This is a follow-up to my last Blog that contains bits and pieces from aroung the NET that I found both interesting and amusing IF one can maintain their sense of humor as the casualty rate of dead, wounded, and disabled continues unabated. Iraq Occupation Day 1,656 

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/index.cfm/Page/Weblog/subpage/display_blog/bID/482C67AF-123F-747A-1B1D1F42E5E47F54

Last week the Democrats did manage to postpone votes on Bush's $190 Billion GIVE WAR A NEVER ENDING CHANCE GIVE A WAY until January 2008. They snuck through a Continuing Resolution with at least $14 billion for Iraq and $70 billion more in a Pentagon "bridge fund" if Iraq appropriations are delayed. This gives us, Independents, and other Swing Voters, especially those VOTERS who do not want your child eventually sent to IRAN, more time to tell Congress: Cut all Iraq funds except to bring our troops home.

Our Military Family that supported Senator John Edwards when he ran as John Kerry's running mate in 2004 was horrified to hear the three Democratic presidential frontrunners - Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards - all say they would keep U.S. troops in Iraq until 2013 and beyond. Of course that does not surprise us about the female Joe Liebermann who is in debt to her eyeballs to the Isreali Lobby, Mrs. Clinton, but kind of caught us off guard about Senators Obama and Edwards trying so desparately to attract the NEOCON vote. We certainly will not tell you who to vote for, but our PEACE PLEDGE does not permit us to VOTE for WAR MONGERING candidates, so tell them to produce an out-of-Iraq plan for 2009:
http://www.democrats.com/out-of-iraq-2009

4 more Democrats took the "Peace Pledge" to oppose all Iraq funds except to bring our troops safely home: Henry Waxman (CA), Mike Thompson (CA), John Tierney (MA), and Lloyd Doggett (TX). That makes 85 signers but we want a majority of 218, so keep writing/calling your Representative:
http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/115

This week the House will vote on several bills to "reform" our disastrous occupation but not end it. It is way past time for Congress to ban Iraq war profiteering and contractor crimes, especially the use of private mercenary Armies by our State Department Diplomatic Corps, if our Armed Forces can provide adequate security for members of Congress visiting a combat zone, our Constitutionally approved Armed Forces can protect our diplomatic personnel. Harsh penalties and strict enforcement must be the rule of law to stop raping the Iraqi economy or at least allow one to begin; repeal the 2002 Authorization of Use of Military Force in Iraq; and oppose the meaningless "bipartisan" Abercrombie -Tanner reporting bill.

NOW THAT WE'VE GOTTEN BY THE SERIOUS STUFF, LET'S LIGHTEN UP A BIT. I FOUND THIS AMUSING AND QUITE AN IMUS IF WE COULD PULL IT OFF. BTW - IT IS FACTUAL AS REPORTED BY THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:

A resolution was introduced in CONGRESS to condemn Republican Idol Rush Limbaugh for calling troops who criticize U.S. policy "phony soldiers." Every Member who condemned Moveon's truthful ad was challenged to condemn Limbaugh's outrageous smear. The part that our military family took most serious, because the Pentagon has been USING Limbaugh as a ultra right-wing propaganda speaker throughout the Clinton and Bush administration with no counter balancing views was an effort now underway to have Rush Limbaugh FIRED from the Armed Forces Radio and TV Service for attacking our troops for their political views unless AFRTS allows our troops access to a counter perspective at overseas locations (such as Air America). Our troops have the option of turning either program on or off.

Speaking of Air America, to stop Cheney's insane plan to attack Iran, Rep. Dennis Kucinich told Ed Schultz: "We're preparing for another war, and they're going to destroy America. We have a government in place right now that has to be challenged. I'm seriously thinking about calling a privileged resolution on impeachment of the vice president and forcing a vote on the floor of the House." Go Dennis!

NOW THAT WE ARE BACK ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE:

The first (of many) Republican schemes to steal the 2008 Presidential election was defeated in California, where the GOP was promoting a referendum to allocate CA's 55 electors by Congressional District, which would have switched 20 electors from D to R and made a Democratic Presidential victory nearly impossible. Congratulations to CourageCampaign.org for stopping this outrageous GOP scheme!

The 4 GOP presidential frontrunners showed their contempt for minority voters by refusing to participate in a debate hosted by Tavis Smiley on PBS, which Sam Brownback called a "disgrace." They previously refused to debate on Latino and gay issues. Why? As Digby says, "The Republicans are the party of racists."

Are minorities, even within the Republican Party just NOW figuring that out - DAH. You play by the dominant race's rules and you advance just as long as you do what Masta Cheney tells ya to. That much I will give General Colin Powel in respect and recognition. He refused to play by "their rules," stepped aside and gave HER the State Department. But, that is only the tip of the Iceberg. The Minutemen have run wild on the Southwestern border bullying Mexicans since the Bush administration came to power and what are they? A para-military milia. Rolling Thunder, once a proud no shit Veterans motor cycle group now endorses a fascists regime and even provides it security guards that look like bouncers. What has Rolling Thunder become - a wannabe para-military organization. White supremists and the KKK have not maintained a low key during the Bush administration, they do not have to. They pride themselves on beng part of it. Those minorities who benefit from the spoils of Lincoln's Proud Old Party just do not seen to notice. JUST MY HUMBEL OPINION, but played a great role in why I left THAT PARTY.

In closing, this could show that the Good Lord does have a sense of humor after all, Dan Rather's lawsuit against CBS could finally prove that George Bush deserted the Texas Air National Guard in 1972 and conspired with senior officers that report to him in the Pentagon to defraud the U.S. government by getting credit and pay for drills he never attended. Did anyone ever wonder or question WHY the Pentagon has NEVER been too quick or enthusiastic about prosecuting any of the Individual Ready Reservists (IRR) members it so desperately needs for combat in Iraq that decide to just not show up? Too many legal battles over the issue of AWOL could come back to HAUNT their Commander-In-Chief that is WHY! JUST A THOUGHT.