2008-10-11

» Republicans are now socialists.

I had an economics professor tell me that if a government (of any flavor) can last long enough, it will eventually turn towards socialism. Karl Marx also believed in this trend, and that it then eventually led to Communism.

For those of you who don't know the difference, here's the 5 cent definition:

so·cial·ism [soh-shuh-liz-uhm] –noun
1. a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
2. (in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles.

com·mu·nism [kom-yuh-niz-uhm] –noun
1. a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state.
2. a system of social organization in which all economic and social activity is controlled by a totalitarian state dominated by a single and self-perpetuating political party.
Recently in Wisconsin, an angry McCain supporter told McCain "I'm really mad" because of "socialists taking over the country," McCain replied "I think I got the message. The gentleman is right." McCain then segued into his "Democrats in control of Congress" rap.

Well, now President Bush is suggesting that the government buy and own banks (or large shares of banks). We, the "community" are the "government" ... now refer above to definition #1 of socialism.

As an "old-school" Republican, I can see how Bush has destroyed the Grand Old Party's basic platform and turned it into the very un-Republican "neo-con" entity that it is now. Democrats promote social programs, but Republican politicians would have you believe that "social" programs equals "socialism" -- the two are very different -- promoting a welfare program, for example, in no way equals socialism (remember definition #1 above?).

I am in no way promoting socialism or communism, but I am indeed pointing out that Bush has now pointed the Republicans down the socialist path. So, can someone please tell the angry, not-so-educated McCain supporter that he can stop putting ill-placed blame on the Democrats.

I also find it funny that most Republicans make less than $65k per year, but also want to remove social programs -- programs that benefit the "under $65k per yer" crowd -- as my kids say: "duh".

2008-10-10

» Secret U.S. mission hauls uranium from Iraq...

Yeah? So?

There is an email floating around claiming vindication for the Bush Administration lies. Fortunately the author (let's call him "Dick") knows people just read the email and don't check the facts -- Dick was even nice enough to put in a link to a "supporting" article, knowing full well most of us won't read it. What's funny is the article actually contradicts the Dick's rhetoric; But let's give Dick the benefit of the doubt -- he probably didn't read that article either, or he's an idiot...

Dick starts off with a quote from the AP news, which, in itself, is accurate:
"The last major remnant of Saddam Hussein's nuclear program – a huge stockpile of concentrated natural uranium – reached a Canadian port Saturday to complete a secret U.S. operation that included a two week airlift from Baghdad, and a ship voyage crossing two oceans."
Then Dick shocks us with "See anything wrong with this picture?" hoping you will read on, be mislead, and won't do any fact checking ...
The fact is that American troops didn't “find” the uranium in 2003 -- we'd already had it under lock and key for 22 years!
"Israeli warplanes bombed a reactor project at the site in 1981. U.N. inspectors documented and safeguarded the yellowcake, which had been stored in aging drums and containers since before the 1991 Gulf War.”
Dick wants you to think this is “vindication for the Bush administration” -- Indeed, Bush himself did not lie – he had every reason to believe that Sadam was seeking uranium from Niger in the late 90's, because his administration decided not to tell him that was not true.
The documents supporting the "Sadam/Niger connection"were determined by the CIA to be forgeries. In early October 2002, George Tenet asked National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley to remove reference to the Niger uranium from a speech Bush was to give in on October 7. Another memo was sent to the White House expressing the CIA's view that the Niger claims were false; this memo was given to both Hadley and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice.
The Bush administration CHOSE to ignore what evidence they had and CHOSE to lie to you, the American public.

Dick then goes on to whine about Bush being blamed for the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame, but let's cut to the chase on that one (you can read all about "PlameGate" on Wikipedia) --
" ... the CIA leak grand jury investigation, which resulted in the indictment, conviction ... of "Scooter" Libby ... on charges of perjury, obstruction of justice, and making false statements to federal investigators."
Bush then commuted Scooter's sentence -- The "Good 'ol Boy" network
at it again.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niger_uranium_forgeries
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerie_Plame
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/08/30/leak.armitage/index.html