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Monthly Archives: November 2011

Prepare for war with Iran?

Agence France Presse (AFP) is reporting that Republican Tea Party (GOTP) presidential bridesmaid Mittens Romney is accusing President Barack Obama of naivete on Iran and is promising that if elected president he would “prepare for war” with the Islamic republic.

In a commentary published in the Wall Street Journal, Romney said he would back up US diplomacy “with a very real and very credible military option,” deploying carrier battle groups to the Gulf and boosting military aid to Israel.

“These actions will send an unequivocal signal to Iran that the United States, acting in concert with allies, will never permit Iran to obtain nuclear weapons,” he wrote.

So, basically Mittens would continue the Obama Administration policies? Mittens is either ignorant to current foreign policy in the region or he’s being deliberately misleading; facts are we’ve had carrier battle groups in the region since Desert Storm and President Obama has increased aid to Israel as well as given the Israelis the 5,000 pound Bunker Buster bomb, which Bush refused to provide.

Romney reportedly keyed his column to a International Atomic Energy Agency report this week citing “credible evidence” that Iran had worked on a nuclear explosive device.

Iran of course, as most militant regimes do, denies it’s developing nuclear weapons and insists its nuclear program is for generating electricity, but the report has prompted calls in the West for tougher UN sanctions and demands by Israel for world to act to prevent Tehran for getting nuclear weapons.

Romney said the United States “needs a very different policy.”

“‘Si vis pacem, para bellum.’ That is a Latin phrase, but the ayatollahs will have no trouble understanding its meaning from a Romney administration: If you want peace, prepare for war,” he said.

Mittens further criticized the administration for failing to get Moscow’s support for tougher action against Tehran as the price for a “reset” in US-Russian relations, and Obama’s refusal to meddle during Iran’s Green Revolution of 2009.

“A proper American policy might or might not have altered the outcome; we will never know,” he wrote. “But thanks to this shameful abdication of moral authority, any hope of toppling a vicious regime was lost, perhaps for generations.”

Why does Mittens think he’s running for President in 1980? To listen to his statements and his debating you’d think the Soviet Bear was still preparing to devour Europe, that we had double digit inflation, hostages in Iran and long lines at gas stations.

Facts are Israel will never allow a nuclear Iran, and Romney is posturing for the uber-conservative base, beating his sword against his shield and spouting Latin as though he were a Caesar instead of an American politician running for president. Americans don’t want more war right now Mittens and we’re a little weary of the constant fear mongering and hand ringing of the conservative right.

 
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Posted by on November 14, 2011 in 2012 Election

 

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Part 2?

 
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Posted by on November 14, 2011 in Humor

 

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Karma

 
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Posted by on November 14, 2011 in Humor

 

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Waterboarding is torture

USA Today is reporting that President Obama is challenging the views of his Republican Tea Party (GOTP) opponents on Iran and support of waterboarding as an interrogation technique.

Asked about Mittens Romney’s criticism he isn’t stopping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, the President told reporters anyone who claims this is an easy issue “is either politicking or doesn’t know what they’re talking about.”

I’d personally say with respects to this crop of candidates, it’s both Mr. President, they’re all politicking and they definitely don’t have a clue on foreign policy, but less much of anything else.

“You take a look at what we’ve been able to accomplish in mobilizing the world community against Iran over the last three years and it shows steady, determined, firm progress in isolating the Iranian regime, and sending a clear message that the world believes it would be dangerous for them to have a nuclear weapon,” the President said.

The President also reportedly said, of Iran: “Not only the world, but the Iranian regime understands very clearly how determined we are to prevent not only a nuclear Iran but also a nuclear arms race in the region, and a violation of nonproliferation norms that would have implications around the world, including in the Asia Pacific region where we have similar problems with North Korea.”

During another recent so-called GOTP “debate”, Mittens described Iran as the President’s “greatest failure” in foreign policy, and, “if we re-elect Barack Obama, Iran will have a nuclear weapon.”

Of course he has no facts to back up his statement, he’s just throwing it out there; Mittens might as well have said, “If we re-elect Barack Obama, we’ll discover the moon is made of green cheese.”

During the same “debate”, Herman “Pizza Man” Cain and Michele “Krazy” Bachmann said they’d bring back waterboarding as an interrogation technique on terrorism suspects; Cain said, “I don’t see that as torture,” while Bachmann called the technique “very effective” in learning about terrorism plans.

“They’re wrong,” the President responded. “Waterboarding is torture.”

“It’s contrary to America’s traditions,” he added. “It’s contrary to our ideals. That’s not who we are. That’s not how we operate. We don’t need it in order to prosecute the war on terrorism. And we did the right thing by ending that practice.”

“If we want to lead around the world, part of our leadership is setting a good example. And anybody who has actually read about and understands the practice of waterboarding would say that that is torture. And that’s not something we do, period.”

 
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Posted by on November 14, 2011 in 2012 Election

 

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God told him to run?

I'm sorry about all that sex stuff Lord, oh wait, what? You want me to run for President? Oh, never mind then about that other stuff, OK?

According to the Associated Press (AP) Republican Tea Party (GOTP) presidential hopeful Herman “Pizza Man” Cain said God told him to run for president, comparing himself to Moses; problem is Herman Cain would’ve divided the 12 tribes in sections of 9-9-9 and that just wouldn’t have worked at all.

I can picture Cain working in his kitchen rolling out some pizza dough, and then suddenly, “Ding” – “HERMAN RUN FOR PRESIDENT!”

Evidently the Pizza Man has decided he needs to play up his faith a little more while in the midst of battling multiple sexual harassment allegations, trying to shift the conversation to religion, and good old fashioned “family values” and away from groping.

In a speech to a national meeting of young Republicans, Cain said the Lord persuaded him after much prayer.

“That’s when I prayed and prayed and prayed. I’m a man of faith – I had to do a lot of praying for this one, more praying than I’ve ever done before in my life,” Cain said. “And when I finally realized that it was God saying that this is what I needed to do, I was like Moses. ‘You’ve got the wrong man, Lord. Are you sure?'”

And the second time in his life he’s prayed as hard was when all these women came forward to say he’d touched them and made unwanted sexual advances – I don’t remember that being a problem for Moses?

Cain isn’t the first to say God prodded him toward a campaign. The Reverend Rick Perry’s wife, Anita, has said she felt God was speaking to her about the race, adding that her husband needed to see a “burning bush,” a Biblical reference to God’s first appearance to Moses.

OK, now just wait a minute, God moves in mysterious ways not dumb ways; of all the people God could convince to run for President he chooses Cain and Perry, really? If nothing else the current crop of GOTP contenders definitely shows God has a sense of humor.

 
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Posted by on November 13, 2011 in 2012 Election

 

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Arab Spring has gotten out of hand?

Republican Tea Party (GOTP) incredible shrinking presidential candidate Herman “Pizza Man” Cain said during the most recent “debate” that President Barack Obama’s reaction to the Arab Spring, has allowed the movement to go in the wrong direction.

“You have to look at Libya, Egypt, Yemen and all of the revolutions that are going on and how the administration has mishandled them,” he said. “As a result, this has gotten totally out of hand.”

You can hear his brain captain screaming, “How dare these people decide their own destiny, don’t they know that the right way is to have America invade your country and force feed democracy to them?!”

Pizza Man claims the revolution in Egypt, where citizens ousted long-time President Hosni Mubarak, could strain relations between the United States and Egypt, and he warned against the increased power of opposition group the Muslim Brotherhood, which formed a political party earlier this year.

“Our relationship with Egypt may not survive,” he said. “It turned out that the opposition was more of the Muslim Brotherhood, which could end up with a majority of control of this new government.”

Here’s the FOX PAC conservative line, look out for the Muslim Brotherhood to take control in the vacuum in Egypt!

So, Cain would have supported a policy of pouring billions of dollars into a regime notorious for torturing and murdering its own people?

Cain also criticized the president for his support for protests in Yemen, where the Yemeni government has responded with violence to peaceful protests.

“This president has already said that the president of Yemen should go,” Cain said. “He is our friend. He has been helping us fight Al Qaeda. This president has been on the wrong side in nearly every situation in the Arab world.”

Now we know that Herman Cain subscribes to the uber-conservative Machiavellian theory that the “enemy of my enemy is my friend”. Earth to Herman, America can’t proclaim itself as the “bright shining city on the hill” while simultaneously supporting corrupt and murderous governments just because sometimes they’re our friend.

The old cold war policy of throwing billions of dollars at nations in bribes is out dated and has never served us well; problem with buying friendship is eventually some new kid comes along who pays more. Of course when your answer has always been to pay people off what more can we expect from the Pizza Man?

 
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Posted by on November 13, 2011 in 2012 Election

 

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Four more reasons neither to be nor to vote Republican

During last night’s current episode of “Crazy Eights” Republican Tea Party (GOTP) presidential hopefuls talked about (because let’s be serious these are not debates) water boarding, Iran and the never-ending war in Afghanistan.

Herman “Pizza Man” Cain and Michele “Krazy” Bachmann both said they’d reinstate water boarding; testimony, if there ever needed to be, that only crazy people torture prisoners.

Cain said while he opposes torture (except where female employees are involved) he said he’d leave it up to military leaders, not their civilian superiors, to decide what forms of interrogation amount to torture, proofing yet again that he has mozzarella for brains.

He’d leave it up to military leaders to decide America’s torture policies; this is just one more very good reason why I’m not a Republican and why it will be a cold day before I’d vote Republican again. There’re very good reasons why the Founding Fathers made the civilian government in charge of the military, and determining what constitutes torture is just one of them. Military leaders – unfortunately – often tend to worry more about the ends justifying the means instead of what might be right or wrong; the nation’s policies were never meant to be made by generals, if they were Patton would have plunged the country into World War III against the Soviets, and MacArthur would have nuked the Chinese.

While Cain and Bachmann may be giddy about water boarding, Huntsman said its use diminishes U.S. standing in the world and Paul said it is illegal.

When the subject of Iran was introduced, Newter Gingrich gave one of his classic, flim-flam style answers; appearing to be uber-intelligent, but never really answering the question.

“There are a number of ways to be smart about Iran, and a few ways to be stupid. The administration skipped all the ways to be smart,” the Newt declared.

Another good reason I’m not a Republican and why I won’t vote GOTP, came when the “candidates” were asked if they’d support a “pre-emptive” strike (ala the Bush Doctrine) to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Newt ploughed right ahead declaring if other means failed, “you have to take whatever steps are necessary” to prevent the Islamic regime from gaining a nuclear weapon.

Mittens said he’d take military action “if all else fails.”

Ricky “the Rick” Santorum dutifully agreed. Noting that a mysterious computer virus had caused disruption inside Iran’s nuclear labs, and that Iranian scientists have been assassinated in recent months, “I hope that the U.S. has been involved” in those and other covert actions.

Let me get this straight, a man running for President said he hoped America has been involved in the assassination of scientists in a country we’re not at war with? Yes folks it’s yet another extremely good reason not to be, nor to vote Republican.

Ronny Paul – who on occasion does sound like all the brain gears are meshing together – wanted no part of a military strike. “It’s not worthwhile to go to war,” he said. He added if America’s security is threatened the president must ask Congress for a formal declaration of war before taking military action.

The Reverend Perry responded by saying America can handle the situation differently; “This country can sanction the Iranian central bank right now and shut down that country’s economy, and that’s what the president needs to do,” he said.

The war in Afghanistan produced the same range of responses as the question relating to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Jon “I can’t believe it’s not butter” Huntsman and Paul both said it’s time for U.S. troops to come home.

“I say it’s time to come home. I say this nation has achieved its key objectives,” Huntsman said.

Romney and Perry said they’d side with military commanders about when to withdraw troops introducing a fourth reason for not being or voting Republican.

The President – as a civilian – is the Commander-in-Chief not the military commanders; they take their orders from him, not the other way around. The President may ask for the advice of his military commanders, but he doesn’t leave foreign policy up to those in uniform, including when to start or stop wars. While there are many leaders in the military who abhor war and fight only when necessary, there are too many who love the “smell of napalm in the morning”.

After this latest round of the GOTP circus what additional reasons have we learned not to vote Republican in November?

We’ve learned not to vote Republican in November because GOTP wannabes:

Support torturing prisoners, and said they’d leave it up to military commanders to decide policy.

Support starting a pre-emptive war with Iran.

Support assassinating scientists in countries we’re not at war with.

Support allowing military commanders the power to decide when America ends wars.

 
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Posted by on November 13, 2011 in 2012 Election

 

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Veterans Hiring Bill Is A Democratic ‘Trick’?

Republican Tea Party (GOTP) favorite, Senator Jim DeMint did not serve in Vietnam (although he was born in 1951) and he’s never served in the armed forces, and yet yesterday he  distinguished himself as the only senator to oppose a measure aimed at hiring veterans, calling it a “trick” by the Obama administration and Democrats.

He ducked out on those serving in Vietnam, and he’s ducked out on those who are serving now; well, at least he’s consistent.

DeMint says he knew his decision wouldn’t be popular, but still cast the lone vote against an amendment to grant employers tax breaks worth up to $9,600 for giving a veteran a job.

“I know what I’m about to discuss won’t be very popular. I’ll probably be accused of not supporting veterans by the politicians pandering for their votes,” DeMint said on the Senate floor Thursday. “But I’m not going to be intimidated to vote for something that may make sense politically but is inherently unfair.”

Well, you got that right Sparkie, you don’t support vets; DeMint voted to grant President Bush the authority to use force in Iraq, and has been supportive of the war – as most of the uber-conservatives have been – but when the Democratic Party assumed control of Congress in 2006 and attempted to pass resolutions calling for time-tables for withdraw, DeMint was a very vocal critic of those actions saying resolutions calling for time-tables were resolutions of defeat and disgrace.

Well, the actual disgrace is not supporting Vets once they’ve gone and done what he never had the guts to do – serve.

DeMint argued that passing such a tax break was simply catering to an interest group and predicted little hiring would come from the measure. “Despite the overwhelming evidence that these tax credits do not stimulate hiring for targeted groups, the Obama administration continues to push Congress to pass another tax credit, this time exclusively for veterans,” he said. “By using a politically sensitive group the day before Veterans Day, the Democrats are hoping they can trick Republicans into further complicating the tax code.”

Yes, yes, the President’s catering to an interest group; really? Those who have served are now going to be dismissed by the likes of DeMint as merely an “interest group”? DeMint claims to love his country but has been unwilling to serve or to fully support those who do, he wants to boast he’s strong on defense but clearly he’s not. Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen are defense Mr. DeMint; they’re the muscle, bone, sinew and blood that pays for your ability to sit safely at home whining; if Karma’s listening then you’ll be duly thanked for your support the next time you run for anything.

 
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Posted by on November 11, 2011 in Veteran's

 

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Occupy Wall Street crowd disrupts Bachmann speech

The Associated Press (AP) is reporting that Occupy Wall Street protesters disrupted a foreign policy speech by Republican Tea Party (GOTP) presidential has been Michele “Krazy” Bachmann.

During her address Krazy said she’d make Iraq pay back billions of dollars the U.S. spent to liberate the country and never let Iran get its hands on a nuclear weapon.

She’d make Iraq pay back the billions of dollars the United States spent invading it, destroying it, abusing its citizens and killing hundreds of thousands more while liberating it? Did Iraq ask to be liberated Krazy? Were the Iraqi people rising up in an Arab Spring type revolution in which we helped them? No, they didn’t and no they weren’t; Bush/Cheney decided we – the United States – would give them western-style democracy whether they liked it or not. And just how would she make Iraq pay us back? And just how would you stop Iran from getting its hands on a nuclear weapon? Oh wait, I know, INVADE!

Bachmann was about five minutes into her spell binding litany aboard the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown in Charleston Harbor when about 30 protesters rose from the audience of about 100 people and began shouting “Mike Check!” They then chanted a variety of complaints as police escorted the Minnesota congresswoman from the podium. She later said she never felt threatened by the mostly college-age protesters.

“You cater to the 1 percent!” they shouted. “You oppose paying hardworking Americans a living wage and refuse to promote realistic solutions to economic problems.” After several minutes, the group walked together off the aircraft carrier shouting, “We are the 99 percent!”

Bachmann was later escorted back to the podium and finished the speech. “Don’t you love the First Amendment?” she asked the crowd.

After asking about loving the First Amendment however, she did what most uber-conservatives do; complain about Americans exercising their right to free speech as guaranteed by it

“It was really ironic that you had a group of young people in what was really a very disrespectful and ignorant move, to take that kind of action in the midst of veterans who have fought to give them the right to do that,” Bachmann said.

“Disrespectful and ignorant move” taking that “kind of action in the midst of veterans who have fought to give them that right”? The disrespect and ignorance is all Krazy’s. Veterans serve to guarantee the rights of those protestors to do just what they did, she’s the one showing disrespect and ignorance. Bachmann needs to read and study the documents she claims to revere a little more.

 
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Posted by on November 10, 2011 in 2012 Election

 

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Limbaugh calls a 13-Year-Old a Nazi “Brownshirt”?

Rush Limbaugh has proven once again his ignorance, calling the 13-year-old son of one of Herman Cain’s accuser’s a “Brownshirt” because he encouraged his mom to go forward with her information. On the 8 Nov 11 edition of his show, after playing a clip in which Sharon Bialek talks about her son’s encouraging her to come forward with her story, Limbaugh turned to attacking her son and compared him to a Nazi.

“You think Obama doesn’t love hearing this, a 13-year-old tattletale?” Limbaugh asked. “I mean, this is a brownshirt preview here. Exactly what big-government types like; thirteen-year-old; ‘You tell on him, Mom. You go tell on him.’

Later in his show, Limbaugh used a mocking voice to imitate Bialek’s son, “The woman gives the 13-year-old kid the details of what happened, and then seeks the advice of the 13-year-old. And the 13-year-old says, ‘I think you should tell on him, Mommy.’ Which should make Obama ear perk up; oh, I’ll tell you, the leftist brownshirts would love that; tattletales galore.”

Limbaugh’s just flailing around at anything that falls into his ham stained fingers; he doesn’t even like Herman Cain, and this has nothing to do with defending him; it has everything to do with swinging at the President. Rush has proven once again to be a two-bit bully, first going after the victim and then going after her son; El Rushbo’s ratings are dropping sharply, and this is a classic example as to why. Glenn Beck’s ratings plummeted because hate and vitriol, Rush and Hannity’s are following; clearly America isn’t buying it any longer.

 
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Posted by on November 10, 2011 in Right Wing Radio

 

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