the war on terror?
Even outgoing Senator Joe Leiberman voted to support this wise legislation. But, Republicans one-by-one followed Majority Leader Frist's partisan instructions to defeat the bill and continue the failed, "Stay the Course" policies.
Yesterday the Senate released a bi-partisan report that the intelligence leading up to the invasion of Iraq was falsified intentionally as to WMDs and Iraq's connection to 9/11 and Al Qeada. The making of aggressive wars is a crime according to the Nuremburg Trials. Bush is also guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Below are the crimes cited by the military tribunal for the Nuremburg Trials:
ARTICLE 6 The Tribunal established by the Agreement referred to in Article 1 hereof for the trial and punishment of the major war criminals of the European Axis countries shall have the power to try and punish persons who, acting in the interests of the European Axis countries, whether as individuals or as members of organizations, committed any of the following crimes. The following acts, or any of them, are crimes coming within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal for which there shall be individual responsibility:
(a) Crimes against Peace: namely, planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression, or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances, or participation in a Common Plan or Conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the foregoing;
(b) War Crimes: namely, violations of the laws or customs of war. Such violations shall include, but not be limited to, murder, ill-treatment or deportation to slave labor or for any other purpose of civilian population of or in occupied territory, murder or ill-treatment of prisoners of war or persons on the seas, killing of hostages, plunder of public or private property, wanton destruction of cities, towns, or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity;
(c) Crimes against Humanity: namely, murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation, and other inhumane acts committed against any civilian population, before or during the war,14 or persecutions on political, racial, or religious grounds in execution of or in connection with any crime within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal, whether or not in violation of domestic law of the country where perpetrated.
Leaders, organizers, instigators, and accomplices participating in the formulation or execution of a Common Plan or Conspiracy to commit any of the foregoing crimes are responsible for all acts performed by any persons in execution of such plan.
Bush, Cheney, and Condi are pounding the drums before the mid-term elections. We knew that many vets thought them wrong. But, it seems that not all Republicans are drinking the kool-aid.
NEW YORK - Iraq veterans today blasted the Administration for its recent rhetoric on the war in Iraq. Republican Senior Advisor to VoteVets.org, Sam Schultz, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, released the following statement:
"I am a proud Republican, who ran for my party's nomination for Congress in Indiana, because I believe in traditional values.
I also believe we need to be vigilant in defending America. That is why I feel I must speak out about the Administration's recent contention that the war in Iraq is part of the fight against "Islamic fascism."
First, we are not fighting an enemy that fits the definition of fascist, nor does Iraq resemble anything close to Hitler's Germany or Mussolini's Italy. Second,I do not believe the war in Iraq has furthered our war against radical Islamism. I can attest to the fact that after my time in Iraq, when I served in Afghanistan, we did not have enough people on the ground there to secure the border with Pakistan, and as a result, many terrorists slipped through our grasp, most likely including Osama bin Laden.
Because we have so many troops committed in Iraq, not only have we failed to bring those who did us harm on 9/11 to justice, but Iran has continued to pursue a nuclear program. Our preoccupation with Iraq, and this administration's unwillingness to devise a victory plan for that war, has reduced us to a paper tiger in the eyes of the Iranians. They do not fear military action against them, because they know we are too overextended to wage an effective battle with them.
The only way to combat the threat of Islamic radicalism around the world, and protect America, is to draw up a plan for victory in Iraq, which will allow for our troops to redeploy from the region as quickly and safely as possible. This will show Muslims there that we are dedicated to providing them the very things they want - a flourishing, free, and independent nation. Then, and only then, can we recommit our forces to an all-out manhunt for the head of Osama bin Laden, and offer a real deterrent towards the further development of a nuclear Iran.
Until the administration realizes this, the lives of every American are at grave risk." Sam Schultz, Senior Advisor: Sam Schultz is a nine year veteran in the Indiana Army National Guard and has been on deployments to peacekeeping and combat zones in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, serving with the 1-151 and 1-152 Infantry Battalions. In 2006, Sam Schultz ran in the Republican primary for Congress against incumbent Rep. Mike Sodrell. VoteVets.org endorsed and supported his candidacy.
Hypnocrites
