Judith Miller Released from Jail. Quid pro quo? It will be interesting to see how this falls out. My personal fantasy is that she decided that she didn't want to go down with the most screwed up ship in history......

Shakespear's Sister needs our help.

A great loss: Constance Baker Motley,

"a civil rights lawyer who fought nearly every important civil rights case for two decades and then became the first black woman to serve as a federal judge, died yesterday at NYU Downtown Hospital in Manhattan."

May she rest in peace.

Delay Indicted by D.A. Ron Earle. The mainstream media is hard at work portraying him as a 'partisan' democrat, but in fact, of the 15 politicians he has prosecuted, 11 have been Democrats. This informative Kos Blog points out that these prosecutions included high ranking Dems, even a Supreme Court Justice. Furthermore, his abandonment of the funeralgate scandal is worrisome. Until all is said and done, I wouldn't be too thrilled about this turn of events. The deceptive spin should stop.

FEMA disaster, "Brownie" commits perjury (like W's behavior in funeralgate).

David Drier(R-CA), is set to become Republican Majority Leader. There are numerous sources that suggest he is gay and he has yet to deny the allegations. Classic, republican hypocrisy.

"The 52-year-old single congressman voted for the Marriage Protection Act in July, a measure that would have stripped federal courts of jurisdiction over challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act, which bans the federal government from recognizing gay partnerships. Dreier did not vote on the latest amendment to constitutionally ban gay marriage, and said he was against it."

Cindy's explanation for her grin

"There is another and more important reason that I was smiling. I had not genuinely smiled since Casey was killed in Iraq. I thought my hope was buried along with my son and I was in a pit of hopeless despair. Camp Casey gave me back my hope because America came out in huge numbers to support us and they raised their voices with ours in unison to take our country back and to hold this administration accountable for the lies and mistakes that are killing tens of thousands of innocent people. There were hundreds of thousands of regular Americans who came out to protest the war and Bush's policies this past Saturday."

Another must see video. It is really sad and unfortunate that most people won't see this moving documentary from Truth Out. Click on their video that is titled:
"A Massive Convergence For Peace in the Nation's Capitol A Film by Chris Hume 09.24.05"

Thomas Friedman didn't piss me off on Meet the Press this weekend.

"So the real debate--we should call this by its real name. It's the, "How much money are we going to borrow from China act to rebuild New Orleans?"

"I think we have--we are now in a position where China has-- they're heading for $1 trillion, OK, of our--in reserves that they're going to be holding, basically. And the leverage that is going to give China over the United States in the coming years, God knows where-- how that's going to play out. Everyone says, well, it's going to be fine. It's going to be fine, Tim, until it isn't, and you're never going to know when that's going to happen."

More and more conservatives are coming out of the closet and acknowledging the precarious economic situation the Bush administration has created. Here is a piece from Paul Craig Roberts who served as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury under Reagan:

"When Asia pulls the plug on the dollar, the US government will find that monetary and fiscal policy are powerless to offset the consequences.
Compared to US budget and trade deficits, terrorists are a minor concern. The greatest danger that the US faces is the dollar's loss of reserve currency role. This would be an impoverishing event, one from which the US would not recover."

Cindy Sheehan just arrested while protesting in front of the White House

"Sheehan and several dozen other protesters sat down on the sidewalk after marching along the pedestrian walkway on Pennsylvania Avenue. Police warned them three times that they were breaking the law by failing to move along, then began making arrests."

Here is a cool video of the protest march. Our mainstream media neglected to capture the color, magnitude and meaning of the event. I saw virtually no coverage of the 'March.' Many thanks to the growing number of independent media groups and individuals committed to sharing the news neglected by the corporate spin machine. Here is a link with numerous photographs of the event.

Rachel Maddow noted that most observers estimate that 200,000-300,000 attended the Saturday protest. This is double to triple expectations. As a nice balance, yesterday (Sunday), a pro-war rally in Washington was scheduled and drew 400 attendees. They expected 20,000 and fell short by a factor of 50.

Governor Warren Beatty?

"Nurses and their supporters cheered and waved a sea of "Stop Arnold" signs to greet Beatty at the speech, which -- after it was suggested he may announce a run for governor -- drew a crowd of national political and entertainment reporters.
Beatty told reporters, as he has in the past, that this was "not the time for this conversation'' but didn't rule out the possibility of running for governor"

A Picture Worth a Thousand Words

250,000 in D.C. War Protest Rally? Well, that is what several of the protest organizers just reported on CSpan. Most of the mainstream media have reported that there are "2000 on the Ellipse" outside the White House. There are virtually no photographs (yet), but the protest looks much larger on C-span. DailyKos has an open thread. Here is a blog that gives some updates: indymedia.org

London had a very large turnout. The photo is from the London event.

San Diego has a protest planned in Balboa Park today.

Such a contemplater: Bush Will Monitor Hurricane Rita From his "Command Center" in Colorado.

""NORTHCOM is the main entity that ... that uses federal assets, federal troops to interface with local and state government," Bush said. "I want to watch that relationship. It's an important relationship, and I need to understand how it works better."

What a guy! Bush Waives Saudi Sex Trafficing Sanctions. To confuse the stupid throngs even further...., W recently launched a 'war on porn." For those interested, he needs recruits. For those curious about the civil liberties of 'priviledged' Saudi women, you might find "Princess" quite interesting. It also addresses the reality of the child sex slave trade in Saudi Arabia, a great friend and trading partner of W and his family.

"President Bush decided Wednesday to waive any financial sanctions on Saudi Arabia, Washington's closest Arab ally in the war on terrorism, for failing to do enough to stop the modern-day slave trade in prostitutes, child sex workers and forced laborers."

Kos noted that "The trifecta is complete. The Republican leadership in the Senate, House and White House are ALL officially under investigation."

Senate leader Bill Frist is under investigation for insider trading.

White House political aid Karl Rove is involved as a witness in the investigation of consultant, Jack Abramoff's claims that he could help Tyco fend off a special liability tax through his connections to Rove. He's also under investigation for leaking the CIA operative Valerie Plame.

House Majority leader, Tom DeLay's PAC has been indicted for accepting $120,000 in illegal campaign contributions.

Saudi Minister warns U.S., Iraq May Face Disintegration

"Prince Saud al-Faisal, the Saudi foreign minister, said Thursday that he had been warning the Bush administration in recent days that Iraq was hurtling toward disintegration, a development that he said could drag the region into war.

"There is no dynamic now pulling the nation together," he said in a meeting with reporters at the Saudi Embassy here. "All the dynamics are pulling the country apart." He said he was so concerned that he was carrying this message "to everyone who will listen" in the Bush administration."

Blogger Pontificator wrote:
"This is a highly unusual move for the Saudis who, as one of our allies, have kept mostly quiet in public about the Iraq war until now. Perhaps they are worried that Iran is about to turn Shia Iraq into a client state and thereby commandeer its oil reserves. An oil rich Shia State could be a fierce regional competitor to Sunni Saudi Arabia -- both economically and militarily."

Jimmy Carter delivered a stunner: "There is "no doubt in my mind that Gore won the election," the erstwhile President declared, saying the 2000 election process "failed abysmally."

No posts yesterday in part because I am so frustrated and saddened by hurricane Rita. The timing of another impending disaster is uncanny. It will likely break many hearts and it detracts from these important issues: Bush, his disastrous invasion of Iraq and the protest in Washington on Saturday. May the hurricane pass with minimal impact. Fortunately it has weakened to a catagory 4. May we use these disasters to address the importance of global warming. Photo is courtesy of NASA.

Keeping true to his style as a coward, W won't be in Washington on Saturday.

"Bush is prepositioning himself in the Texas area on Saturday, after traveling first to Birmingham, Ala., on Friday. The excuse is a two-day "thank you" tour of states that have taken in large numbers of Katrina evacuees. But it could easily turn into a Rita disaster tour, if the worst projections come true. The critical question remains where he'll spend Saturday night. Given his druthers, Bush would much prefer to spend the night at his ranch in Crawford. The downside: it reminds the world how he spent so long on vacation before Katrina struck. The upside: he'll be close to Houston after Rita passes through. One thing seems sure: as Cindy Sheehan and antiwar protestors take to the streets in Washington this weekend, Bush won't be at the White House."

More evidence of corruption at the core of the Bush Administration. Bush's chief of staff of the General Services Administration resigns, just before he's arrested on federal charges.

"And for a White House so desperate to build public confidence in its ability to respond to the Gulf Coast disaster, it doesn't exactly help that the man who up until Friday was overseeing contracting policy for the multi-billion dollar relief effort has now been charged with lying and obstructing a criminal investigation."

Abramoff Probe May Threaten Leading Republicans as it Expands

"House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who once called Abramoff ``one of my closest and dearest friends,'' already figures prominently in the investigation of the lobbyist's links to Republicans. The probe may singe other lawmakers with ties to Abramoff, such as Republican Senator Conrad Burns of Montana, as well as Ney. "

Another crony appointment to Homeland Security? Julie Meyers is the niece of General Richard Myers and just married Michael Chertoff's current chief of staff!!! Bush is pushing to appoint her head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Ok, she's also done some work under Kenneth Star and was Bush's assistant, helping him manage personal affairs. This woman knows next to nothing about immigration law and heading a huge bureaucracy. Another one of W's brilliant appointments.

"Cindy Sheehan was protected by the Crawford sheriff. She was silenced by the NYPD."
An update from The News Blog.

A picture that provoked some interesting comments on The Daily Kos.

This video: Chris Hume Reports on the Freedom Walk in Washington DC, 9/11 was moving to me. I was fortunate to meet and inspired by the 'lone liberal protester' at the event. When I met her in Crawford, Texas, her son had not yet left for Iraq. Now he is there. Her final words in the documentary were "This should be a day of memorials, not celebrations." The documentary illustrates the simplicity and sickness of Bush-people. It squeezed my heart at the end.

Don't give up the fight.

Peace.

Typical: Rove attends exclusive party in Aspen, CO. when he should be working! This even offended a Republican insider.

"...a prominent Republican with strong connections to Capitol Hill got wind of Rove's jaunt and wasn't pleased."What the hell is Karl Rove doing there?" he asked. The GOP insider wondered whether it was appropriate for Bush's political guru to hobnob with the rich and powerful at the exclusive resort at a time when the administration is supposed to be focused on helping the victims of hurricane Katrina and showing empathy for their plight."

Here is a little tidbit about this exlusive conference that touts 300 'truly special' attendees. The Eagles are to perform a private concert for these elite creeps. Tom Ridge is also there. Nice to know our Homeland Security Czar is working hard in Aspen too.

Join Rep John Conyers in Fighting a new Poll Tax Proposal
"A privately funded, unaccountable Commission organized by former Bush-Cheney campaign lawyer James Baker, III, and former President Jimmy Carter issued a report today that includes policy proposals that will disenfranchise over ten percent of eligible voters –– a national ID requirement to vote."

Jimmy Carter's involvement is hard to fathom.

Breaking: Cindy Sheehan Arrested in NYC:

by Five of Diamonds

Mon Sep 19th, 2005 at 12:42:39 PDT

"I witnessed this with my own eyes. Here is my account.

Cindy Sheehan was arrested moments ago in Union Square, Manhattan for allegedly speaking in the square without the proper permit."

More repubs express concern about this administration. From the American Spectator:
"You run down the list of things we thought we could accomplish and you have to wonder what we thought we were thinking," says a Bush Administration member who joined on in 2001. "You get the impression that we're more than listless. We're sunk.""


The beginning of the end of our internet freedoms: NY Times Introduces new 'Pay Service.' As the first targets are popular columnists, it smells of trying to quell progressive ideas or at least squeezing them for money.

"Click on the Times Select button and you find that if you subscribe to the paper, or to its International Herald Tribune (three times a week or more) then you can still get Krugman and the other columnists online for free. Otherwise, you have to pay $7.95 a month."

Are the throngs starting to waken?
The latest Rasmussen poll shows Bush's numbers down after speech.
"September 18, 2005--Thirty-five percent (35%) of Americans now say that President Bush has done a good or excellent job responding to Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. That's down from 39% before his speech from New Orleans."

and.......
Never thought I'd see the day, but some Repubs are discussing the possibility of repealing the tax cuts? From the September 16th, David Sirota blog:

"Hours after President Bush today explicitly said he would not repeal the hundreds of billions of dollars worth of tax cuts for the wealthy that are slated to come in the next few years, the Associated Press reported that two Michigan Republican Congressman are raising the possibility that they will break ranks with the White House and support repealing the Bush tax cuts in the wake of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. "

Another new low for the pitiful hate mongers: Camp Casey Memorial Stolen. So sad and yet, it says a lot about the power of the memorial. I felt so privileged to participate in this peaceful action. It was as close to nirvana as I could ever imagine. There was no place else on earth I would have rather been, given the world's circumstances. Perhaps Washington deserves a camp?

The photo is on the site of the memorial. It is so strange for me to look at it this way. It was a site of love, strange beauty and great loss. The hate mongers even took Casey's boots. Amazing. Nothing is sacred to them. Except..............?

Reminds me of something I learned at Camp Casey when, Rev. Peter Johnson of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference commented:
"If George Bush is right, than Ghandi was wrong.
If George Bush is right, than Martin Luther King was wrong.
If George Bush is right, then Jesus Christ was wrong."

Peace.

S

This should be huge.......: Exclusive from Brad Blog: Identifies U.S. Homeland Security 'Cyber Alert' Prior to '04 Election Warning Votes Can be 'Modified Remotely' via 'Undocumented Backdoor' in Central Tabulator Software

"The source is acknowledging that the company's "upper management" -- as well as "top government officials" -- were keenly aware of the "undocumented backdoor" in Diebold's main "GEM Central Tabulator" software well prior to the 2004 election. A branch of the Federal Government even posted a security warning on the Internet.Pointing to a little-noticed "Cyber Security Alert" issued by the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT), a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the source inside Diebold -- who "for the time being" is requesting anonymity due to a continuing sensitive relationship with the company -- is charging that Diebold's technicians, including at least one of its lead programmers, knew about the security flaw and that the company instructed them to keep quiet about it."

Not surprizing that W didn't ask for any sacrifice last night, except for more spending cuts! He must have great confidence in the idiocy of the citizen. His grand idear is just the same old thing: compassionately spend, spend spend! No end in sight? Here is a more ominous, lucid, dissection of the fiscal clouds on our horizon: from the blog MyDD.

"At 400 billion, the US budget deficit is about 3.6% of total US GDP. And this is where the problem begins. At some time in the near future, the US will experience a recession. Why? Because all economies move in cycles. Typically, national governments increase spending during a recession to stimulate the economy, hoping to either limit the recession's impact or bring the country out of the recession into expansion.
This is where the real problem comes. Assuming federal expenditures remain the same for the foreseeable future - tax cuts remain, Iraq continues and the Federal government spends opulently on rebuilding - there is little the Federal government can do to get the US out of the next recession. Assuming things stay the same, an increase in federal spending would increase the national debt to near 5% of GDP. At this level, the currency markets will notice the US is not taking care of its fiscal house and start to sell the dollar. To protect the dollar, the Federal Reserve will increase interest rates, further slowing the economy. You get the idea."

This is pretty entertaining: What happened at the UN yesterday(from DailyKos.com).

Why did 54 Republican senators kill a bill to form a bipartisan, independent investigation into the Katrina disaster response? Call them and ask: " why?" "Just wondering, why?"

Contemporary corruption still persists in New Orleans. An imbedded blogger had noted this and then found a piece by ABC news that confirms the story. Pitiful.

Interdictor wrote: "Sept. 13, 3005 — Amid the chaos and confusion that engulfed New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina struck, a congressman used National Guard troops to check on his property and rescue his personal belongings — even while New Orleans residents were trying to get rescued from rooftops, ABC News has learned.On Sept. 2 — five days after Katrina hit the Gulf Coast — Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., who represents New Orleans and is a senior member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, was allowed through the military blockades set up around the city to reach the Superdome, where thousands of evacuees had been taken." and ...The water reached to the third step of Jefferson's house, a military source familiar with the incident told ABC News, and the vehicle pulled up onto Jefferson's front lawn so he wouldn't have to walk in the water. Jefferson went into the house alone, the source says, while the soldiers waited on the porch for about an hour. ..."

The mother of all posts: Today in Iraq: More than 150 killed, 200 wounded.

Al Zarqawi declares war on Iraqi Shia "Zarqawi declares "all out war" on Shi Muslims in Iraq in response to a US-Iraqi offensive on the town of Tal Afar"

Lie/quotes noted by Today in Iraq:
TAVIS SMILEY: “There are a lot of folk, and I know you’ve heard this, who believe and it’s been everywhere expressed that this sentiment that the money and other resources that we have been spending on Iraq put us in a situation where we didn’t have the resources available quickly enough to move into the Gulf Coast. Do you accept that?”
SECRETARY RICE: “No, it’s just not true. Frankly, it’s hogwash. And I’ll use that term very, very clearly. There are plenty of resources to deal with this. There are military resources to deal with it. There were National Guard resources to deal with it.”
……….
KMOX RADIO: “Does that mean we’re stretched a little bit thin?”
SECRETARY RUMSFELD: “No. In fact the implication that we’re stretched thin is an inaccurate one and it ought to be knocked down hard.”

From Dumb to Dumber? Bush's new man for FEMA is......."Duct Tapeman!!!" Go W go!
Keith Obermann comments:
"In another gesture symbolizing the continued confusion of the federal response, the man President Bush immediately named to succeed “Brownie,” proves to have been the same FEMA official who, two-and-a-half years ago, suggested that Americans stock up on duct tape to protect against a biological or chemical terrorist attack."

Bill Maher's latest show hit the nail on the head. He finished with:

"Mr. President, you've performed so poorly,
I'm surprized you haven't given yourself a medal.
On your watch we've lost.......
almost all of our allies,
the surplus,
4 airlines,
2 Trade Towers,
a piece of the Pentagon
and.....
the city of New Orleans.

Maybe you are just not lucky.
God does speak to you. He seems to be saying.....
TAKE A HINT!!!!!!!!"

George Lakoff fears Democrats are losing another opportunity to control the framing of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Dems are playing right into the hands of the Republican 'frame.' (i.e.'blame game') He writes:
"Unless the real truth is told starting now, the American people will accept it for lack of an alternative. The Democratic response so far is playing right into Bush's framing. By delaying a response for fear it will be called "partisan," the Democratic leadership is allowing Bush to frame the tragedy. And once it is framed, it is hard to reframe! It is time to start now."

For those of us hoping to effectively tow in Republican psychological control of our 'new world,' Lakoff's work must be mastered.

From blueday: "Anyone paying attention to the talking points being spewed in the aftermath of Katrina has by now heard over and over again the issue of the "blame game". What is troubling to me is that the "blame game" (which is a Republican frame by the way) is slowly winning over the minds of Americans."

It is ironic that because of W's evangelical invasion to bring democracy to Iraq, the fate of Iraqi Christians looks dismal. In fact, they may be driven out of a country where they have been 'free' to practice their religion for over 2000 years.

911 Recollections from Riverbend (Iraq woman who blogs from Baghdad)
"It has been four years today. How does it feel four years later?

For the 3,000 victims in America, more than 100,000 have died in Iraq. Tens of thousands of others are being detained for interrogation and torture. Our homes have been raided, our cities are constantly being bombed and Iraq has fallen back decades, and for several years to come we will suffer under the influence of the extremism we didn't know prior to the war.

As I write this, Tel Afar, a small place north of Mosul, is being bombed. Dozens of people are going to be buried under their homes in the dead of the night. Their water and electricity have been cut off for days. It doesn’t seem to matter much though because they don’t live in a wonderful skyscraper in a glamorous city. They are, quite simply, farmers and herders not worth a second thought.

Four years later and the War on Terror (or is it the War of Terror?) has been won:

Score:
Al-Qaeda – 3,000
America – 100,000+

Congratulations.?"

At least, even some Republicans have called for Bush to wack Brownie. (photo on right) Another example of the dangers inherent in cronyism, nepotism and beyond.

Atrios posted the following quote:
"... I went to Florida a few days after President Bush did to observe the damage from Hurricane Andrew. I had dealt with a lot of natural disasters as governor, including floods, droughts, and tornadoes, but I had never seen anything like this. I was surprised to hear complaints from both local officials and residents about how the Federal Emergency Management Agency was handling the aftermath of the hurricane. Traditionally, the job of FEMA director was given to a political supporter of the President who wanted some plum position but who had no experience with emergencies. I made a mental note to avoid that mistake if I won. Voters don't chose a President based on how he'll handle disasters, but if they're faced with one themselves, it quickly becomes the most important issue in their lives."

-Bill Clinton, My Life (p. 428)

62 Billion Dollar windfall goes to......: "no-bid contracts have already been let and billions more are to flow to the private sector in the weeks and months to come."
"Mr. Allbaugh(former FEMA director appointed by Bush, 2002-03; now high priced consultant) said that he was helping private companies, including his clients, cut through federal red tape to speed provision of services and supplies to the storm-wracked region. Two of his major clients, Kellogg Brown & Root, a subsidiary of Halliburton, and The Shaw Group, already are at work on disaster response efforts." Ahhhhh...., so thoughtful and considerate. Compassionate cronyism at its best!

Evil and beyond: Bush cuts the prevailing wage for construction workers in LA. Hey, there is nothing like beating down the poor while they are down. Compassionate cronyism beyond our dreams.

NOLA begins confiscating firearms
Ummmm.............? What was the purpose of the 2nd amendment?
"No civilians in New Orleans will be allowed to carry pistols, shotguns or other firearms, said P. Edwin Compass III, the superintendent of police. "Only law enforcement are allowed to have weapons," he said.
But that order apparently does not apply to hundreds of security guards hired by businesses and some wealthy individuals to protect property. The guards, employees of private security companies like Blackwater, openly carry M-16's and other assault rifles".

Joseph Lieberman was the chair of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee that approved 'Brownie' for the job of FEMA ' deputy director
Amazing how he shows up in just the right places.

Quote of the Week: via Maureen Dowd's whimsical, painful reality check "Neigh to Cronies"
"The Wall Street Journal reported that Representative Richard Baker of Baton Rouge was overheard telling lobbyists: "We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn't do it, but God did.""

If you have time, Cindy's piece is worthy: What Kind of Extremist Will You Be?

Lest, we forget: 11 US Soldiers and 2 British soldiers killed in Iraq this week.

Here comes a cover-up: FEMA Blocks Photos of Dead

Here is an excellent article on the role of Chief Justice (by profs from Yale Law School). This link was found through an excellent blog: MyDD He also has an essay, by Paul Rosenberg on why Bush's choice of Roberts is, like most of his decisions, inherently unprecedented, wrong, dangerous and audacious.

Were you aware that John Robert's wife, Jane Sullivan Roberts(pictured above) is a partner in a law firm(Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pitman LLP), that facilitates global satellite system projects and is targeting Iraq reconstruction? Article by Margie Burns.

She also plays an active role in an anti-abortion group that ironically calls itself Feminists for Life. She has worked for them pro bono since the mid-nineties. While some of her work is excellent(providing assistance for the poor and pregnant), the bottom line is that she does not believe in 'choice.'

All of this begs the question that if Valerie Plame is 'fair game' to Bush's personal advisor, Karl Rove, shouldn't Jane Roberts be too? Isn't there a serious conflict of interest? If JohnRobert's had to precide over an Iraq-related case, should he have to recuse himself? Is there a national security problem with that senario? What about Roe v Wade? The insider connections are creepy.

Bush nominates Roberts to "Chief Justice of the Supreme Court." One blogger pointed out that our simpleton of a President didn't seem realize that there is not such position. Rather, he should have said "Chief Justice of the United States."

Here is an interesting analysis as to why Bush picked Roberts. Love the blog, by a brilliant UCLA law professor. Explore the site, really interesting.

"(Todd Zywicki)

Why Roberts?

Why did the President decide to nominate Roberts for Chief? The first reason is obvious--the way things are shaping up, he seems like an easy confirmation.

But allow me to propose a second, more speculative possibility. A distinguishing characteristic of this President seems to be the faith he puts in his own personal judgements and assessment of people. Perhaps it is arrogance, perhaps it is that he truly is a better judge of character and ability than the rest of us, but he truly seems to believe that he has better judgment about others than anyone else around him. Or perhaps he wants someone who he thinks will be loyal to him and no one else (such as outside interests). It is similarly my impression that far more than most Presidents he relies on his personal assessments of people who he chooses for his inner circle, rather than their resumes or experience. Indeed, he chose Roberts notwithstanding his relatively short time on the bench. Roberts, of course, was selected by him as well. Let me suggest that Roberts therefore has the one necessary (but not sufficient condition) for being Chief--he had previously won the President's trust the first time around.

Recall, for instance, when he claimed to have seen into Putin's soul so as to be able to judge the man? It is also my impression (based in part on my time in the Administration) that when vacancies occur, this White House has tended to promote internally more than most administrations, even to the extent of promoting relatively junior people to relatively senior positions. When Roberts was appointed, it truly was a utter surprise, even to those very close to the White House who were reported to be closely involved in the selection process.

If I am correct in this assessment of the President's decision-making style, this would suggest that his next nomination would likely be from the crop of judges that he has appointed since becoming President. This would include Brown, Clement, or McConnell, but not more experienced luminaries such as Luttig, Jones, or Wilkinson."

A horse in aftermath of Katrina.
from Reuters

"My goal is to cut government in half in 25 years, to get it down to the size where we can drown it in a bathtub."

Grover Norquist - Major strategist behind Bush's tax policy

Quote found at Bush Watch

Daley 'shocked' as feds reject aid - This story is hard to comprehend.

Cartoon of the day, and above article found on Buzzflash.

Says it all.....

Let Katrina Be a Warning from Business Week.

"The major lesson policymakers should draw from the catastrophe is just how vulnerable the U.S. is becoming to natural disasters and energy disruptions. In fact, some experts say, Americans have been mistakenly lulled into thinking terrorism is the most pressing threat -- and they argue that the relentless focus on staving off suicide bombers has left crucial gaps elsewhere."

The Vacation is Over: an open letter from Michael Moore to George Bush

"P.S. That annoying mother, Cindy Sheehan, is no longer at your ranch. She and dozens of other relatives of the Iraqi War dead are now driving across the country, stopping in many cities along the way. Maybe you can catch up with them before they get to DC on September 21st."

I have always felt that George Bush's goal was to turn this country into a pure class of the "haves" and "have nots," effectively creating a third world country of the rich and poor. But, I never thought it could happen so fast! I hope he is enjoying his dream.

ANARCHY!""We have individuals who are getting raped, we have individuals who are getting beaten," Compass said. "Tourists are walking in that direction and they are getting preyed upon."

Col. Henry Whitehorn, chief of the Louisiana State Police, said he heard of numerous instances of New Orleans police officers — many of whom from flooded areas — turning in their badges."

Live blog from Former Special Forces soldier Michael Barnett, blogging as "Interdictor." Providing a first-hand eyewitness account of the disaster in New Orleans, from the tnth floor of an office building overlooking the devastation.

Mounting evidence of neglect on the part of the Bush administration: the most incompetent, dangerous, heartless and disastrous administration in history! Exerpt below from an article by Sidney Blumenthal.

"In early 2001, the Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a report stating that a hurricane striking New Orleans was one of the three most likely federal disasters in the U.S., including a terrorist attack on New York City. But by 2003 the federal funding for the flood control project essentially dried up as it was drained into the Iraq war. In 2004, the Bush administration cut funding requested by the New Orleans district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for holding back the waters of Lake Pontchartrain by more than 80 percent. Additional cuts at the beginning of this year (for a total reduction in funding of 44.2 percent since 2001) forced the New Orleans district of the Corps to impose a hiring freeze. The Senate had debated adding funds for fixing New Orlean's levees, but it was too late."

2000 Turnout in Austin for Cindy's first rally
I have a friend who lives in Austin and she wrote:

"We had 700-800 people on the
march from the capitol. Then
we met up with about the same
size crowd already waiting at
City Hall. I was so proud of Austin last night! What a
wonderful welcoming site for the tour bus and the families.

And we had such wonderful entertainment step up.  Jim Hightower
gave us a  rowdy speech. The musical talented was amazing.
Along with Dave Rovics and Eliza Gilkyson, "The Flatlanders"
comprised of Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Butch Hancock,
did a rare reunion appearance. We had the slam  poet Genevieve
Van Cleve who got married in Camp Casey perform. We had a
wonderful performance of John Lennon's "Imagine" but a
talented female musician whose name I didn't catch, but it was
beautiful the whole crowd was singing.

Cindy read her daughter's poem "A Nation Rocked to Sleep"
to close the rally. Very powerful and moving.

Keep the peace tour buses moving!"

Sonia Santana, Austin Texas