Of likely interest to those of you in the Houston area:
Former War Correspondent and Author Chris Hedges to speak at The Rothko Chapel
Renowned war correspondent and author, Chris Hedges, will speak on the topic of his upcoming book American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America on September 25, 2006 at 7:30 pm at The Rothko Chapel.
Republicans (and their friends like Joe Lieberman) are beginning to show signs of losing control of the masses.
How do we deal with that? How can we survive? The war in Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel/Lebanon, and the threat of Iran’s nuclear program don’t have them afraid enough…
Hey, I know. Remember Wag the Dog? That worked extremely well when we went in to Iraq. We had them all afraid of the WMDs. Maybe it’s time to ratchet up the fear level again.
Anyway, Britain apparently foiled another airline / terrorist plot today. And since they foiled it, we need to ratchet up the fear level. Set the “threat level” to red for the first time ever. Of course a foiled plot justifies the highest ever threat level. For the first time ever. How can you even question that?
America Struggles With Its Own Evangelical Taliban
Pierre Tristam
This guy lays it on the line, and says it straight.
At this late stage of the Bush rapture, American evangelism is a lot like the Exxon Valdez: Massive, sloshing with oily energy and not a little drunk on its power as it steers through hazards of its own designs. The moment evangelicals began tearing down the church-state wall, the rubble became their shoals. The wreck will be ugly. It will take years to mend because, as one of their own, Minnesota’s Rev. Gregory Boyd, recently put it: “Never in history have we had a Christian theocracy where it wasn’t bloody and barbaric. That’s why our Constitution wisely put in a separation of church and state.” Meanwhile, too much damage is being done by policies keyed to the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” not to have lasting consequences abroad and at home.
Click through and read the full article.
found via , with thanks to nebris.
Bush Postpones 2008 Election
Cites Constitutional Power to Protect Nation’s Security
What Did ‘Four Years’ Mean in 1789?
WASHINGTON, June 21, 2008. President Bush, citing his authority as Commander in Chief of the armed forces and his inherent constitutional power over foreign affairs, today ordered a postponement of the 2008 presidential election in order “to protect the American people in our war on terror.”
Religion and geopolitics; Lebanon, Israel, Christian Zionism
by bewareofthegod.com
American Jewish citizens can be sure that a large number of Jewish organizations will claim to speak in our name – without being asked to do so. We can also be sure that should we dissent from the US Jewish community’s central item of faith, that Israel can do no wrong, we will be pilloried. When our gentile fellow citizens express doubt, they are accused of anti-Semitism. Those of us who are Jewish are taxed with self-hatred.
Is it the supreme duty of American Jews to use our considerable influence to align US policy with that of Israel?
(…)
Read Norman Birnbaum’s whole 5 August 2006 investigation and analysis in The Nation.
Governors bristle at Bush Guard proposal
The nation’s governors are closing ranks in opposition to a proposal in Congress that would let the president take control of the National Guard in emergencies without consent of governors.
The idea, spurred by the destruction and chaos that followed Hurricane Katrina’s landfall in Louisiana and Mississippi, is part of a House-passed version of the National Defense Authorization Act. It has not yet been agreed to by the Senate.
The measure would remove the currently required consent of governors for the federalization of the Guard, which is shared between the individual states and the federal government.
Click through to read the remainder…
Now let’s see, it’s late December 2008. The Democratic candidate won the Presidential election last month. Time for another well timed disaster. Take over the National Guard first, then declare martial law, then “delay” the change of regime.
Yes, I have a top of the line tin foil hat. Thanks for asking.
Senate Democrats block wage, tax bill
Excerpt:
“They (Republicans) can get 6.6 million Americans an increase in their basic minimum wage as long as we promised that the fattest of cats in America would get a great big bowl of tax cuts,” said Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate.
Organized labor blasted the Republican maneuvering and called on Congress to approve a stand-alone minimum wage increase to help keep some low-paid workers out of poverty.
An Aging Trans Woman 