Genrals March on Bush

And slap the incomopetent Bush silly:

House Dems to support Iraq resolution - Yahoo! News: "Four retired senior U.S. military officers criticized the administration's strategy at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing.

'It's a fool's errand,' said Gen. Barry McCaffrey. 'Our allies are leaving us,' he said. 'Make no mistake about that. Most will be gone by this summer.'

Retired Marine Corps Gen. Joseph P. Hoar, said, 'The new strategy reflects the inability of the administration to get it right.' He said, 'The proposed solution to send in more troops won't work. It is far too little and too late.'"

Not to mention that Republican Olympia Snowe has joined Hagel in crossing the aisle to support slapping the idiot-bush-boy's policy down.

So far, Sens. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Olympia Snowe of Maine are the only Republicans to announce their backing for the Senate measure. A third lawmaker, Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., signaled during the day he is giving serious consideration to joining them.

I would be willing to bet (IF I were a gambling man, I am not!) that as long as the failing bush continues killing his own GOP's integrity, and any chances of other GOP candidates getting re-elected in the future, by continuing his ESCALATION policiy you will start seeing some of the more moderate GOP members asking if they can pemanently cross the aisle...

Ya think?

Blog for Choice Day

Via CGG's ever caffeinated Blog:

On January 22nd - the 34th anniversary of Roe v. Wade - we are asking pro-choice bloggers to join us in a day of activism for choice. Blog for Choice Day is a chance to raise the profile of reproductive rights issues in the blogosphere and the media, and to let everyone know that a woman's right to choose is nonnegotiable.

This year's topic is a simple one: tell us, and your readers, why you're pro-choice.

Sign up for Blog for Choice Day below to let us know that you're planning on devoting at least one post on January 22nd to sharing the story behind your pro-choice beliefs. You can download a Blog for Choice Day sidebar graphic to let your readers know that you're participating. We'll send you a reminder, and link to your post here. You can also tag your posts with "Blog for Choice" to show you're joining in.

If you're not a blog or a website, please encourage your favorite sites to take part in Blog for Choice Day!

Together we can ensure that the blogosphere is flooded on January 22nd with pro-choice voices.

This is one of the reasons I became involved in the multi-blogger "Anti-Alito-Brigade" effort...

Global Warming

OK... So everyone is losing out with Climate Change:

The cost of climate change:
A state of Washington report on the effects of climate change said “It’s safe to say that virtually every aspect of the state’s economy will be affected by climate change.” This includes higher prices for lumber, water, and crops and additional expenses to protect shorelines from flooding.But of course it’s not just Washington, it’s happening in all the states. Plant zones shifted one zone north from 1990-2006, Sue says, what happens when Connecticut (where we’re moving to) becomes California? And what will the climate in southern California be like in 10 years?

But California will also lose with a Blogger that gives a damn about these things moving to Connecticut. If the Blogger sticks around long enough we may even be able to give him a warm California welcome here in CT... I guess it is a good-news-bad-news kindof thing, eh?

No offense, but I really like my winters with snow!

Tweety said what?

On stopping the failed Bush administration and their Middle East failures Tweety said "It's not a left-wing position... It's an Amaerican position."

“If you want America to be a hegemonic power in the Middle East, you’re out of step with the American people. We’re not going to fight it out with Iran for the next 30 years to see who the big shit — I’m sorry — the big name is on the block.”

He also said a naughty word... But who really gives a shit about that?

Dodd introduces bill to cap U.S. troop levels in Iraq

There are not many details in the report but Sen. Dodd has made the obvious first move in stopping the reckless Bush administration from ESCALATING the failed Bush war.

Dodd introduces bill to cap U.S. troop levels in Iraq

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Connecticut, is hoping to become a strong voice against President Bush's plan to increase U.S. troops in Iraq.

The presidential candidate introduced legislation Tuesday that put a limit on the number of troops in Iraq at about 132,000.

Dodd's bill also would require congressional approval in order for any additional troops to be sent to Iraq. This is the kind of thing that needs a push and a shove from every Senators' constituants. Start dialing and Emailing! and ask them to support this.

[update]A PDF of the beginings of the bill Via Gabe at CLP:

My initial reaction is that this legislation has a better chance of passing than does Senator Kennedy’s legislation denying funding for a troop escalation (which Senator Dodd also supports) and also has a much better chance of surviving the sure veto. This legislation has the potential to attract more Republicans who have become disillusioned about Iraq.

I like that Dodd is doing this but there is always Kenedy’s bill to consider as well. In the case of the reckless bush administration it would be safer and wiser to back whichever bill has more controls. Also, Hillary Clinton is on record as supporting the same sort of idea as Dodd's bill. Though, Clinton makes no mention of any bill.

Obama Files Papers: He's all in.

Was there ever any doubts about this?

Obama takes 1st step in presidential bid
Obama announced his intentions to file a presidential exploratory committee on his Web site. He said he would announce more about his plans in his hometown of Chicago on Feb. 10.

"I didn't expect to find myself in this position a year ago," Obama said in a video posting. "I've been struck by how hungry we all are for a different kind of politics. So I spent some time thinking about how I could best advance the cause of change and progress we so desperately need.

"The decisions that have been made in the past six years have put our country in a precarious place," he said.

[update]There was speculation on MSNBC that Hillary Clinton may have cancelled her plans to announce her running today because shortly after Obama's announcement she postponed/cancelled a news gaggle she had planned.

Troops Fight Bush, Lieberman, McCain

I saw this sory at the HuffPo, But Crooks & Liars asks the obvious question:

WSJ via HuffPo:

A group of more than 50 active-duty military officers will deliver a petition to Congress on Tuesday signed by about 1,000 troops calling for an end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq. "Any troop increase over here will just produce more sitting ducks, more targets," said Sergeant Ronn Cantu, who is serving in Iraq.

Under the 1988 Military Whistleblower Protection Act, active duty military, National Guard, and Reservists may communicate with any member of Congress without fear of reprisal, even if copies of the communication are sent to others.

Will Cheney accuse them of undermining the troops as well?

Mr. Bush CANNOT Ignore Congress: Shut the Idiot Down!

This YouTube video is a pretty crappy quality one but it has Mr. Bush saying what you need to know about his education process for increasing troops:



Mr. Bush says he "thinks" he can just ignore Congress and ESCALATE the war in Iraq. Meanwhile Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) introduced a resolution requiring Mr. Bush to gain new congressional authorization (PDF) before escalating the War in Iraq:

The legislation requires the Congress to vote before the President escalates troop levels in Iraq.

The legislation claims the people’s right to a full voice in the President’s plan to send more troops into the Iraq civil war. It says that no funds can be spent to send additional troops to Iraq unless Congress approves the President’s proposed escalation of American forces.

The Iraq War Resolution of 2002 authorized a war against the regime of Saddam Hussein because he was believed to have weapons of mass destruction and an operational relationship with Al Qaeda, and was in defiance of U.N. Security Council Resolutions.

The mission of our armed forces today in Iraq no longer bears any resemblance to the mission authorized by Congress.

Iraq has descended into civil war and sectarian violence continues to escalate. …

President Bush should not be permitted to increase the number of United States troops in harm’s way in the civil war without a specific new authorization from Congress.

As for what Mr. Bush "thinks" he can do... The precedence is already there to shut down his effort to continue failure and he has no choice but to bow to Congress:

December 1970. P.L. 91-652 — Supplemental Foreign Assistance Law. The Church-Cooper amendment prohibited the use of any funds for the introduction of U.S. troops to Cambodia or provide military advisors to Cambodian forces.

December 1974. P.L. 93-559 — Foreign Assistance Act of 1974. The Congress established a personnel ceiling of 4000 Americans in Vietnam within six months of enactment and 3000 Americans within one year.

June 1983. P.L. 98-43 — The Lebanon Emergency Assistance Act of 1983. The Congress required the president to return to seek statutory authorization if he sought to expand the size of the U.S. contingent of the Multinational Force in Lebanon.

June 1984. P.L. 98-525 — The Defense Authorization Act. The Congress capped the end strength level of United States forces assigned to permanent duty in European NATO countries at 324,400.

November 1993. P.L. 103-139. The Congress limited the use of funding in Somalia for operations of U.S. military personnel only until March 31, 1994, permitting expenditure of funds for the mission thereafter only if the president sought and Congress provided specific authorization.

Mr. Bush is sadly mistaken if he thinks he can play politics with soldiers lives, in an effort to push his Iraqi failures onto the next administration without Congress stepping in, and rightfully so, to shut him down.

It must really suck to be in the miniscule minority of Constitutional-ignoring, warmongerring, neocon-ass-kissing, failed-ideology-embracing, far-right-wingut-bush-loving spin doctor right about now. Because no amount of Bush propaganda from those screaming idiots is going to educate anyone...

Edwards sneaking into Hillary's home turf...

John Edwards is sneaking into Hillary's home turf to deliver a message that we need to consider cutting the funding because of W's loony proposal of escalation:

On Sunday, January 14th, Senator John Edwards will speak at Riverside Church in Harlem in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. In his address, Edwards will speak about the the Iraq war escalation. Watch the video for a preview.

Once this kindof messaging sets sail look for Hillary to stick her finger in the air and pick up on this message long after everyone else... Leading from the rear, as per usual.

You can also watch a live webcast of Senator Edwards speaking at Riverside Church at 4 PM EST on Sunday, January 14 by clicking here.

Strategic Redeployment

Mr. Bush in his radio address last week:

“ Members of Congress have a right to express their views, and express them forcefully. But those who refuse to give this plan a chance to work have an obligation to offer an alternative that has a better chance for success. To oppose everything while proposing nothing is irresponsible.”

Over and over again we have proposed the only real solution left to you, and you refuse to listen to it because of your vanity Mr. Bush... Redeployment.

America is Ready for Change

By Lawrence J. Korb, Brian Katulis

November 8, 2006

When the new Congress takes office in January, it will be time to get serious about America's strategy in Iraq. It's time to change course.

That's why today we ask the president, his handpicked Iraq Study Group (led by former Secretary of State James Baker and former Indiana congressman Lee H. Hamilton), and congressional leaders to consider our reasoned, pragmatic plan to strategically redeploy our military forces in Iraq and around the region to fight our terrorist enemies in the most effective and most lethal fashion possible.

One year ago the Center for American Progress issued its first report calling for a responsible exit from Iraq as part of a balanced global strategy to make Americans safer. We reiterated that call six months later as subsequent events only underscored the need to act on our proposals. Today, the situation in Iraq is even more dire.

Violence in Iraq is spiraling out of control as it turns inward, with sectarian killings surpassing deaths from terrorist bombings and militias splintering the country. Squabbling among Iraqi leaders makes matters worse. America simply must adjust to the grim realities on the ground.

The Bush administration's mistakes in Iraq - invading for the wrong reasons and without enough troops to secure the country - have left us with no good options. It's understandable that a growing number of Americans are calling for an immediate withdrawal, but we believe that would only further destabilize Iraq and much of the Middle East. Accordingly, we are calling for a comprehensive strategic redeployment from Iraq by the end of 2007 that will:

• Restore the strength of U.S. ground troops.
• Exercise a strategic shift to meet global threats from Islamist extremists.
• Prevent U.S. troops from being caught in the middle of a civil war in Iraq.
• Avert mass sectarian and ethnic cleansing in Iraq.
• Provide time for Iraq's elected leaders to strike a power-sharing agreement.
• Empower Iraq's security forces to take control.
• Get those Iraqis fighting to end the occupation to lay down their arms.
• Motivate the U.N., global, and regional powers to get more involved in Iraq.
• Give the U.S. the moral, political, and military power to deal with Iran's attempt to develop nuclear weapons.
• Prevent an outbreak of isolationism in the United States.

The end goals of this strategic shift are clear, but to accomplish it the United States must implement a policy of strategic redeployment that:

• Reduces U.S. troops to 60,000 by the end of 2006 and to zero by the end of 2007, while redeploying troops to Afghanistan, Kuwait, and the Persian Gulf.
• Engages in diplomacy to resolve the conflict within Iraq by convening a Geneva Peace Conference modeled on the Dayton Accords.
• Establishes a Gulf Security initiative to deal with the aftermath of U.S. redeployment from Iraq and the growing nuclear capabilities of Iran.
• Puts Iraq's reconstruction back on track with targeted international funds.
• Counters extremist Islamic ideology around the globe through long-term efforts to support the creation of democratic institutions and press freedoms.

Only after the United States has set the conditions for redeployment out of Iraq in order to engage the global strategic threats our nation faces can Americans rest assured that they will be safer. For more details on the report, please see our executive summary, the full report, and related materials gathered by the Center for American Progress elsewhere on our website.

Strategic Redeployment 2.0: Read the executive summary and full report here (PDF)

Change a few of those dates on those strategy suggestions and it is still a working plan that would have us down to 60,000 soldiers being used as Iraqi insurgents targets by mid 2007.

The problem for Bush is not that we don't have a plan... It is that it makes him and his failed White House administration take responsibility for their failures before Bush is out of office. And Bush is not man enough to accept his failure gracefully. Bush would rather play politics with the soldiers lives.

Senate To Deny Pensions To Convicted Lawmakers

According to cbs4denver.com:

Senate To Deny Pensions To Convicted Lawmakers:
"“Members of Congress convicted of serious crimes would lose their taxpayer-paid pensions, sometimes totaling more than $100,000 a year, under a measure unanimously approved by the Senate Friday.”"

This sure as heck makes a lot of sense but it will make a lot of Republicans unhappy. heh

I managed the switch to beta

It was a bit of a pain in the butt... But I have it done with and just have to update my sidebar now. ACCCCK!!! lol

Pentagon drops active-duty time limit - Soldier drops clothes

While bush gets the Pentagon to abandon active-duty time limits in order to break the military even more than they already have:

The Pentagon has abandoned its limit on the time a citizen-soldier can be required to serve on active duty, officials said Thursday, a major change that reflects an Army stretched thin by longer-than-expected combat in
Iraq.

It appears that one soldier may have found a way to get out of going back to the middle east:

An Air Force staff sergeant who posed nude for Playboy magazine has been relieved of her duties while the military investigates, officials said Thursday.

In February's issue, hitting newsstands this week, Michelle Manhart is photographed in uniform yelling and holding weapons under the headline "Tough Love." The following pages show her partially clothed, wearing her dog tags while working out, as well as completely nude.

snip

"Of what I did, nothing is wrong, so I didn't anticipate anything, of course," Manhart, 30, told The Associated Press. "I didn't do anything wrong, so I didn't think it would be a major issue."

I have never heard of any soldier dropping their clothes for a magazine and not getting the boot from the military, so I doubt she will be the exception to the rule.

A G-rated Slideshow:
Air Force sergeant poses for Playboy

Coulter's in it deeper

It looks like Anne Coulter may have even more felonies on his record at the end of his voter fraud investigation:

The BRAD BLOG:
"Newly added to the previously known allegations of Voter Fraud --- when Coulter used her realtor's address instead of her own on her Voter Registration Application --- is the allegation by the Palm Beach Police Department that Coulter seems to also have given that same, incorrect address when applying for a driver's license after moving to the tony Sunshine State 'hood, where her fellow GOP propagandist Rush Limbaugh has recently had his own troubles following the rule of law.

The allegation concerning Driver's License Fraud would be yet another third degree felony, according to the Palm Beach Police Department report!"