IT'S A SIGN

Are Republicans Happy Yet?

2011-05-23T16:16:00.000-07:00

Are you happy yet?

First you bankrupt the country. No arguments now. You all know that you did it. Fiscally responsible? Only in the same way that Fox News is fair and balanced.

Now you want to eliminate Medicare. And unions. And voters rights. And abortion.

See anything there about jobs? That's right, you don't care about jobs. You say that you do but you really only care about corporations, oil companies and how much money you can stuff in your pockets.

When I pay attention to the Republicans in office and what they say I am amazed at how stupid their words prove them to be. Too stupid to breath. Denying reality does not make you smart, it makes you useless and there are a ton of useless Republicans in office right now. Lets hope that changes soon.

Signs of Evolution

2011-04-20T11:13:00.000-07:00

We were at a Wendy’s in Grants Pass eating our chicken parts and watching the local birds when I observed one of the flock begging for French fries. He (it was a male) was facing the driver’s window of a car just outside of our window when he opened his mouth, puffed out his feathers and repeatedly made a noise like a hungry baby bird (a sound I’d heard before). His plea was successful and the car driver threw him a fry. Then he turned to us and tried the same thing. Obviously his actions were a work in progress as he hadn’t figured out yet that the restaurant windows don’t roll down to allow food to be thrown in his direction.

Needless to say I was fascinated by his behavior and had plenty of questions about how he’d learned to do his little begging routine. Was he just out of the nest when he first tried it? Did he learn it from another member of the flock? Was I watching evolution at work at the local fast food palace?

Next thing you know I was riffing about a new nature show that investigated “The Birds of Fast Food” using scientific methods to track, observe and discover what behaviors were being learned by those birds in their efforts to exploit this plentiful food source. Maybe I should look into getting a grant to do the study myself. Hmmmm.

Walker in Wisconsin

2011-03-07T14:50:00.000-08:00

I notice that the MSM seems to not know what is going on in Gov. Walker's state. It's really pretty simple. He wants to remove the public worker's right to collective bargaining, except for the firemen and policemen. Those folks supported his candidacy so they get a bye this round. He says that it's to balance the budget but that's bullshit. Seems to me that his main reason is to bust the unions. He tried it before he became governor and that cost the county where he worked about a half a million dollars because it wasn't done legally. I can't imagine what his flailing around is costing the state but you can bet that it will be more than half a million by the time he gets through feeding his ego. For his recent activities, including the prank call from one of the Koch brothers, I give him an GAA. That stands for Grade A Asshole of course. That he's a stupid one to boot is a given.

Work in Crisis

2011-02-08T14:31:00.000-08:00

Work has been hell lately. Management has taken their "How to use fear and intimidation to further your pocketbook" lessons to heart and spent way too much time trying to implement them. Maybe if they did their jobs properly we wouldn't be in such dire straights around here. It's been so bad that I've been inspired to attend union meetings which means missing my favorite television shows. A sacrifice that I am loath to make but they've chapped my hide one time too many and there is no other way to effectively keep the powers that be from turning this place into a complete wasteland. If they were left to their own devices, Mendocino County will no longer be a place that takes care of it's mentally ill population or pays it's workers a living wage.

Signs of Intolerance

2010-08-16T18:23:00.000-07:00

All the noise about that "Ground Zero Mosque" is hard to take. The very first sentence in our constitution imortalizes freedom of religion as the number one concern of our founding fathers. We're Americans damn it It's what we stand for you stupid shits. Get a brain. Read your constitution. Better yet, understand it.

Tea-Bagging Signs

2009-04-15T13:07:00.000-07:00

First you find a sign, then you tea-bag it. Try to get that visual out of your head.

The Tea Sign

2009-04-08T15:05:00.000-07:00

Obama lowering taxes for 95% of the population and ending the Bush tax cuts on the other 5% plus passing expensive investments in our economy somehow relates to the Boston Tea Party (which was about taxation without representation) so Republicans are throwing a tea party of their own.

I. Don't. Get. It.

I don't imagine anyone with their head free of their anal canal does. How stupid can you be to think that the symbolism involved actually makes sense enough to run with it? I sure hope for their sakes that they're not "rushing" into this. It could get embarrassing.

A True Sign

2008-05-03T19:21:00.000-07:00

So Hillary said to bet on the filly didn't she? Not only did it come in second, it broke down and was put down after the race. Now that's what I call a sign. Go Obama!

Signs of Employment

2008-04-12T12:09:00.000-07:00

I’m celebrating my first weekend after nearly 6 years of being unemployed. I just finished my first week working at the Mental Health Crisis center as a Staff Assistant II and I feel fine! All it took was nearly a year of interviews with various Mendocino County agencies before one of them took a chance on me and here I be. After working for some of the worst employers this county has to offer I pretty much concentrated on getting on with the county as I’d had it with toxic workplaces. So far, it looks like it was worth the wait. My supervisor is impressed with my ability to learn new things swiftly and accurately and has already said so. What a difference from my previous experiences with employers in Mendocino County.

As far as signs go, they came the day before I was offered the position on the morning of April 3’rd. The final sign came with a movie we were watching the previous night (The Shawshank Redemption) and about two thirds of the way through it I knew that I was going to get hired. Everything came together and I experienced a moment of clarity where everything I had gone through to get to this place in my life made perfect sense. It all fit together like some giant puzzle and I was finally able to see it. Now I’m starting another puzzle, the pieces of which are yet to be found and fitted together. It’s a great feeling to rejoin the ranks of the gainfully employed and a better one to finally achieve something that I’ve been working on for years. The fact that my work involves helping folks who truly need it is icing on the cake.

Special thanks go to Nancy, who has put up with me during my search for gainful employment and been supportive throughout. I couldn’t have done it without her love and understanding. We’re both looking forward to my first payday when we can rejoin the consumers of this great country and shop until we drop.

Also, Bush still sucks but life looks better than it has in quite a while so I’ll let him lie as usual without comment. Bye for now.

Health Insurance

2008-02-19T16:27:00.000-08:00

I don't care for any of the candidates plans concerning health care for all Americans. To me, the solution is obvious yet I know that chances are that it will never come about. That is because to truly fix the system you need to eliminate part of it and I don't see insurance carriers volunteering to put themselves out of business. That is the part that needs to go in my view. Possibly we could bring them into the government somehow as oversight for how the services are distributed. Otherwise, they need to go. They've already proven that when profit becomes the number one concern, our health takes a distant second. What do you think?

Signs of Fear Mongering

2008-02-15T08:55:00.000-08:00

Do you believe our President when he says the following?

"American citizens must understand, clearly understand that there's still a threat on the homeland. There's still an enemy which would like to do us harm," Bush said. "We've got to give our professionals the tools they need, to be able to figure out what the enemy is up to so we can stop it."

"By blocking this piece of legislation, our country is more in danger of an attack," he said.

Don't. He can still listen in all he wants. Any statements to the contrary are lies and bullshit. And what does telecom immunity have to do with it anyway? Not a damn thing. He's just trying to cover up his criminal acts. Not that anyone will call him on them. Lies, more lies and bullshit. That's all that ever comes out of his mouth.

Signs of R and R

2008-02-14T17:04:00.000-08:00

So, I got a haircut and shaved my beard. Now all I need is a real job. After 5 years of living on the fringes of society I've become tired of it enough to get a nine to five job and hopefully that will happen soon. Meanwhile, our Democrat controlled houses have done evrything that our criminal in chief has asked them to. It's like Bush got the goods on them through the NSA and is holding it over their heads. Amnesty for the telecoms? What the fuck is that shit? Federal crimes have been commited and we're turning the other cheek? Makes me sick. I'll be back after I go puke out my guts in disgust.

Signs of Goodbye

2007-08-27T08:58:00.000-07:00

It's rare when anyone in the Bush administration pays any sort of price for their criminal acts while doing the president's bidding so this comes as a surprise. Say goodbye to Alberto.

"Better late than never," said Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, summing up the response of many to the resignation.

Include me in that number Mr. Edwards.

Signs of a Vacation

2007-08-15T17:12:00.000-07:00

My ex-wife is getting married in New Mexico and I'm house sitting for her while she gets the deed done. Cable, DSL and air conditioning (three things I don't have at my place) make this a pretty cush gig although her dog is driving me nuts. Our dog is a schipperke (with an attitude) and she's behaving better than Biscuit. This morning our dog discovered the rocking horse tiger in Travis' bedroom and went off. It was a wonder to behold as she went absolutely bonkers, barking and snarling at it but making sure that she stayed at least 10 feet away while doing so. We pushed the tiger around the house towards her and laughed as she continued to treat it as a grave threat to her health. She finally got close enough to it to nip it when we put it away. If your wondering what this post has to do with anything, don't. Just ride the tiger and enjoy.

Signs of a Boner

2007-08-03T09:20:00.001-07:00

A federal intelligence court (FISA) judge secretly ruled earlier this year that the administration's wiretapping of communications between two countries overseas that are passed between the United States were illegal, according to the Post. After Boehner's leak, two other government officials confirmed the story to the the paper.

I wondered what motivated our criminal in chief to be pushing so strongly for changes to FISA. I guess that breaking the laws of our land does upset him somewhat so he's urging that we change those pesky laws. I say we just give in and make him our King. It will save time and give us all a break from acting like we live in a democracy.

Signs of Bullshit

2007-07-24T10:58:00.000-07:00

“I believe very strongly that there is no place for political considerations in the hiring of our career employees or in the administration of justice,” the Attorney General writes.

I believe that Albert's words reflect the extent to which he's full of shit. He helped to make it happen and now he's going to fix it? Like Hell he will. He licks his leader's boots and neither one gives a fuck about what the American people want. May they both rot in Hell.

Signs from King George

2007-07-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

I thought that this country was formed to eliminate having a king in charge but obviously George "I do what the fuck I want and screw anyone who says different" Bush was AWOL during his high school American history class. That's because even high school students know that his refusal to accept oversight doesn't square with this country's laws and constitution. All I can say is that we need to remove this criminal from the White House. By any means possible. Surely Congress needs to get a spine and impeach the bastard although a hanging, however improbable, would make me happier. It sure would wipe that smug fucking smile off of his face, wouldn't it?

Signs of Hypocrisy II

2007-07-11T08:23:00.000-07:00

Senator Vitter once said, "Some current polls may suggest that people are turned off by the whole Clinton mess and don't care -- because the stock market is good, the Clinton spin machine is even better or other reasons. But that doesn't answer the question of whether President Clinton should be impeached and removed from office because he is morally unfit to govern."

Considering what he was just caught doing I would call that a big chunk of smelly hypocrisy, something Republicans seem to be especially fond of expressing. I've always said to be wary of those who accuse due to the fact that they are often guilty of whatever they're accusing someone else of doing. This administration is obviously full of shit and here's just one more example of that fact. How many more do you need?

Signs of a Pardon

2007-07-03T09:07:00.000-07:00

At least in the near future. For now he won't serve any jail time. Hell, even Paris served some jail time. Guess Libby can't handle the time even though he did the crime. Worst. President. Ever.

Signs of Torture II

2007-06-17T07:47:00.000-07:00

By law, the President must make a formal finding authorizing a C.I.A. covert operation, and inform the senior leadership of the House and the Senate Intelligence Committees. However, the Bush Administration unilaterally determined after 9/11 that intelligence operations conducted by the military—including the Pentagon’s covert task forces—for the purposes of “preparing the battlefield” could be authorized by the President, as Commander-in-Chief, without telling Congress.

The abuses of this administration are vast and unprecedented. Of particular concern is its use of "Enhanced Interrogation Techniques" (a term the Nazis coined) with the approval of our president. Bush breaks the laws of our nation and the international community every single day, as this article in The New Yorker makes very clear. Of course, the folks being tortured are brown so that makes it O.K. in his book. May he eat shit and die.

Signs of the F-Word

2007-06-16T21:41:00.000-07:00

The tone of my blog is not exactly mild and before you judge my use of the F-word, here are some things I hope you will consider.

The people in charge of this country right now hate people like me. I have a brain and I use it. I’m progressive in my outlook (as are the majority of Americans) and I don’t tolerate intolerance. I also don’t tolerate thieves and I truly abhor liars. Hypocrisy is also high on my list of things I won’t tolerate. Needless to say, I can’t tolerate the current administration.

I don’t care how much you want to argue about it because the signs are all there (if you care to look for them) and the majority of Americans agree with me. That same majority may fault my language in expressing those views but I don’t have a problem with that. What I have a problem with is the fact that a small minority in this country has taken over our Democracy and trashed our constitutional protections, the very protections that make America a great nation. This minority would have us believe that they know what’s best for us when they don’t know reality from whatever fantasy they want us to believe at any given time. This minority will do or say anything to remain in power so that they can continue to rape and pillage our country. This minority doesn’t care about people or families, especially poor or ethnic ones. This minority has targeted Americans in its illegal spying activities and promoted religious based ignorance because it knows that the biggest threat to its continued existence is an informed populace. This minority is a grave threat to our nations continued existence and needs to be removed from power by any means possible.

Unfortunately, I don’t have Gonzales in front of me so I can wipe that f---ing smile off of his face with the back of my hand. I’m not in the presidential pressroom to call Tony Snow a f---ing liar to his face when the folks that should do it (without the f-word) don’t. I’m not within hearing range of the president to call him out on his bullsh-t and his handlers make sure of that. None of these criminals are likely to pay for their crimes and that really chaps my hide. If anyone lies to my face like these folks do they’re going to f---ing hear about it. If anyone steals from me they do so at the risk of their good health and after I’m through with them they’ll be in jail. I do not take that kind of crap sitting down nor do I show respect to those who do not deserve it. These criminals in charge do not deserve my respect and I will never show them any.

That’s why I use bad words now and then. It’s frustration, plain and simple. What I can do, I do. I let off some steam at this blog and I vote. If you don’t like my language, don’t read my blog. It's that simple.

Signs of Faux News?

2007-06-14T18:00:00.000-07:00

But Jolie turns out to be a mighty hypocrite when it comes to her own freedom of the press. Her lawyer required all journalists to sign a contract before talking to her, and Jolie instructed publicists at first to ban FOX News from the red carpet of her premiere.

Wow. Faux News is calling Jolie a hypocrite? Who the fuck are they? They shouldn't even get to call themselves a news organization. They have no reporters, just mouthpieces for the Republicrooks. They can kiss my liberal white ass. Three cheers for Jolie and a hearty "FUCK YOU!" to Faux.

Signs of War

2007-06-12T19:55:00.000-07:00

Experts say motorists can expect gradually declining prices from now until July 4. After the Fourth, and barring any unforeseen event like war with Iran, the cost of gas will largely depend on how the hurricane season shapes up.

Unforeseen event? Like war with Iran? CNN is writing about gas prices going down and they blithely drop this caution into their article? Makes one wonder, doesn't it?

Plumbing Signs

2007-06-07T10:35:00.000-07:00

President Bush's nominee for surgeon general, Dr. James W. Holsinger Jr., wrote a paper in 1991 that purported to make the medical argument that homosexuality is unnatural and unhealthy. Doctors who reviewed the paper derided it as prioritizing political ideology over science, and Democratic aides on Capitol Hill say the paper will make his confirmation hearings problematic, if not downright bruising.

Who is this guy? Where did Bush dig this fossil up from? Does he have a closet where he keeps these strange folks in hiding until it's time to foist them on us and laugh as we find out more about plumbing analogies than we ever wanted to know? Does Bush think that all Americans are as willfully ignorant as he is? Fuck you George Bush and fuck your homophobic doctor too.

Sign of the Elephant

2007-05-27T15:16:00.000-07:00

I’ve almost finished reading "The Dark Tower" by Stephen King and I am struck by the number of signs that this 7’Th novel (and last of the series) contains that pertain to my own journey through life. One in particular concerns his take on the elephant in the room. We’ve all heard the story but I’ve never seen it explained the way he does and for me personally, he hit the nail on the head.

He states (I paraphrase) that when you grow up with an elephant in the room you never see it as different or wrong, rather you learn to ignore it as those around you do. It simply doesn’t exist for you other than a blank space in your consciousness and most of us will go to our graves never having seen it for what it is. Rare is the child who sees it, recognizes it for what it is and overcomes their denial of the monster that they grew up with. I say monster because to call it an elephant is to belittle the evil that this image contains and let there be no doubt that it is an evil creature.

I am one of those children who grew up with a monster in the house until my mother, at great personal sacrifice, removed us when I was four years old. I loved that monster back then and in some ways still do. He was never a monster to me until I unraveled the lies and false memories that served to hide his selfishness and sick appetites. It took me nearly 40 years to do it but it was worth every minute of that time to finally see the truth and to recognize that elephant for the monster it truly was.

The hardest thing I’ve ever done was acknowledging that part of that monster lived in my own heart and needed to be removed. I was never motivated to repeat the evil deeds that this monster had perpetrated upon his family and for that I am grateful. But the selfish nature of this beast was in my heart. It affected my life in many negative ways until that two edged sword of truth came into my hands on my journey towards self-awareness. At first I wielded it carelessly towards those who denied the monster in their midst and it served only to damage my relationships with them even further and for that I am truly sorry. For the gift of this weapon of truth was not meant for them, it was meant for me. It took everything I had to turn this weapon to its proper use and slay the selfish monster in my heart. The bleeding has finally stopped but not the need to be ever vigilant lest it return to grow like a cancer and once again bring darkness into my life.

The child within me is full of light and grace now and his tears no longer fall upon my path. I am born anew, open minded and free to enjoy what time I have left in this wonderful life I have been given. Magic has returned to my heart. Deprived no longer, the child within smiles a secret smile of one well pleased with what has come about. There are no words for the gift I have been given and it is ironic that the very monster that gave life to my dark half planted the seeds of this self-knowledge. For that I am humbly grateful.

Thank you Susan, for helping me to find the proper target of my anger and opening my eyes to the truth.

I say thankee-sai to Stephen King, for the inspiration to articulate my thoughts.

And most of all I thank my Mother, for removing me from the monster’s lair and giving me a chance to remember the truth.

Some people collect bells. Others collect owls. My mother collects elephants. It’s a sign.

Signs of "Made in China"

2007-05-20T09:58:00.000-07:00

Dried apples preserved with a cancer-causing chemical. Frozen catfish laden with banned antibiotics. Scallops and sardines coated with putrefying bacteria. Mushrooms laced with illegal pesticides.
These were among the 107 food imports from China the Food and Drug Administration detained at U.S. ports just last month, agency documents reveal, along with more than 1,000 shipments of tainted Chinese dietary supplements, toxic Chinese cosmetics and counterfeit Chinese medicines.

Putrefying bacteria? Yum, tasty! Bring it on! And they're working on importing chickens next? I can hardly wait!

Baby You Can Sign My Car

2007-05-16T15:17:00.000-07:00

The WBC at God Hates Fags has decided to picket Jerry Falwell's funeral and I have to say, Fred Phelps is finally doing something that I approve of. Considering how much hate Jerry has brought to this country it seems too good to be true that Fred and his bastions of gay hating homophobes will be providing the entertainment. Makes me wish I had a television to watch it unfold but instead of getting one, I think I'll just drive over to my friends house in Lakeport and enjoy it there.

I tell you, between this and Comey's testimony yesterday, I couldn't be happier. The signs are getting better all the time.

Signs of Justice

2007-05-11T20:28:00.000-07:00

“For anyone who believes the death penalty is being carried out appropriately in this country, and anyone who believes that prosecutors and government witnesses can always be relied on to pursue the truth, this case is a wake-up call,” said Peter Neufeld, Co-Director of the Innocence Project. “Three separate times, an innocent man was sentenced to die because of the actions of an unethical prosecutor and a fraudulent analyst.”

I do not believe in the death penalty. I've always said that it would cost less to keep them in prison for life with no chance of parole. The Innocence Project gives us another valid reason to eliminate the death penalty. I've seen how the justice system works (up close and personal) and these folks are only scratching the surface of what's wrong with it. Nothing is perfect, especially a system run by human beings.

Here Comes the Sign

2007-05-02T19:06:00.000-07:00

You've got to love the American Family Association. They've come out with a list of sexual orientations that they say will be covered by the new hate crimes bill that is under consideration in congress, a bill they oppose. This is a CHRISTIAN organization mind you. It's pretty jarring to look at this list with "American Family Association" on the top of the page. It also has a bunch of neat words that I've never seen before. The things you learn on the internet!

By the way, I didn't know that masturbation was a sexual orientation. I thought it was just something you did to kill time while you were waiting to hook up with whom/whatever you're looking to hook up with. Silly me.

Signs of Future Employment

2007-04-27T23:53:00.000-07:00

The beard has been reduced to a stylish goatee as I make my way through the hiring process with the County of Mendocino which is one of the few equitable employers in this area. The county is union and offers liveable wages and benefits which is also very rare around here.

My last regular job was with Real Goods and its taken most of 4 years to recover from my stay there. You would think that a Green Company would treat it's employees properly but I'm here to tell you that it was one of the most dysfunctional workplaces I have ever had the misfortune of working in. But I did learn how to keep a low profile due to the fact that once your supervisor finds out that you know more about what's going on than they do, they'll do anything within their power to remove you from your job. The fact that I lasted several years until I left of my own free will was a victory over my usual tendency to kick ass and not worry about keeping such a fucked up job.

As for my blogging, it will continue to be light as I work towards rejoining the rat race while trying to make ends meet until I begin earning a steady wage again. More later.

As for what the sign is I'll be posting a more recent picture as soon as I get one. Then you'll know.

Signs of a Change

2007-03-21T15:58:00.000-07:00

I'll be posting less and less I'm afraid due to changes where I live. Just a quick note to let you know.

Signs of a Fleecing

2007-03-14T06:21:00.000-07:00

Get started today and fill out your bracket to be eligible to win a McCain 2008 fleece, hat or pin for your prognostication prowess.

Fleece? Isn't that what our Republic friends have been doing to the American people for the last six years? It's a sign!

Signs of a Hypocrite

2007-03-09T08:35:00.000-08:00

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was having an extramarital affair even as he led the charge against President Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky affair, he acknowledged in an interview with a conservative Christian group.

This is the kind of crap I've seen over and over again from our friends on the right. Do what I say, not what I do because if you do what I do then you'd be Newt, which is one f*cked up thing to be. That's right, thing as in "sub-human." Newt doesn't have the brains that God gave an ant if he believes that this calculated bit of honesty will somehow help his image in my eyes. All he's done is confirm my suspicions that he's one f*cked up piece of shit.

Signs of War

2007-03-05T10:57:00.000-08:00

In an interview with Wesley Clark, a retired 4-star general (Democrat), we read about some future plans for our military. As seen at Democracy Now.

I knew why, because I had been through the Pentagon right after 9/11. About ten days after 9/11, I went through the Pentagon and I saw Secretary Rumsfeld and Deputy Secretary Wolfowitz. I went downstairs just to say hello to some of the people on the Joint Staff who used to work for me, and one of the generals called me in. He said, “Sir, you’ve got to come in and talk to me a second.” I said, “Well, you’re too busy.” He said, “No, no.” He says, “We’ve made the decision we’re going to war with Iraq.” This was on or about the 20th of September. I said, “We’re going to war with Iraq? Why?” He said, “I don’t know.” He said, “I guess they don’t know what else to do.” So I said, “Well, did they find some information connecting Saddam to al-Qaeda?” He said, “No, no.” He says, “There’s nothing new that way. They just made the decision to go to war with Iraq.” He said, “I guess it’s like we don’t know what to do about terrorists, but we’ve got a good military and we can take down governments.” And he said, “I guess if the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem has to look like a nail.”

So I came back to see him a few weeks later, and by that time we were bombing in Afghanistan. I said, “Are we still going to war with Iraq?” And he said, “Oh, it’s worse than that.” He reached over on his desk. He picked up a piece of paper. And he said, “I just got this down from upstairs” -- meaning the Secretary of Defense’s office -- “today.” And he said, “This is a memo that describes how we’re going to take out seven countries in five years, starting with Iraq, and then Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and, finishing off, Iran.” I said, “Is it classified?” He said, “Yes, sir.” I said, “Well, don’t show it to me.” And I saw him a year or so ago, and I said, “You remember that?” He said, “Sir, I didn’t show you that memo! I didn’t show it to you!”

Why do I believe this story? Because when you look at the big picture of how our current government is working it makes perfect sense. It fits the pattern.

Signs of the Truth

2007-03-04T10:42:00.000-08:00

Five years of presidential overreaching and Congressional collaboration continue to exact a high toll in human lives, America’s global reputation and the architecture of democracy. Brutality toward prisoners, and the denial of their human rights, have been institutionalized; unlawful spying on Americans continues; and the courts are being closed to legal challenges of these practices.

The above NY Times opinion piece gets it right. It may be an opinion piece but it speaks to what anyone who has been paying attention to reality knows to be true. Our leaders are tearing our constitution to shreds, endangering our future and pulling in the bucks. It's that simple.

A Sign of "No Confidence"

2007-03-02T10:03:00.000-08:00

It's too bad that the U.S. political system offers no way to take a vote of "no confidence," because that describes the state we're living in now. We have come to the point where nothing that the Bush administration says can—or should—be trusted. That is, the government deserves no confidence.

That's what I've been talking about and the above article in Slate spells it out from what we now know happened with North Korea back in 2002. Our fearless leader and his henchmen lied to us again and any trust anyone had in them is obviously misplaced. I have never trusted this administration and here is further proof that my gut feeling has been correct all this time. Imagine that.

Signs V Continued

2007-02-20T10:13:00.000-08:00

Here's Pandagon's take on the flat earth site and one of Texas' elected officials use of it to support his own narrow agenda. Who in their right minds voted for this stupid fuck?

Signs of Denial V

2007-02-17T13:21:00.000-08:00

Go here and discover that the Earth doesn't move. It doesn't go around the Sun, nor does it rotate. Folks who believe this shit are ignorance personified. There is no other conclusion any reasonable person can make, not that I'm reasonable. You decide but don't bother writing me if you believe this crap. Get some help instead. You need it.

Signs of a War with Iran

2007-02-14T08:10:00.000-08:00

Change one letter and Iraq becomes Iran so I guess expanding the conflict in the Middle East means that our administration only needs to edit their previous statements about Iraq to read Iran and it's off we go. Read more here about our next conflict, due out sometime in early March.

Questionable Signs

2007-02-08T09:36:00.000-08:00

Here's a report about Gitmo guard abuse that stands tall in my book. There is that little problem about not interviewing any detainees before concluding that no abuse took place but that shouldn't stop us from feeling good about our treatment of these dangerous terrorists. After all, they get three meals a day and a bed to sleep in. What more could they ask for? Justice? Fat chance. Trust me, justice left our country long ago.

Formerly a Sign

2007-02-05T12:54:00.000-08:00

Still crazy after all these years.

Signs of Denial IV

2007-01-26T08:04:00.000-08:00

Vail's method of interpretation is made crystal clear when he writes: "Unlike secular geologists, creationist geologists don't need to speculate about history because we accept the eyewitness accounts of past events, preserved in a reliable written record-the Bible."

So, there is an eyewitness account of how the Grand Canyon was formed and it's in the bible. That's fucking amazing. I've read the book several times and never run across it before. And I like how creationist geologists don't need to speculate about history, because they just make shit up and say it's preserved in a reliable written record. After all, God can do anything, including foist these fucking creationist assholes on us to fill in the parts we don't understand in His book.

Anyone with an ounce of brains knows that evolution is not a theory, it's a fact. Obviously Tom Vail doesn't have the brains that God gave an ant, let alone an ounces worth.

Signs of Denial III

2007-01-23T17:08:00.000-08:00

Here are more attempts to confuse the issue. Just remember the Republican mantra, "It's controversial."

Signs of Denial II

2007-01-19T10:05:00.000-08:00

This guy is special. He acts just like the Republicans in office. Nothing is their fault. Lets blame it on the liberals, or in his case the black man. Read the whole thing. If it wasn't so fucked up I'd laugh, just like our current situation here in Amerika.

Signs of Bullshit

2007-01-17T11:58:00.000-08:00

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is mounting a PR effort to rebuff suggestions that the recent spate of administration-forced resignations of U.S. Attorneys may be politically motivated.

"Nothing could be further from the truth,” he told the Associated Press.

If you believe what he says you're in denial big time. Take any statement of this administration and turn it 180 degrees and you'll find the truth. That's the way it is people.

Signs of Denial I

2007-01-12T14:48:00.000-08:00

There is no opposing argument of a factual nature to either evolution or global warming, despite what some parents might wish. The facts are the facts and no amount of wishing it were otherwise will ever change that fact. Just because we have a president with little love for reality doesn't mean we have to follow that asshole down to whatever Hell he's headed for. Wake the fuck up people!

Signs of a Brown-Nose

2007-01-12T10:54:00.000-08:00

Joe's at it again. He's obviously a Republican at heart and no amount of spin calling his actions bi-partisan will overcome that. Unfortunately, I'm getting the impression that real Democrats are following his lead and backing off on their promises to hold our current administration accountable for their criminal behavior. This portends disaster as our freckless leader prepares to expand his personal war (one that more than 60% of Americans oppose) to include Syria and Iran. So much for our recent elections. The people have spoken and Bush's reply is a hearty, "Fuck you America." Read the whole article if you have the stomach for it.

Sen. Joe Lieberman, the only Democrat to endorse President Bush's new plan for Iraq, has quietly backed away from his pre-election demands that the White House turn over potentially embarrassing documents relating to its handling of the Hurricane Katrina disaster in New Orleans.

Lieberman's reversal underscores the new role that he is seeking to play in the Senate as the leading apostle of bipartisanip, especially on national-security issues. On Wednesday night, Bush conspicuously cited Lieberman's advice as being the inspiration for creating a new bipartisan working group on Capitol Hill that he said will help us come together across party lines to win the war on terror.

Signs of Denial

2007-01-11T10:35:00.000-08:00

Just got back from Oregon. While I was there visiting I had a conversation with someone where I brought up the fact that it takes a ton of denial to continue to keep the faith with George W. Bush and company. It was an idea that has been simmering on my stove for a while and after I said it I recognized the truth it represented. It takes a ton of willful ignorance (denial) to continue acting like everything is fine when reality tells you otherwise. Take this entry as a sign that I will cover this subject in more depth in later entries. You have been warned.

Signs of DeLay

2006-12-11T10:33:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's true. Tom DeLay has a blog. Here are the comments that he's deleted. They are way funny. Good job Tom!

A Sign of Clean Hands

2006-12-07T14:21:00.000-08:00

Orcinus gives us the sign of the day. They wish it would do what he says but we all no it won't. That's gotta leave a mark!

The House of Signs

2006-12-05T13:18:00.000-08:00

Here's a story that's bound to make some waves as soon as the MSM decides to run with it. Homeland Security's drug enforcement arm (ICE = Immigration & Custom Enforcement) covers its informant's ass even though they have direct evidence that he's a murdering thug.

Glenn Greenwald has a rundown of the whole story. It is beyond the pail of ice ice baby.

Back in the Swim

2006-12-02T15:35:00.000-08:00

Besides the obvious, "I'm back!", there isn't much more that I have to say right yet. I'm still getting used to being home. There's also a "Robert Cray" Fender Strat sitting in my front room along with a Marshall VS65 combo-amp which are getting an increasing amount of attention lately. Life is good, I'm participating in the economy again and feeling caught up in my world.

Before I go there is the little matter of swearing in a congressman and the book he may choose to swear his oath of office with. This is for those of you out there who may support the religious right's point of view, that American equals Christian and that the Christian bible is the only religious book that can be used to take an oath for public service.

What part of "Separation of church and state" don't you understand?

Signs of Leaving

2006-10-04T17:59:00.000-07:00

Once again I am leaving for a while (2 weeks or so) and heading for the hills. This time it will be to an un-named location to do some work that needs doing. The kind of work I can't really talk about too much. Without any internet access to boot.

I've enjoyed doing this blog and will continue when I'm able to in the future. Obviously I lean to the left and my take on things is driven by that bias. But I feel that anyone who has a half-open mind would have to agree with my slant on things. How can anyone support what our current leadership is doing to this country? They serve their corporate masters and drive this great nation to ruin for the love of the $$$$. It's that simple. Profit rules. People suffer. But it doesn't have to be that way. The Democrats are more than likely no better than those currently in charge but they deserve a chance. Fuck Bush. He's a simple man in complicated times. We need something different. We need another answer than the one he gives us. Vote your heart and kick his supporters out of office. That's what I'm going to do with every breath. Speak the truth and eventually someone will hear. Even if they're anonymous.

First Ammendment Signs

2006-10-03T16:09:00.000-07:00

According to the lawsuit filed at U.S. District Court in Denver, Howards and his son walked to about two-to-three feet from where Cheney was standing, and said to the vice president, "I think your policies in Iraq are reprehensible," or words to that effect, then walked on.

He was later arrested by the secret service (SS) for harrassment. The charges were dropped afterwards and now he's filed a lawsuit.

What is it with this administration? They want everything to be secret. They can't stand someone speaking the truth about their actions. They cover for their buddies. No one is accountable. Sounds like a corporation to me.

Signs of Torture

2006-09-28T09:35:00.000-07:00

The bill is on it's way through to becoming law, providing proof that this is no longer the America I grew up in. Fuck the constitution, lets torture some brown people. Lets put them in jail with no recourse through our court system like some third world dictatorship. It boggles the mind.

These are some of the billÃ’s biggest flaws:

Enemy Combatants: A dangerously broad definition of Ã“illegal enemy combatantÃ” in the bill could subject legal residents of the United States, as well as foreign citizens living in their own countries, to summary arrest and indefinite detention with no hope of appeal. The president could give the power to apply this label to anyone he wanted.

The Geneva Conventions: The bill would repudiate a half-century of international precedent by allowing Mr. Bush to decide on his own what abusive interrogation methods he considered permissible. And his decision could stay secret Ã— thereÃ’s no requirement that this list be published.

Read the rest and weep.

Signs from Iraq

2006-09-26T17:28:00.000-07:00

The underlying factors that are fueling the spread of the extremist Muslim movement outweigh its vulnerabilities. These factors are entrenched grievances and a slow pace of reform in home countries, rising anti-U.S. sentiment and the Iraq war.

That's a part of the report that just got declassified about our war in Iraq. It also says that pulling out will not be a smart thing to do, a conclusion I also agree with. Too bad our president opened this Pandora's box. We would have been fine without his foolish rush to war.

Returning Signs

2006-09-23T15:08:00.000-07:00

We're back. More after we download some pictures to go along with the various travel signs of our trek North to Grants Pass, Oregon.

Signs of a Road Trip

2006-09-16T20:11:00.000-07:00

Yep, I'm off to Grants Pass, Oregon again. This time my sweetie and I are delivering a friends F250 Ford back to him so he can sell it. We'll be staying a few days then returning in another truck filled with goodies for our place in the hills. With the world in the shape it's in it's always smart to have a remote spot to run to when the shit hits the fan. Not that it will or that we wish it would but it's always good to be prepared for any eventuality.

I'll be back with some signs from our road trip in a few days. I know that Republicans everywhere will mourn my absence but I'm sure they'll continue to entertain us with their pre-election fear mongering whether I'm here or not. Later people.

Signs of Personal Interest

2006-09-15T17:54:00.000-07:00

While driving to work one morning, I saw 3 vultures sitting on a fence, evenly spaced with their wings spread to catch the morning sun and I knew immediately that it was a sign. Betty Bethards' The Dream Book: Symbols for Self-Understanding defines them as follows.

Vulture: Cleans up old parts of self, beliefs, attitudes you no longer need. Feeds off old decaying ideas rather than creative, new, alive ones.

Dream symbols often intrude into our daily reality if we let them. At least they do in mine.

Signs of Our Next War

2006-09-14T09:37:00.000-07:00

Privately, several intelligence officials said the committee report included at least a dozen claims that were either demonstrably wrong or impossible to substantiate. Hoekstra's office said the report was reviewed by the office of John D. Negroponte, the director of national intelligence.

Negroponte's spokesman, John Callahan, said in a statement that his office "reviewed the report and provided its response to the committee on July 24, '06." He did not say whether it had approved or challenged any of the claims about Iran's capabilities.

"This is like prewar Iraq all over again," said David Albright, a former nuclear inspector who is president of the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security. "You have an Iranian nuclear threat that is spun up, using bad information that's cherry-picked and a report that trashes the inspectors."

Don't ask me I don't give a damn, next stop will be Iran.

Signs of Travel

2006-09-11T16:31:00.000-07:00

We're headed for the hills Northeast of Willits tomorrow for a couple of days. I'll be back Thursday. Before we go let me wish Susan Power a Happy Birthday on this 5'th anniversary of 9/11. The day that will live in infamy used to be hers alone. Now she shares it with the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in 2001 when the Twin Towers fell. She's not the type to complain though and never has been. In my 51 years on this planet I've never met a finer woman and doubt that I ever will. She's simply the best.

Signs of a Mickey Mouse White House

2006-09-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

It looks like the GOP has adopted a new symbol to replace the old and worn out elephant and I, for once, agree with them. Mickey Mouse will serve them well for years to come in my opinion. They live in a fantasy world after all, just like Mickey and I look forward to some of the cartoons that their antics will inspire. It works so well and in so many ways when you give a little thought to it. With Dick Cheney as Uncle Scrooge, Donald Rumsfeld as Donald Duck and George Bush as Mickey Mouse, we'll all have one hell of a good time watching them as they run around the world getting deeper and deeper into trouble. If it's fantasy you want America, join me in writing Disney to express your delight in this idea. Let's give them a project that they can really sink their teeth into.

Signs of Negativity

2006-09-10T07:34:00.000-07:00

The Washington Post tells it like it will be this morning.

Republicans are planning to spend the vast majority of their sizable financial war chest over the final 60 days of the campaign attacking Democratic House and Senate candidates over personal issues and local controversies, GOP officials said.

Looks like the negative ad wars will once again come to American voters this Fall. Distortion after distortion will be generated by the Republicans in their efforts to keep their day jobs and continue fucking over the American public. Fortunately I won't see any of the television ads nor will I read them in the papers. But I will see how they're going about it this time around via the internet. That way at least I can control how much bullshit I'm exposing myself to and possibly stay somewhat sane in this crazy world I find myself a part of. Here's an example of the distortions we can look forward to.

The researcher discovered that Kagen's allergy clinic has sued more than 80 patients, mostly for failing to pay their bills.

A new NRCC ad airing in the Green Bay area, the district's main media market, warns: "What Dr. Millionaire doesn't want you to know is his clinic left more than 80 patients behind -- suing them. That's right, suing more than 80 patients."

I'd sue those patients too. How else do you get the money they owe you if they refuse to pay? What's wrong with a doctor who exercises his right to collect what he's owed? Not a thing in my book. Yet it looks bad when you leave that part out of the attack on your opponent and considering the intelligence level of the majority of Americans, they may well read this artfully contrived crap and believe it. Get your tallest boots out people and start wearing them because it's going to get pretty deep around here for the next two months and you'll need them to wade through the bullshit that's coming our way from the despots in charge.

Planning Signs

2006-09-09T09:43:00.000-07:00

In fact, said Brig. Gen. Mark Scheid, Rumsfeld said "he would fire the next person" who talked about the need for a post-war plan. Rumsfeld did replace Gen. Eric Shinseki, the Army chief of staff in 2003, after Shinseki told Congress that hundreds of thousands of troops would be needed to secure post-war Iraq.

My take? Rumsfeld needs to find another job.

Signs They Lied

2006-09-08T12:27:00.000-07:00

A Senate report on prewar intelligence concludes that Bush lied about Saddam's ties to al-Qaida. Imagine that.

It concludes that postwar findings do not support a 2002 intelligence community report that Iraq was reconstituting its nuclear program, possessed biological weapons or ever developed mobile facilities for producing biological warfare agents.

After what I've seen of this administration's actions, it comes as no surprise.

Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., a member of the committee, said the long-awaited report was "a devastating indictment of the Bush-Cheney administration's unrelenting, misleading and deceptive attempts" to link Saddam to al-Qaida.

The administration, said Sen. John D. Rockefeller, D-W.Va., top Democrat on the committee, "exploited the deep sense of insecurity among Americans in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, leading a large majority of Americans to believe — contrary to the intelligence assessments at the time — that Iraq had a role in the 9/11 attacks."

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Hizbullah Signs

2006-09-07T08:45:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting use of signs by Lebanon's terrorists in charge. Seems they have a pretty good PR department that has been putting "Made in USA" signs on the piles of rubble left from the recent war. I find that an interesting application of truth in advertising.

Signs of Propaganda

2006-09-06T10:34:00.000-07:00

Jesus General has a letter to ABC about their new 9/11 fictional docu-drama that's supposed to be based on the 9/11 commission's report. Words fail me on this one. It seems that history is written by the winners, if you could call the current administration that and Disney will only improve their reputation as the biggest provider of fantasy to the American public.

The Hitler Sign

2006-09-05T16:41:00.000-07:00

You can tell that election time is near as the despot in charge leans on the fear in his most recent speech.

"Bin Laden and his terrorist allies have made their intentions as clear as Lenin and Hitler before them," he said.

To my mind, these words make absolutely no sense. They are being used to somehow compare Bin Laden to Hitler and as any student of history can tell you, that's pure bullshit. In fact, pretty much anything out of the mouths of anyone in the current administration is bullshit. I mean those two idiots don't have anything in common. One ran an industrialized country and the other lives in a fucking cave. One had a half-assed mustache and the other has a full beard. I rest my case.

The Usual Signs

2006-08-31T23:57:00.000-07:00

Damn, I leave for a little while and everything seems to be moving along like it was when I left. We're hearing our fearless leaders spout more bullshit about their War on Terror and it looks like Iran and Syria are next on our list of countries to destroy. I'm going back into the hills this weekend where I don't have to hear about this shit any more. I'll be back Tuesday or later.

A Special Sign for the Bush Administration

2006-08-22T22:26:00.000-07:00

Gator Got GOD

2006-08-21T22:11:00.000-07:00

A Personal Sign

2006-08-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

I sold my 1980 300SD Turbo diesel today after hanging on to it a little too long. It was the first Mercedes I'd ever owned and I loved it very much but I had to let it move on. The gal who bought it goes to Mendocino College and volunteers at The Solar Living Center in Hopland, California. It's a small world as I used to work there in the tech department for Real Goods.

Anyway, she had a big old smile on her face as she drove away and I returned to my cabin and turned on the radio. Neil Young was singing "Long May You Run" and it sent chills up my spine. Now that's a sign.

Kirsten, the world needs folks like you desperately in these crazy times and I want you to remember that when things get tough. When I see someone who cares enough to give their time towards making this world a better place to be, I am given hope for our future. May the smiles that all enjoy always be yours to share. May that old Mercedes take you to new and wonderful places. Long may you run Kirsten, long may you run.

Signs that Sanity Might be Growing

2006-08-21T11:08:00.000-07:00

LEAP needs more attention. This is an organization of 5,000 current and former law enforcement officials who recognize the failure and the damage effected by the war on drugs. And it has grown to 5,000 from just five founding members a few years ago. Seems to me that that's pretty newsworthy.

Head on over to The Agitator again for the video (for those of you who have a fast internet connection unlike myself). I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Signs of Injustice

2006-08-21T10:57:00.000-07:00

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that police may keep the $124,700 they seized from Emiliano Gonzolez, an immigrant who by all appearances was attempting to use the money to start a legitimate business.

That's right. With no evidence what-so-ever this court took his money. He was convicted of nothing nor did he have any history of criminal activity. His only crime was to be in possession of over $124,000 in cash which was going to be used to start a business. I can't say enough about how wrong this is. Go over to The Agitator to get a good run-down of the story. The only criminals here look to be the legal eagles that stole his money.

Two Sides of the Same Story

2006-08-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

First we read about the possible killer and his handlers abusing tax payer funds to fly business class.

The spectacle of a confessed child killer sipping champagne in a business-class airline seat on someone else's dime outraged some Colorado taxpayers yesterday.

When you read the whole thing, you too will feel an urge to rail against the posh treatment this freak is getting. The fact that he could be the poster child for what a child abuser looks like doesn't help much either. I don't remember seeing a picture that exemplifies our inner image of these type of criminals quite so well. Then you read this:

Authorities probably had a very good reason for allowing JonBenet Ramsey murder suspect John Mark Karr to live it up on the 15-hour flight to the United States, legal experts say they wanted him to talk.

When you look at it this way, a light bulb pops up over your head and it suddenly makes sense that he would be treated this way. Think of how much time and effort will be saved due to the information that will be gotten by using a little honey in this case (sorry, unintended pun). There will be time enough for solitary confinement to protect him from the welcome arms of his fellow prisoners if he is found guilty and the more he talks, the more likely he will be to enjoy their blandishments in the near future.

My point is that one should try to see both sides of an argument before one rushes off to judgement. An open mind will serve one much better than a mind that is closed, having already judged and found fault one way or the other.

Signs of Justice

2006-08-20T18:17:00.000-07:00

A new legal chapter opens Monday for Saddam Hussein when the ousted Iraqi leader goes on trial for a second time, charged with genocide and war crimes from his scorched-earth offensive against Kurds nearly two decades ago.

What happened at the first trial?

Human Rights Watch charged Friday that the Iraqi High Tribunal is incapable of fairly and effectively trying Saddam and others on the Anfal charges "in accordance with international standards and current international criminal law."

The New York-based group said the nine-month Dujail trial showed the court's administration to be "chaotic and inadequate," and also complained that the trial relied too heavily on anonymous witnesses. It said the court must "improve its practices if it is to do justice."

Looks like the jury is still out on the first one. What do our people have to say?

A U.S. official close to the tribunal defended its fairness Sunday. He said that while none of the judges in the Anfal case have practiced international human rights law, the panel has "an adviser experienced in working with international tribunals." The official would not specify the adviser's nationality but said the person is not an American.

Sounds kind of like those tribunals that our Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional. It's too bad they can't try Bush in Iraq for the same charges. After all, his policies have killed just as many people in Iraq as Saddam has.

Sign of a Road Trip

2006-08-20T17:54:00.000-07:00

I'm headed North into Oregon this Wednesday to pick up my sweetie and intend on staying for a while so my blogging may suffer. I do believe I'll have internet access up there so hopefully it won't stop entirely but it will slow down. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause my liberal readers.

More Signs of Ignorance

2006-08-20T09:23:00.000-07:00

"Author and Christian broadcaster Dr. D. James Kennedy connects the dots between Charles Darwin and Adolf Hitler in Darwin's Deadly Legacy, a groundbreaking inquiry into Darwin's chilling social impact," announces a press release issued by Florida's Coral Ridge Ministries. "The new television documentary airs nationwide on August 26 and 27 on The Coral Ridge Hour."

Raw Story has a piece up about this. Ann Coulter helps out with her usual mix lies and hysterical rhetoric. I'd laugh if this was a parody but it's not. These fools are dangerous. They promote ignorance at every level in our society and it is my belief that they are winning because we aren't taking these shrill harpys seriously enough. They need to be institutionalized, especially Ann Coulter. Thank God she hasn't reproduced yet. The only Godless people are the ones that promote bullshit like this.

Signs of Ownership

2006-08-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

The MSM is owned by the Republicans. There is no longer a public forum for Liberal views in the MSM. They no longer base their headlines on reality or good reporting. They only repeat the same untruthful bullshit that comes out of the mouths of the criminals in charge. Go to Media Matters, read what they have to say and know that what I am saying is true. The MSM is owned by the Republicans and we need to buy it back.

Signs of Ignorance

2006-08-19T08:42:00.000-07:00

A recent study came to the conclusion that the more religious the society, the higher it's rates of violence and criminal activity. Even teen pregnancies were higher. Now that's a sign that resonates with me.

Ignorance does not make for a better society. Intelligent design is anything but intelligent and Americans need to overcome their ignorance if they truly wish to live in a better world. Of course most Americans will have a problem understanding the logic of this study because they obviously don't have the intelligence needed to do so. And that is a sad state of affairs indeed.

What Kind of Sign is This?

2006-08-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

Etna's blowing steam rings, kind of like I used to when I first started smoking. I don't know what kind of sign this is but it sure feels like one. Maybe it's just having a good time and showing off. Who knows?

More Signs of What?

2006-08-18T08:20:00.000-07:00

"There's real suspicion on my part, when you get these other charges, that you get this face-saving, 'Well, we've locked them up and we've got to charge them with something."

Turns out those 3 brown people who were said to be terrorists have had those charges dropped only to be hit with fraud charges. I'll say it again, "This is total bullshit." First the screaming headlines, then the lesser charges and then finally (if things work out as usual) the charges will be dropped. This is the country we live in today. You can go to jail for doing nothing illegal if some fool with a badge decides in their paranoid minds that you've somehow broken the law, no matter how incredible their accusations might be. Basturds!

Signs of Sanity?

2006-08-17T20:18:00.000-07:00

The good news is that a judge ordered the halt of the illegal NSA program. That doesn't mean that the administration has to stop spying, only that they have to stop doing it without warrants. Here are some of our leaders responses with my replies.

Advocates of the program, both in Congress and inside the administration, said immediately that the ruling would weaken the United States in the war on terror.

Bullshit! Having to use warrants didn't slow the British efforts any.

But one of the sponsors of Specter's bill, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who is also a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee and so is fully briefed on the program, said the program is a necessary tool in the war on terror and could be made legal with a few legislative tweaks.

More bullshit! Specter's bill provides no oversight what-so-ever. Do you really trust this administration to voluntarily do the right thing?

"When you pierce through, the document is much more window dressing," Frederickson said during a conference call with reporters after the ruling.

She's got it right. Good job.

Feinstein said in a written statement. "Because of the administration's strategy of brinkmanship, the NSA is staring at a permanent injunction that says this program must be shut down."

What is this shit? Hey, Diane! Wrong! We can still do it. It just has to be done legally with warrants.

ACLU executive director Anthony D. Romero said. "Government spying on innocent Americans without any kind of warrant and without congressional approval runs counter to the very foundations of our democracy.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Signs that Iran is Next

2006-08-17T11:47:00.000-07:00

When this many former high-level people call for policy change we should all take note.

Seeking to counter the White House's depiction of its Middle East policies as crucial to the prevention of terrorist attacks at home, 21 former generals, diplomats and national security officials will release an open letter tomorrow arguing that the administration's "hard line" has actually undermined U.S. security.

I trust that these folks know what they're talking about and believe that our despot in chief is very close to pulling the trigger on Iran. What a nightmare that will be. Why else would these people feel the need to speak out if they didn't see it as a very real possibility?

Explosive Signs

2006-08-17T08:24:00.000-07:00

Read this article and you'll start to wonder just how serious a problem chemical explosives might be. As far as worries of them being used by terrorists to blow up airplanes are concerned, it turns out that it is highly unlikely that they can be used successfully.

So why the big fuss? Why are folks having to throw toothpaste tubes and shampoo bottles away? Could it be our criminals in charge spreading fear as a means to control the population? I'd have to say yes, it is.

Who needs terrorists when Bush is in charge? He's got it covered all on his own.

Propaganda Signs

2006-08-17T08:18:00.000-07:00

So the FCC is finally following up on reports of our government's use of propaganda and how it is passed on without revealing where it comes from.

"You can't tell any more the difference between what's propaganda and what's news," Adelstein said.

The probe was sparked by a study of newsroom use of material provided by public relations firms. The study, entitled "Fake TV News: Widespread and Undisclosed," was compiled by the Center for Media and Democracy, a Madison, Wis.-based nonprofit organization that monitors the public relations industry.

Possibly folks will begin to wake up to the bullshit that our MSM serves up daily. But I doubt it.

Detained Signs

2006-08-16T14:29:00.000-07:00

This story couldn't happen in America, could it?

Of the estimated 1,200 mostly Arab and Muslim men detained nationwide as potential suspects or witnesses in the Sept. 11 investigation, Benatta would earn a dubious distinction: Human rights groups say the former Algerian air force lieutenant was locked up the longest.

He was held nearly 5 years in prison without charges being brought against him. 5 YEARS. Read the whole thing and try to imagine what it would do to you to have 5 YEARS taken out of your life for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Hard to imagine, isn't it?

Signs of a Winner

2006-08-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

Ned Lamont tells it like it is and speaks his mind in this opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal. Read it and see how his message won him the primary over that de facto Republican, Joe Lieberman. Ned's a winner, not a whiner.

Signs of Manipulation

2006-08-16T07:51:00.000-07:00

This story pointed out to us by Raw Story talks about the "Nexus of Politics and Terror" and confirms my long held conviction that our criminals in charge are using fear to manipulate the general population. This is an outrage to say the least. Keith Olbermann calls it like it is and it isn't pretty. How does it feel to be manipulated by our fearless leaders while they pillage and plunder our country? It feels like shit to me.

Signs that Piss Me Off

2006-08-15T22:12:00.000-07:00

We are looking at cognitive dissonance. The mindset of the left blogosphere is that there's no real terrorist threat out there...

WTF? We all know that there's a terrorist threat out there, we just don't think that the war in Iraq has anything to do with stopping it. If anything, that war is increasing the number of terrorists, not lowering it. There's no cognitive dissonance here buddy but I believe there might be some happening in your brain. Try telling the truth sometime. Maybe it will go away but I doubt it. Basterds!

More Signs of Hypocricy

2006-08-15T06:23:00.000-07:00

It is understood that Britain asked the US to avoid making any such assertion, but diplomats believe that the request was ignored by Michael Chertoff, the Homeland Security chief. There is suspicion that the speed with which the US linked al-Qaeda to the plot was motivated by political considerations because, before the November mid-term Congressional elections, Republicans are keen to stem voter anger against the Iraq war by focusing on national security.

This looks like a no-brainer and it's true that our despot in chief has done little to make Americans any safer after 9/11. They'll do or say anything to stay in power. Just ask our number one supporter in the international community. They can't trust the Bush administration with their secrets because they will selectively leak them to further their own political agenda. It's a sign of hypocricy that they would do this while trying to put reporters in jail for publishing government secrets that they don't want us to know about. What's good for the goose is obviously not good for the gander in this administration.

Signs of Macaca

2006-08-15T05:39:00.000-07:00

Senator Allen, Republican racist, uses a word that might have come from the mouth of Ace Ventura of Pet Detective fame. Macaca! Macaca! The Washington Post tells us:

"This fellow here, over here with the yellow shirt, macaca, or whatever his name is. He's with my opponent. He's following us around everywhere. And it's just great," Allen said, as his supporters began to laugh.

He uses a French word for monkey then tells us that he doesn't know what it means. Bullshit. He knows exactly what it means. It's a racial slur and like most Republicans, he's a racist. Plain and simple.

We Won, They Lost

2006-08-14T17:24:00.000-07:00

Is it any wonder that I don't believe anything that comes out of this man's mouth? Read this:

President Bush said Monday that Israel defeated Hezbollah's guerrillas in the monthlong Mideast war and that the Islamic militants were to blame for the deaths of hundreds of Lebanese civilians.

Behold the awesome depths of his ignorance. The fact that he can deliver a line of bullshit like that and keep a straight face is truly amazing. I'm impressed for all the wrong reasons, just like him.

Signs of What?

2006-08-14T15:24:00.000-07:00

So, these three brown people were buying cell phones and got caught with about 1,000 of them in their possession. They said they were buying them to sell elsewhere. So now they're in jail as accused terrorists and the state police and local news folks are saying that they were targeting the Mackinac bridge.

Is it just me? Am I the only one to ask just what the fuck having 1,000 cell phones in ones possession has to do with blowing up a bridge? Is this supposed to make me feel safer? What were they going to do with those phones, talk it to death? What makes this bridge to nowhere a terrorist target? I'm totally confused. There isn't a single part of this that makes any sense. All I know is that I'm glad I don't live in Michigan.

Signs of Criminal Activity

2006-08-14T07:23:00.000-07:00

Slate has a great article on our current criminal administration's efforts to "Get out of jail Free" and insure that future Justice Department officials will be unable to bring those who have tortured possible terrorists to trial.

If the Bush administration is still good at anything, it's this: distracting its opponents and seizing little victories from what might have been big defeats.

Yes, if they are good at anything it's trying to cover their criminal behavior by changing the laws that might be used to put them in jail. I hear it's difficult to spend your ill-gotten gains while staying at the grey bar hotel. Too bad, so sad.

UPDATE: The New York Times gives their opinion on this subject here. Check it out. It's a great read.

Signs of Truth

2006-08-13T14:46:00.000-07:00

I get so tired of hearing about folks who get these two facts wrong.

Fact Number One:

There were no WMD's found in Iraq.

None. Nada. Zero.

Fact Number Two:

There was no proven connection between Saddam and al-Qaeda.

None. Nada. Zero.

Can't you folks handle the truth?

Signs of the Future

2006-08-13T11:09:00.000-07:00

Felix will gaze into his crystal ball and read the signs that only he can see.

Signs from Homeland Security

2006-08-13T08:35:00.000-07:00

Here's something from AP that you'll love.

Chertoff said he would like to see a renewed look at U.S. laws that could give authorities here more flexibility to conduct electronic surveillance of possible suspects as well as detain them for longer periods of time, noting the British have such latitude.

"What helped the British in this case is the ability to be nimble, to be fast, to be flexible, to operate based on fast-moving information," he said. "We have to make sure our legal system allows us to do that. It's not like the 20th century, where you had time to get warrants."

That's funny, it turns out that the British had plenty of time to get warrants and in fact, they did. How much more flexibility do they need? They've already bypassed the courts illegally, haven't they? Now they're lying about the British system that uses warrants and obviously operates just fine. Lying basterds.

A Lazy Sign

2006-08-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

You know, I really love what Jane from Firedoglake has to say in this piece about fear. If I had her skill with the written word I still would have had a hard time saying it as well as she does. That and the fact that I'm too lazy to write it myself.

More Signs from the Police State

2006-08-12T09:01:00.000-07:00

Radley Balko over at The Agitator has taken it upon himself to document the tragedies that result from police raids that use military-type tactics to serve warrants, often for minor drug offenses. This particular no-knock raid for pot seeds and cocaine residue found in a garbage can resulted in a woman's death, one of many documented deaths attributed to these type of unwarranted police actions. Read this and weep for your constitutional rights because we don't have some of them anymore. We already live in a police state.