Democrats Against Corrupt Government

No "victory" in Iraq. Victory is as far away as it has ever been.

Liz — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:59:48 EDT

QUEEN'S COMMENTS
I wish I had better news to report, but I don't. It's just more of the same. I can only hope that Americans are smart enough in November to not vote for the Republican King and Queen of claptrap--Have you forgotten that it was Republican claptrap about WMD's that got us there in the first place? How many different versions of their spin do you have to purchase before you finally say: NO MORE OF THE SAME?

I just read a sobering commentary in New America Media written by Arron Glantz who lived in and reported from Iraq from 2003 to 2005. Since his return he was been reporting stories of American veterans. Glantz points out that with more than 5 million Iraqi refugees still to scared to come home and that the "victory" may be short-lived."

In his speech acceptance speech, John McCain commended General David Petraeus as “brilliant.” Petraeus. McCain said, that Patraeus has “succeeded and rescued us from a defeat that would have demoralized our military, risked a wider war and threatened the security of all Americans.”

But the truth is that some of the strategies employed by General Petreaus are beginning to unravel. The Sunni “Awakening” militias he founded, armed and funded have begun fighting with the Shi’a-dominated Iraqi Army, which is also bankrolled by the United States.

“The Shiite-led government has recently stepped up a campaign to arrest leaders of the Awakening and dismantle parts of the program, whose members receive $300 a month from the U.S. military,” the Washington Post reported Tuesday. Many fighters have abandoned their posts and fled their homes to avoid detention, stoking fears that some will rejoin the insurgency. On Wednesday, Iraqi troops raided the offices of the influential Sunni clerical group, the Association of Muslim Scholars. In a statement, the Association "denounced this provocative and unjustifiable attack" and blamed the Iraqi government for any negative consequences that may result.

Soon, the United States military will have to take sides in this fight, and when it does, American soldiers will have to battle groups armed with American weaponry. The longer the United States stays in Iraq, the worse off the country will be when we finally leave. "Today," Glantz says, “victory in Iraq is as far away as it’s ever been."

FOR THE COMPLETE ARTICLE:

http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=241816cf9df1d7a5c022602178c79a6d

Shugun the no-gun

Rob-33704 — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:20:42 EDT

Shogun the no-gun has pointed out to me that the Rasmussen Poll shows Obama with a 14 point lead in California.

He is correct.

What the fool has failed to comprehend is that the mid-date of the Rasmussen Poll is 8/15/08.

Link

Yes - its almost a month old. That is one problem with complacency - you start limiting your sources of information.

Reality Check

Rob-33704 — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:02:45 EDT

While everyone has been busy sticking pins in their new Sara Palin dolls the election season has move on.

In Alaska where last week Obama had a slight lead, McCain now has
a 19 point lead.

Just as you knew all along - the people of Alaska must really hate her.

But that's Alaska - so what the heck.

What the heck is - last week Obama had a 14 point lead in California.

This week its 9 points.

So keep sticking pins in your dolls - or just stick your head in the sand.

Both tactics are equally effective.

September 11 is another important Anniversary

Liz — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:40:04 EDT

This anniversary, unlike the one the Republicans have promoted annually since 2002, is one that right-wing conservatives would just as soon that we forget. The year for the “other” 9/11 is 1973. September 11, 1973 was the day that Salvador Allende died by his own hands seconds before the barbarians paid for by the Nixon Administration, stormed the gate to overthrow the democratically elected government and replace it with a right-wing despot named Pinochet.

Yes, 9/11 is the anniversary of the second Republican-sponsored coup that took out a democratically elected leader of another country and replaced him with a ruthless dictator. (Prior to the takeover of Chile, in 1953 the US removed the democratically elected president of Iran and installed the Shah in his place. ) In 1973, the USA removed the democratically elected president of Chile and replaced him with one of the worst and most blood-thirsty despots of all times–Pinochet. Nixon informed the CIA that Allende was not acceptable and authorized $10 million to stop him. Chile received USD $322.8 million in loans and credits in the year following the coup. We continued to support this evil regime with our tax dollars from 1973 until 1979.

In 1953 it was Eisenhower and in 1973 it was Richard Nixon. Don’t tell the Queen that Republicans represent democratic government–they represent corporate interests.

SALVADOR ALLENDE

REMEMBER WHAT THE REPUBLICANS DID TO THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF CHILE. AND REMEMBER MONSTER THEY INSTALLED IN HIS PLACE. His name was Pinochet.

It would be good for all Americans to remember that both these travesties to democracy and justice (the overthrow of two democratically elected presidents of foreign nations) happened unde the watch of Republican Presidents.

Here are some links to the atrocities committed by Pinochet from 1973 to 1990. Read some of them. These are what happens when Right-wing fanatics are given control of a nation. This current USA Republican admininstration only torture people outside our country, but that is a matter of time. They have already taken the first step by building prisons all over the USA. This election may well the the last chance for Democracy without a Revolution. Is that what you want?

http://members.tripod.com/~mneumann/pinochet.html

DEMOCRATS TAKE ACTION RIGHT NOW AGAINST ABC AND DISNEY

Liz — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:18:51 EDT

Please go to this link and complete a message regarding the upcoming Charles Gibson interview that is scheduled for tomorrow with one of the Republican opponents.

Here was my message:

If you conduct this interview in the same manner that you conducted the farce of a debate between Clinton and Obama--that interview in which you devoted over 1/2 of the time discussing flag pins and Reverend Wright instead of issues that make a differenc to Americans then you can expect millions of Democrats to boycot Disney products.

http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3271346&cat=World%20News%20with%20Charles%20Gibson

If you think Gibson will be "fair" in his presentation of Republican Opponent Tomorrow: Think again

Liz — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:41:02 EDT

ABC's Gibson did not challenge earmark claim, much less inform viewers that McCain promoted a falsehood

Summary: In a September 3 interview, Charles Gibson did not challenge the claim by Sen. John McCain that after Sarah Palin obtained millions of dollars in earmarks as mayor of her home town, she "learned that earmarks are bad" when she became governor and said, "No more for my state." At no point did Gibson point out that as governor, Palin, by her own account, requested hundreds of millions of dollars in earmarks for Alaska just this year. ABC News did not air that part of the interview on the September 3 broadcast of World News, much less note that McCain was promoting a false claim.
And remember Democrats, it is very easy to boycott Disney products. We are after all a large consumer group than the Republicans.
http://mediamatters.org/items/200809040021

Charles Gibson and Disney Products are officially on Notice

Liz — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:49:29 EDT

We the people put Charles Gibson and Disney Products on Notice

If right-wing Charles Gibson in his moderation does the same sorry job that he did with Stephanapolous when they moderated the “debate” over Reverend Wright and flag pins instead of issues, then HE needs to be fired and Democrats need to once again protest the ABC studios in California and boycott Disney products since Disney owns ABC. Gibson and other right-wing neocon owners of mainstream media need to remember that the Democrats are the majority and we are consumers. They can fire the only liberal voices on American mainstream media, but we, the majority, can fire their sponsors.

HERE ARE A FEW ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE DISCUSSED: Ear marks, lobbyist influence, social security, job creation

ISSUE: EARMARKS - Both Republican candidates have supported HUGE EARMARKS.

ISSUE: LOBBYIST INFLUENCE IN OUR GOVERNMENT - All Americans are fed up with the lobbyist influence in washington. Both Republican candidates rail against lobbyists, yet one of them hired a lobbyist to get money for her city when she was mayor. The other republican candidate has more lobbyists that you can count running his campaign. At one time the count was as high as 7. His own campaign manager, Rick Davis is a lobbyist.

SOCIAL SECURITY - IF THE MILLIONS OF BABY BOOMERS ARE COUNTING ON SOCIAL SECURITY TO GET BY, THEN THEY BETTER NOT COUNT ON THE REPUBLICAN TICKET..

Obama Must Ignore Princess Palin

Cato Meador — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 02:41:32 EDT

Barack Obama is making a huge mistake by trying to take on Princess Sarah Palin, and getting off the message that has carried him this far. Unfortunately, Hillary Clinton found out that you could get into his head and flumux him. Palin is following the same recipe.

The difference is....HILLARY WAS HIS EQUAL ON THE BALLOT!! Palin is a VP candidate who has been mayor of a town smaller than Quinlan, Texas....just trust me on this one. Governor of a state, for less than two years, with a population smaller than the population of the City of Austin, Texas. And being so religiously and culturally conservative as to make George W. Bush look nearly moderate. She was the runner-up to Miss Alaska 1982!

SHE DOES NOT DESERVE to be raised UP to Obama's level by his own acts. He HAS to get back on message, and just pound away at John McCain. If he would do so, he will FORCE McCain to come out from behind Palin's apron strings, and answer for his OWN actions.

Barack, QUIT letting McCain off the hook by getting into media spats with the Ice Queen! Let Joe Biden prove her lack of qualification to be Vice President, both in the media and at the debate.......he is more than capable of putting this low ball, nobody of a politician in her place!

If he does not do this......he will be doing what I have been afraid of all the way through this cycle...before we knew who our nominee would be!

HE WILL BE BEATING HIMSELF!! McCain can't do it...and neither can Palin or any other Republican.

Self-destruction is so easy to do when you act like you have thin skin.

As the Queen Sees it: Change the Text for Taxes!

Liz — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 22:06:33 EDT

QUEEN'S COMMENTS

IT'S NOT ABOUT RAISING TAXES, BUT ABOUT CORRECTING THE INEQUITIES THAT FAVOR THE RICH AND CORPORATIONS

WE SHOULD STAND NOT FOR RAISING TAXES ON ANYONE--NOT THE RICH AND NOT THE POOR! We should stand for correcting inequitable tax breaks for the wealthy and for American Corporations.

We need to correct an inequitable tax situation in the USA that favors the wealthy and burdens the middle class. We have a situation in our country where people such as Warren Buffett (the richest man in the world) pay 17% of their annual income in taxes and people like Warren Buffett's receptionist who earn $60,000 a year pay 30% of their annual income in taxes. This is undemocratic and it needs to be changed. Is there really any American anywhere who believes that this it fair and just?

If you think that the rich are generous, then that is a myth that you can let go. The truth is that Billionaires are actually stingy.

http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2007/0318useconomics_easterbrook.aspx

She Can't be all that bright???

Ron Griesse — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:24:50 EDT

In my opinion Gov. Palin is committing political suicide by the hands of the Republican Party, and a desperate John McCain. This to me is nothing more than a political media stunt to wow the sheep of the GOP party, and a ploy to attract the hard core Hillary supporters that are stupid enough to play into this idiotic desperate attempt.

For those of you that are hard core Hillary supporters or for that matter Obama supporters, I stress the fact that I am nether. I am a democrat, and the powers that be have nominated Mr. Obama. That is my vote. And if I were to choose Obama would have my vote if I were an independent.

My point is the Mrs. Palin can't even see what her party is doing to her, and this woman could be the next vice president. (I hope not, but???) I have a problem with that. What's your opinion?

If Lieberman and Thompson were cartoon characters. . .

Liz — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:41:55 EDT

There is a Hilarious Jon Stewart piece that he did this week which shows Lieberman as Droopy dog and Thompson as Foghorn Leghorn. It is hilarious. If you want to see the segment of that show that features Lieberman and Thompson.

It is funny how much Lieberman looks like Droopy Dog and how much that Fred Thompson not only looks but sounds like Foghorn Leghorn.

http://iflizwerequeen.com/

Spiro T. Palin

Liz — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:02:45 EDT

I just read an interesting piece by John Nichols in THE NATION. Here is part of it and the link to the rest:

ST. PAUL – Forty years ago, mounting a comeback campaign after losing a presidential race eight years earlier, Richard Nixon secured the Republican nomination and then selected as his running-mate a former local official who had served a scant twenty months as the governor of a small state.

The choice was questioned by pundits and mocked by Democrats. They called the vice presidential nominee: "Spiro Who?"

But when Maryland Governor Spiro T. Agnew hit the campaign trail, he did so as "Nixon's Nixon" – the attack dog the party needed to take the opposition apart while making the Republican presidential nominee look presidential.

It was the same role that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin assumed Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/354163

low info voter byte: Palin Slashes Funding to Help Teen Mothers

Liz — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:24:16 EDT

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential nominee who revealed Monday that her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant, earlier this year used her line-item veto to slash funding for a state program benefiting teen mothers in need of a place to live. Inking her initials on the legislation — “SP” — Palin reduced funding for Covenant House Alaska by more than 20 percent, cutting funds from $5 million to $3.9 million. Covenant House is a mix of programs and shelters for troubled youths, including Passage House, which is a transitional home for teenage mothers.

SOURCE:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/02/palin_slashed_funding_to_help.html

Now I understand the Trooper Controversy--low info byte

Liz — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:05:17 EDT

It is irrelevant whether the trooper, Palin's brother-in-law "deserved" to be fired or not (and judging from his alleged behavior, I would not argue that point).

However this is what is at question here--Palin's use of the influence of her office in a way that is certainly not in accordance with ethical behavior, if not perhaps even the law.

1. She told her brother-in-Law's boss to fire the brother-in-law.
2. When the boss did not, Palin fired her brother-in-law's boss.

She claims it was because of a budget issue.

LOOKS TO ME LIKE WE HAVE ANOTHER DECIDER ON OUR HANDS--ANOTHER ONE WHO FEELS FREE TO USE THE POWER OF THE OFFICE TO TAKE THE LAW INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.

Jill Biden--Soon to be Second Lady of Our Nation

Liz — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 12:06:52 EDT

First Lady in Joe Biden’s Eyes and Soon to be Second Lady of our Nation

Jill Tracy Jacobs-Biden. They celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary this year. He has two sons, Beau and Hunter, and a daughter named Ashley. He also has four granddaughters.

Jill was raised in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. She met Joe when she was at the University of Delaware. They were introduced by Joe’s brother. They dated for two years before they married. She married Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. on June 17, 1977 at the United Nations chapel in New York City. When she married Joe, she married him as well as his two sons from his first marriage. She has said that the whole family married, including going on the honeymoon together.

Joe Biden’s first wife, Neilia Hunter Biden, who he married in 1966, was killed in a car accident on December 18, 1972. His infant daughter, Naomi was also killed in the accident. Both of his sons, Joseph R. “Beau” Biden III and Robert Hunter Biden, were critically injured in the accident. The 29-year-old Biden was just a month away from taking his Senate seat for the first time. He took his oath of office in the hospital by their bedsides. Both of the boys completely recovered from their injuries.

In addition to Joe’s two sons, Jill and Joe had a daughter in 1981, Ashley Blazer Biden. Jill Biden is an English professor at the Delaware Technical and Community College. Professionally she has been a reading specialist, an English high school teacher and a teacher in a mental health institution.

She founded the Biden Breast Health Initiative that focuses on education of early breast cancer detection.

Biden is a winning choice and here is why

Liz — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 10:44:29 EDT

Like Obama, Biden's story is the story of the American Dream. Obama, a black American, raised by a single mother graduated with honors from Harvard and now aspires to the highest office in the land. Biden was raised in a poor catholic family in Scranton PA. A TOUGH family. LOL. His mother once paid him to go beat up a neighborhood bully who beat up Biden's younger brother.

Even though Biden has been in Congress for 30 years, he is still more like a regular American family man. Unlike other Senators who live in DC, Biden for 30 years has taken the train back to his home in Delaware every night. The people in Delaware don't know him as "the senator". They know him as their neighbor.

Latest News about McCain - He moves to the country

Liz — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 08:43:07 EDT

Here is a little humor from one of my new categories: Fake Headlines. I would have posted it here, but I'm not sure if it would pass the white glove test. [ By the way: Matt is great and I'm not complaining regarding his due diligence--in fact, I appreciate it.]

Details at

http://iflizwerequeen.com/

Home Home on the Deranged with the Maverick

Liz — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:09:15 EDT

More photos from A.N.S.W.E.R. DC protest Sept 2007

Liz — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:28:53 EDT

Here is another photo I took at the A.N.S.W.E.R march last September. There were a lot of parents there like this. Cindy Sheehan was also at this march.

Could the Emperor Be More Naked?

Liz — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:23:11 EDT

Yes, but please don't ask him to remove the cowboy hat.

LOL. This was a huge, larger than life sign at the A.N.S.W.E.R. anti- war march in Washington DC last September that I attended.