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In action that proves even a puppet government can at times look out for the interests of it's people, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki today he is negotiating a deal with Washington that will include a timetable for withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. What's that? He doesn't want 40-some odd bases for years? He doesn't like John McCain's suggestion that troops might remain for 100 years? Damn Pinocchio, always wanting to be a "real boy!"

"The direction we are taking is to have a memorandum of understanding either for the departure of the forces or to have a timetable for their withdrawal," Prime Minister al-Maliki was quoted as saying to ambassadors from the United Arab Emirates. He couldn't have been more clear if he would have borrowed the American country saying "don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya."


"The negotiations are still continuing with the American side, but in any case the basis for the agreement will be respect for the sovereignty of Iraq." The Prime Minister added. As could be expected, the remarks didn't set well with the White House.

"It is important to understand that these are not talks on a hard date for withdrawal," said White House spokesman Scott Stanzell. The White House and Pentagon can try to spin this, but the fact is this is the first time the Iraqi government has joined Moqtada al-Sadr in demanding U.S. troop withdrawals.

The talks underway involve the so-called Status of Forces Agreement that the White House wanted to have signed by the end of July. Iraqi politicians, both Sunni and Shiite, have balked. Some Shiite leaders even called the agreement "eternal slavery."

How does this set with the imperialist oil dreams of Bush, Cheney, and company? Don't expect them to agree to anything that even suggests leaving Iraq. Do expect them to continue to beat their war drums for either a U.S. or Israeli attack on Iran. Wouldn't it be ironic if the army who rose to the defense of Shia Iran happened to be the army we trained in Iraq?
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Conservative mantra today is very accepting of pre-emptive war. They used it in their thin justifications for attacking Iraq, and they are priming up for a lusted-after attack on Iran using the same "logic." They claim that to not take action is more dangerous to take action, regardless of the consequences of the action they do take.

Then there's energy policy. Conservative dogma preaches the "free market" as the all-powerful answer to every question. Energy markets will correct and move to alternatives when it is more profitable to do so. Never mind that we are depleting a resource that is beyond it's peak while polluting the atmosphere and changing our environment. The idea of the market reacting only works if the market reacts in time to avert disaster. It could be argued that the "free market" got us into this mess in the first place. With energy being relatively inexpensive for years, we used past the point where a smooth transition could be easily accomplished.


The hypocrisy of their argument couldn't be more evident. If we followed their "free market" plan, we could assume that wars would go the same way. If one nation attacked another (something Iraq never did nor had any intention of doing) the market of war would adjust. But why wait for an attack - there is money to be made right now! Fact is, the invasion and occupation of Iraq is directly tied to energy policy. On that front Iraq has succeeded beyond expectations.

While pre-empitve war as practiced by Bush and company is morally repugnant and inexcusable, pre-empitve energy policy would have proved a much better path. It's no coincidence that oil settled down in price after the shortages in the 1970s. It's also no coincidence that the oil producers and the energy companies have undue influence in American politics. President Carter began a program that would have ensured America never imported more oil than it was at that time. Instead, we are now importing about 60 percent of what we use.

Carter's program also directed that 20 percent of American electrical usage come from solar power by the year 2000. Yes, that was eight years ago. How are we doing on that? Carter even had solar panels on the roof of the White House. The most over-rated president of the 20th century (Ronald Reagan) had them removed. He terminated the rest of Carter's energy plan too. So instead of being ahead of the game, we are now in a position where the transition is going to hurt. There is at least a 50-50 chance energy prices coupled with rampant deficit spending over the last seven years will plunge us into a very strong recession or even deep depression.

Yes, conservatives like to deride liberals. Think about this - if liberals had been in power we would have an energy policy that doesn't have us importing any oil at all by now. There are real alternatives that can really work. Just because we didn't begin them when we should doesn't mean we shouldn't enact them now. To do otherwise is folly.

Righties would have you believe that if we could only drill, drill, drill, all would be good. At the very best, even if they drilled everywhere, it would only minimally impact the price and would only put off what is necessary. We need to stop with the delays and get to work. Wind, solar, electric cars, mass transit. The rest of the industrialized world is doing it already. We in America need to get onboard now.
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The right around the country never seems to tire of amusing itself by calling us "Oregon Liberals" any manner of names. When the principal of an elementary school decided to remove the pledge from year-end ceremonies, most local parents were fine with the decision. Look around the country, though, and it seems it set off quite a firestorm.

They didn't skip on saying anything patriotic, mind you. Instead of the Pledge of Allegiance the children sang the preamble to the Constitution. Personally, I would rather they learn the Constitution over a pledge. And remember, it's over two words that weren't even part of the original pledge. "Under God" was added in the 1950s supposedly to contrast America with the godless Communists of the Soviet Union.

The principal decided to skip the pledge to make the ceremonies more all-inclusive. She didn't expect all the craziness, I'm sure. And not one Muslim complained about the pledge. The comments that follow I found in a few moments using google. Read them and think about what kind of person would react like this. They are copied word for word, I didn't correct the spellings or grammar.

BEGIN COMMENTS

This country is full of traitorous bastards and it is high time that patriotic Americans took this country back from the politically correct, leftist, liberal, anti-American scum,

Send them the heck back to Kenya, Iran and where ever else in the 57 Caliphates if they don't want to respect Our Country to which they have chosen to come too. Fire the Principal Immediately and prosecute him for being a Traitor to his Country and Assisting Terrorists! Ship him to Iran with his bleeding heart and see how long IMA NUTJOB puts up with him.

Might be time for us to excise the People's Republik of the West Coast? California, Washington and Oregon seem to all be drowning themselves in the trough of politically correct multi-culturalism.
This is a travesty.

Our advancing appeasement of the Islamofascists is really beginning to chafe many folks out here in the heartland. It's time to reassert the principles upon which this country was founded. That includes freedom from apologists and appeasers who can't seem to muster the intestinal fortitude to stand up to the senseless demands of professional victims and fearmongers.

These liberal communists are for anything that undermines Chritianity and America.

We need an interior civil war they don't like pork due to the fact that they are from the bowels of a pig AKA shit fuck them smelly bastard's May the Crusade's Rise again to destroy the crescentThe current leftistism that is rising to the top in America is like shit floating in a toilet bowl. It is caused by foolish and misguided administrators and/or other leaders making decisions (black robe judges, senators, congressmen and congresswomen, city governments, etc) who don't know what is at stake.

As far as I'm concerned, if you don't like it, tough crap. Why must we tolerate the anti-patriotic feelings of others? Why must we kow tow to the scum that dispises the United States of America and what it stands for. I for one say hell no. Let them a-holes be tolerant of our patriotism. Let them be tolerant of our love for God and Country. Let them be tolerant of us for a change. Every government official, elected, appointed or just hired, that propmotes or condones this type of anti-American sentiment, or ANY type of anti-American sentiment for that matter, should be removed from their office or thier position by any means neccessary. We are at war in this country, a war pitting good, God fearing, decent, hard working, patriotic Americans, against the secular humanistic, atheistic, pro-universality, one world govt., anti-American, liberal, socialist scum. This is a war for the very existence of America and the true American way of life.

Muslims deny the divinity of Jesus Christ, a most obvious defect.

It's the enemy within our own country that is going to assist Muslims in killing the rest of us. We mustn't let leftwing radicals, including those in the media, as well as Hollywood actors and untalented comedians tell us how our President should defend us during wartime.

The Tolerance for Terrorists has got to stop. Ultra tolerance is killing us

I've long thought that Portland, Oregon was the showcase for the Communist Party of America. This is just one more indicaator that I am far from mistaken!

when you come to a different country you adapt to their laws,rules ansd traditons NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. You dont like to say the pledge? you have 3 choices 1)cover your ears as it is being said,2)leave the room when it is being said,3) GO BACK HOME AND NEVER HEAR IT AGAIN!!!They "DEMAND THE RIGHT" to use "THEIR religious beliefs" to change our society. Then our judges & lawmakers disregard "separation of church & state" concerning "ALL NONE WESTERN RELIGIONS" Then Bow to Islam!
That idiot principal from Oregon displeases the God of the Christians and Jews so that she could please Allah, the god of the Muslims.
A country whose citizens (especially the adults) , refuse to pledge allegiance to, is a nation in decline. One that will slowly wither into a dark abyss from which none will rise from.
Welcome to the Dhimmitude! No more Pledge of Allegiance. Next will be Halal food only, headscarves for women and daily prayers!

END OF COMMENTS

Well, those were enlightening, eh? This is from the ugly underbelly of America, the ugliness that is far more prevalent than most would like to admit. Once Obama becomes president, look for these types to adopt a siege mentality, and dig in. Hopefully, we can get past it without too much damage.
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The popular President Bush...

June 23rd 2008 00:26
Our wonderful pres recently landed in North Carolina, and was greeted by a whole 2 people, and they didn't seem too interested...He waves, and well...


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Yes, the world has reached "peak oil." And yes, there are concerns about supply that need to be addressed. And yes, oil prices are higher as a result. But not that high, so to speak. A large part of the high price being paid now is a direct result of market manipulation and Republican policies of nonsense. Regardless of what your favorite right wing mouthpiece might be screeching daily about the need to drill, drill, drill - there is no current supply crisis that justifies the huge price spikes


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I never set out to disagree with American conservatives on every subject of import. You know, I would love to find one subject or policy that today's conservatives have right - trouble is, I can't. Try as I might, there isn't a thing they put forward that isn't detrimental to almost all Americans, not to mention the rest of the world. I'm being serious, I would like to find something I can say "you got that one right" about. It just hasn't happened for me


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You know, as soon as I put this out I fully expect some dunder-headed neo-con to take up the same call, saying rising unemployment numbers last month were caused by teenagers seeking summer jobs. I know you are out there - so convinced that your man George can do no wrong that you will fall right in line with his idiotic logic that he wants to sell you.

It's important to remember that new job entrants go into the job market all the time. Without a level of growth not even the status quo will me maintained. If that level isn't met, you have job loss. If you stop your "logic" there, maybe you could, if you suspend reality enough, draw the same conclusion. Of course, there are too many problems with this line of reasoning to even consider it


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JUNE 3rd -Reports are that Hillary Clinton will officially step out of the presidential race this coming Friday. After a post -election speech in which she didn't concede and a day of pressure from Democratic leadership, Hillary Clinton has decided that she will indeed step out of the race and endorse Barack Obama on Friday.

In that speech Hillary Clinton asked to hear from her supporters as to what she should do. Well, they spoke up. Even ardent supporters like Charlie Rangle told her it was time to end it. A wave of Super Delegates coming out in support of Senator Obama also delivered the same message. She agreed, and will give a speech on Friday conceding. Details as to time and place are yet to be determined


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It was a long and colorful primary season. Well, on the Democratic side anyway. The Republicans spent a few weeks trying to run from Bush and channel Reagan and ended up with McCain. On the other side the two most exciting candidates either party has fielded in decades slogged through months of tough campaigning that yes, was sometimes too vitriolic and vocal. But all in all, it has awakened many Americans to the importance of their vote and the need to cast it wisely instead of having it be manipulated by fear-mongering and hate-rhetoric.

Barack Obama is the presumptive nominee and now prepares to take on John McCain. It really isn't a fair fight. Obama is so above McCain as a candidate that it would take pages to cover. The choice couldn't be more stark and still be between viable candidates. The time for change is now, and McCain represents change like an apple represents a cantaloupe


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All is well in the Garden of Eden, or so it seems. The weather is always "72 and sunny," lions lie down with lambs, and life is one big frolic for Adam. He doesn't have to work much and he has universal health care. But alas, Adam is lonely. And he is wondering about the mysteries of his seemingly multi-use penis.


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