Bring It On

The Radical Right Hates Free Speech

The radical right knows what it likes and it likes what it knows. However, the truth isn’t what it knows. Instead, they have an ideology and they would like to have their books and information to supersede all other books and information.

This can be seen on the website: www.humaneventsonline.com. The website has published a list of the 10 most harmful books of the 19th and 20th century. There is nothing like getting a little negative to stir the pot. This is one step below censorship. Instead of declaring that the books be burned they just rank the books to be harmful. This may seem to be a minor step, but who wants children harmed?

Why would I suggest that these books could harm children? The truth is that they would not be harmed by these books, but the effect of publishing this list is bound to have repercussions among the general public who doesn’t quite understand the value of knowledge. Instead, they see a list of harmful books and they run off to the library to make sure that harm isn’t happening at the library. It is well known that top ten lists of books promote the sales of books. Why wouldn’t we expect that the opposite result wouldn’t be true?

We need to keep in mind that we need to be aware of history and the history of human thought so that we are not doomed to repeat history. If the books on this list begin to be found less and less around the country we will find someone who will not have read these books. This person is bound to come to similar conclusions and they will begin the populace on the same road we traveled to the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany. We should remember that the Inquisition caused pain, suffering and death, not the puritanically clean population desired by the church. We should remember how the evils began.

But, we should consider some of the books on this list. “The Communist Manifesto,” “Mein Kampf,” and “Quotations from Chairman Mao” round out the top three. These are books that have been treated like the Bible to justify evils. The Bible, which also caused many harms when used in this way is not considered because it wasn’t published in the 19th or 20th century. Lucky for the creators of this list, because the Bible would rank number one if earlier publications could have been considered.

Number four on the list  “The Kinsey Report” should be a surprise. This was the first attempt at a scientific study of sex. Many aspects of sex were studied and this was the foothold of understanding. Many of the initial studies were slightly wrong, but that shouldn’t justify putting the book on a list of harmful books. Actually the reason for placing the book on this list is more likely to be because the radical right doesn’t believe in understanding the truth about sex and sexual activity. Being prudish by nature they would rather have the book labeled as dangerous in order to justify eradicating it from the libraries and schools.

I didn’t intend to cover all ten of the books, but the tenth book is another interesting book. It is “General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money” by John Maynard Keynes. This book is chastized by this website because he “…argued, the government should run up deficits, borrowing and spending money to spur economic activity.” So, this is something that George W Bush must have read. To bad they didn’t have this list out in time to prevent the President from borrowing money to give tax cuts to the wealthy  in order to spur the economy.

Check out the list at: <a href="http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=7591"><font size="2">link.</font></a> There are quite a few honorable mentions as well. But keep this in mind when the radical right starts banging the drum of censorship based on lists like these.

<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politics" rel="tag">politics</a>

Stem Cell Research Living Will

Courtesy of Jesus' General.

I certainly have no problems with this. In fact I would back it!

Stem Cell Research Living Will

I hereby certify that neither I, nor any member of my family, including but not limited to: children, grandchildren, cats, dogs, etc. and any "after acquired" family will never, ever, under any circumstances (even with my fingers crossed) take or ingest any form of drug treatment or medical breakthroughs that are in any way associated with or connected to Stem Cell research. I am morally opposed to this type of medical malfeasance that our lord and Savior and Dr. Dobson most assuredly rebuke. I declare that I am of sound mind and body (as so it is hence with respect to the aforementioned family members) as we execute this irrevocable document and thusly said, this document shall not be challenged in a court of law. This is so despite the fact that I or said parties, would either now or in the future, be the beneficial recipient of such a repugnant life enhancing treatment . Only the Devil's greatest tool, i.e. "temptation" could lead us into sinful thoughts of partaking of this reprehensible policy.
 
____________________________
XXXXXXXX

____________________________
Rest of Family
 
____________________________
Pets
 
____________________________
Notary Public
 
____________________________
Witness

In a surprising movve

The US rejects   an Amenesty International report on the detention camp at Guantanemo Bay that it is "the gulag of our time"...

The Republicans Are Falling Apart...

Now that the Republicans have finally come to power in Congress they are acting like a pair of teenagers losing their virginity for the first time. They have waited so long for this moment, but now that they are there they have no idea what to do. Then the frustration and blaming starts to kick in. As they know that the moment is limited and is quickly coming to an end.

And you thought Democrats have bad egos.

It has been fifty years since the Republicans have had this much control, not since Eisenhower's administration have the Republicans had this much control in our government. What happened once they got there? Nothing, not only do we have a lame duck President we have a lame duck congress. The in fighting, the name calling has all begun, just like a bunch of school children who want to play with the same toy.

After last weeks vote to keep the filibuster intact the gaps in the party line are truly and publicly beginning to show. Their tightly run machine is starting to show some wear, they have no idea who is at the wheel, and they all want control of the wheel.

On one hand we have the religious right and on the other hand we have the true Republicans. On one hand we have DeLay and Frist, on the other hand we have McCain.

There are the puppets and there are the puppet masters. I do not recall seeing James Dobson’s name on any ballots I cast back in 2000 or 2004. In fact I didn’t even know who the hell he was. So why does he think that he has so much say in what happens in our government? Because this is how a theocracy works; religious leaders make decisions with out the consent of the governed. This is how the Taliban worked and this is exactly what James Dobson wants. Complete control with out his name ever being printed on a ballot in these United States. And sadly, there are people calling themselves Americans who want this to happen. If there is any group of people who pose a threat to our democracy, it is these people.

I find it curious that these people would come out and bash Senator McCain like they are. McCain is about all the Republican Party has left now days. He is the one voice with in the party who sometimes refuses to toe George Bush’s party line, he is also the one voice that Democrats will listen too.

The Republican Party in their greedy grabs for power continually shoot themselves in the foot as the American people sit in the stands and try to figure out exactly why they voted these people into office.

And promise to not make the same mistake again in 2006 and 2008. The American people allowed them to step up to the plate and take a swing. Unfortunately for them, they struck out.

Religious intolerance is not a Republican value. Big government is not a Republican value. Spending with no end in site is not a Republican value. Nation building is not a Republican value. The Bush administration is about as Republican as Bill Moyers is. And the American people are beginning to see this and they do not like what they see.

Last week seven Republican Senators made a deal with seven Democrat Senators with out the knowledge or blessing of the Senate Majority Leader Frist. What is happening when the Senate Majority leader can not control his Senators? What kind of leadership is the party using? More over is there any leadership in the Republican Party right now? It would seem that the Republican Party is beginning to split into two different parties. I for one welcome that split.

Last week Republican Senator George Voinovich sent out a letter to his fellow Senators pleading to them to not confirm John Bolton for US Ambassador to the UN. It takes guts and courage to say no to George Bush’s pack of wolves and he did it. He did it because it is the right thing to do. However more than likely, enough Republicans will step up to the party line and confirm John Bolton anyway. I do believe that sending that letter does illustrate again that there is a divide with in the Republican Party. Those who toe the line and those who know what the right thing to do is.

Also the House passed a bill that would loosen the restraints on stem cell research funding. This after the President threatened to veto the bill if it passes the Senate and makes its way to his desk. Again, a shift between Republicans based in reality and those based in imaginary land.

I for one will welcome with open arms the Republican Party when they decide to return to their base. When they cash in that two-way ticket from loony land and come on home. I welcome the Party’s return and I am sure their homesick base will too.

It will be hard but I will forgive them for their misdeeds during the last 6 years, but we need the Republican Party as much as we need the Democrat Party. We just need moderation, not fanaticism. And don’t even try to tell me that the Democratic Party has swayed to the far left. There is about as much truth in that as there is in the myth of the “Liberal Media”.

If they don’t banish the likes of Dobson, Falwell or Robertson then the party is destined to be doomed. And they will lose all power to the left.

If there is one thing that a real moderate Republican doesn’t like; it is some religious extremist in Washington D.C. telling him that he can’t drink beer and look at porn magazines.

Hear, hear…

Memorial Day

Nobody knows exactly where or when Memorial Day began.  Over two dozen American cities  claim to be the birthplace of the holiday.  During the Civil War, groups of women in the South would decorate the graves of their war dead.

The first official observation of Memorial Day was May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.  By 1890 all Northern states were observing Memorial Day.

The South didn’t recognize Memorial Day until after World War I.  Before that the Southern states had various days for honoring their war dead, and they only honored Confederate soldiers.  Several Southern states continue to have a separate holiday for honoring Confederate soldiers.

While you’re enjoying the 3-day weekend, partying, drinking (or whatever your drug of choice is), please remember everyone who died defending our country.  Nightline will be broadcasting the names and photographs of all U.S. service personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan during the past year.  The broadcast will take approximately 45 minutes.

And while we’re honoring the dead, we need to be painfully aware of the problems facing our soldiers and veterans, and how they’re being shortchanged.  Regardless of political viewpoints or how one feels about the war in Iraq, our soldiers and veterans need to be rewarded for risking their lives.

Some politicians are shouting “Support Our Troops!” from the rooftops, and then are privately trying to reduce their health care and benefits.  These politicians need to be pulled out from under their rock and brought squirming and blinking into the light of day.  This shortchanging of our veterans is absolutely immoral and criminal and needs to be exposed.

At the Armed Forces Retirement Home, managed by the Pentagon,   residents are suing  Defense Secretary Rumsfeld over budget cuts which are jeopardizing their health care.  They are no longer able to get medical checkups or prescriptions on site.

A spokesman for the home says the changes have improved “efficiency.”  Efficiency for whom?  At whose expense?  A veteran of the Korean and Viet Nam wars said “When you're playing football and you get hurt, they say 'suck it up' — we're just too old to suck it up any more.”  Suck it up?  It’s one thing to tell a football player to suck it up, but an aging veteran of two wars?  Is this how they thought they’d be rewarded for risking their lives?

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is an underreported but very real problem for soldiers and veterans of the Iraqi war.  More than 10,000 Iraqi war veterans have sought help for this condition.  Months or years of looking for unseen snipers and roadside bombers have caused mass paranoia.

One soldier returning from Iraq said:  “I am getting better with crowds, but still if it is a very confined space and I am totally surrounded I have issues with that.”

Another said:  “When I am in crowds I tend to watch people's hands.”

Welcome back; now suck it up.  And you’d better not have incurred any debt while you were gone.  The recent bankruptcy law passed by Congress and signed by Bush wipes out any and all protections from creditors that soldiers and veterans used to have.  This law was written by and for the banks and credit companies.  Soldiers?  Veterans?  What did they contribute to my campaign?

And some of the favorite targets of payday lenders (who are barely one notch above loan sharks) are  military bases.    Some of the politicians who scream the loudest about supporting our troops are sitting on their thumbs while these lowlife hustlers prey on military personnel, charging as much as 391% annual interest for a short term loan.  Some of these loan sharks’ “customers” are desperate enough to take out a second loan to pay off the first loan, a third loan to pay off the second, etc. until they have five or six loans they’re paying off.  Hundreds of dollars a month can go into this vicious circle.  One loan — one desperate decision — can lead to a downward spiral.

But whenever any kind of banking “reform” comes before Congress, the money and clout of the banking industry outweighs any concern for military families.  You’ll never hear a politician screaming “Support Our Bankers” in front of TV cameras, but that’s where their priorities are.

American Legion Magazine has interviewed two senators and two congressmen from the Veterans Affairs Committee.  Congressman Steve Buyer, R-Indiana  and   Senator Larry Craig, R-Idaho    both give longwinded answers full of euphemisms and political doubletalk.  Basically their flowery rhetoric translates into:  Cost-effectiveness.  Let’s spend billions to send them off to war, and then pinch pennies when they return.  You’ve served your purpose — now get lost.

Congressman Lane Evans, D-Illinois  says: 

The budget submitted by the White House is one of the most dishonest, disingenuous and insensitive documents I've seen in over two decades in Congress. The administration's budget shortchanges the nation's sick and disabled veterans and seeks to force hundreds of thousands of additional deserving veterans out of the VA health-care system.  In his State of the Union message, President Bush saluted the bravery and sacrifice of our troops and promised that a grateful country will do everything possible to help them recover. The budget he has proposed, which devastates programs for veterans, instead makes a cruel mockery of his own rhetoric."

He also says:  “The Bush administration seeks a mere 0.5 percent more for 2006 than Congress appropriated for 2005. It ignores the 13 percent to 14 percent VA testified it needs annually to maintain services at current levels.”

Senator Daniel K. Akaka, D-Hawaii  says: 

If we don't work together to provide adequate appropriations, the shortfall is going to get worse. We are at war in Iraq and in Afghanistan. The president has told us that the war on terror will not be won overnight. Every day, military men and women are returning home in need of medical care for physical as well as psychological wounds. Ultimately, many will seek VA care. The influx places even greater pressure on already-overwhelmed VA facilities and staff. Our job in Congress is to try to give VA the resources it needs to meet its obligations to veterans. The president's 2006 budget falls short.”

Congressman Evans and Senator Akaka are saying the right things.  Can they (or will they) follow through?

Cross-posted at Who Hijacked Our Country 

What's New For Memorial Day 2005

According to historian Michael Vlahos of Johns Hopkins University what seems new is the revisionist history that the Bush administration is injecting into everything from the conflict in Iraq to the conflict in Afghanistan. Even Laura Bush, a school teacher, can't seem to get the facts straight about our history as a country.

Can't justify the dropping approval polls then rewrite history, good strategy, must be Karl Rove approved.

Gone? Maybe. Forgotten? Never.

From The Examiner Written by Sgt. Artie Muller

It's been 403 days since Pfc.Keith ("Matt") Maupin (promoted to sergeant April 1) went missing when his fuel convoy came under attack near Baghdad. That fateful day was April 9, 2004. A member of the 724th Transportation Company from Bartonville, Ill., Maupin was subsequently placed in a "Duty Status: Whereabouts Unknown" designation on the same day.

Read On

How's Your Memorial Day Weekend?

If your a noncitizen mother of a soldier killed in Afghanistan this weekend isn't going to mean much when you can't get the proper recognition for the sacrifice your son made for this country.

The new Florida Senator is......

.....a guy who has been arrested over 40 times, who declared bankruptcy as a way to avoid paying the judgments he owed after being sued for his harassment of women at abortion clinics, who divorced his wife of 19 years and almost immediately married his young former assistant, who got kicked out of his church for his inappropriate conduct with women, and who believes that the death penalty is appropriate for abortion providers.....

Well, hopefully not, but you never know in Florida. Find out what else World O' Crap has dug up about the upcoming Florida vacation season.

New Podcast

Cranky Radio is here! Check it out when you get a chance!

Stem Cells Outraged About Outsourcing

Stem cells across the country have thrown up their embryonic arms in outrage over recent reports that the Bush administration is pushing stem cell jobs overseas!

It's Not A Filibuster!

The Dems are holding up a vote on Bolton because the White House won't hand over documents requested by the Democrats. I, too, would be interested to see Bolton's thoughts on Syria's potential to develop WMDs. This crackpot tried to paint Cuba as a threat lord knows what he has to say about Syria.

So anyway, hand over the paperwork and let's get on with the vote, sheesh!

Oh What A Slippery Slope

DeLay's house of cards starts to crumble.

George W Bush Can’t Be Wrong

When George W Bush says it, then it must be true. Maybe it wouldn’t be true the first few times, but by the sixth time it’s got to be true. Right!?

Well, if you don’t believe it from me maybe you’ll believe it from George W Bush himself.

<blockquote>“Now, a personal savings account would be a part of a Social Security retirement system. It would be a part of what you would have to retire when you reach retirement age. As you -- as I mentioned to you earlier, we're going to redesign the current system. If you've retired, you don't have anything to worry about -- third time I've said that. (Laughter.) I'll probably say it three more times. See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda.”</blockquote>

This isn’t made up, it’s from his <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050524-3.html">Propaganda Release May 24, 2005</a>.

Why should we call it a “Press Release?” After all, he is telling us that he has to make us believe that he’s right. Now his truth is showing through. Maybe if we just passed a law saying that George W Bush can’t be wrong we could convince the rest of the people that he’s right.

<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/politics" rel="tag">politics</a>

Bush had tears in his voice

I had the radio on but wasn't really listening.  Then I heard President Bush who literally had tears in his voice.

Was he talking about Memorial Day?  Was he talking about the death of more soldiers in Iraq? 

Was he talking about stem cell research?  Was he announcing the death of somebody important?

Bush wasn't talking about any of those subjects.  All but the last (a theoritical) have been making me cry much this week.

He was talking about the hold-up of John Bolton's nomination/confirmation as Ambassador to The United Nations.

If anybody can explain why this is worthy of Bush's voice tearing up, please explain it to me.

Wow!

Sailorinthedesert wrote this about a Gallup poll found that said 69% Americans oppose the Democratic fillibuster,

We have all seen one poll or another in the MSM, saying the American people support the dem/leftist position on filibustering judicial nominees. Many claim that it is how the question is framed that showed the results the left leaning MSM wanted. Of course, the MSM, or any organization, that wants a specific answer to a poll, will try and get that answer by framing the question to lead the poll taker in that direction. Now, NewsMax, is reporting the results of a Gallup poll that shows 69% of Americans favor an up or down vote on judicial  nominees.

Really?

Here is the poll from May 9th saying that a majority favor the filibuster Gallup poll

The heated debate over the filibuster rule in the U.S. Senate is a low-salience issue to the American public, almost two-thirds of whom say they are not following it closely. When the situation is explained to Americans, the majority appear to favor keeping the rule in place. A plurality also favors the Democratic approach over the Republican approach to the issue. Americans following the filibuster situation closely are more likely to favor keeping it in place than are those who are not following it as closely. Republicans and those who attend church most frequently are more likely to oppose the filibuster rule than are independents, Democrats, and those who do not attend church as frequently. One unanticipated correlate of the rancorous debate appears to be a drop in Congress' job approval, now at its lowest level since 1997.

Besides the fact that polls are notoriously untrustworthy because of  a. How the questions are worded   b. who interprets the data  c. how the data is interpreted

So what does the first poll really ask?

Al-Zarqawi Replaced

GREAT! Now we will have three terrorist we won't be able to catch! Has anyone seen Osama?

Dobson Back Peddles On KKK Comment

Earlier last month James Dobson was quoted on one of his radio shows as saying:

"I heard a minister the other day talking about the great injustice and evil of the men in white robes, the Ku Klux Klan, that roamed the country in the South, and they did great wrong to civil rights and to morality. And now we have black-robed men, and that's what you're talking about."

But as MediaMatters points out here, Dobson tries to back peddle out of the comment.

What a friggin' tool!

GOP Losing Ground

Donkey Rising gives a peek into what might be in store for the GOP in 2006. Giving Tom DeLay one more reason to fear for his job.

Radical Right A Little Upset

Excuse me for asking, but, who the hell do these people think they are?

SP and MJ Trump Real News

MediaMatters reports on the large dispartity in coverage of key news stories. And who says it's a liberal media?

A Snake In the Grass

Did anyone ever bother to think that not criticizing John McCain might actually be a bad thing? The right have been doing it for awhile maybe the left should start.

I'm A Republican -- Boo Hoo!

Wa! Waaaa! Waaaaaaaaaa!

Get over it!

Being George Voinovich (R-OH)

Is not easy these days, ever since breaking ranks with the radical right George has taken a beating from the White House and fellow colleagues. Thanks George and hang in there!

They're Still Alive If Someone Just Remembers

In honor of this upcoming Memorial Day I have struggled with what I should write, what I should say and how I wanted to portray and honor the unsung heros of foreign wars. Not personally knowing anyone that has died in these recent conflicts I could not seem to find any true way to represent my feelings. But then as I searched the Internet for information and data it came to me that the only true way to honor these men and women would be to try and bring them back to life. But how? Well as I searched the internet I found these brave men and women still living in the words of their friends, relatives, siblings and soul mates.

I honestly cried as I read through hometown newspapers and on-line memorials and came to the conclusion that the only way to honor these men and women would be to pass on a snapshot of these peoples lives and the friends and family they left behind. These people are not Pat Tillman and their stories did not make front-page news across the country. They were just mere statistics across the bottom of our T.V. screens. But as I read the words of their loved ones I realized that they are all heros and I want to thank the families of these men and women for the sacrifice they made and most of all I would like to thank every man and woman that made the ultimate sacrifice on the battlefield so that I can sit here and type these words.

Thank you and God bless!

Army Sgt. Gregory M. Frampton- 37, of Fresno, Calif.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Fort Campbell, Ky.; killed in a MH-60 Black Hawk crash during training on Jan. 30, 2003, in Afghanistan.

Julie Ann Frampton - "Thank you everyone who wrote in Greg's guest book. Thank you Col.Randy Cochran for saying Greg was a good man. I say to you "it takes one to know one". Greg was my husband. We were friends for 6 years before we dated. In those 6 years I got to know him on a spiritual and intellectual level. Our relationship started at 0% and grew to 100%. Unlike most who start at 100% and grow to 0%, if at that time they are committed to the relationship, then they go from 0% to 100%. And by the divorce rate today, at least 1/2 don't make it. The romantic and the physical came the 1st year we dated and the 2 years 2 months we were married. Greg was in my life only 9 short years. But just as Jesus did not die when He died, neither did Greg. Our relationship was not severed, but refocused beyond physical connection."

Litte sissy Chamaine - "My big brother Greg never experienced doubt about being loved. Mom let him know as frequently as he would let her, which I’m almost certain was daily......."

".......Personally, I have been searching for reasons why these tragic losses had to happen to Greg, to Danny Kisling, Mark O Steen, & Tom Gibbons. I thought about justice. But justice has to do with fairness where we get what we deserve. These deaths can never be justified. But this is not about fairness or justice. Not in Greg’s mind....."

Army Spc. William J. Tracy - 27, of New Hampshire; assigned to B Company, 5th Battalion, 158th Aviation, Aviano Air Base, Italy; killed Feb.25, 2003, in a UH-60 Black Hawk crash in Kuwait.

He was born in Haverhill, Mass., the son of William J. Tracy and Dianne Childs, and grew up in Weare. He later moved to Webster and graduated from Merrimack Valley High School in 1993. Tracy spent one semester pursuing his love of art at a local school before enlisting in the Marines eight years ago. After four years, he returned home for a short time before joining the Army to fly helicopters. Most recently, he was stationed at the Aviano Air Base in Italy. Tracy hadn't been home since Christmas 2001, but he remained close to his family through e-mail and long telephone calls. He loved meeting people from around the world and brought toys and gifts with him, he said, so they would think well of the United States and its soldiers. He is survived by his father, of Webster; his mother, of Manchester; his sister, Sarah M. Tracy of Dunbarton; his paternal grandmother, Helen Tracy of Haverhill, Mass., his fiance Linda; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Navy Lt. Thomas Mullen Adams - 27, of La Mesa, Calif.; assigned as an exchange officer with the British Royal Navy’s 849 Squadron; killed in a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter crash over the Persian Gulf.

Adams' parents, who were visiting a daughter in Germany, were informed of their son's death in a phone call from neighbor Dianne Micklish. It was "the worst news anybody could ever share," Micklish said.

"How do you tell somebody their only son, one they're so proud of ..." she said, her voice trailing off. "They were so proud of his accomplishments, and they were so scared when they knew he was going to go over there. How do you do that?"

Neighbor Mary Frasure remembered Adams as "an adorable boy. Just darling."

"A look in his room at the models and posters was only part of the story," said his uncle, Richard Adams. "Even when he was in elementary school, he could describe in remarkable detail the performance and history of each."

Army Spc. Tyanna S. Avery-Felder - 22, of Bridgeport, Conn.; assigned to the 296th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died April 7, 2003 in Mosul, Iraq, of injuries sustained April 4 when her convoy vehicle was hit with an improvised explosive device in Balad, Iraq.

Ray Avery, jr. - "to my big sister i know i never told u that i loved but i do the moment i found out that u were gone i wanted to hurt every one who said any thing to me but i got up and was strong like u would tell me to do and i went and did something to let loose like u would do now before every game i will all ways here u telling me to be strong and never give up my dreams. I will all way love you and there is nothing that i wont do for you sometimes i think that u still are in the army and u just cant call but then i start to think and wait by the phone but u never call then i start to cry so i just grabmy heart and then i her you say be strong. i love u big sis and i will never for get you RIP."

Tiffany Miles - "Hi minime. I miss you more and more everyday. Life for me has been tough since you left. Somethings have seemed to just keep going downhill. Even though you are not physically here, I know that you are guiding me through these tough times. I often hear your words and that eases my pain. I knew you would be my friend for eternity. I will be patient and strong and wait for the day we can meet again. God Bless you and your family. I miss you and you are in my thoughts everyday and everynight. Thanks for your love. Your best friend Tiff."

Army Pfc. Leslie D. Jackson - 18, of Richmond, Va.; assigned to A Company, 115th Forward Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, Ft. Hood, Texas; killed May 20, 2003 when her military vehicle hit an improvised explosive device as she was returning to Camp Eagle in Baghdad.

Kenneth Scott - "From your "god brother" up here in Maryland, I'm gonna miss you. It's been so long since you and I have seen each other, and I wish it wasn't under these circumstances. Rest In Peace baby girl."

Vivian ( Viv ) Scott - "To my sweet Niecy, I know you are in our Heavenly Father's loving arms. You are now at peace. I thank God for all of my loving memories of you as a child watching you grow up. You grew to be a beautiful, intelligent, loving young lady. You are my Hero. To Viola, my best friend, you were an excellent mother, it was an inspiration to watch the love between you and Niecy. You raised a devoted, gifted child. God has her now. Trust in the Lord God now and always because He loves us and is always in control. May God surround the entire family with His loving arms. Peace to you all."

Marine Lance Cpl. Gregory E. MacDonald - 29, of Washington, D.C.; assigned to Bravo Company, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Frederick, Md.; died when the light armored vehicle he was traveling in rolled over June 25, 2003 in Iraq.

Daniel Joslyn-Siemiatkoski - "Greg was my best friend and the greatest person I ever knew. He was like a brother to me. I miss him so much and I will never forget him."

Jennifer Hartlove - "I did not know you, but you fought along side my brother in Iraq. He is still over there, and he is very upset by your loss. He thought very highly of you, and will never forget you. Thank you for defending our country, you are truly a hero. God Bless."

Army Sgt. Dale T. Lloyd - 22, of Watsontown, Pa.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry, 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; killed July 19, 2003 when multiple mortar rounds hit his forward operating base in Iskandariyah, Iraq. 

Dale T. Lloyd was a Civil War buff eager to be part of a modern-day conflict. He joined the Army in July 2000 after graduating from high school in Watsontown, Pa., and had planned to attend college in the fall. Lloyd wanted to be a teacher. "He had everything figured out," said Amy Bell Beaver, his mother. Lloyd, 22, died July 19 in a mortar attack in Scandaria, Iraq. His father, Richard Lloyd, had e-mailed his son just hours before. The younger man was proud and excited that he was soon to become a squad leader and would be responsible for more men. He had been home for two weeks in late June and early July. "He didn't sleep much during that time," his mother said. "It's almost like he was trying to live the last part of his life." The day before he left for Iraq, Richard Lloyd drove his son to Fort Drum, N.Y., where the younger man was stationed. Dale told him he had an awful toothache but didn't want to miss the deployment. "Dad, I can put up with the pain," he told his father. Source: Associated Press

Army Pvt. Kyle C. Gilbert - 20, of Brattleboro, Vt.; assigned to C Company, 2nd Battalion, 325th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; killed when Iraqi gunmen in a vehicle opened fire on Gilbert’s unit August 6, 2003 in Baghdad. Gilbert died of injuries received during the ambush.

Kyle Gilbert joined the U.S. Army two weeks after he graduated from Brattleboro Union High School. He signed up for eight years.

The dark-eyed teen of short stature pursued his goal with the same intensity that won him national rankings in martial arts. In joining up, Gilbert, 20, followed in the footsteps of his father and his uncle. The latter was a Vietnam-era Medal of Honor recipient.

Lauren Triggs - "Kyle, I love and miss you more and more as the days go on. You pictures remain and always will on my walls and in frames around my house. You are amazing, you are my hero. I'll never forget your smile, it was never ending. And the aviator sunglasses that never left your head. I love you, you are always in my thoughts and prayers along with your family and friends. With all my love, Lauren"

Rachel H - "I knew Kyle in high school. I can't remember a time I saw him without a smile. He was always full of respect and loyalty. I did not know he was going into the military, and it shocked me to hear of his death. I am extremely grateful for his courage, and will think of and miss him often."

The photos and most of the information in this post came from MilitaryCity.com and Legacy.com. Some of the quotes came from guest books set up on-line by friends and family members. I urge everyone that reads this post to take the time this weekend and do a little searching yourself. This weekend is about remembering these men and women and the ultimate sacrifice they made so that we could get away for the weekend and chow down on hot dogs and burgers.

More wisdom from Tom Delay

"An embryo is a person, a distinct internally directed, self-integrating human organism," Mr. DeLay said, adding, "We were all at one time embryos ourselves. So was Abraham. So was Muhammad. So was Jesus of Nazareth."

He went on: "The choice to protect a human embryo from federally funded destruction is not, ultimately, about the human embryo. It is about us, and our rejection of the treacherous notion that while all human lives are sacred, some are more sacred than others."

An embryo is now given the status of a fetus or more; a fetus will become a living child.  What's going to happen to the child?

Is he going to be examined to see if he will be good breeding material?  Examined to see if he might ever have a congential condition or a condition that might need stem cells to help reverse it?

But we can't use stem cells as they'e a person just like Abraham, Muhammad, and Jesus.  So kill the kids who aren't perfect.  They've had their hour out of the womb.  Time for new cells on that petrie dish.

My logic is screwy?  You bet is.  But no weirder than Tom Delay's.  Sacred he calls cells in a petrie dish.  Sacred!

As an adoptee I have watched many people I know get IVF treatments--"because you understand.  Adoption..so many things can go wrong..."

I have never once said "no you're wrong.  there are so many kids who need good homes." 

I have never once said to those people using their own eggs, if possible, and of course their own sperm, "you frigging egotists; you'll spend a fortune for the possiblity that your own genetic line will be preserved.  Screw you."

No I have never said that.  But I have thought that.  And this whole stem cell mess is bringing up feelings I don't want to have.

Why am I putting this in a RWN piece where I get to make fun of Tom Delay?  Making fun of Tom Delay is one of my favorite activities, and I should leave it where you can laugh---or sadly defend him.

Battle lines have been clearly marked in the past few days.  The stem cell bills have taken all arguments out of the abstract.  They have forced people to examine issues and to be on one side or another.

It's not so simple.  While I was adopted I believe every woman has the right to chose whether or not she has a child or continues or not a preganancy.  This is a first big step toward taking that right away.

Then there all the children who have been abandoned or for whatever reason are up for adoption.

Apparently they're not as important or sacred as the cells in the damned petri dish.

Wouldn't Delay and Bush's time be better spent in talking about those children who are already alive?

No because they're not as sacred as cells in a petri dish.  They're politically expendable.  They don't serve a purpose in this debate.

So let them live in foster homes.  Who cares about their future? it's the cells in the petri dish that are important. Battle lines have been drawn. 

Whoever has rejoiced when they've seen cells in a petrie dish?  A scientist maybe.  But what person has ever said "my child; she's perfect; she's amazing, just look at those wonderful cells."

All the other fights--they're nothing compared to this.  I know where I stand on this issue and I know why.   I cherish life.  Life after the womb.  Life when the baby comes out crying.

Life's incredible.  Life begins when the baby enters the world.

Rejoice over babies being born.  That's when you look at the baby and think that there has never been such a beautiful perfect baby in the world before.  Not when they're cells in the petrie dish.

Sacred is when the baby pees all over his parents for the first time.  That's life

Bill Maher - Republican Scapegoat

Bill Maher responds to Congressman Bachus. In case you don't remember, Congressman Bachus called Bill Maher a traitor for saying that the military has already recruited the low lying fruit.

                    Bill Maher                                                    

15 Minutes Longer

The list of Americans KIA has become 15 minutes longer than last years list. That's a lot of new names considering Bush's State of the Union Address was approximately 45 minutes long.

The Memorial Day special, titled "The Fallen," will air on May 30, and "Nightline" will be extended from its usual 30 minute broadcast to about 45 minutes to allow time for all the names to be read, ABC said.

Let's hope it doesn't become an hour-long special next year.

A Re-pub Plays the "Repressed Card"

Over at World O' Crap they have "outted" another conservative, not for being gay, but for being corrupt.

Dobson Threatens GOP -- Again!

"That principle has now gone down to defeat. We share the disappointment, outrage and sense of abandonment felt by millions of conservative Americans who helped put Republicans in power last November.  I am certain that these voters will remember both Democrats and Republicans who betrayed their trust."

There he goes again, the radical advocate of child beatings cloaks himself in the conservative base. I guess the only thing left to do now is drink the Kool-Aid and wait for the comet to arrive!

The Radical Right Reminisces

"You and I were once embryos," said Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.). "Let's protect the little yous and mes," he said.

Yeah and I'm sure you got some great pictures!

I was a twinkle in my dad's eye and before that I was a little tiny sperm lucky enough not to get ejected before the big game. How far back does the radical right want to take this?

Just Say Yes to Sex

This is your penis, this is your penis on more drugs! Just need a red cape with a big "P" on it and your purple helmet Trojan warrior should be good to go! Don't these drugs fly in the face of abstinence?

Cranky Radio- Stem Cell Debate

Here is the latest edition of Cranky Radio. Today’s topic is embryonic stem cell research. Tell us what you think?

Click here for Windows Media

Click here for Mp3

The State of Education

In March, I posted a two piece story on testing students.  In Florida, it's the end of the school year and test results are back for students.  School grades won't be determined until some time in the summer. 

Because testing results are effecting schools across the United States thanks to No Child Left Behind, I decided to revisit those posts. 

In Florida, we take the FCAT.  The FCAT was originally intended for, a diagnostic aide.  This test was not originally designed to be the holy grail for grading schools.  It was supposed to be used by teachers and administrators to help them determine what skills students need to work on to improve their reading and math.  As a diagnostic tool it's okay.  But, as anyone who works with special needs students will tell you, it's just one tool and it's not the best one to use with every student.

Almost all students are now expected to take this test.  The only students that can be exempted from taking the test are those with significant cognitive and social impairments.  For 3rd graders, it is the state determined standard for advancing to 4th grade or being retained in third.  Students with learning disabilities, mild mental handicaps, and limited English skills are judged the same way as students with no special needs. 

Yes, the students with special needs or limited English skills get some accommodations for taking the test.  The test may not be timed, or they may be able to take it in a different setting, for example.  However, their scores will determine if they are retained or if they move on even if the test is not a valid tool for them. 

After one year in this country, students are expected to be able to take the FCAT.  After two years in this country, students are expected to do just as well as students who were born and raised here.  It doesn't matter that it takes 5 to 7 years to learn a language to the point where you can do more than casual conversation. 

Mentally handicapped students are not working on grade level, yet they must take the test and perform on grade level.  Students with learning disabilities tend to have difficulty processing language.  The ability to process language is a very important factor in determining a student's success when taking the FCAT.  Giving a student extra time does not mean that they can take the test and show what they have learned. 

For example, one student from my school has made incredible progress this year.  She's mentally handicapped, but she's managed to go from reading on a 1st grade level to a 3rd grade level.  This student is in the 4th grade and had to take the same test as her non-impaired 4th grade peers. According to the FCAT, she has shown an increase in learning gains of over 1000 points.  That's remarkable for any student.  Did she pass the FCAT?  No.  She failed. 

By state law, if a 3rd grade students scores a level one on the reading portion of the FCAT, they must be retained at least once.  Even if they have special needs.  If they have no special needs and have never been retained before, they must be retained twice. 

The FCAT is a very important test for students.  Some districts have extended the state retention standard from only 3rd grade to 3rd to 8th grade.  Orange County is just such a district. 

Students know how important this test is to their school careers.  They worry over how they did on the FCAT.  Students with good grades and excellent academic skills worried.  Students who have special needs or limited English skills worried.  Eight year olds worried  themselves sick over a test that takes up 3 days. 

In college, few classes are determined passing or failing on one test or project.  Finals are also given at the end of the term, not three fourths of the way through the term.  We are expecting elementary school students to do what we don't expect from college students.

Please don't suggest that a year's time is from the last quarter of the school year until the end of the 3rd quarter of the next year.  Technically, it's true.  However, as anyone who has taught in Florida can tell you, once students have taken the all important FCAT, they are done for the year.  No matter how hard teachers try, students feel that the big deal is now over and they can coast for the last grading period. 

Jeb Bush promoted and passed a bill in 1999 that determined that schools would be graded on the results of their students' FCAT scores starting in the year 2000.  It's called the A+ plan.

Under this plan schools that do well get bonus money.  Schools that do poorly don't.  These schools also face possible funding cuts.  Sounds fairly straight forward, right?  Wrong.

First of all, school districts don't know what the determining scores will be for a school to be considered A, B, C, D, or F.  We typically don't find that out until after the scores are figured.  One year, the state decided that there weren't enough failing schools and adjusted the score for F to raise the numbers.  This decision came in the summer, after the school year was over.

Another problem with the grading method is that a school can go from an A one year to a C the next.  The following year it can be back at an A.  No, school personnel didn't change radically during that time.  No, curriculum and teaching practices didn't change.  What changed?  The students on which the grades were based.

Ask anyone who's taught for more than a couple of years, and they'll tell you that you have good years and bad years.  Some years you can have a class full of high achievers.  Some years you can have a class full of slow learners.  I won't try and explain why it happens.  It just does. 

If you were comparing the students (high achievers or slow learners) as they progressed from grade to grade, school grades should be fairly steady.  For example, if you compare the scores for students in class A in 3rd grade against their scores in 4th grade, they should show similar growth/learning.  In this case you'd be comparing apples to apples. 

What Florida does, however, is compare students in 4th grade in the 2003/2004 school year to students in 4th grade in the 2004/2005 school year.  If you were teaching a class of students with several slow learners in 03/04 and a class with few if any slow learners in 04/05 it would look like your students made huge gains.  Your grade would go up.  However, if the situation was reversed, it would look like your students made small gains or even slipped.  Your grade would go down.  In this case you're comparing apples to oranges. 

Because everything relies on student performance on the FCAT, schools have been placed in an untenable position.  School districts are putting enormous pressure on school principals to do well.  School principals put enormous pressure on their teachers.  Teachers try their best to teach their students everything and keep up with the paperwork they have to do to show that they are teaching everything and the progress their students are making. 

No matter how much effort is put into teaching the students by both the students and the teachers, no matter how much progress can be shown, all can be for naught.  If a certain percentage of students don't take the test, a school's grade can drop from a B to a D. 

At least 95% of all eligible students must take the test.  If too many students are exempted from the test (such as autistic students) or don't come to school on test days and don't make it up in the two day window, oh well.  Nice try. 

Another factor that has to be taken into consideration, moving the lowest performing students up.  Nothing at all is wrong with that.  As a special education teacher, I've always worked on moving those students up.  Again, though, we get back to the apples and oranges issue.  The school doesn't get credit for moving the lowest performing 3rd graders up as shown on their 4th grade FCAT results.  The school is judged as moving the lowest performing 4th grade students up from two different years. 

Yes, schools are being forced to "teach to the test."  No, it's not always a bad thing.  For reading, schools have become better at teaching students comprehension skills.  For math, however, students aren't taught to mastery any more.  My school district bought a whole new program for elementary math students that cycles through skills quickly in order to expose students to as much as possible. 

This is just based on the A+ plan, by the way.  It doesn't take into effect the further problems caused by the No Child Left Behind legislation.

No Child Left Behind adds more problems to states and schools.  Even though the federal government provides roughly 10% of funding to states for education, NCLB controls 100% of expectations.  Districts and schools that are determined failing face the possibility of the federal government coming in a taking over.  There are stipulation requiring all students to be judged by the same measure. 

According to the NCLB law, schools must make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).  These means that all but about 30% of students in multiple categories must read on grade level.

The state of Florida determines grades in part on whether schools show a certain percentage of growth in the lower 25% of students taking the FCAT.  Last year this lead to nearly 70% of the schools in Florida obtaining a grade of either A or B. 

They should have done equally as well according to NCLB, right?  Wrong.  Only 23% made Adequate Yearly Progress last year. 

Why such a gap?  Numerous reasons but the biggest one involves the inappropriate nature of giving special education and Limited English speaking students the same test as non-impaired, native English speakers the same test and expecting the same results. 

Remember the student I mentioned above?  The one who showed learning gains of over 1000 points?  Even though this student is still in the lowest level according to the FCAT, her learning gains show improvement.  She fits into several categories according to NCLB.  She's a Limited English student, a special education student, and a low socio-economic student.  In all categories, she would be counted as a failure.  The school can get credit for the progress she made, but not much.  Typically not enough when averaged together with other students in these categories. 

So why is it that only 10% of state education funding is allowed to control 100% of the outcome?  What happened to states' rights?  You remember states' rights.  Once upon a time, the GOP used to argue long and hard that the federal government not inflict itself on states' rights.  Not anymore. 

A Noble Attempt. But...

If I had to bet money, I’d say that Bill Frist is one angry man today. Sure he gave lip service supporting the compromise reached by level headed Senators that denied Dr. Frist the “need” of using the nuclear option - but he isn’t happy. He isn’t happy because it scuttles his plans to marginalize the minority party and consolidate his base with the radical right. They have been made no secret that they wanted him, expected him, to go Fat Man and Little Boy on the Senate if he wants their votes in 2008.

The agreement may have cost him the Presidency.

Or at least it should cost him if there was any honor among thieves. There is a big problem with the gentleman’s agreement reached by those trying to save the Senate - it doesn’t outlaw the nuclear option. It leaves the option to invoked it at anypoint in the future. Even now, Dr. Frist is already planting the seeds that he will use it if need be. According to the New York Times

Bill Frist…  said the agreement “has some good news, it has some disappointing news, and will require careful monitoring.”

Dr. Frist and his allies portrayed the agreement as a positive step but noted that it still did not fully meet their requirement that all judicial nominees ultimately receive up-or-down votes. “This agreement announced tonight falls short of that principle,” the majority leader said

He said “bad faith and bad behavior” would force him to bring back the nuclear option.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the No. 2 Republican, said, “The way I read it, all options are still available with the timing to be determined.”

Bad Faith and bad behavior? All Options still open? Does this sound like a group of people who have any intention of honoring the agreement? The person who gets to determine “bad behavior” is Bill Frist! Does that sounds like the agreement has any chance? Rosie O’Donnell dating one of the Queer Eye guys has a better chance of a long term success.

Dr. Frist will couch his need for the nuclear option with indignant demands that every nominee deserves an up or down vote.” His past history shows how hollow his “noble” claims are. Dr. Frist must have taken the hypocritic oath when he entered the Senate because he spent his Clinton years scuttling judicial nominees that were far more main stream than the seven in question now.

The nuclear option will raise it’s head again. The Senators who worked hard to find compromise will find no reward for their effort. Dr. Frist will be responsible for political malpractice that will sever the remaining strands of bipartisanship in the Senate.

Not that he cares. Why should he? He’s in the majority, and the majority is always Right, isn’ t it?

(cross posted at The Cranky Liberal Pages)

FILIBUSTER IS HERE TO STAY!!!!

OK, open forum -- How do you feel about the compromise? Frist apparently isn't to happy about it, how 'bout you?

Another Crack In the Republican Wall

"I'm inclined to support the Republican Party, but the question becomes, how much other stuff do I have to put up with to maintain that identification?" asked Andrew A. Samwick, a Dartmouth College economics professor who until recently was chief economist of Bush's Council of Economic Advisers.

Somethings about stem cells you didn't know

This week before Memorial Day think about something wonderful.  Think what it would be like if Service People who suffer from spinal cord injuries could have them reversed or lessened.  Then think about all the Service People who need skin grafts.  Wouldn't it be incredible if the skin graft could be almost guaranteed to work?  Stem cell research could make this a possiblity.

I'm writing this the day before President Bush gets ready to use his veto power for the first time.

A top priority of the Main Street group is passing a narrowly written law to allow couples to donate surplus embryos stored in fertility clinics to federally funded stem cell researchers. The chief sponsors of this bill are Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.), the president of the Republican Main Street Partnership, and Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.).

Amazingly to me people are against this because they believe that it would limit the number of embryos avaliable for baby making purposes.  Does anybody see the word surplus in this?  Good, because I'm not going to explain that surplus embryos mean embryos that weren't used.  Also realize that the parents either consented, to have the embroyos used, or didn't want to pay to have them kept fresh.  The man and woman would have to be advised of all their rights and options under the laws.  Stem cell research is too hot for informed consent not to be used.

Yes, some people might decide later that they want the embryo's but as they never paid or consented to have them kept fresh, and had been given informed consent it would just be another frivolous law suit.

This entire mess is over embryos that would be discarded otherwise.  In the world that I come from we put people who are already alive over fetuses.  If we do that, we certainly put live people over embryos. And wouldn't it be great if stem cell procedures helped viable fetuses who had certain problems!

Tom Delay can't wait for a floor fight.

DeLay, who said he is "adamantly opposed'' to the Castle-DeGette bill, is all for calling it. He does have a surprise up his sleeve. "You've got pro-life conservatives who want this vote,'' DeLay said, himself included.

"Even though I was an exterminator," said DeLay, referring to his former profession, "my education is in biology and biochemistry, so I think I have a certain understanding about these things, and I am looking forward to the debate so the truth will be told."

What truth?

As for DeLay, the master strategist was working last week on a surprise that could lure votes away from Kirk's cause. DeLay and his sidekicks are coming up with a bill for more adult stem cell research, not as critical as embryonic funding. Having an alternative stem cell bill will make it easier for undecided members to vote no on the more important Castle-DeGette legislation.

I'm still not sure what truth will be told, but knowing Delay I'm sure that it will be both intellectually interesting and profound.  Before I do any research, I can easily cite one problem with Delay's solution.  Adult stem cells, like adults, are older and imperfect.  They might not help at all.

Why not use adult stem cells instead of using human embryonic stem cells in research?
Human embryonic stem cells are thought to have much greater developmental potential than adult stem cells. This means that embryonic stem cells may be pluripotent—that is, able to give rise to cells found in all tissues of the embryo except for germ cells rather than being merely multipotent—restricted to specific subpopulations of cell types, as adult stem cells are thought to be.

Another bill is up for consideration tomorrow:

One sponsored by Reps. Chris Smith, R-N.J., and Artur Davis, D-Ala., had wide bipartisan support and backing from President Bush. It would provide $79 million in federal money to increase the amount of umbilical cord blood for r