How much do you stand to loose in your old age if Bush's Social Security "reform" plan becomes a reality ?
Take this simple test from the website of US Senator Chuck Schumer of NY and see:
http://www.schumer.senate.gov/calc/#
As far as I can tell the only people who are better off with this program would be all of George W. Bush's friends on Wall Street who are estimated to gain 100 billion dollars in first 10 years of the program. Everyone else would see a strong decline in their benefits even with taking "ownership". Owning nothing is nothing.
Yes there needs to be some reform done to adjust the Social Security program as the retiring baby boomers will eat through the surplus.. the surplus, they put there during their earning years. It's only right that they are entitled to get it back in their retirement.
For us behind the baby boomers, it's estimated that the current Social Security program will fund 75% of the need. That only means the government has to find the other 25%.
Thursday, February 24, 2005
from the desk of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois
Dear Mr. President,
At a press conference in the White House on January
26, you stated that “there needs to be a nice,
independent relationship between the White House and
the press.” In that same press conference, you called
on a reporter then known as Jeff Gannon, who worked
for an organization called Talon News.
Since that time, the public has learned that the real
name of that reporter is James Dale Guckert, not Jeff
Gannon, and that he had regular access to the White
House press facilities for more than a year. We have
also learned that the questions he posed at White
House press briefings and the stories he filed for
Talon News frequently mirrored Republican Party
talking points, that Talon News is a news organization
in name only and that it has apparently close
connections to the Republican party.
Given the unprecedented level of security in
Washington since 9/11, it is troubling that that a
non-journalist using a false name and working for a
sham news organization could have gained regular
access to the White House for such an extended period
of time.
Another reason the Gannon/Guckert affair is disturbing
is because of what we have recently learned about
apparent efforts by some in your Administration to try
to “buy” favorable news coverage. These other efforts
include paying news personalities Armstrong Williams
and Maggie Gallagher large sums of money to promote
your Administration’s education and marriage
initiatives, and using tax payer dollars to produce
video news releases promoting the new prescription
drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries and other
policies the Administration regards as
accomplishments. A recent report by the General
Accountability Office called such video news releases
illegal uses of public funds. More recently, we have
heard troubling reports that Social Security
Administration officials may be using public funds and
pressuring public employees to promote your goal of
privatizing Social Security.
As you know, concerns that government officials may be
trying to deceive the public by manipulating the media
can be extremely corrosive to public trust. For that
reason, we respectfully request that you order an
immediate and thorough investigation into the
Gannon/Guckert matter. How is it possible that a man
using a fake name, with dubious journalism
credentials, was able to clear the White House’s
extensive security screening process and gain such
close access to you and your staff for such an
extended period of time? Have there been other,
similar breaches of security and journalism standards?
We appreciate your prompt attention to this important
matter. We urge you to order a full inquiry so that
the American people know the facts.
Dear Mr. President,
At a press conference in the White House on January
26, you stated that “there needs to be a nice,
independent relationship between the White House and
the press.” In that same press conference, you called
on a reporter then known as Jeff Gannon, who worked
for an organization called Talon News.
Since that time, the public has learned that the real
name of that reporter is James Dale Guckert, not Jeff
Gannon, and that he had regular access to the White
House press facilities for more than a year. We have
also learned that the questions he posed at White
House press briefings and the stories he filed for
Talon News frequently mirrored Republican Party
talking points, that Talon News is a news organization
in name only and that it has apparently close
connections to the Republican party.
Given the unprecedented level of security in
Washington since 9/11, it is troubling that that a
non-journalist using a false name and working for a
sham news organization could have gained regular
access to the White House for such an extended period
of time.
Another reason the Gannon/Guckert affair is disturbing
is because of what we have recently learned about
apparent efforts by some in your Administration to try
to “buy” favorable news coverage. These other efforts
include paying news personalities Armstrong Williams
and Maggie Gallagher large sums of money to promote
your Administration’s education and marriage
initiatives, and using tax payer dollars to produce
video news releases promoting the new prescription
drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries and other
policies the Administration regards as
accomplishments. A recent report by the General
Accountability Office called such video news releases
illegal uses of public funds. More recently, we have
heard troubling reports that Social Security
Administration officials may be using public funds and
pressuring public employees to promote your goal of
privatizing Social Security.
As you know, concerns that government officials may be
trying to deceive the public by manipulating the media
can be extremely corrosive to public trust. For that
reason, we respectfully request that you order an
immediate and thorough investigation into the
Gannon/Guckert matter. How is it possible that a man
using a fake name, with dubious journalism
credentials, was able to clear the White House’s
extensive security screening process and gain such
close access to you and your staff for such an
extended period of time? Have there been other,
similar breaches of security and journalism standards?
We appreciate your prompt attention to this important
matter. We urge you to order a full inquiry so that
the American people know the facts.
Monday, February 14, 2005
Difference between men and women
Difference Between Women And Men
1.NAMES
If Laurie, Linda, Elizabeth and Barbara go out for lunch, they will
call each other Laurie, Linda, Elizabeth and Barbara.
If Mark, Chris, Eric and Tom go out, they will affectionately refer
to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla, Peanut-Head and Scrappy.
2.EATING OUT
When the bill arrives, Mark, Chris, Eric and Tom will each throw in
a $20 , even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have
anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
When the women get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.
3.MONEY
A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need, but it's on
sale.
4.BATHROOMS
A man has five items in his bathroom: a toothbrush, shaving cream,
razor, a bar of soap, and a towel from the Marriott.
The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337.
A man would not be able to identify most of these items.
5.ARGUMENTS
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that... is the beginning of a new
argument.
6.CATS
Women love cats.
Men say they love cats, but when women aren't looking, men kick
cats.
7.FUTURE
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
8.SUCCESS
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can
spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
9.MARRIAGE
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change ! and she
does.
10.DRESSING UP
A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the
garbage, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.
11.NATURAL
Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
Women somehow deteriorate during the night.
12.OFFSPRING
Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about
dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods,
secret fears and hopes and dreams.
A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Any married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two
people remembering the same thing.
AND FINALLY....
A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a
word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of
them wanted to concede their position.
As they passed a barnyard of mules, jack asses, and pigs, the
husband asked sarcastically,
"Relatives of yours?"
"Yep," the wife replied, "in-laws."
1.NAMES
If Laurie, Linda, Elizabeth and Barbara go out for lunch, they will
call each other Laurie, Linda, Elizabeth and Barbara.
If Mark, Chris, Eric and Tom go out, they will affectionately refer
to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla, Peanut-Head and Scrappy.
2.EATING OUT
When the bill arrives, Mark, Chris, Eric and Tom will each throw in
a $20 , even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have
anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
When the women get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.
3.MONEY
A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need, but it's on
sale.
4.BATHROOMS
A man has five items in his bathroom: a toothbrush, shaving cream,
razor, a bar of soap, and a towel from the Marriott.
The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337.
A man would not be able to identify most of these items.
5.ARGUMENTS
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that... is the beginning of a new
argument.
6.CATS
Women love cats.
Men say they love cats, but when women aren't looking, men kick
cats.
7.FUTURE
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
8.SUCCESS
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can
spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
9.MARRIAGE
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change ! and she
does.
10.DRESSING UP
A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the
garbage, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.
11.NATURAL
Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
Women somehow deteriorate during the night.
12.OFFSPRING
Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about
dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods,
secret fears and hopes and dreams.
A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Any married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two
people remembering the same thing.
AND FINALLY....
A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a
word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of
them wanted to concede their position.
As they passed a barnyard of mules, jack asses, and pigs, the
husband asked sarcastically,
"Relatives of yours?"
"Yep," the wife replied, "in-laws."
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Tonight the History Channel aired a 90 minute show recalling a failed assassination attempt in 1974 on President Richard Nixon. The dramatization and file footage tells the tale of a mentall ill man who shot is way onto a Delta airlines flight preparing to leave Baltimore’s airport a mere 5 minutes away by air from the White House. His plan was to fly the plane into the White House killing President Nixon. While the part about him taking over the plane was covered in the newspapers of the time. His goal of flying the plane into the White House was kept quiet. It was however known as Baltimore police recovered two hours of audio tape from his car found in the airport parking lot detailing his plan and his reasons for doing so. This evidence was forwarded to both the US Secret Service who are in charge of protecting the President as well as the F.B.I.
The incident was also referenced in a 1995 White House Security Report.
This report’s unclassified portions are available on the web:White House Report
Under in the chapeter entitled “History of Ground and Air Assults on the White House Complex” in a section called “Air Incursions and Attempted Air Incursions” contains the following paragraph (emphasis added):
Samuel Byck (February 1974). Samuel Byck, a failed businessman with a history of mental illness, was investigated by the Secret Service in 1972 on the basis of reports that he had threatened President Nixon. In 1974, he hatched a plan called "Operation Pandora's Box" to hijack a commercial airliner and crash it into the Executive Mansion. On February 22, less than a week after the Preston incident, Byck went to Baltimore/Washington International Airport carrying a pistol and a gasoline bomb. He forced his way onto a Delta flight destined for Atlanta by shooting a guard at the security checkpoint. He entered the cockpit and ordered the crew to take off. After the crew informed him that they could not depart without removing the wheel blocks, Byck shot the pilot twice and the co-pilot three times (the co-pilot died). Police outside the airplane shot into the cockpit and hit Byck twice. Byck fell to the floor, put the revolver to his head, and killed himself.
In her testimony before Congress as well as in the media, then National Security Advisor, Condisleea Rice repeatedly insisted that nobody had ever thought of flying a plane into a building before September 11, 2001. The Time magazine of May 17, 2002, even quotes her as saying as much:
Responding to the subtext, that the administration could have prevented 9/11, kept Ari Fleischer and Condoleeza Rice busy for the rest of the week. The explanation is the inherently obvious one: They surprised us, plain and simple, with a planes-as-missiles tactical leap. "There's been a long-standing awareness in the intelligence community, shared with the president, about the potential for bin Laden to have hijacking in the traditional sense," Fleischer said. Bush, he added, put out a secret alert based on the information the administration had, which wasn't much. Added Rice Thursday: "The government did everything that it could — in a period in which the information was very generalized, in which there was nothing specific in which to react — and had this president known of something more specific or known that a plane was going to be used as a missile, he would have acted on it.
Isn't it funny how lunatic madmen 30 years ago were able to think of things that government officals and people at the top levels of national security aren't ?
How could so many people in government security and intelligence be so unaware ?
The incident was also referenced in a 1995 White House Security Report.
This report’s unclassified portions are available on the web:White House Report
Under in the chapeter entitled “History of Ground and Air Assults on the White House Complex” in a section called “Air Incursions and Attempted Air Incursions” contains the following paragraph (emphasis added):
Samuel Byck (February 1974). Samuel Byck, a failed businessman with a history of mental illness, was investigated by the Secret Service in 1972 on the basis of reports that he had threatened President Nixon. In 1974, he hatched a plan called "Operation Pandora's Box" to hijack a commercial airliner and crash it into the Executive Mansion. On February 22, less than a week after the Preston incident, Byck went to Baltimore/Washington International Airport carrying a pistol and a gasoline bomb. He forced his way onto a Delta flight destined for Atlanta by shooting a guard at the security checkpoint. He entered the cockpit and ordered the crew to take off. After the crew informed him that they could not depart without removing the wheel blocks, Byck shot the pilot twice and the co-pilot three times (the co-pilot died). Police outside the airplane shot into the cockpit and hit Byck twice. Byck fell to the floor, put the revolver to his head, and killed himself.
In her testimony before Congress as well as in the media, then National Security Advisor, Condisleea Rice repeatedly insisted that nobody had ever thought of flying a plane into a building before September 11, 2001. The Time magazine of May 17, 2002, even quotes her as saying as much:
Responding to the subtext, that the administration could have prevented 9/11, kept Ari Fleischer and Condoleeza Rice busy for the rest of the week. The explanation is the inherently obvious one: They surprised us, plain and simple, with a planes-as-missiles tactical leap. "There's been a long-standing awareness in the intelligence community, shared with the president, about the potential for bin Laden to have hijacking in the traditional sense," Fleischer said. Bush, he added, put out a secret alert based on the information the administration had, which wasn't much. Added Rice Thursday: "The government did everything that it could — in a period in which the information was very generalized, in which there was nothing specific in which to react — and had this president known of something more specific or known that a plane was going to be used as a missile, he would have acted on it.
Isn't it funny how lunatic madmen 30 years ago were able to think of things that government officals and people at the top levels of national security aren't ?
How could so many people in government security and intelligence be so unaware ?
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
13 Americans with Some Balls
Senator Akaka (HI)
Senator Bayh (IN)
Senator Boxer (CA)
Senator Byrd (WV)
Senator Dayton (MN)
Senator Durbin (IL)
Senator Harkin (IA)
Senator Jeffords (VT)
Senator Kennedy (MA)
Senator Kerry (MA)
Senator Lautenburg (NJ)
Senator Levin (MI)
Senator Reed (RI)
Today the US Senate approved the President's nomination of Condisleeza Rice as Secretary of State by an 85-13 vote. This is the most votes against a nominee for Secretary of State since 1825. If one of your Senators is NOT on this list you should contact them and ask them why they approved such a poorly qualified candidate for such an important office.
Monday, January 03, 2005
In a new CNN/USAToday/Gallup Poll, a majority of Americans express the view that the U.S. made a mistake in going to war against Iraq.The poll, released on Tuesday, shows that 51% now hold this view, with 48% supporting the decision to go to war. In November those numbers were virtually reversed.
In January 2004, 63% approved of the war and 35% disapproved.
By 58% to 39% the public disapproves of the way the U.S. has handled things in Iraq in recent months.
Nearly half the sample says things are worse in Iraq than a year ago, with only 20% saying it is going better.
Sunday, January 02, 2005
There was no way to stop the massive waves triggered by the Dec. 26 earthquake from sweeping across South Asia and killing tens of thousands of people. But in Sri Lanka, where an estimated 25,000 people have lost their lives, Oxfam is in the rare position of being able-immediately-to help stop the second wave of death that follows such disasters: death from disease.
Because Oxfam was already working in the small island nation off the southern tip of India, the agency was able to spring into action soon after the tsunami crashed to shore. The story of A.R.M. Saifullah, Oxfam's assistant program coordinator in Trincomalee, is just one example of how the agency's close relationship with local partners, its knowledge of the Sri Lankan terrain and its people has allowed the aid group to move fast to save lives.
The disaster has displaced an estimated 1.2 million people in Sri Lanka. In places the wave washed more than a mile inland. People had already been hit by heavy floods over the last 10 days and half the paddy crop may have been lost. The flood waters have contaminated wells and clean water is scarce.
Reports are coming in from Oxfam staff members on the ground in several places and rapid field assessments are underway in six areas. In Trincomalee water still lies about six feet deep and crops have been destroyed. The flood waters have contaminated wells and clean water is scarce.
In Vavuniya and Batticoloa, Oxfam staffers are already providing temporary latrines, roofing sheets, plastic sheeting for shelter, mats, bed sheets, and sanitary napkins. In Killinochchi, staff members provided cooked food to people who were waiting for the release of the bodies of their relatives. In Batticoloa, too, staffers were involved in rescue and medical assistance, taking a number of people to hospital.
A cargo plane loaded with 27 tons of Oxfam emergency equipment worth about $190,000 was scheduled to leave England for Sri Lanka midweek. Half the water tanks, pumps, and taps in the shipment will be used to set up emergency drinking systems in Sri Lanka. Oxfam will send the other half to Indonesia.
Oxfam is preparing 25,000 packs of food locally, containing rice, flour, dhal, fish, sugar and cereal, plus 10,000 packs with soap, sanitary towels, candles and matches. Water points are being set up in seven places.
What Oxfam is doing
Donate to Oxfam America
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) emergency teams are on the ground in South Asia providing assistance to people affected by last Sunday's earthquake and the resulting tsunamis and carrying out multiple needs assessments in several countries in the region. To date, MSF has sent over 40 aid workers and 110 tons of relief materials to the region. Additional aid workers and relief cargos are en route and more will be deployed as needed.
Yesterday in the area of Tvri, the MSF team performed medical consultations for more than one hundred people, including those suffering from infected wounds and respiratory infections, and plans to conduct mobile clinics starting today.
Two cargo planes with approximately 70 tons of medical and sanitation materials have arrived in Medan in north Sumatra, close to Aceh. The cargo includes generators, water bladders, and tanks, plastic sheeting, mosquito nets, chlorination kits, and a hospital tent.
Donate to Doctors Without Borders
Following the disaster in Asia, the ICRC is concentrating its relief efforts on Sri Lanka and the Indonesian province of Aceh, areas where it had a strong presence before the catastrophe. The overall relief operations of the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement are being coordinated by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Assistance activities were launched within hours of the disaster, with local ICRC and National Society staff distributing non-food relief items out of existing or locally bought stocks to several thousand families.
ICRC staff have also distributed medical items to two hospitals in northern Sri Lanka and dispatched several 15,000 litre water tanks to the affected areas.
The ICRC is also involved in tracing activities, with joint ICRC/Sri Lanka Red Cross field teams helping separated families restore contact through the use of satellite phones.
Since the beginning of the crisis, staff have also been transporting human remains to hospitals and morgues and, when possible, returning those identified to their families.
Over the coming days, the ICRC plans to further reinforce its assistance operations, continuing to deliver additional household goods, shelter and medical supplies while aiming to provide safe drinking water to about 200,000 people. To support these operations, additional staff are also being sent to Sri Lanka.
Donate to International Committee of the Red Cross
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Criminal Investigation in Germany of U.S. Officials for War Crimes in Abu Ghraib Torture
In a historic effort to hold high-ranking U.S. officials accountable for brutal acts of torture including the widely publicized abuses carried out at Abu Ghraib, on Tuesday November 30, 2004, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and four Iraqi citizens filed a criminal complaint with the German Federal Prosecutor’s Office at the Karlsruhe Court, Karlsruhe, Germany. Under the doctrine of universal jurisdiction, suspected war criminals may be prosecuted irrespective of where they are located.
The four Iraqis were victims of gruesome crimes including severe beatings, sleep and food deprivation, hooding and sexual abuse.
The U.S. officials charged include Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Former CIA Director George Tenet, Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence Dr. Stephen Cambone, Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, Major General Walter Wojdakowski, Major General Geoffrey Miller, Brigadier General Janis L. Karpinski, Lieutenant Colonel Jerry L. Phillabaum, Colonel Thomas Pappas, and Lieutenant Colonel Stephen L. Jordan.
The criminal complaint was brought under the German Code of Crimes against International Law (CCIL) and seeks an investigation into war crimes allegedly carried out by high ranking United States civilian and military officials, including the incidents which occurred in Iraq.
The charges include violations of the German Code, “War Crimes against Persons,” which outlaws killing, torture, cruel and inhumane treatment, sexual coercion and forcible transfers. The Code makes criminally responsible those who carry out the above acts as well as those who induce, condone or order the acts. It also makes commanders liable, whether civilian or military, who fail to prevent their subordinates from committing such acts.
The German Code of Crimes against International Law grants German Courts what is called Universal Jurisdiction for the above-described crimes. Article 1, Part 1, Section 1 states: "This Act shall apply to all criminal offenses against international law designated under this Act, to serious criminal offences designated therein even when the offence was committed abroad and bears no relation to Germany.” This means that those who commit such crimes can be prosecuted wherever found: they, like pirates of old, are considered enemies of all humankind.
The German CCIL places a prosecuting duty on the German prosecutor for all crimes that constitute violations of the CCIL, irrespective of the location of the person, the crime, or the nationality of the persons involved. Complaints can be filed with the German prosecutor to seek an investigation of specific crimes, as was done here. While outside parties can bring complaints to the attention of a prosecutor in the U.S., there is no duty to prosecute such complaints and they do not become part of an official court procedure. In Germany, the prosecutor is under a duty to determine if an investigation and indictments are warranted; if he fails to do so, the complainants can appeal to the court.
There are no international courts or courts in Iraq that can carry out investigations and prosecutions of the U.S. role, either: the United States has refused to join the International Criminal Court, thereby foreclosing the option of pursuing a prosecution in international courts; Iraq has no authority to prosecute; and the U.S. gave immunity to all its personnel in Iraq from Iraqi prosecution.
In a historic effort to hold high-ranking U.S. officials accountable for brutal acts of torture including the widely publicized abuses carried out at Abu Ghraib, on Tuesday November 30, 2004, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and four Iraqi citizens filed a criminal complaint with the German Federal Prosecutor’s Office at the Karlsruhe Court, Karlsruhe, Germany. Under the doctrine of universal jurisdiction, suspected war criminals may be prosecuted irrespective of where they are located.
The four Iraqis were victims of gruesome crimes including severe beatings, sleep and food deprivation, hooding and sexual abuse.
The U.S. officials charged include Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Former CIA Director George Tenet, Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence Dr. Stephen Cambone, Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, Major General Walter Wojdakowski, Major General Geoffrey Miller, Brigadier General Janis L. Karpinski, Lieutenant Colonel Jerry L. Phillabaum, Colonel Thomas Pappas, and Lieutenant Colonel Stephen L. Jordan.
The criminal complaint was brought under the German Code of Crimes against International Law (CCIL) and seeks an investigation into war crimes allegedly carried out by high ranking United States civilian and military officials, including the incidents which occurred in Iraq.
The charges include violations of the German Code, “War Crimes against Persons,” which outlaws killing, torture, cruel and inhumane treatment, sexual coercion and forcible transfers. The Code makes criminally responsible those who carry out the above acts as well as those who induce, condone or order the acts. It also makes commanders liable, whether civilian or military, who fail to prevent their subordinates from committing such acts.
The German Code of Crimes against International Law grants German Courts what is called Universal Jurisdiction for the above-described crimes. Article 1, Part 1, Section 1 states: "This Act shall apply to all criminal offenses against international law designated under this Act, to serious criminal offences designated therein even when the offence was committed abroad and bears no relation to Germany.” This means that those who commit such crimes can be prosecuted wherever found: they, like pirates of old, are considered enemies of all humankind.
The German CCIL places a prosecuting duty on the German prosecutor for all crimes that constitute violations of the CCIL, irrespective of the location of the person, the crime, or the nationality of the persons involved. Complaints can be filed with the German prosecutor to seek an investigation of specific crimes, as was done here. While outside parties can bring complaints to the attention of a prosecutor in the U.S., there is no duty to prosecute such complaints and they do not become part of an official court procedure. In Germany, the prosecutor is under a duty to determine if an investigation and indictments are warranted; if he fails to do so, the complainants can appeal to the court.
There are no international courts or courts in Iraq that can carry out investigations and prosecutions of the U.S. role, either: the United States has refused to join the International Criminal Court, thereby foreclosing the option of pursuing a prosecution in international courts; Iraq has no authority to prosecute; and the U.S. gave immunity to all its personnel in Iraq from Iraqi prosecution.
Saturday, December 11, 2004
With Christmas coming, you need to know where to spend your money with companies who make contributions to campaigns and causes that think like you do... well like i do anyway... Here is a list compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics of donations to campaigns for the elections just concluded...
WITH US:
* Price Club/Costco donated $225K, of which 99% went to democrats;
* Rite Aid, $517K, 60% to democrats;
* Magla Products (Stanley tools, Mr. Clean), $22K, 100% to democrats;
* Warnaco (undergarments), $55K, 73% to democrats;
* Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, $153K, 99% to democrats;
* Estee Lauder, $448K, 95% to democrats;
* Guess ? Inc., $145K, 98% to democrats;
* Calvin Klein, $78K, 100% to democrats;
* Liz Claiborne, Inc., $34K, 97% to democrats;
* Levi Straus, $26K, 97% to democrats;
* Olan Mills, $175K, 99% to democrats.
* Gallo Winery, $337K, 95% to democrats;
* Southern Wine & Spirits, $213K, 73% to democrats;
* Joseph E. Seagrams & Sons (includes beverage business, plus considerable media interests), $2M+, 67% democrats.
* Sonic Corporation, $83K, 98% democrat;
* Triarc Companies (Arby's, T.J. Cinnamon's, Pasta Connections), $112K, 96% Democrats;
* Hyatt Corporation, $187K, 80% to democrats;
AGAINST US:
* WalMart, $467K, 97% to republicans;
* K-Mart, $524K, 86% to republicans;
* Home Depot, $298K, 89% to republicans;
* Target, $226K, 70% to republicans;
* Circuit City Stores, $261K, 95% to republicans;
* 3M Co., $281K, 87% to republicans;
* Hallmark Cards, $319K, 92% to republicans;
* Amway, $391K, 100% republican;
* Kohler Co. (plumbing fixtures), $283K, 100% republicans;
* B.F. Goodrich (tires), $215K, 97% to republicans;
* Proctor & Gamble, $243K, 79% to republicans;
* Coors, $174K, 92% to republicans; (also Budweiser - sd)
* Brown-Forman Corp. (Southern Comfort, Jack Daniels, Bushmills, Korbel wines - as well as Lennox China, Dansk, Gorham Silver), $644, 80% to republicans;
* Pilgrim's Pride Corp. (chicken), $366K, 100% republican;
* Outback Steakhouse, $641K, 95% republican;
* Tricon Global Restaurants (KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell), $133K, 87% republican;
* Brinker International (Maggiano's, Brinker Cafe, Chili's, On the
Border, Macaroni Grill, Crazymel's, Corner Baker, EatZis), $242K, 83% republican;
* Waffle House, $279K, 100% republican;
* McDonald's Corp., $197K, 86% republican;
* Darden Restaurants (Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Smokey Bones, Bahama Breeze), $121K, 89% republican;
* Mariott International, $323K, 81% to republicans;
* Holiday Inns, $38K, 71% to republicans
WITH US:
* Price Club/Costco donated $225K, of which 99% went to democrats;
* Rite Aid, $517K, 60% to democrats;
* Magla Products (Stanley tools, Mr. Clean), $22K, 100% to democrats;
* Warnaco (undergarments), $55K, 73% to democrats;
* Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, $153K, 99% to democrats;
* Estee Lauder, $448K, 95% to democrats;
* Guess ? Inc., $145K, 98% to democrats;
* Calvin Klein, $78K, 100% to democrats;
* Liz Claiborne, Inc., $34K, 97% to democrats;
* Levi Straus, $26K, 97% to democrats;
* Olan Mills, $175K, 99% to democrats.
* Gallo Winery, $337K, 95% to democrats;
* Southern Wine & Spirits, $213K, 73% to democrats;
* Joseph E. Seagrams & Sons (includes beverage business, plus considerable media interests), $2M+, 67% democrats.
* Sonic Corporation, $83K, 98% democrat;
* Triarc Companies (Arby's, T.J. Cinnamon's, Pasta Connections), $112K, 96% Democrats;
* Hyatt Corporation, $187K, 80% to democrats;
AGAINST US:
* WalMart, $467K, 97% to republicans;
* K-Mart, $524K, 86% to republicans;
* Home Depot, $298K, 89% to republicans;
* Target, $226K, 70% to republicans;
* Circuit City Stores, $261K, 95% to republicans;
* 3M Co., $281K, 87% to republicans;
* Hallmark Cards, $319K, 92% to republicans;
* Amway, $391K, 100% republican;
* Kohler Co. (plumbing fixtures), $283K, 100% republicans;
* B.F. Goodrich (tires), $215K, 97% to republicans;
* Proctor & Gamble, $243K, 79% to republicans;
* Coors, $174K, 92% to republicans; (also Budweiser - sd)
* Brown-Forman Corp. (Southern Comfort, Jack Daniels, Bushmills, Korbel wines - as well as Lennox China, Dansk, Gorham Silver), $644, 80% to republicans;
* Pilgrim's Pride Corp. (chicken), $366K, 100% republican;
* Outback Steakhouse, $641K, 95% republican;
* Tricon Global Restaurants (KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell), $133K, 87% republican;
* Brinker International (Maggiano's, Brinker Cafe, Chili's, On the
Border, Macaroni Grill, Crazymel's, Corner Baker, EatZis), $242K, 83% republican;
* Waffle House, $279K, 100% republican;
* McDonald's Corp., $197K, 86% republican;
* Darden Restaurants (Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Smokey Bones, Bahama Breeze), $121K, 89% republican;
* Mariott International, $323K, 81% to republicans;
* Holiday Inns, $38K, 71% to republicans
Monday, December 06, 2004
with love and apologies to dr. seuss
how the grinch stole gay marriage
by mary ann horton
Every gay down in Gayville liked gay marriage a lot...
But the Grinch, who lived just east of Gayville, did NOT!!
The Grinch hated happy Gays! The whole Marriage season!
Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason.
It could be his head wasn't screwed on just right.
It could be, perhaps, his Florsheims were too tight.
But I think the most likely reason of all was
His heart and brain were two sizes too small.
"And they're buying their tuxes!" he snarled with a sneer,
"Tomorrow's the first Gay Wedding! It's practically here!"
Then he growled, with his Grinch fingers nervously
drumming,
"I MUST find some way to stop Gay Marriage from coming!"
For, tomorrow, he knew... All the Gay girls and boys
would wake bright and early. They'd rush for their vows!
And then! Oh, the Joys! Oh, the Joys!
And THEN they'd do something he liked least of all!
Every Gay down in Gayville the tall and the small,
would stand close together, all happy and blissing.
They'd stand hand-in-hand. And the Gays would start
kissing!
I MUST stop Gay Marriage from coming! ...But HOW?"
Then he got an idea! An awful idea!
THE GRINCH GOT A WONDERFUL, AWFUL IDEA!
"I know what to do!" The Grinch laughed in his throat.
And he went to his closet, grabbed his sheet and his hood.
And he chuckled, and clucked, with a great Grinchy word!
"With this beard and this cross, I look just like our
Lord!"
"All I need is a Scripture..." The Grinch looked around.
But, true Scripture is scarce, there was none to be found.
Did that stop the old Grinch...? No! The Grinch simply
said,
"With no Scripture on Marriage, I'll fake one instead!"
"It's one man and one woman," the Grinch falsely said.
Then he broke in the courthouse. A rather tight pinch.
But, if Georgie could do it, then so could the Grinch.
The little Gay benefits hung in a row.
"These bennies," he grinned, "are the first things to go!"
Then he slithered and slunk, with a smile most uncanny,
around the whole room, and he took every benny!
Health care for partners! Doctors for kiddies!
Tax rights! Adoptions! Pensions and Wills!
And he stuffed them in bags. Then the Grinch, with a chill,
Stuffed all the bags, one by one, in his bill.
Then he slunk to the kitchen, and stole Wedding Cake.
He cleaned out that icebox and made it look straight.
He took the Gay-bar keys! He took the Gay Flag.
Why, that Grinch even took their last Gay birdseed bag!
And NOW!" grinned the Grinch, "I will pocket their Rings."
And the Grinch grabbed the Rings, and he started to shove
when he heard a small sound like the coo of a dove.
He turned around fast, and off flew his hood.
Little Lisa-Bi Gay behind him sadly stood.
The Grinch had been caught by small Lisa-Bi.
She stared at the Grinch and said, "My, oh, my, why?"
"Why are you taking our Wedding Rings? WHY?"
But, you know, that old Grinch was so smart and so slick
He thought up a lie, and he thought it up quick!
"Why, my sweet little tot," the fake Shepherd sneered,
"The judges are evil, the other states weird."
"I'll fix the rings there and I'll bring them back here."
It was quarter past dawn... All the Gays, still a-bed,
all the Gays still a-snooze when he packed up and fled.
"Pooh-Pooh to the Gays!" he was grinch-ish-ly humming.
"They're finding out now no Gay Marriage is coming!"
"Their mouths will hang open a minute or two
then the Gays down in Gayville will all cry Boo-Hoo!"
He stared down at Gayville! The Grinch popped his eyes!
Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise!
Every Gay down in Gayville, the tall and the small,
was kissing! Without any bennies at all!
He HADN'T stopped Marriage from coming! IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?"
"It came without lawyers, no papers to sort!"
"It came without licenses, came without courts!"
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Marriage," he thought, "doesn't come from the court.
Maybe Marriage...perhaps... comes right from the heart.
Maybe Marriage comes from all the words the Gays say.
Words like Husband, like Wedding, and Spouse who is Gay."
And what happened then...? Well...in Gayville they say
that the Grinch's small brain grew three sizes that day!
And the Gays had their Weddings. They promised for life.
They swore to be faithful, to Wife and her Wife.
The Husbands were happy, to each other they vowed
To be Out and be Honest, be Gay and be Proud.
They told all their neighbors and friends of their Spouse,
They told of their Marriage and sharing their house.
They said "We got Married." They shouted it loud.
Their marital status was "Married and Proud."
And the minute his heart didn't feel quite so tight,
He whizzed with his load through the bright morning light.
And he brought back the rings, cake and Gay birdseed bags!
And he... ...HE HIMSELF... hung the Gay Rainbow Flag!
"The Lord looked down, at the proud and the tall,
and said "These are my children, and I love them all."
by mary ann horton
Every gay down in Gayville liked gay marriage a lot...
But the Grinch, who lived just east of Gayville, did NOT!!
The Grinch hated happy Gays! The whole Marriage season!
Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason.
It could be his head wasn't screwed on just right.
It could be, perhaps, his Florsheims were too tight.
But I think the most likely reason of all was
His heart and brain were two sizes too small.
"And they're buying their tuxes!" he snarled with a sneer,
"Tomorrow's the first Gay Wedding! It's practically here!"
Then he growled, with his Grinch fingers nervously
drumming,
"I MUST find some way to stop Gay Marriage from coming!"
For, tomorrow, he knew... All the Gay girls and boys
would wake bright and early. They'd rush for their vows!
And then! Oh, the Joys! Oh, the Joys!
And THEN they'd do something he liked least of all!
Every Gay down in Gayville the tall and the small,
would stand close together, all happy and blissing.
They'd stand hand-in-hand. And the Gays would start
kissing!
I MUST stop Gay Marriage from coming! ...But HOW?"
Then he got an idea! An awful idea!
THE GRINCH GOT A WONDERFUL, AWFUL IDEA!
"I know what to do!" The Grinch laughed in his throat.
And he went to his closet, grabbed his sheet and his hood.
And he chuckled, and clucked, with a great Grinchy word!
"With this beard and this cross, I look just like our
Lord!"
"All I need is a Scripture..." The Grinch looked around.
But, true Scripture is scarce, there was none to be found.
Did that stop the old Grinch...? No! The Grinch simply
said,
"With no Scripture on Marriage, I'll fake one instead!"
"It's one man and one woman," the Grinch falsely said.
Then he broke in the courthouse. A rather tight pinch.
But, if Georgie could do it, then so could the Grinch.
The little Gay benefits hung in a row.
"These bennies," he grinned, "are the first things to go!"
Then he slithered and slunk, with a smile most uncanny,
around the whole room, and he took every benny!
Health care for partners! Doctors for kiddies!
Tax rights! Adoptions! Pensions and Wills!
And he stuffed them in bags. Then the Grinch, with a chill,
Stuffed all the bags, one by one, in his bill.
Then he slunk to the kitchen, and stole Wedding Cake.
He cleaned out that icebox and made it look straight.
He took the Gay-bar keys! He took the Gay Flag.
Why, that Grinch even took their last Gay birdseed bag!
And NOW!" grinned the Grinch, "I will pocket their Rings."
And the Grinch grabbed the Rings, and he started to shove
when he heard a small sound like the coo of a dove.
He turned around fast, and off flew his hood.
Little Lisa-Bi Gay behind him sadly stood.
The Grinch had been caught by small Lisa-Bi.
She stared at the Grinch and said, "My, oh, my, why?"
"Why are you taking our Wedding Rings? WHY?"
But, you know, that old Grinch was so smart and so slick
He thought up a lie, and he thought it up quick!
"Why, my sweet little tot," the fake Shepherd sneered,
"The judges are evil, the other states weird."
"I'll fix the rings there and I'll bring them back here."
It was quarter past dawn... All the Gays, still a-bed,
all the Gays still a-snooze when he packed up and fled.
"Pooh-Pooh to the Gays!" he was grinch-ish-ly humming.
"They're finding out now no Gay Marriage is coming!"
"Their mouths will hang open a minute or two
then the Gays down in Gayville will all cry Boo-Hoo!"
He stared down at Gayville! The Grinch popped his eyes!
Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise!
Every Gay down in Gayville, the tall and the small,
was kissing! Without any bennies at all!
He HADN'T stopped Marriage from coming! IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?"
"It came without lawyers, no papers to sort!"
"It came without licenses, came without courts!"
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Marriage," he thought, "doesn't come from the court.
Maybe Marriage...perhaps... comes right from the heart.
Maybe Marriage comes from all the words the Gays say.
Words like Husband, like Wedding, and Spouse who is Gay."
And what happened then...? Well...in Gayville they say
that the Grinch's small brain grew three sizes that day!
And the Gays had their Weddings. They promised for life.
They swore to be faithful, to Wife and her Wife.
The Husbands were happy, to each other they vowed
To be Out and be Honest, be Gay and be Proud.
They told all their neighbors and friends of their Spouse,
They told of their Marriage and sharing their house.
They said "We got Married." They shouted it loud.
Their marital status was "Married and Proud."
And the minute his heart didn't feel quite so tight,
He whizzed with his load through the bright morning light.
And he brought back the rings, cake and Gay birdseed bags!
And he... ...HE HIMSELF... hung the Gay Rainbow Flag!
"The Lord looked down, at the proud and the tall,
and said "These are my children, and I love them all."
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