Some of the basic facts about George W. Bush:

Some of the basic facts about George W. Bush:

● Was warned by Richard Clarke and other specialists for 8 months prior to 9/11 about terrorist activity involving Bin Laden. On Aug. 6, 2001 Bush received a memo titled “Bin Laden determined to strike U.S.”
● Cut anti-terrorism funding prior to 9/11.
● Spent 42% of his time prior to September 11th ON VACATION. Has since spent more time on vacation than any other president in history.
● Sat for nearly 10 minutes continuing to read to children after being told America was under attack.
● Opposed an independent 9/11 commission, even though the families of 9/11 victims wanted it.
● Exceeded deadlines for handing over information to the 9/11 Commission. Finally agreed to “visit” with the commission ONLY once, for ONE hour, WITH Dick Cheney, and in a CLOSED meeting with NO record.
● Opposed the original Homeland Security Cabinet proposed in October 2001.
● Has given the fewest open press conferences in the 50+ years of televised presidential history. In the ones he did give, he referred to the questions as “trick questions.”
● Despite what Bush says about Afghanistan, it is still a mess. Parts of the country are so unstable they don’t dare venture into them. A polling station was blown to pieces the day before the “democratic” elections. Newly elected President Karzi was a former advisor to Unocal Energy Corp. (an oil company with links to Bush and Cheney). And Osama Bin Laden got away.
● Lied about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and Saddam Hussein’s ties to Al Qaeda and misled America into Iraq.
● Lied about seeking a UN vote for the War with Iraq in March 2003. Never did.
● Bush’s so-called coalition of nations as he referred to them was predominantly made up of countries like Iceland, Costa Rica, and Morocco, which have no militaries. Afghanistan, which is made up of our own military, is another nation he counts on his coalition list.
● Opposed an independent bipartisan commission to investigate WMD and intelligence failures -01/04
● Has turned a $5 trillion surplus into an $8 trillion DEFICIT.
● Brags about his tax cuts that only help people who make over $200,000 a year. The tax cuts RAISE middle class property taxes; STARVES social security, Medicare, & Medicaid; and REDUCES Veteran’s benefits. Therefore, the soldiers that come home from Iraq return with fewer benefits.
● His No Child Left Behind Act is the second largest UNFUNDED mandate in the history of education.
● Reduced the # of failing schools by REDUCING standards.
● Opposed the extension for the ban on assault weapons. Now these weapons are back on the street.
● Police officers have been taken off the street and Firehouses have been closed due to spending in Iraq which has resulted in less federal funding.
● Lied about gay marriage and said it would be up to the states to decide -02/00. In 02/04 he called for a Constitutional Amendment.
● Does not support Hybrid automobiles and tax credits for people who buy them.
● Has tried to reverse 30 years of Environmental policy and accomplishments for cutting pollution for the benefit of oil, gas, mining, and timber companies.
● More people protested Bush than any other human being in world history.

Bush needs to be worrying about his own marriage

Marriage values? Looks like Bush picked the wrong time to be worrying about what other people who love each do!As reported by Wayne Madsen on http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/

June 3, 2006 -- WMR can report that a Mayflower Hotel staffer has confirmed that First Lady Laura Bush spent at least one night this past week at the hotel, which is four blocks north of the White House. Mrs. Bush reportedly moved out of the White House after a confrontation with President Bush over his on-going affair with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The Mayflower's official position on the story is that they can "neither confirm nor deny" the identities of their guests. Because it's penchant for security and secrecy is well known to the Secret Service, the Mayflower has become a reliable hotel for U.S. and international VIPs.

Some Washington observers believe that the recent flare up between Laura Bush and the president stems from the fact that her poll numbers are twice as favorable as her husband's (60 percent to 29 percent). Laura Bush's recent solo missions to New Orleans, Colorado, and an AIDS conference at the United Nations represent a virtual declaration of independence from the most unpopular president in U.S. history. "She's [Laura's] taking a page right out of Hillary's book," said one Washington pundit. Rice, on the other hand, has been very close and loyal to Bush since she signed on as his chief foreign policy adviser in 2000. WMR has been told of intimate encounters between Mr. Bush and Rice on trips to New York City (multiple occasions) and New Orleans following Katrina.

WMR has received numerous email from the typical right-wing political direct marketing operations with the same talking point: how dare we violate the privacy of the President and First Lady in time of war. In the GOP view of morality, Republican Presidents are entitled to more privacy than Democratic Presidents.

In another bit of GOP hypocrisy, on Monday, President Bush will hold a VIP ceremony at the White House to back a bill enshrining a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. The name of the legislation: The Sanctity of Marriage Act. WMR hopes the mainstream TV media will focus on Laura Bush's facial reaction when Mr. Bush proclaims his support for The Sanctity of Marriage Act, i.e., if Mrs. Bush is even present for the event.

An Inconvenient Truth

This could put us in the right direction
EXCELLENT FILM!! EXCELLENT MAN!
I just saw the most important film of the year: http://www.climatecrisis.net/
Find a theater: http://www.fandango.com/MoviePage.aspx?mid=95961&source=bm_title
See what you can do and take action: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/

Al Gore was talking about Global Warming 20 years ago. Can we finally start paying attention?

An Inconvenient Truth is the most important film of the year. Of course, we can assume most people seeing the film are fans of Gore or curious Democrats, but we all need to be reminded of the issues and we all need to know the facts. And this film may just transcend past red-blue-Inde party lines. As Gore says in the film, "this is not just a political issue, it's a moral one." And I think more and more Republicans are begining to see this connection. As for the independents, this film shows the green party (especially the ones who ignored his environmental book Earth in Balance) how wrong they were about Gore. Evident in this film as well as all of Gore's writings and bill proposals in the Senate, the environment has been a life-long mission for Gore. And this mission is exactly what this film documents.

We need someone like Al Gore as president. Someone who will make the necessary changes. That's why I'm part of an initiative to draft Al for President in 2008 http://www.algore.org/ While my prediction of a Gore/Edwards ticket might be feasible, I must also face the realization that Gore may in fact be retired from politics. And that's ok because the man who won the 2000 election but lost the selection will always be a president for the people and the environment. Forget titles. This film proves it.

Another great thing I'd like to mention is the amount of teenagers I saw in the theater. Even though I saw a few of their minds wander, eveident from some of the chatter and movement in the room, at least they were there. What brought them to this film? I don't know. Did they appreciate it like my wife and I did? No probably not. But maybe someday they will.
I do believe and hope that a new movement is about to begin, yet it still may get a little worse before it gets better. Let's all just hope the tide is turning.

New York's race for Governor

Thomas R. Suozzi Go Home

Mere months into his new Nassau County Executive position, Thomas Suozzi decides to run for governor against the very popular and far more experienced and successful Eliot Spitzer. What’s wrong with this picture? Sure, Suozzi has the freedom to do as he wishes, but how about attacking some of the many real issues that plague Long Islanders and New Yorkers rather than attacking someone in your own party, someone who will most likely be the next governor anyway? Better yet, how about doing your job and keeping the promises you made to the people of Nassau County who put you in the position to run for governor in the first place? Small minded with big ego— the problem with too many Long Island politicians. The problem with too many politicians-- period.

Anti-Terrorism funding CUT and Whistleblowers punished

Just like prior to 9/11, Bush has again cut anti-terrorism funding. The hardest hit city in the U.S.- New York was just cut 40% in funding, yet cities with no possible risk of terrorism like Omaha continue to receive funding. What is Bush's Department of Homeland Security?
Nothing but a bureaucracy.

Meanwhile, Bush's Supreme Court just decided that anyone speaking out against corruption will be punished.

What is happening to this democracy?