Leave it to the Republicans to privatize the Environment

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Thursday November 10, 2005 · 12:01 PM PST

2005/11/10 · 12:01

With wars (Iraq & Afghanistan), an adequate but not stellar economy, and pressing issues like health care, education and the budget, of course leave it to Republicans to work on privatizing federal lands. A bill tomorrow will alter an old law that would allow federal lands to be sold to private development. Yet another example of leadership with the wrong priorities.

http://news.yahoo.com/...

The New Similarity of Iraq to Vietnam (Katrina to War on Poverty)

jonmat

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Friday September 02, 2005 · 2:56 PM PDT

2005/09/02 · 14:56

There are many similarities between Iraq and Vietnam in terms of the facts on the ground and a growing discontent with each war as well as the disconnect of the Presidents.
Both Presidents were Texans (Bush and LBJ) and both became increasingly disconnected from the reality of the conflict (Bush in general to any realistic facts and LBJ only made appearances on military bases given the loud and strident opposition to Vietnam).
Katrina now poses the same danger to the war on Iraq that the War on Poverty posed to Vietnam. The financial and physical commitment to rebuild after Katrina mirrors the ambitious War on Poverty by LBJ. However, LBJ ultimately had to abandon the war on Poverty at its intended level to commit to Vietnam.
President Bush is now faced with a similar choice in regards to Iraq and Katrina. He will also have to choose.

Female GI Combat Units in Iraq

jonmat

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Friday January 21, 2005 · 12:39 PM PST

2005/01/21 · 12:39

The Conservative Voice has written a story about the use of female soldiers in combat as a way of filling the manpower needs in Iraq. It is yet another example that when it comes to Iraq, the Administration says one thing and does another.

Sadly, it shows that soaring and amibitious rhetoric of the President does not match his actions when it comes to bringing liberty all over the world. As many have noted, it was a shameful co-opting of thmes sounded by all American presidents in one form or another, particularly Woodrow Wilson.

http://www.theconservativevoice.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2151

History and the Future

jonmat

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Wednesday November 03, 2004 · 10:09 AM PST

2004/11/03 · 10:09

I reposted an entry I made in September; like many of you, I am disheartened and depressed. However, now its time to be the loyal opposition.

Thats starts with:

Continuing to tell the truth about Iraq
Telling the truth about the war on terror
Fighting against the tax cuts
Fighting against conservative judges
Reminding people that religion is about social justice as much as it is about soapbox issues

And strategically:
Targeting certain states that could change in the future
1)Nevada
2)Colorado
3)Arizona
4)Virginia

And beginning to make inroads into:
5)North Carolina (15 EV)
6)Georgia (15 EV)

I'm reminded of what Adlai Stevenson said when he was told he had the thinking man's vote, he said: I need a majority of the people Read More

Another Way To Follow the Election 2004

jonmat

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Wednesday September 15, 2004 · 4:00 PM PDT

2004/09/15 · 16:00

I thoroughly enjoy this site because of the combination of news and opinions. Its just great. I also have an additional way to follow the election to supplement this great site. I go to Yahoo News and type in a candidate's name (John Kerry or John Edwards) and set the choice to News Photos. What you get in return are the photos of where the candidates are and have just been.

Its a good way of keeping up with John Edwards, who is frankly all over the place. In addition, you get news stories links to the side which highlight recent news stories and upcoming appearances. I use those links to follow how local papers cover candidates visits.

Media Echo Chamber

jonmat

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Friday September 10, 2004 · 2:16 PM PDT

2004/09/10 · 14:16

As Favor Flav would say, "Operation Media Echo Chamber is in full effect."

The Media is currently in a rush to tout polls showing Kerry sagging even if their own polls dont show more than a normal bounce from a convention.

The Media is also in full echo mode citing the timing of the polls and Kerry's positon in the race, fully ignoring that no party inmodern political history had theor convention so late, making Labor Day an inaccurate measuring stick for the race. Since Labor Day is normally 10-14 days following the last party's convention, sometime next week is a more accurate measure of the race.

Kerry is behind but a strong debate performance minus any horrible twitches and sighs (Al Gore) will bring a strong new dynamic to the race. Unfortunately the media echo chamber is bringing a false sense of where the race is close to the time that peope can start voting in this election.

John Kerry vs. Dick Cheney

jonmat

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Friday September 10, 2004 · 9:13 AM PDT

2004/09/10 · 09:13

Follow this link for some fun Friday Reading from a progressive newspaper in Wisconsin.

http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/index.php?ntid=9888&ntpid=0

Wartime vs. Conventional Election

jonmat

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Friday September 03, 2004 · 9:51 PM PDT

2004/09/03 · 21:51

From the polls to the reaction of voters, the only thing keeping the President in this race is 9-11 and his "superb leadership" in that period.

Historically, America does not replace leaders in the middle of a war or conflict. If LBJ had run, he might have been able to take down psychotic Nixon in the genral.

The point is that voters know Bush his blowing smoke about the economy; but his misguided bluster makes most feel safe.

It took Reagan the whole election to convince voters to change ship. The same time period will be needed for Kerry. In a weird way, Bush needs this war in Iraq and Afghanistan to make himself useful to the voters. But given the crowds and the clear appetite for change, Kerry has a good chance to win even in the middle of a war.

FOr Kerry to win would be historic. We need to understand once 9-11 happened, Bush's re-election hopes increased dramatically because hisotrically, whether its Lincoln, Madison, Wilson, McKinley, voters dont throw out the President during a war.

Thats the landscape were working against. But unlike other wars America has fought, thus one increasingly makes less sense and EVERYBODY knows it. Thats why Bush gave little time to the actual conflict.

Medicare Premiums Up 17 Percent

jonmat

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Friday September 03, 2004 · 2:45 PM PDT

2004/09/03 · 14:45

It is just being reported Medicare premiums are being raised by the administration 17 percent. The timing of this is horrible for them; I guess they had no choice.

I know we all badly thirst for a Kerry victory but issues like this are truly the reason. There are so many issues in our country that badly need addressing and have been left in shambles by Reagan/Bush 1/Bush 2 and the GOP Congress.

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