We Should Never Forget

Today, Donald Trump tweeted:

Once we OPEN UP OUR GREAT COUNTRY, and it will be sooner rather than later, the horror of the Invisible Enemy, except for those that sadly lost a family member or friend, must be quickly forgotten. Our Economy will BOOM, perhaps like never before!!!

Forgotten.  Quickly forgotten.  Must be quickly forgotten.

Over 14,000 dead, and counting.

How far we have come from when a president mourned the loss of lives on 9/11.

George W. Bush said:

This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace….None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.

Why No 9/11 Post

Every year, I post something about 9/11. I purposely did not post yesterday, and there was a reason.

A number of bloggers, as well as some editorials I read during the weekend preceding 9/11, made a point that I found myself agreeing with. That was, why keep "peeling the scab off" every year? Is this for political gain? Is it really necessary? There have been some comments to the many posts and editorials comparing 9/11 to Pearl Harbor (12/7), with the caveat that with age, the dire memories of the event fade, and the emotional toll evaporates. Questions abound as to whether those who have actual painful memories of having lived through 12/7 are around such that EVERY 12/7 they relive that infamous day, and would we, as a generation, eventually feel more stoic and less emotional on 9/11. I don't know the answer, but this year, it sort of rolled by me. Yes, I did watch some more 9/11 footage on the television. Who would not, when aside from emotional reactions, we have 11 years of knowledge as to what occurred leading up to those tragic events. And, yes, I am still hungry for that knowledge, because as most of us now know, the Bush administration was lax in preparing for, let alone understanding the threat, as they were much more interested in linking Saddam Hussein and Iraq to these tragic terrorist attacks than they were to ascribing the true source to Saudi Arabian trained terrorists and Osama Bin Laden! Let us not forget the ties that bind Bush, et al. with Saudi Arabia.

Anyway ... of course, I will never forget, as the mantra goes. But, do I feel the need to join the cacophonous chorus of MSM/politicians that sound the drumbeat of war every year on this anniversary? No. I silently now observe the day, with my own personal memorial (and yes, I do have a 9/11 memorial shelf in my library), and grieve personally for the sadness of that day.

The Day After

After watching all the pomp and circumstance as it were, that we call football, especially on Sunday, any mention of Pat Tillman was strikingly and oddly missing. A man that left the NFL to join up and go fight that god awful "war on terror" in Iraq, only to find himself extremely at odds with it after he got there, then was shot by American troops in friendly fire ... while Bush and the American government and the military LIED about it, definitely tainted my beloved sport.

As much as I love football, I think opening season Sunday should have been cancelled just like it was on the first Sunday in 2001. All the NFL ribbons, the overblown flags, the pretend caring, was a bit much for me.

I watched football instead of watching anything that was part of the "remembrance" on the 10th anniversary. 9/11 is still a painful day for me, but I refuse to get on board the Macy parade like atmosphere that this day has now come to be.

And let us not forget that 77 Americans lost their lives yesterday in Afghanistan. For what? Peace? Love? Betterment of humanity worldwide? Nah ... American hatred, that's what 9/11 has morphed into.

Have a nice day.

Ten Years Later - 9/11/01

UPDATE 9/12/11: For Arno

The Only Living Boy In New York

The only American not on Earth on that day in 2001, NASA astronaut Frank Culbertson, had a unique vantage point on the attacks. From the International Space Station, Culbertson snapped a photo of smoke streaming from the World Trade Center wreckage that day after two hijacked planes crashed into the Manhattan towers.

(link)



Paul Simon and a somber rendition of "Sound of Silence" today.



And here is a link to an interesting post concerning the Saudis, and our country's president, GWB, and others that allowed Bin Laden's family and other Saudis to fly out of the United States in the two days that followed 9/11, despite the no fly orders in place.

I am re-posting a piece I did 9/11/10. I cannot think of anything to say that I did not put in that piece. Also, Bob over at his blog has created a few posts over the past week that say more than I could ever say today, on this tenth anniversary of the tragedy.

Evil is not destroyed by shooting at it, by imprisoning it, by executing it. It is as at best only constrained. In that sense, evil's power is equal to love. But evil is destroyed by love.

This is really the way out of the death of this world - love. It is so unfortunate that such an idea is scoffed at by many.

Love is the Answer - England Dan and John Ford Coley's version of the Todd Rundgren song.



My September 11, 2011 post.






The first two or three years were the hardest for me. I could not work on that day, I was totally unable to even type or write "September 11" or "9/11" in any fashion. I watched like a maniac each and every program that was aired on that day those first couple of years, and back then, there was pretty much 24/7 coverage.

After the invasion of Iraq, there appeared to be less 24/7 coverage of the events of 9/11, and as I watch a complete repeat of a live broadcast on MSNBC, I already see the lies about the incident being fed to the media as we know some things to be different from hindsight. For a specific example, I take the comments made by the newscasters many, many times, (did I say MANY? You could get drunk if you took a shot every time the broadcasters and the people they were talking to said "no warning") that the government had absolutely no indication that terrorists would hijack a plane and fly it into a building, as one of those misleading statements, since we already know that the government WAS warned this very thing WOULD happen a month earlier!

The phrase "never forget" was utilized for a number of years, and has been taken in different ways. Some use "never forget" as the mantra for a continued war on the religion of Islam and countries that are Islamic, and others have taken it to remember what NOT to do, retaliate irresponsibly or even at all. Remember and never forget what hate creates. I subscribe to the latter view.

I am quite amazed at the level of hate that has slowly creeped into the mindset of some of America, thanks, in no part, to the manipulation of our media to keep up the "rah rah" for the Iraq invasion, and continue to associate the 9/11 tragedy with the Bush Administration's (and neocons alike) reason for invading Iraq (and not trying to capture and crush the revolutionary ideologues actually responsible for this attack - Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden). Had the U.S. taken true advantage of the world's outrage at this attack, and proceeded to take out Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden and their control over the Afghans ... well, you can write in your own opinion after the ellipses.

Anyway, it MAY be nine years later, but I will never, ever, forget what happened. I don't harbor any hate toward the perpetrators or toward Islam, as many of the stupid people do. When you think of the nature of tragedies, man made and nature oriented, many more severe devastating and loss of life things have happened that far outweigh the carnage of 9/11. With that in perspective, I mourn for a place that was deep a part of me, the twin towers. I mourn for those that had to make a choice to burn up or jump off of the towers - I cannot even possibly get a grip of what that has to feel like. I mourn for those passengers on the airplanes when they realized they were going to fly into buildings and die, and their mindsets moments before they died. I mourn for those passengers of Flight 93 that did not allow the final plane to reach its intended destination, even though all aboard perished. I mourn for the loved ones that had to hear the last words of those that perished in these events of 9/11, and can only slightly begin to feel the pain such phone calls elicited of the recipients.

Mostly, I remember how easily corporate interests, and religious intolerance and hate can morph into what we have seen the past few years. Nothing has gotten better. It has only gotten worse. America has descended into economic chaos, and Osama bin Laden could not be happier. The stupid Americans are tripping all over themselves to undo all that is truly American, much to the amusement of Osama bin Laden. Al Qaeda has fragmented and grown to such proportions that Osama bin Laden must feel proud that he was able to orchestrate Americans' intense divisiveness, and have turned on each other in ways "no one could have anticipated" to quote our government's favorite excuse.

And, unfortunately, all the speeches Obama as President makes, are meaningless, because he and his administration have espoused just about everything the Bush administration put forth in the realm of "state secrets" and homeland security issues, which policies don't exactly tell the truth that the Obama administration has actually gone many steps further than Bush, for example, the "shoot to kill" American citizens residing other countries, without a trial, without an arrest, without a conviction (even if it were in abstentia, but no, NADA provocative reason), such that to be an American right now is not exactly the best thing when compared to the overall state of the world.

I shall never forget, even if all I do is remind others of the REAL events that occurred, and steer them away from the perversion that has slowly creeped into the "understanding" of the events of 9/11.


Click on the link in the heading of the post to be directed to an interactive CNN website devoted to those who lost their lives on 9/11.

More 9/11 Ground Zero Bullshit

Can any of the stupid people tell me why they are against the building of a prayer center (in which a small mosque will accommodate Muslims and others) "near" ground zero based on the "insult to 9/11 victims" theory, when there were already prayer rooms for Muslims in both the Pentagon and on the 17th floor of the south tower ON THE DAY the 9/11 attacks occurred?

If prayer rooms ORIGINALLY existed at these sites, so Muslims could worship, why is building one now in NYC a show of disrespect to anyone, other than showing disrespect to Muslims? It's not as if this building is housing a large mosque. It's a community center which will also offer prayer services, much like the ones at the Pentagon and which existed prior in the building whose prime real estate space is now being called ground zero.

If Muslims died on 9/11 (and not the terrorists, stupid people) and their houses of worship were allowed at both the Pentagon and the twin towers, I do not understand the vehemence with which certain of the stupid people oppose this building in NYC.

When watching one of the shows on 9/11 (meaning on that day, not about 9/11) I watched this one woman calmly claim that she didn't want a building near ground zero that could possibly be funded by Saudi Arabia. I had to laugh, and then yell at the television set -- "hey, birdbrain, who do you think is one of the largest shareholders of good old Fox Television?" Um, can you say "a Saudi?" LOL! Stupid people and their stupid mantras, always show their stupidity. Stop listening to talking points, lady, and educate yourself.

I think the funniest part of watching the teabaggers who are made up of primarily stupid people, is the chatter they use on and on about their convictions. Most of them can't put a coherent thought together as to why they oppose "this" or "that." And most of them seriously admit they don't really know much about the issues they are against, but they just know they are against them because they saw it on Fox news or heard it on right wing talk radio.

And don't quote me the "majority" are against it mantra. Dick Vader already said American's opinions don't matter.

HOW DO YOU SPEND 9/11?

The first two or three years were the hardest for me. I could not work on that day, I was totally unable to even type or write "September 11" or "9/11" in any fashion. I watched like a maniac each and every program that was aired on that day those first couple of years, and back then, there was pretty much 24/7 coverage.

After the invasion of Iraq, there appeared to be less 24/7 coverage of the events of 9/11, and as I watch a complete repeat of a live broadcast on MSNBC, I already see the lies about the incident being fed to the media as we know some things to be different from hindsight. For a specific example, I take the comments made by the newscasters many, many times, (did I say MANY? You could get drunk if you took a shot every time the broadcasters and the people they were talking to said "no warning") that the government had absolutely no indication that terrorists would hijack a plane and fly it into a building, as one of those misleading statements, since we already know that the government WAS warned this very thing WOULD happen a month earlier!

The phrase "never forget" was utilized for a number of years, and has been taken in different ways. Some use "never forget" as the mantra for a continued war on the religion of Islam and countries that are Islamic, and others have taken it to remember what NOT to do, retaliate irresponsibly or even at all. Remember and never forget what hate creates. I subscribe to the latter view.

I am quite amazed at the level of hate that has slowly creeped into the mindset of some of America, thanks, in no part, to the manipulation of our media to keep up the "rah rah" for the Iraq invasion, and continue to associate the 9/11 tragedy with the Bush Administration's (and neocons alike) reason for invading Iraq (and not trying to capture and crush the revolutionary ideolouges actually responsible for this attack - Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden). Had the U.S. taken true advantage of the world's outrage at this attack, and proceeded to take out Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden and their control over the Afghans ... well, you can write in your own opinion after the ellipses.

Anyway, it MAY be nine years later, but I will never, ever, forget what happened. I don't harbor any hate toward the perpetrators or toward Islam, as many of the stupid people do. When you think of the nature of tragedies, man made and nature oriented, many more severe devastating and loss of life things have happened that far outweigh the carnage of 9/11. With that in perspective, I mourn for a place that was deep a part of me, the twin towers. I mourn for those that had to make a choice to burn up or jump off of the towers - I cannot even possibly get a grip of what that has to feel like. I mourn for those passengers on the airplanes when they realized they were going to fly into buildings and die, and their mindsets moments before they died. I mourn for those passengers of Flight 93 that did not allow the final plane to reach its intended destination, even though all aboard perished. I mourn for the loved ones that had to hear the last words of those that perished in these events of 9/11, and can only slightly begin to feel the pain such phone calls illicited of the recepients.

Mostly, I remember how easily corporate interests, and religious intolerance and hate can morph into what we have seen the past few years. Nothing has gotten better. It has only gotten worse. America has descended into economic chaos, and Osama bin Laden could not be happier. The stupid Americans are tripping all over themselves to undo all that is truly American, much to the amusement of Osama bin Laden. Al Qaeda has fragmented and grown to such proportions that Osama bin Laden must feel proud that he was able to orchestrate American's intense divisiveness, and have turned on each other in ways "no one could have anticipated" to quote our government's favorite excuse.

And, unfortunately, all the speeches Obama as President makes, are meaningless, because he and his administration have espoused just about everything the Bush administration put forth in the realm of "state secrets" and homeland security issues, which policies don't exactly tell the truth that the Obama administration has actually gone many steps further than Bush, for example, the "shoot to kill" American citizens residing other countries, without a trial, without an arrest, without a conviction (even if it were in abstentia, but no, NADA provocative reason), such that to be an American right now is not exactly the best thing when compared to the overall state of the world.

I shall never forget, even if all I do is remind others of the REAL events that occurred, and steer them away from the perversion that has slowly creeped into the "understanding" of the events of 9/11.


Click on the link in the heading of the post to be directed to an interactive CNN website devoted to those who lost their lives on 9/11.

NYC Leaves New Orleans, Courtesy Of 9/11 Steel

The USS New York cruises on the Mississippi river near Avondale, Louisiana. Photograph: AFP/Getty

The USS New York, built with tonnes of steel salvaged from the World Trade Centre towers, began its journey to New York today after undocking from a New Orleans-area shipyard.

Read the short article about this ship built from steel from World Trade Center.

Never Forget, redux

Like DJ Rix, I got my new computer up and running today. It has bugs, and it's top of the line, newer generation, so most of my old school programming can't compute with this new generation. I had to reset all my icons (just Windows, only, I don't have time to do that in a day, sheesh!).

I went to work today, mostly because we had the holiday on Monday, and I took Tuesday off. I generally don't work on 9/11.

My heart is always heavy on this day.

Never forget.

The Fearful John Shimkus

According to The Wonk Room:

According to a new analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists UCS), Americans can “significantly reduce carbon emissions and lower energy bills” by implementing green economy legislation. In a two-year study, UCS analyzed the economic, emissions, and energy effects of their recommendations for clean energy, clean vehicles, and global warming standards. The UCS approach of comprehensive energy, transportation, and cap policies is similar to that in the American Clean Energy Security Act, released in draft form earlier this month by Reps. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Edward Markey (D-MA). The analysis finds that by 2030, net household savings will reach $900 a year, while oil use drops 6 million barrels a day and global warming pollution is cut in half.

(see graphic here).

However, one of our illustrious congresscritters has a problem with this, and said this about cap-and-trade programs to limit carbon emissions:

I think this is the largest assault on democracy and freedom in this country that I've ever experienced. I've lived through some tough times in Congress -- impeachment, two wars, terrorist attacks. I fear this more than all of the above activities that have happened.

So Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) fears a greener planet more than 9/11, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the impeachment of Bill Clinton? Well, I did need a good laugh this morning, and now I got one.

Pearl Harbor, Remembered

Today is the day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawai'i.

I figure if this date has never been made a national holiday, 9/11 will also never be made a day we do not work.

Funny, when I used to live on Oahu and took the bus to work (yes, even back in the 1970's I was still using mass transit, on the island, no less!), when I'd get into Honolulu, at practically every stop an old couple (usually with a New Jersey accent) would ask the bus driver if this was "the bus that went to Pearl Harbor?" After all these years in Los Angeles, and seeing the temperment of the L.A. bus drivers (most are asses) I was always impressed by the patience of the Hawai'ian bus drivers. Me? I would have shot the 100th couple that asked me that question, damn it!

List of those killed.

Rove + Hollywood = Propoganda

Shortly after the attacks on 9/11, a delegation of high-level media executives, including the heads of every major studio, met several times with White House officials, including at least once with President Bush’s former top strategist, Karl Rove, to discuss ways that the entertainment industry could play a part in improving the image of the United States overseas.

Hilary Rosen, the former chairwoman of the Recording Industry Association of America, who was also present at the post-9/11 meetings, said that Mr. Rove and other White House officials were looking for the kind of support Hollywood gave the United States during World War II.

“They wanted the music industry, the movie industry, the TV industry to produce propaganda,” she said. “Rove was putting a lot of pressure on us.”

Hmmm. Now, why does that not surprise me? Fake reason for invading a country, and then asking Hollywood to put a good spin on it.

The Light At The End Of The Tunnel

All week, I had been thinking about how to put forth my observation of the complete political turn around that has occurred in the last month. Then I read this post from Glenn Greenwald, who naturally, as always, says what I am thinking, but more dramatic and concise. An excerpt:

By why are those tactics suddenly not working? If anything, one could have expected that equating Democrats with anti-American, vaguely foreign, radical subversion would have been more potent this year than any other -- given that the Democratic presidential nominee is a previously unknown, black politician from Chicago with a mixed African and Arab name, a portion of his childhood in Indonesia, and substantial parts of even his immediate family still in Kenya to this day. But that line of attack has gotten Republicans nowhere -- other than sinking further into the mud of defeat.

There are numerous reasons one could cite, none entirely satisfying on their own: High levels of economic insecurity -- and an intense belief that the country is fundamentally off course -- have made voters immune to ancillary character attacks. The GOP has been ceaselessly deploying these character-smearing techniques for decades, rendering them stale, overused and drenched with the stench of past-era obsolescence. The country has so turned against George Bush and his party that nothing they say can resonate. Voter demographics are changing, with voters becoming younger and more diverse and less vested in GOP patriotism iconography. The Obama campaign has been far more adept at aggressively engaging these attacks, rather than merely defensively denying them as past campaigns have done. The combination of an angry McCain and an unapologetically extremist Palin makes those attacks more difficult to soften.

Perhaps most significantly of all, the views typically attributed to Democrats and liberals to justify the "unpatriotic" and "radical" labels -- particularly those in national security -- are now views shared by the majority of Americans. I thought one of the most illustrative moments of the campaign was when Sarah Palin, in her debate with Joe Biden, snidely accused Obama of wanting to wave the "white flag of surrender in Iraq." That taunt -- an old, reliable favorite GOP trope -- fell flat on its face. How do you convince Americans that Democrats are weak, America-hating radicals by virtue of views which a majority of Americans themselves embrace?

We're gradually seeing not only the demise of the right-wing faction that has dominated the Republican Party for decades, but also the death of their ugliest and most toxic tactics. When numerous right-wing figures crawl across one's television set desperately denying and abjectly apologizing for attacks on the patriotism of Democrats and liberals, that is potent evidence that, at least as a matter of political rhetoric, a genuine sea-change is taking place.

I started this blog because of my disgust over the way the Republican voice was coming across -- with lies, anger, hatred and vengeance against anyone not white, male, heterosexual, American and Christian. Period. Any deviation from that labeled you many things, none of which bore any resemblance to reality, nor were they founded upon truthful tenets. The first four years of the Bush administration was tempered in some fashion for about a year right after 9/11. But, then, it went downhill with a force of passion that was lapped up by a majority of Americans that to this day, I am still dumbfounded with the astonishing number of people (apparently around 23%) in America that still believe Saddam Hussein and Iraq had anything to do with the attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon!

Sadly, there are still those people (somehow still stuck at the 23% range) that believe in Bush, believe in the policies of hate and war, and who continue to tell themselves that they represent the majority view of the American public.

They do not. Thankfully, this election will shock them into the caged animals that they have always been. Not human beings imbued and transformed by the spirit of godliness and humanity, but whimpering, cowardly old hyenas living with their own dung.

Rememberance Of The Innocent Who Died Today

Please check out this CNN site that has been dedicated to the memories of all who died that day.

P.S. Word to the still uninformed - Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. Here's a list from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection of the Saudis that were flown out of America right after 9/11, despite the grounding of air traffic -- and with the complete support of the Bush Administration.

It was the Saudis that hit us, it was the Saudis that hate us, and it was the Saudis that started the jihad against this country.

Get real, get educated, and vote responsibly this year.

A Moment Of Silence For The Katrina Victims, Past And Current

Three years later, and is NOLA fixed yet?

Just as we can't forget 9/11, America must never forget what it's own government failed to do for its citizens this day in 2005.

Greenwald's Take On The Ivins/Anthrax Disconnect

When you add on to that the magnitude of this case and the ample reasons for error and deceit -- it's the first lethal bioterrorism attack on the U.S., one which, according to the Government itself, originated at a U.S. Government facility, perpetrated by a U.S. Army scientist, that was then used by numerous factions inside the Government and out to ratchet up fear levels and falsely blame Iraq and/or Al Qaeda for the attacks and, thereafter, was blamed on someone who appears to have been completely innocent -- what minimally rational person would be willing to assume that the Government's uncorroborated, unexamined, untested claims are accurate? ...

Ouch.

More, here.

THREE YEARS BLOGGING!

Today is my third year anniversary of my first blog post, which you can re-read here. Not only was it a featured post on MyDD, which I cross-blogged it at, MyDD nominated it for a Koufax award as best post of the year. Although I most certainly didn’t win, it was nonetheless, extremely gratifying to me.

I find it funny that three years later, my still Republican ex best friend is clueless. Here is an email he sent me on November 16, 2007, via a Yahoo email address that I give/gave out when I was using AOL as my blogosphere.

Mel,

I noticed you haven't updated your liberal propaganda website. Does that mean you are no longer a leftist? Does that mean you have admitted defeat? It must be so discouraging to see who your party is touting as presidential hopefuls in 2008. As far as I can see my side will have no trouble keeping the White House in 2008, and it looks like we may even take the House and Senate back. Anyway, I hope you and your family are in good health and your life is going well. You really need to learn that politics should not consume your life so much. Afterall, I couldn't stand Bill Clinton, but that didn't prevent me from having friends that for some reason liked him. Have a great Thanksgiving.

Tony

Yeah, I actually thought people on AOL had the ability to use their brains, but I have been proven wrong (with the exception of DJ Rix!)

My first year’s worth of posts have been fun for me to read over, as I was very much fired up. However, the second year that I started blogging was about the third year for Dkos., MyDD, Firedoglake, etc., and as we all know, these blogs became huge group blogs. As a result, I was not able to compete with their ability to break stories, as most worked on ads, fund raising, and pretty much became full time activities on their own. I still read them daily, but because I hold a full time job, it is patently impossible for me to be on the web scouring for stories to beat these guys, and as a result, my political posts were more redundant than original. I still like the blogging format, have a loyal following, and have enjoyed expanding my topics to music and other areas of interest to me.

Cross-posted at MyDD.

I'm Still Not Over 9/11

Been light blogging for weeks. Office is keeping me very busy since we are short an attorney until the end of the year. That leaves me very little time to even read blogs, let alone post on mine.

I'm still here, and will continue blogging once I have my office back up to full staff. Until then, why don't you visit the archives. I was a lot more militant in 2005!

All along, it's been the Saudis who are the enemy. P.S., My 1,250th Post

BAGHDAD — Although Bush administration officials have frequently lashed out at Syria and Iran, accusing it of helping insurgents and militias here, the largest number of foreign fighters and suicide bombers in Iraq come from a third neighbor, Saudi Arabia, according to a senior U.S. military officer and Iraqi lawmakers.

About 45% of all foreign militants targeting U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians and security forces are from Saudi Arabia; 15% are from Syria and Lebanon; and 10% are from North Africa, according to official U.S. military figures made available to The Times by the senior officer. Nearly half of the 135 foreigners in U.S. detention facilities in Iraq are Saudis, he said.

It still amazes me that we are even in Iraq. The Saudis are our enemy, not the Iraqis. The 9/11 attackers were Saudi, not Iraqi. Bin Laden is Saudi, not Iraqi. The Bush family has been in bed with the Saudis from day one. If not for the Bush family, the Saudis, including Bin Laden's family, would not have been so quickly evacuated from the United States after 9/11.

Now that the Bush family has their war in Iraq, they keep trying to blame Syria and Iran so they can invade their countries and make their war profiteer friends more money off the bleeding of the United States Treasury. But, all along, it's been the Saudis who are the enemy.

Opinion Research Business Poll Summary Not Really True Interpretation Of The Data Collected

So, I cruised over to my favorite right wing bullshit blog, Butts4Bush, and the acid kool aid they are tripping on today caught my eye.

First off, the writers of the blog have, to me, gone off the deep edge ever since November 2006, when the most horrible thing that could ever happen ... happened. After that, the state of denial of the blog staff and commentors has become blatantly apparent. Among their memes is the one that things are rosy and functional in Iraq, just not reported by the left leaning liberal press.

Today's lead off post was about a new "survey" that claimed most Iraqis believe they are better off now, love the Americans and don't believe there is a civil war. That stuck out like a sore thumb, or a black eye if you will, because none of those things are documented. In fact, quite the opposite is documented. I also noted that there was no link provided for the "poll" nor a link provided to the poll taker. It took some digging, but I found Opinion Research Business who allegedly conducted the poll.

The back up data and charts do not support the conclusions they came to. For example, the statement that only 27 % believe that there is a civil war in Iraq and 61% think there is not, is skewed. Here is the question and optional responses:

Which of the following comes closest to your own opinion about the state of Iraq at the moment.

Responses:

Iraq is in a state of civil war - 27%
Iraq is close to a state of civil war but not in one yet - 22%
Iraq is still some way from civil war - 18%
I don't think Iraw will ever get as far as civil war - 21%
Don't know/refused - 11%
No answer - 3%

To me, it is clear that a majority of those polled believe Iraq is in a civil war, very slose to one, or still some way. That is 61% of those polled that view the civil war issue as either occurring, iminent or looming, and not the other way around.

Here is the release, as posted on Butts4Bush:

MOST Iraqis believe life is better for them now than it was under Saddam Hussein, according to a British opinion poll published today.

The survey of more than 5,000 Iraqis found the majority optimistic despite their suffering in sectarian violence since the American-led invasion four years ago this week.

One in four Iraqis has had a family member murdered, says the poll by Opinion Research Business. In Baghdad, the capital, one in four has had a relative kidnapped and one in three said members of their family had fled abroad. But when asked whether they preferred life under Saddam, the dictator who was executed last December, or under Nouri al-Maliki, the prime minister, most replied that things were better for them today.

Only 27% think there is a civil war in Iraq, compared with 61% who do not, according to the survey carried out last month.

By a majority of two to one, Iraqis believe military operations now under way will disarm all militias. More than half say security will improve after a withdrawal of multinational forces.

Margaret Beckett, the foreign secretary, said the findings pointed to progress. “There is no widespread violence in the four southern provinces and the fact that the picture is more complex than the stereotype usually portrayed is reflected in today’s poll,” she said.

Here is the link to the actual survey site, and the .pdf charts with the actual questions.

On the positive side, some commentor on the Butts blog found the site as well, and pointed out some of the same stuff I have already opined.

"...playing politics while our people were dying."

NEW YORK (AP) -- Party politics played a role in decisions over whether to take federal control of Louisiana and other areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, former FEMA director Michael Brown said Friday.

Some in the White House suggested only Louisiana should be federalized because it was run by a Democrat, Gov. Kathleen Blanco, Brown told a group of graduate students at a lecture on politics and emergency management at Metropolitan College of New York.

Brown said he had recommended to President Bush that all 90,000 square miles along the Gulf Coast affected by the hurricane be federalized, making the federal government in charge of all agencies responding to the disaster.

"Unbeknownst to me, certain people in the White House were thinking we had to federalize Louisiana because she's a white, female Democratic governor and we have a chance to rub her nose in it," he said.

Brown declined to say who in the White House had argued for only taking control of Louisiana, but said that he'd later learned of the situation through Blanco's office and from other officials on the federal level.

Blanco reacted sharply on hearing what Brown had said.

"This is exactly what we were living but could not bring ourselves to believe. Karl Rove was playing politics while our people were dying," Blanco said through a spokeswoman, referring to President Bush's top political strategist. "The federal effort was delayed, and now the public knows why. It's disgusting."

Of course, it's disgusting. Everything this administration does is disgusting. I keep waiting for the mass revolt against them, although I do view the 2006 mid-term takeover as the symbolic "shot over the bow."

I wrote several pieces concerning this administration's handling of rescue and aid efforts during the Hurricane Katrina crisis, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. It devastated me, and still does when I think about it. Much like how the events of 9/11 still make me cry.

In my lifetime, I have never read about, lived through or seen such a dispicable and corrupt American government as the one that has ruled this country for the last six years.

I will never forget. Don't ever forget.