One of Bush's "secret prisons" revealed?

President Bush has admitted recently, that the U.S. is running several "secret prisons" around the world. Has one of these prisons recently been revealed? In a CNN story today, an AP reporter caught sight of a man identified as Brent L. Bennett boarding a plane leaving Kabul, Afghanistan. An American lawyer filing papers on Bennett's behalf said he didn't know whether or not Bennett was in U.S. custody. He had boarded the plane without wearing any restraints.

The man had been convicted in Afghanistan for running a "private prison" in Kabul. When Afghan security forces had raided the house, they found eight afghan men who were being held there who had been abused.

Is this one of the "secret prisons" around the world that Bush has admitted to? If so, can anyone really call something like this a prison? A house, where a couple of "bone-breaker" thugs abuse men trying to get them to talk is not a prison, so much as a toture facility.

Free speech under fire?

Just more proof that our government and it's subsidiary agencies don't give a crap about our right to free speech! Free speech in this country gives me the right to call the President a BOOB, if that's what I want to do, and I do. Dissent, is the first and foremost weapon we have in this country to make our government, and our fellow citizens aware of our dissatisfaction with the way we are being governed. Our President, and those who serve under him are constantly asserting that to speak out against them, or their polocies is to endanger America. They have even gone so far as to say that dissenting against the U.S. government is akin to supporting terrorists!

The only terrorists in this country are the members of the Bush administration, who are constantly terrorizing the American public with threats of violence against us if we don't do what they say. I will not give up my right to free speech, Mr. Bush. You can count on that!

Do they protest too much?

A CNN story today, is reporting on U.S. and French officials denying any credibility to a report stating that Osama Bin Laden is dead. It almost seems to me that the ferociousness with which they are denying this seems out of all perspective. You'd think they would sound hopeful that this is actually true. But they don't. Could it be that they don't want the world at large to know Bin Laden is dead. Alive, he is a fear-stick they can wave at people and use as an excuse to continue the war on terror. Dead, he's a martyr, and everyone knows a martyr can often become more powerful than the living man he was.

There can be little doubt that Bin Laden was behind 9/11, he's admitted it himself in numerous broadcasts. Could it be that those benefitting from the hunt for Bin Laden would like to see it continue? Hopefully truly independent investigation will go into this issue so that we can all know what is really going on.

A great article from the Los Angeles Times

Here's a link to a great article at the Common Dreams Newscenter...a great resource for those Americans interested in protecting our civil liberties and way of life.

Well, it's starting...

Not sure if all this power we've been giving our President is going to bite us in the ass? Read this story at CNN, and then tell me this is still a free country! Now the Federal government is going to force every American between the ages of 13 and 64 to be tested for Aids. That's right, even children...since when did the government become our parent, to tell us what to do with our own bodies?

Sure, they're going to say, "we're not forcing this on anyone, it's a recommendation." But then again, according to the article they're planning to make this a standard procedure whenever you go into a healthcare provider for urgent care, and that basically it will be hidden in a consent form...you know, that form that you have to sign or else they can refuse to treat you!! So when you go into the emergency room needing life-saving surgery, if you don't want to be tested for AIDS and refuse to sign the form, well, they'll just wheel you out and you can take your chances!

And what I ask, is the government going to do with anyone who does submit to this voluntary testing and it comes up positive? According to the article, they'll have access to "life-extending treatments". According to the CDC, they want to "prevent the further spread of the disease and prompt needed care for an estimated 250,000 Americans who have the AIDS virus but don't know it." According to the CIA World Factbook, the United States population as of July of 2006 is an estimated 298,444,215. Now, I've tried to do the math, and I'm no good at math, but I'm figuring even only counting those aged 13 to 64 out of the U.S. population, they're wanting to test (and this is a rough guess) nearly 200,000,000 people to try and identify what would be about, what? 1/10th of a percent of our population that might be carrying the AIDS virus? Excessive? I think so.

I see this as an attempt by our government to try and segragate portions of our nation. What's next? You show up a positive on this test and they'll brand a large "A" on your forehead so everyone will know you're an AIDS carrier? And why stop at just AIDS? Why not start testing for genetic defects, or maybe just trying to weed out people with undesireable traits, like being left-handed, red-headed, or a free thinker? Here is where all this power we've been giving the Federal government is leading to folks, Big Brother isn't on his way, he's here and we've given him all our rights and freedoms. But don't worry, he'll make this country a safer, better place to live...you won't have to make any decisions anymore, he'll make them all for you!

Bush has no clue what an ASS he looks like...

When the government breaks down your door...

In a story on CNN.com today, I find the true motives behind the Bush administrations' view on illegal immigration. While George Bush talks about the value of immigrants in this country, and the positive impact they have on our economy and culture, the recent actions of Federal agents shows their true intent. CNN describes the town of Stillmore, GA as a ghost town after Federal agents began mass arrests of illegal immigrants there. Now, let's all remember that the term "illegal immigrants" simply means a person who still maintains citizenship in a country other than the U.S. and lives and works here. The term "illegal immigrant" doesn't necessarily mean someone who is here in this country with the intention of performing illegal acts. They are not terrorists or criminals.

The story goes on to describe how families are being broken up, the local poultry plant is scrambling to find employees to fill vacancies left and the local businesses have lost most of their customers. It goes on to describe how many mexicans have scattered into the local woods to hide from authorities. How many of these people will, because of our governments strong-arm tactics, turn in desperation to theft, and possibly worse to survive, now that we have made them fugitives?

About half-way through the article, was one quote by the Mayor of Stillmore who said this, which I find more telling about the Bush administrations tactics than anything else.

"This reminds me of what I read about Nazi Germany, the Gestapo
coming in and yanking people up," Slater stated.

I find this kind of fascist, strong-arm justice imcomprehensible in this day and age. George W. Bush has sent this country back in time at least 50 years if not more. Today, it's mexicans being rounded up and shipped out, will gays be next? How many more minorities and cultures will be purged before they'll just start breaking down the doors of any American citizens homes and rounding us up?

Why aren't we impeaching Bush?

In the news today, former Secretary of State, and four-star general, Colin Powell has sent a letter to Senator John McCain stating that he is against any changes to common article III of the Geneva Convention. Changes wanted by President Bush so that they can torture detainees without having to call it torture...and so that they can prosecute them without having to provide evidence to the defense, and so that coerced testimony can be used.

Do you get the feeling that President Bush doesn't feel he has a real case against the 400+ detainees we are now holding? Why else would he need to use torture, coerced testimony... and keep evidence against them, "secret"? The question I have to ask myself is...why aren't we impeaching Bush by this time? He has proven himself one of the most imcompetent, amoral presidents of our countries history. He has used fear and hatred as the basis for almost everything he's done in office since 9/11. Nearly 3,000 Americans have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, more than died in the 9/11 attacks, and those are just the American deaths...no one really knows how many innocent Iraqi's have died since the beginning of the war.

How can we stomach having a President in office who has lied time and time again, and yes, he has been proven to have lied multiple times. He neither apologizes for those lies, or gives any reason for them other than the fact that if he'd been truthful, the American public would never have gone along with what he's wanted to get his way. Former Presidnet Bill Clinton was nearly impeached for nothing more than an indiscretion with Monica Lewinsky...how can we allow Bush to get away with everything that he has over the past five years and we haven't even called him to account?

So far the "War on Terror", has cost this country $469 BILLION! And that figure is expected to bloat to at least $1 TRILLION before we could possibly get out of Iraq. President Bush is bankrupting this country, and we will be paying the price for this over the next several decades. It's time for the American people to stand up and say, "enough is enough Mr. Bush, we will take no more of this!"

All loyal Americans please watch this

Keith Olbermann has said it better than I ever could or will...

Fantastic, off-beat music

Awhile back, I discovered a semi-pro musician that releases his music (most of it, anyway) under a creative commons license. His music is so fresh and funny that I went ahead and purchased two of his albums. If you like off-beat, funny music then go to his website here, and listen to Skullcrusher Mountain if you don't listen to anything else! It'll make you want to hear more, it's what got me hooked.

Dropping gas prices....

I'm sure everyone has noticed how gas prices have been dropping the last few weeks...my question is, why? Now I hate to question a good thing, but I have to wonder what the motives are for gas prices dropping now.

We're still deeply embroiled in Iraq, which is one of the biggest reasons they've had for keeping gas prices so high. Tensions between Lebanon and Isreal are still no better than they were a couple of months ago....Tensions between Iran and anywhere are still high.

Sure, Shell found oil in the gulf of mexico, but they're saing it's only enough to supply the U.S.'s needs for 1-3 years and it'll take billions of dollars and years to get it out. So why have gas prices (at least here), dropped nearly 60 cents in the last three weeks? My theory is the Oil Barrons have dropped the price of unleaded gasoline to help out their Republican lackeys who have been helping to line their pockets for the last couple of years. We've got elections coming up in just a couple of months, and lower gas prices could help bring some Republicans and swing-voters back into the fold.

Well, people, don't be fooled...we're being manipulated just like the price of gas is. How can I tell that? Although the price of unleaded gas has dropped nearly 60 cents per gallon, diesel hasn't. It's still over $3.00 a gallon...and it's actually easier and cheaper to make diesel than it is to make unleaded gas. So why hasn't diesel dropped in price as well? Simple, most voters don't use diesel, that's usually what's being used by long-haul truckers and businesses. If the drop in gas prices was real, everything would have dropped across the board.

So don't think the Bush administration is making headway in improving our economy, they haven't, their buddies in the oil industry are just throwing them a bone!

Bush has no concept!

If you're sick of George W. Bush and his policies, you probably don't need to see this...if you think our President is doing a good job, you should definitely see this!

This just scares me!!

Here is a quote from a story at CNN which describes how George Bush is losing the support of southern women in the polls. At the end of the story, they have this comment from a southern woman which just plain scares the crap out of me!

Still, some Southern women remain stalwart supporters of the president and the Republican Party. At a watermelon festival in Chickamauga, in the mountains of northwest Georgia, substitute teacher Clydeen Tomanio said she remains committed to the party she's called home for 43 years.

"There are some people, and I'm one of them, that believe George Bush was placed where he is by the Lord," Tomanio said. "I don't care how he governs, I will support him. I'm a Republican through and through."

It's just that kind of thinking that got a man like George Bush into the Whitehouse in the first place!

True indicator of our economy

While our government is constantly trying to convince us that our economy is improving, that jobs are plentiful and that the dollar will soon be worth more than the change in our pockets, I've been seeing the real indicators of what kind of shape our country is in. This morning, after dropping my son off for school, I went to a local Krogers to get gas in my car. As I pulled up to one of the pumps, I saw a couple walking towards me carrying a gas can. I had a feeling I knew what was coming up. As I was operating the pump to get my gas, the man carrying the gas can called out to me, asking if I could spare some gas for them. I told them "no, I couldn't". Happily for me he just said "ok", and walked off with his spouse/girlfriend.
Now, it wasn't the price of gas, or my lack of money that kept me from helping them out. A couple of years ago when someone asked me something like that, I would have gladly helped them, but over the last couple of years, I've been seeing a trend in this country...what I call, the beggars' plea. It seems lately, that I can't go into any parking lot of a grocery store, gas station or shopping center without someone asking me for gas, money for gas, money for food, money for a bus ticket, or just money. Our economy has become so pitiful that we are turning into a nation of beggars. These people are white, black, mexican, young, middle-aged...and generally seem consigned to what they're doing. As if it's become normal to them and they don't feel bad that they're begging people for something that they supposedly can't provide for themselves.
There are a few times I've been in a tight bind where I've run out of gas, or didn't have money to do something that I really needed to do...but I've never asked a total stranger for something. I've never asked for money, gas or a ride even. I've walked several miles to get to where I needed to be, I've called a family member and asked for help even. I do not beg total strangers to help me out though. I've always made my own way, not depending on the kindness, or gullibility of others.
I remember an incident about a year ago, not long after I'd started to see this trend...a young black male came up to me in a local shopping center parking lot and asked me if I could spare a few dollars for him. He was wearing designer jeans, and sneakers that I know had to have cost more than $100. I told him I didn't have anything on me and walked on. Watching from the store window, I watched as he approached several other people in the parking lot. Some of them did give him some change or cash. He then walked across the parking lot, got into a car and drove off. I have a feeling he was just heading to another parking lot where he would ply his trade, begging.
If our economy is doing so well, why are there so many beggars in our country now? Why are people driving around in cars that are held together with duct tape and bunji-cords? Or driving cars that have been smashed in so badly in a wreck that the drivers side door doesn't even open anymore, and windows have platic taped over them? I don't think our economy is doing so well Mr. Bush, if it were, I'd have given that couple this morning a couple gallons of gas and felt that I'd done a good deed for them.

Vlog02, got a new webcam

Bush becomes Bin Ladens mouthpiece!

Story here

Apparently George W. Bush has been promoted to be Osama bin Ladens' mouthpiece. Does Mr. Bush really think that he's going to drum up support for his military ambitions by trying to scare american citizens by telling us in Bin Ladens' own words what their terrorist plans are for us? Every time his support crumbles a little more, Mr. Bush pulls out Al-Qeida to try and scare us all back into line. Frankly, it's getting old and tired...I think more and more of our countries citizens are waking up to the realization that the Bush administration has no clear plan for what we are doing in the Middle-East, other than spending literally billions of dollars that could be better spent right here in the U.S.

Another childhood movie updated

An animation I made back in my youth