Even the Bush Bloggers can't take it...

My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy: From the inbox today...

I was strolling the blogs the other day, and I ran across the above blog. Of course, being the "opinionated" person that I am, I couldn't help but respond to the post below (taken from the above mentioned blog....

From the inbox today...

TOWEL HEADS

Recently I received a warning about the use of this politically incorrect term, so please try to pay attention.

We have been informed that the Islamic terrorists who hate our guts do not like to be called "Towel Heads," since the item they wear on their heads is actually a small, folded sheet.

Therefore, from this point forward, please refer to them as:

"Little Sheet Heads."

Thank you for your support and compliance on this delicate matter.

And here was my comment:

At 1:41 AM, Elizabeth said…

You really need to lay off the Ann Coulter.

I won't tell you to stifle your racial slurs, because we've got a little thing called free speech, but I reserve the right to point out how offensive your racist remarks are.

Salaam, (Peace)

The author immediately responded (man I love ripping these people!):

At 8:19 AM, Beth said…

Thank you for not being an "Anonymous" chickenshit.

However, the only people who should feel truly offended are "Islamic terrorists," as it says in the JOKE.

And I really don't have any intention to "lay off" Ann Coulter link dumps. Sorry, but they're just link dumps; you don't have to read them.

Fois (peace)


She then posted this comment on MY blog:

Beth said...
I had to see what you had written about my long-lost twin separated at birth (ok, not really), Ann Coulter, since you commented on my blog about her...if she makes you so insanely angry, why do you bother reading everything she writes? I just don't get it--I don't waste my time on nutjobs like Ted Rall, Michael Moore, etc.; they don't deserve my time.

Anyway, I happened upon this "Blame it on Bush" post and thought you might enjoy the "Blame Bush!" blog, at http://blamebush.typepad.com/ ...since Bush gives you a headache (as Kerry does to me--where's that MUTE button???).

So I in turn responded on her blog....to paraphrase...
I don't post anonymously because I am not ashamed of my opionions.
Unlike some people, I listen to both sides of the fence, whether I agree with them or not.
I remain open-minded.

I would love to quote the exact response, however...

At 3:19 PM, Elizabeth said…

This post has been removed by a blog administrator.

Apparently she's taking cues from the Bush administration. When someone disagrees with you, just pretend they aren't there. Stifle their voice.
Some people just can't handle any disagreement.

But hey, it's her blog.

I personally don't mind negative comments...it gives me the opprotunity to respond.

But hey, the Bushies like things to stay one-sided... and they don't want any dissent. At least she remains true to the Bush/Cheney Creed:
"One Nation. One Voice. And that one voice just happens to be Bush."

Digressing from politics: AVP!

I saw Aliens VS Predator today, and it was AWESOME.

I might add that I was pretty much tricked into seeing it. I didn't have any intention of going to see it because I never saw any of the aliens/predator movies, and I didn't want to see AVP.
I was expecting a sci-fi slasher movie, but I was pleasantly surprised.

The movie was great, and it makes me want to see the Aliens quadrilogy now....maybe even Predator..?

Luckily I have a friend who nevers accepts the "I refuse" argument when it comes to movies. "I refuse" being the standard response when he says "Hey, let's go see [insert movie I refuse to see on the grounds that I refuse to see it ]" .... okay, I admit not the most logical argument, but it has kept me from seeing many terrible movies.

(I have YET to see Titanic, and I wear this fact like a badge of honor)

I'm done digressing now...

Pat Robertson=Evil +++

This may turn into a series of posts, highlighting the intolerance of the Christian Coalition and the Radical Right. (the Axis of EVIL perhaps?)
I've selected a few of 700 Club's Pat Robertson quotes for your blood-boiling pleasure. He may not be QUITE as hateful as Ann Coulter (or at least he doesn't APPEAR to be...he tends to be more appologetic when it comes to the intolerance of the Christian Coalition), he scares the hell out of me.
His vision for America, and indeed the world is frightening. All I can say is thank God he failed in his presidential aspirations.

"You say you're supposed to be nice to the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians and the Methodists and this, that, and the other thing. Nonsense. I don't have to be nice to the spirit of the anti-Christ." --The 700 Club, January 14, 1991
He claims to support Bush for re-election, but isn't Bush a Methodist? Bush is the anti-Christ? Hmmm....well, maybe on this ONE point he's right...?

"When I said during my presidential bid that I would only bring Christians and Jews into the government, I hit a firestorm. `What do you mean?' the media challenged me. `You're not going to bring atheists into the government? How dare you maintain that those who believe in the Judeo Christian values are better qualified to govern America than Hindus and Muslims?' My simple answer is, `Yes, they are.'" --from Pat Robertson's "The New World Order," page 218.
Well, at least he uses "simple answers" instead of beating around the bush about the issue.
It makes it so much easier for the rational individual to peg him for what he really is, a WASP supremist.

(talking about apartheid South Africa) "I think 'one man, one vote,' just unrestricted democracy, would not be wise. There needs to be some kind of protection for the minority which the white people represent now, a minority, and they need and have a right to demand a protection of their rights."--Pat Robertson, "The 700 Club," 3/18/92
Let me get this straight....he thinks that the white people are the minority in America? He's saying that white people (and I am assuming he means WASPS, not any of us heathen white muslims) should get counted..say twice...over everyone else. I am suddenly getting scary images of Pat in a white hood and robe.


"If anybody understood what Hindus really believe, there would be no doubt that they have no business administering government policies in a country that favors freedom and equality. ... Can you imagine having the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as defense minister, or Mahatma Gandhi as minister of health, education, and welfare? The Hindu and Buddhist idea of karma and the Muslim idea of kismet, or fate condemn the poor and the disabled to their suffering. ... It's the will of Allah. These beliefs are nothing but abject fatalism, and they would devastate the social gains this nation has made if they were ever put into practice." --Pat Robertson's "The New World Order," page 219.
The above statement seems to be bred from complete ignorance of the eastern religions. Or at least a selective understanding.

"With all due respect to those dear people, my friend, God Almighty does not hear the prayer of a Jew." --Petersburg Times, June 26, 1994
Wow, apparently even Jews aren't in Pat's little club either.

"In the 1990s and beyond, the battle is not going to be fought much longer between Christianity and atheistic humanism, but between Christianity and satanic-inspired Eastern religions." --Pat Robertson, The Secret Kingdom, 1992
Pat Robertson would be the first person to denounce Islamic jihad, but from the above quote one might imagine that he supports a Christian crusade or Jihad against what he calls "satanic-inspired Eastern religions".

"The courts are merely a ruse, if you will, for humanist, atheistic educators to beat up on Christians." --The 700 Club, Oct. 2, 1990
I wonder what kind of system he favors instead of a court system? One man, judge...jury...executioner? This does not sound like a man who favors democracy and freedom, but a totalitarian regime without any checks and balances.

"Feminism encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians."--Pat Robertson
I think this one speaks for itself.

"We at the Christian Coalition are raising an army who cares. We are training people to be effective -- to be elected to school boards, to city councils, to state legislatures, and to key positions in political parties.... By the end of this decade, if we work and give and organize and train, THE CHRISTIAN COALITION WILL BE THE MOST POWERFUL POLITICAL ORGANIZATION IN AMERICA.-- Pat Robertson, in a fundraising letter, July 4, 1991
This is the really scary stuff. He talks of raising ARMIES. He speaks of getting the "key" people in certain political positions.....

"The Koran teaches that the end of the world will not come until every Jew is killed by Muslims. Now that is what it says in the Koran, written by Muhammad"
This is either a blatant lie, or he has not really read the Qur'an. He demonstrates his complete lack of understanding about Islam.

(About Islam) "is not a peaceful religion that wants to coexist. They want to coexist until they can control, dominate and then, if need be, destroy."
Yet another example

"The Lord has just blessed him," Robertson said of Bush. "I mean, he could make terrible mistakes and comes out of it. It doesn't make any difference what he does, good or bad, God picks him up because he's a man of prayer and God's blessing him." -700 Club

Pat Robertson speaks of building armies and putting the right people in key political positions. His vision for the future is a complete, Christian Coalition take-over of the Republican party (assuming this hasn't already occurred).

His vision is one where there is no fair trial in a court of law....where there is no religious freedom....where the white man is counted double (or maybe more) over the rest of the American population....

I cannot help but tremble at this man's endorsement for Bush.

Next week on Axis of EVIL: Jerry Falwell

(It's like shooting fish in a barrel...and the fish are already dead)

Notable Blog

http://thelefthand.blogspot.com/
"A liberal who doesn't think conservatives 'have a good point'"

I love it!

How to be an Insta-Pundit

http://www.americanprogress.org/site/apps/custom/cap/findorg.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=45294

Claims VS Facts is a handy little tool when fighting that late-night online debate. It's got everything from the war in Iraq to health care and civil liberties.
Impress your liberal friends. Enrage the RWers!

I recommend searching the database for Weapons of Mass Destruction VS Bush's claims.

Kerry Speaks Out

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=2&u=/ap/20040819/ap_on_el_pr/kerry_war

Kerry spoke out against the Bush Campaign for not condemning the "Swift Boat Vets for Truth" smear ads against his millitary record and awards received during service.

It is ironic that one of the spokesmen for the SBVFT received his own award in the same conflict that won Kerry his bronze star: he was commanding another swift boat.
He won his medal for coming to the aid of another swift boat while under constant enemy fire, though he claims to have "never heard a shot"

The Kerry campaign is running a counter ad featuring the man Kerry saved, who remembers the enemy fire clearly.

Bush's campaign said they "have never questioned Kerry's millitary record or his awards" but they still do not speak out to condemn the SBVFT ads.

Kerry hit the nail on the head when he said that the Bush campaign is letting them do his dirty work.

Ann Coulter=Evil +++

....or she's completely and totally insane. Anyone who follows politics with any real zeal has most likely come across Ann Coulter. For most liberals, she incites a rage that for me at least usually involves seeing red and veins popping out of my skull.
I cannot fathom someone who has so much hatred for people who are different.
(and by different I mean not...WASP, card-carrying members of the NRA, RW Christian Coalition, Neocon Warmongers for Bush)

She does not sugar coat her hatred....no, she flaunts her hatred, and she calls herself a journalist. Her book "Slander" was on the NY Times best seller list. I don't know what's more frightening, the fact that she actually BELIEVES what she is spewing, or the fact that there are so many ignorant, hateful people out there that agree with her!

For those of you who may not be familiar with Ann Coulter, I have provided a list of quotes:


[about Muslims] "We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity. We weren't punctilious about locating and punishing only Hitler and his top officers. We carpet-bombed German cities; we killed civilians. That's war. And this is war."

"God gave us the earth. We have dominion over the plants, the animals, the trees. God said, 'Earth is yours. Take it. Rape it. It's yours.'"---Hannity & Colmes, 6/20/01
Wow, rape the earth.... I am speechless

"If you don't hate Clinton and the people who labored to keep him in office, you don't love your country."---George, 7/99

"The thing I like about Bush is I think he hates liberals."---Washington Post 8/1/00
You know, I am starting to think there really IS someone more evil than Bush....

"When contemplating college liberals, you really regret once again that John Walker is not getting the death penalty. We need to execute people like John Walker in order to physically intimidate liberals, by making them realize that they can be killed, too. Otherwise, they will turn out to be outright traitors."

"Liberals hate America, they hate flag-wavers, they hate abortion opponents, they hate all religions except Islam, post 9/11. Even Islamic terrorists don't hate America like liberals do. They don't have the energy. If they had that much energy, they'd have indoor plumbing by now." - (from Slander, pp. 5-6; published June 2002)

"Being nice to people is, in fact, one of the incidental tenets of Christianity (as opposed to other religions whose tenets are more along the lines of 'kill everyone who doesn't smell bad and doesn't answer to the name Mohammed')". - Townhall.com March 2004

"No matter what defeatist tack liberals take, real Americans are behind our troops 100 percent, behind John Ashcroft 100 percent, behind locking up suspected terrorists 100 percent, behind surveillance of Arabs 100 percent."
If this is the case, then I'd estimate that 60% of American Citizens aren't "Real Americans"
And if that is the standard of being a real american, I think I'll pass.

Like many of you, I carefully reviewed the lawsuits against the airlines in order to determine which airlines had engaged in the most egregious discrimination, so I could fly only that airline. But oddly, rather than bragging about the charges, the airlines heatedly denied discriminating against Middle Eastern passengers. What a wasted marketing opportunity! Imagine the great slogans the airlines could use:
"Now Frisking All Arabs – Twice!"
"More Civil-Rights Lawsuits Brought by Arabs Than Any Other Airline!"
"The Friendly Skies – Unless You're an Arab"
"You Are Now Free to Move About the Cabin – Not So Fast, Mohammed!"
I am now solidly convinced that the worst horrors and tortures of eternal hellfire and damnation are reserved for Ann Coulter and people who support such ideas

"If John Kerry would promise to fire Norman Mineta and start racial profiling at the airports, I would campaign for him."

After reading as many of her hate-filled columns at http://www.townhall.com/columnists/anncoulter/archive.shtml
I decided to respond. I doubt she will read it, but it certainly made me feel better as a person.
Here is my letter to Ann Coulter.

"I have read many of your articles, and you are quite possibly the most hateful, racist, narrow-minded individual I could ever imagine.

I don't know if you realize what a terrible human being you make yourself out to be.
You claim to be such a moral Christian, and yet you spew so much hate.
You are a hypocrite of the worst kind.

I've got a couple of suggestions for you:
-Read the Qur'an
-Or read your bible. (I particulary suggest the red letter stuff. You might learn something from the peaceful message of Christ. )

If you spent less time bashing liberals and muslims (or heaven forbid, a liberal muslim like myself *gasp!*)you might actually find something good in people who aren't like YOU. On the bright side, if people like me are going to hell, and your crowd gets into heaven, I will be happy to roast forever.

I pity you for your bitterness and hatred.
Salaam (which means peace)
An American, liberal Muslim"

I encourage everyone to go to http://www.townhall.com/columnists/anncoulter/archive.shtml
and read her articles (if you can stomach them) then send her the message that SHE is the REAL minority, and we as freedom-loving americans will not tolerate her message of hatred and bigotry.

Why I love my Pinko-Buttons

I was shopping before work and while talking to a sales lady, she noticed my buttons on my purse. She stopped mid-sentence and said "Thank God, Kerry!"

She works in a hoity-toity part of town where the car payments are higher than my .mortgage payment, and their homes are large enough to house a third-world country.

We started talking about Kerry VS Bush, and I found out she was a buddhist. (Appearances are deceiving!)

I usually get a wide range of comments on my buttons, either the term liberal spat out like an insult (as if there is something wrong with being open-minded) or like the above... "Finally! Another Democrat!"

I think it's funny how the democrats stick together in a primarily conservative part of the country. When we find others like ourselves we feel the need to say something to them in order to reaffirm our liberal spirits.

I just wonder how many buddhists support Dubya. My guess is none.

Notable Blog

http://www.therationalradical.com/blog.html

The Pinko Rant for the Day

"Who are you voting for?" That seems innocent enough, but that's a loaded question.
My RW conservative friends at work toss that question at me nonchalantly, knowing full well I'm a flaming liberal...but they just can't help themselves.
What they say is an innocent question always turns into an all-out debate.
(and of course by debate I mean narrow-minded, canned praises for Bush while simultaneously bashing a candidate that they admit to not knowing anything about)

Of course, as most can probably attest, I love a good political confrontation. I take every opprotunity to point out Bush's follies. I love freedom of speech. It's one of the freedoms I exercise with zeal, along with my right to vote.

I am not one to back down from a challenge, even when outnumbered. (though I occasionally whine that I am one of 4 libs in the entire store... O_o)

When I present logical arguments about Bush and provide reason behind my support of Kerry, all I get in response is the propaganda spewed by the radical right.

To paraphrase some of their arguments...(and my responses)
"Bush is liberating Iraq!" (Riggghhttt...... why don't you go to Iraq and tell me about liberation. Explain to the families of the innocent civillian victims that their homes were possible hideouts for Saddam and we HAD to kill their families in order to...er...protect their families...?)

"Teresa is insane...isn't she the ketchup lady?" (Okay, I thought that we were electing a president, not debating over the sanity of their wives...but in response to such an ignorant statement: Teresa is well-spoken. She speaks FIVE languages. Bush can't string one coherent sentence together. That ALONE makes her a more worthy candidate than Bush, and she's not running.)

"Teresa doesn't look like a first lady. Is that the kind of woman we want in the white house?" (Okay, that sounds racist to me. She happens to have an accent and slightly darker skin...but she's STILL smarter than Bush, and she's gorgeous. I will repeat: Teresa=5 languages, Bush=doesn't even speak English)

"Kerry flip-flops" (investigate his voting record....oh wait, you're too lazy. But hey, I've already done it for you.... see "Kerry's Voting Record" Or maybe you can't read? hmmmm...maybe that's why Bush appeals to your simple mind)

"Kerry forged his awards in the Navy" (hmm according to men who NEVER served with Kerry. and a doctor who was never on the record for treating Kerry's wound. By the way, what did Bush contribute during Vietnam?.....)

But of course, it all falls on deaf ears. Hope you enjoy your gas-guzzling SUV's and your diminishing health care people....who needs a job? Who cares about the environment? As long as Bush is in office, we are safe from terrorists..... oh yeah, where IS Osama?
Who the hell cares? We got that bastard Saddam.

And for the gung-ho millitary boys, enjoy your stay in Iraq. I hear it's a great vacation spot.
Don't come whining back to me when your pay drops and you don't have enough supplies to go around.

Hey, it's worth it. We have to keep Dubya and his elite in power. Otherwise the boogeyman might get us.... you know...the rest of Saddam's regime... screw Osama. He's only a multi-millionaire who hates America. He's only responsible for killing over 3000 americans. He's harmless...and if our president isn't worried about Osama, why should we? We got Saddam! We got Saddam! Say it with me...

We got Saddam!

Enjoy it while you can guys....

A nice pic from the campaign trail.

Can't keep up?

There are a whirlwind of anti-Kerry ads being put out by the Bush/Cheney campaign. It's getting really tough to keep up.

Bush is famous for his "Fuzzy Math" and his ads range from the misleading to outright lying.
Luckily, Kerry has got a great "Rapid Response" team to D-Bunk those misleading lies. (Or maybe mislying? There's a crackerjack new Bush-inspired word for ya)

http://blog.johnkerry.com/rapidresponse

Notable Blog

"Dick Cheney is a Corporate Criminal"

http://dcheney.blogspot.com/

Blame it on Bush.

I took a hiatus from work today on account of a huge headache and bloodpressure that shot through the roof last night, keeping me up tossing and turning until the whee hours of the morning.

Let's just say I am not my usual cheerful self at the moment.
Where's that coffee when you REALLY need it. Alas, I am not drinking any for fear of causing my bloodpressure to spike again...

the headache is still here, but now it's just an unpleasant pounding in my head.

Sure, you're thinking: Wild party. Stayed up too late drinking...

Nope. I don't drink. (anymore) I had a thrilling day of shopping and then I watched a chick flick with my friend last night. I was in bed at the reasonable hour of 11:30.

So, for lack of anything better to do this morning, I am whining about it here and I blame Bush.
It's nice to have one person that no matter what goes wrong, you can blame him.
And he's such an easy target too. So yeah, if you are reading this Mr. Bush, you are the reason for all of the migraines I get....yeah, and cancer...that's your fault too. Oh, and plaque, cavities and gingivitis. I am also pretty sure you are single-handedly responsible for N'Sync, which just may be the biggest crime against humanity.

Okay, I see this is getting silly. I'm going in search of food.

Photo-Op

Keep it up Dubya. You're doing a bang up job.

Diatribe: Voting

I went to a friend's house today to watch a movie. I set my hippie, pinko-commie purse down, and she saw my buttons and exclaimed "Oh my GOD. Get out of my house"...this in response to my proudly displayed "anybody but bush" button.

Of course she was kidding, but she seemed in complete shock that I am a LIB.

So maybe my hippie pinko commie image isn't as obvious as others have pointed out. (refer to previous post on hippie-wear=liberal...obviously)

I proceeded to regale her with tales of my pseudo-activist activities that include the recent trip to Crawford and the time I protested Bush's inauguration in Dallas ( I was on TV! ) hehehe

Of course, she's acting shocked and appalled that I am not voting for Bush, but at the same time tells me she's not "that political and not even registered to vote"

Maybe I'm missing something, but at first she was incredibly surprised that I was not a Bush supporter but in the same breath saying she's not even voting....Sounds a bit crazy to me. O_o
If I supported a candidate for president (which I do) then I would be making my voice heard by exercising my right to vote! My consolation though is that there is a Bush supporter out there that won't be voting. Yeehaw!

I just wish more of the Shrub-lovers were as complacent about their right to vote. ^_^

Ahh I am in danger of sounding like a hypocrite, I think everyone should vote, even people who disagree with me. Here's my thoughts..

If only 30% of the population votes, and then only...say 2/3 of that voting population elects a candidate, then that candidate was not REALLY elected by the majority....
That actually makes a very tiny percentage of the population...roughly 20%.

And of course, when certain people..not naming any names...toss out certain votes (which happen to be in favor of the candidate who was REALLY elected in the last election) Then how many people ACTUALLY chose the president? 5 maybe? hmmmm

Food for thought for the evening...or maybe just ranting from a pinko-commie. You decide.

Upcoming Rally in Dallas

Take Back America: Defeat Bush in '04
Oct 23rd Rally, Dallas

I received a flyer while in Crawford, Tx last month anouncing a rally in Dallas. It has a link to
http://www.northtexaspeace.org

I went to their site, but I couldn't find out any more details. The site didn't even mention the rally, but there were people at the Crawford Peace House handing out the flyers.

I plan on attending (doesn't protesting fit in with the pinko-commie label?) assuming I can get more details.

More will be forthcoming hopefully, and I'll post anything I find out here.

Kerry's Voting Record

The following is a reprint of a recent email I sent out after doing a little research on Kerry's voting history (remember, question everything?)

Friends,
Prompted by many attacks on Kerry and his record in the Senate, I decided to do a little research on his voting records.Bush likes to make the accusation that Kerry says one thing and does another. He has accused Kerry of "flip-flopping" on the very issues that Kerry claims to either support or disagree with.
Being one to not make a decision based on accusations without proof, and certainly to not follow someone blindly because he happens to label himself Democrat, I wanted to know....
CAN KERRY'S RECORD BACK UP HIS CLAIMS?

If you watched the DNC in Boston, then you are probably aware of where Kerry stands on certain issues, and what his focus is on in this election. But let's review...

Health Care:
Kennedy Amdt. No. 545; To eliminate the dividend and upper bracket tax cuts, which primarily benefit the wealthy, to provide the additional funds necessary for an adequate medicare prescription drug benefit, including assuring that the benefit is comprehensive, with no gaps or excessive cost-sharing, covers all medicare beneficiaries, provides special help for beneficiaries with low income, and does not undermine employer retirement coverage
Kerry: Yes
Result: Rejected

On the Motion S.Amdt. 1592 Motion To Waive CBA Reed Amdt. No. 1592; To increase funding for immunization services.Kerry: Yes
Motion To Waive C.B.A. Mikulski Amdt. No. 605; To provide a partially refundable tax credit for caregiving related expenses.
Kerry: Yes
Result: Rejected

Harkin Amdt. No. 396; To help rural health care providers and hospitals receive a fair reimbursement for services under Medicare by reducing tax cuts to the wealthiest income brackets.
Kerry: Yes
Result: Rejected

Daschle Amdt. No, 361; To fulfill the U.S. commitment to provide health care to American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Kerry: yes
Result: Rejected

Conrad Amdt. No. 376; To provide full funding for the individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) part B grants over ten years by reducing tax breaks for the wealthiest tax payers.
Kerry: Yes
Result: Rejected

Environment:
On the Amendment S.Amdt. 2028 Lieberman Amdt. No. 2028; To provide for a program of scientific research on abrupt climate change, to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by establishing a market-driven system of greenhouse gas tradeable allowances, to limit greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and reduce dependence upon foreign oil, and ensure benefits to consumers from the trading in such allowances.
Kerry: Yes
Result: Rejected

Frist Amdt. No. 850 As Amended; To eliminate methyl tertiary butyl ether from the United States fuel supply, to increase production and use of renewable fuel, and to increase the Nation's energy independence.
Kerry:Yes
Result: Agreed To

Lautenberg Amdt. No. 408; To require polluters to pay for cleanup of toxic waste sites, by reinstating the original superfund taxes.
Kerry: Yes
Result: Rejected

Corzine Amdt. No. 423; To provide increased funding for environmental protection and natural resources conservation.
Kerry: yes
Result: Rejected

Boxer Amdt. No. 272.; To prevent consideration of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in a fast-track budget reconciliation bill.
Kerry: Yes

On the Amendment S.Amdt. 315 Kennedy Amdt. No. 315; To ensure that the budget includes funds to extend temporary unemployment compensation benefits, provides benefits to the million long-term unemployed Americans, and provides benefits to part-time and low-wage workers.
Kerry: Yes

Education:
Motion To Waive CBA Reed Amdt. No. 1596; To increase funding for certain literacy, library, and museum programs.

On the Amendment S.Amdt. 572 Dodd Amdt. No. 572; To improve access to higher education for middle-income families by making resources available to expand the Hope and Lifetime Learning Scholarship Credits and for lower-income families by making resources available to increase the maximum Pell Grant to $4500 and to provide an equal amount for deficit reduction by eliminating the 10 percent dividend tax exclusion for amounts above $500 and eliminating acceleration of the 38.6 percent income tax rate education.
Kerry: Yes
Result: Rejected

On the Motion S.Amdt. 557 Motion to Waive C.B.A. re: Schumer Amdt. No. 557; To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make higher education more affordable.

On the Amendment S.Amdt. 415 Dodd Amdt. No. 415; To increase funding for after-school programs to the levels promised by the No Child Left Behind Act to serve 1.6 million more children in FY 2004 and to increase funding for Head Start to serve 80 percent of eligible 3 and 4 year olds and increase the number of infants and toddlers served and for deficit reduction.
Kerry: Yes
Result: Rejected

Veterans/Armed Services:
On the Amendment S.Amdt. 2745 Nelson Amdt. No. 2745; To create a reserve fund to allow for an increase in Veterans' medical care by $1.8 billion by eliminating abusive tax loopholes.
Kerry: Yes
Result: Rejected

On the Amendment S.Amdt. 1843 Boxer Amdt. No. 1843; To make retroactive the relief of hospitalized members of the uniformed services from the obligation to pay for food or subsistence while hospitalized; and to provide an offset for the additional cost.
Kerry: Yes
Result: Rejected

On the Amendment S.Amdt. 429 Landrieu Amdt. No. 429; To provide additional pay and benefits for active duty, guard, and reserve forces, such as augmenting Imminent Danger Pay and Family Separation allowance, and for modernization of equipment, weapons, and technology needs of the National Guard and Reserves in recognition of those currently involved in conflict Operations and the needs of their family members left behind.
Kerry: Yes
Result: Agreed To

Gun Control: (note, not a major focus of Kerry's campaign, but in my opinion, worth cosidering)
S.1805 Title: A bill to prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages resulting from the misuse of their products by others.
Kerry: No
Result: Accepted

On the Amendment S.Amdt. 2637 Feinstein Amdt. No. 2637; To provide for a 10-year extension of the assault weapons ban.
Kerry: Yes
Result: Rejected

On the Amendment S.Amdt. 2636 McCain Amdt. No. 2636; To require criminal background checks on all firearms transactions occurring at events that provide a venue for the sale, offer for sale, transfer, or exchange of firearms, and for other purposes.
Kerry: Yes

Kennedy Amdt. 2619; To expand the definition of armor piercing ammunition and to require the Attorney General to promulgate standards for the uniform testing of projectiles against body armor.Frist Amdt. No. 2625; To regulate the sale and possession of armor piercing ammunition, and for other purposes.
Kerry: Yes

National Security:
Lautenberg Amdt. No. 300; To restore national security funding.
Kerry: Yes
Result: Rejected

On the Amendment S.Amdt. 299 Schumer Amdt. No. 299; To provide immediate assistance to meet pressing homeland security needs by providing funding in 2003 for first responders, port security, bioterrorism preparedness and prevention, border security and transit security, the FBI; to restore the elimination of funding of the COPS program, firefighter equipment grants, Byrne Grants and Local Law enforcement grants; to provide a sustained commitment of resources for homeland security needs without reducing funding to other key domestic law enforcement and public safety priorities; and to reduce the deficit
Kerry: Yes
Result: Rejected

On the Motion S.Amdt. 264 Motion to Waive CBA Re: Conrad Amdt. No. 264; To prevent further deficit increases, except for national and homeland security and short-term effects of measures providing for economic recovery, until the President submits to Congress a detailed estimate of the full cost of the conflict with Iraq.
Kerry: Yes
Result: Rejected

On the Amendment S.Amdt. 381 Clinton Amdt. No. 381; To raise the 2003 caps by $3.5 billion for homeland security funding through a Domestic Defense Fund at the Homeland Security's Office of Domestic Preparedness in FY 2003 and to reduce the size of newly proposed tax cuts in the amount of $7 billion to pay for this amendment and for the cost of previously passed homeland security funding.
Kerry: Yes
Result: Rejected

Other Issues:
On the Motion S.Amdt. 678 Motion to Waive CBA re: Dorgan Amdt. No. 678; To provide emergency funding for food aid to HIV/AIDS affected populations in sub-Saharan Africa.
Kerry: Yes
Result: Rejected

Kerry Amdt. No. 281; To increase the budget allocation for programs to combat the global HIV/AIDS epidemic and to reduce the deficit.
Kerry: Yes
Result: Rejected

After reviewing some of his voting history, I firmly believe that Kerry "walks the talk" His voting history is extensive, so I've listed what is relevant to the issues brought up in the current election and additional issues which are important to me personally.
My challenge to everyone, Bush supporters and Kerry supporters alike, is verify the claims on both sides. I do not believe in "blind faith" on either side. I am a Democrat, but if a Republican candidate supported what I support, I would vote for him.

In this election we have a choice, and in my opinion an easy choice.
Four more years of Bush?
Higher deficit.Higher health care. Tax breaks for the wealthy. Sacrificing our environment for the almighty dollar.
Or do we effect some change?

http://www.johnkerry.com

Since posting the above, I noticed that the Rapid Response team at John Kerry's website did indeed respond to Bush's attack on his voting history. Sorry Dubya....try again!

Top Ten

Top Ten: What's going on in Dubya's head..?

10: What happened to my green crayon?

9: Ooo shiny

8: I don't WANT to go on my play date with Cheney, he hits me.

7: KABOOMMMMMMM!

6: I wonder what would happen if I stuck the crayon in my nose?

5: I want to say something...smart... in my state of the union...er..address....ooo bad saddam, bad! hmm...arbolist....arbolist is a good word. Wait, is that a word?

4: Damn, there's a number 4? ooooo shiny!

3: I hate Michael Moore

2: I hate Cheney

and finally...what's really going on in Dubya's head...


1:

Resistance is futile..or maybe not

I went to work today on my day off to meet a group to go install window AC's for elderly people.
It was for a group called "People Helping People"
Anyway, I showed up wearing my beat up straw hat and flip flops. One of my coworkers saw me and said "Now I understand..your clothes...your political inclinations"

He called me a hippie! ^_^ But I guess I can see where I fit the bill....

I carry a huge carpet bag as a purse (with a snazzy belt for a strap) I of course carry all my necessary stuff within, including all my "liberal commie" books. I never travel without a book.
The bag happens to be decorated with my liberal commie pins.

I stroll in wearing long, flowing shirts and the sterotypical flared jeans or pants. Occasionally I've been known to sport salwar kameez or a punjabi getup.

And yeah, the straw hat DOES scream hippie.

I just think it's funny that my appearance screams LIB. But then I look at the conservative yuppies in their Tommy Gear and their Nike tennis shoes. The one thing that comes to mind is WASP's for Bush. And you see hordes of them at Bush's rallies. No diversity.
And they want everyone to be just like them. Dress like them. Act like them. Vote like them.
It's like the borg. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. (sorry, that's the pinko-nerd in me...what kind of nerd would I be if I didn't make random Star Trek references on a daily basis?)

Thank you, but no thanks. I like being "different"

Previous post continued

After watching 5 minutes of that 700 club crap, I turned it to The Daily News with Jon Stewart.
Ahhhhhh a refreshing breath for fresh air.

My other half (who admits he doesn't care about the election and won't be voting) made the claim that I refuse to listen to negative press about Kerry, but that I believe everything I'm fed about Bush if it's negative. He says I'm biased....

Now, there may be some truth to my personal bias against the Shrub. But hey, I've been paying attention these last 4 years.

I asked him why he seemed so concerned about my political views ( and it drives him crazy that I AM so politically inclined ) when he himself claims he doesn't care about politics. Funny, no answer.

Sometimes I wonder what's worse....

Voting for the wrong candidate?
Or being complacent about the whole thing and not exercising the right to vote?

He says that his vote doesn't make any difference. (and of course, we DO have proof of that after the last election...but I won't go there..makes me too angry)
He says that things will never change. It seems to me that that kind of attitude is exactly WHY things never change.

How can we ever make a difference in this world and effect change when we don't exercise the freedoms that democracy allows?

Only 30% of the population of legal voters actually exercise their RIGHT to vote, and yet we're all about liberating other countries and bringing them democracy too!
In the wise words of Lewis Black...
"Yeah, it's great! Cuzzzz, ya don't have to do it!"

This is the kind of pessimism that really scares me. My generation seems to be too complacent about our government. I just don't understand why they can't see that it DOES matter.
It takes a lot of gas to fuel these SUV's, so when the cost of oil goes up as a result of this war, our quality of life will go down as a result. If it costs 40 $ to fill up your tank instead of 16 or 20, that's an effect. And of course, eventually the oil will cease to flow.

And if we haven't discovered an alternate means of fueling our vehicles, we will be in an even bigger pickle... but hey, that's a ways off! We don't have to worry about that. Let's let our children and grandchildren deal with it. Screw em!

Or....

We can exercise our democracratic right to vote (while we still can) and get the right people in office who actually care about the environment and decreasing our reliance on foreign oil.
We can also do our best to ensure our children have the best education (so they too can contribute to the well-being of our planet) Oh, and try to keep them healthy too, so they will live long enough to see the fruits of their labor amount to something worthwhile.

*stepping off her soapbox now*

700 Club = RW Nut Jobs

I was watching TV the other night, and it was pretty late. the 700 Club came on *groans*
and they were showing clips from the "Swift Boat Vets for Truth" ad that the Republicans are now playing to bash Kerry's millitary record.

Of course, it has already been refuted by the Kerry campaign, but the RW's are persistant little buggers. They keep saying it over and over and over again. (remember that little tactic? Repeat it enough and eventually it's true....repeat...repeat...repeat...)

Once again I find people taking it for face value instead of actually investigating Kerry's record.
Come to find out (here's a real shocker) these guys never served with Kerry.
(apparently they use the term "served" loosely...they were in Vietnam about the same time Kerry was perhaps?)

The doctor who claimed to treat Kerry for one of his wounds in which he received the purple heart claimed it was a superficial wound, and yet his name never appears in Kerry's medical records. Surprise surprise...

Now, I find it an incredible irony that the republicans are attacking Kerry's millitary record, meanwhile their candidate was most likely AWOL during his "Service" *coughshackssputters*
Anyone who wants the real lowdown on Bush's record...

http://www.awolbush.com
It has a lovely comparison of Bush VS Kerry on the millitary record.

And for anyone who was paying attention in 2000, this is what Bush's campaign did to McCain. Same old dirty tactics. But then, what else can we expect from Bush and his foul-mouthed side-kick Cheney? (Or is it the other way around...hmmmm...?)

Notes from a late night conversation...

My brother is here with his friend, and along with my Mom, we have delved into a philosophical/governmental debate which arose from an initial discussion in regards to the perception of our current war on Iraq.

What started as an amusing, Bush bashing good time.... has turned into a full blown philosophical debate about how a society thrives.

I find the debate a little tiring, though I usually enjoy such conversations.

Sayers (my brother's friend) made the comparison of the current war in Iraq with the conflict between the Athenians and the Spartans. He said that if Athens had been more aggressive they might have sustained their way of life. He claimed they should have taken an offensive as opposed to a defensive position in order to subdue the threat.

Now he then says that this comparison supports the war on Iraq!

Now, call me crazy (and many do..) but to parrallel that conflict, wouldn't it make more sense for us to attack the people that attacked us?
Newsflash for those who weren't around on Sept. 11th.... it was Afghanistan...Osama Bin Laden....

Not Saddam.

It would seem to me that while we are out playing hide and seek in Iraq, we are leaving ourselves vulnerable to the real threat.... hey, remember Al Qaeda?
How easily we forget. Bush & Co. keep ramming it into our skulls that Sadaam had weapons of mass destruction and connections with Al Qaeda.....over and over and over and over again ad nauseam.....
And yet, there is this tiny little thing called PROOF.

Saddam and Osama are enemies. They could not form any kind of alliance based on their very difference of ideals. Osama considers Saddam to be an infidel!

It behooves anyone who wants to know what's really going on in the middle east to take some time and actually study the different religious and cultural differences before grouping them all together in one big Axis of EEEEEVILLLLLLLL.
Hey, they're all the same, right? Osama=Saddam=Osama=Saddam.... same difference...right?

That's the crap we're fed by Bush & Co. every day, and people eat it up because they're too lazy to take the time to find the truth!

Now, I'm not saying Saddam is a boyscout... yeah, he needs a good arse kicking. HOWEVER...
when we are sending our brothers and sisters and children to war, it needs to be for a good reason. We need to be focusing on the REAL threat.

If a man walked up to you and pulled a gun on you and threatened to kill you...or if they even shot you in the foot, would you shoot the guy standing next to you who never threatened you or attacked you? And would it not also stand to reason that while you are attacking your neighbor, the REAL bad guy might have a better opprotunity to attack you?

It's common sense. Something I think our current regime is severely lacking.

Ah well, enough rambling from this pinko-commie for the night. Time for me to take a more active role in the conversation. I am being a bit of a wallflower..sitting outside on my laptop. (I love wireless internet!)

The Christian Coalition, Right-Winger's worst nightmare...

Yup, that's me. I'm an American Muslim (ex-christian), left-wing, liberal, pinko-commie (I think that's what we're called).

During the last election, I voted for the guy that got more votes...
(for those not keeping track...Gore)

I proudly display my liberal buttons on my purse wherever I go...
"John Kerry for President"

"Anybody but Bush"

"I Saw Fahrenheit 9/11 in Crawford Tx 7/28/04"

Yeeehaaawww!

Warning: Pinko-Liberal Commie generalization ahead

I always laugh at the responses I get from the pro-bush, proud americans....you know the type, the card-carrying members of the NRA. You can usually spot them on the road when you see the american flags plastered all over the back of their hummers or old ford pick-up trucks. (as if 20 flags posted on your vehicle somehow makes you more patriotic)
These are the same arses who ask for a biggie order of "freedom fries" to go with their Big Mac at McDonalds. (you can't be a patriotic american unless you eat red meat with cheese and bacon dammit!)
RW: "Bush only wants to liberate Iraq!"
Me: "yeah, and I'm the Czar of Russia"

Okay, winding down. I'm not anti-american. I was born and raised in Texas. I love my country, and I want to see a real leader in the White House....oh, and complete sentences would be a plus.