Chickenhawks

Chickenhawk n. A person enthusiastic about war, provided someone else fights it; particularly when that enthusiasm is undimmed by personal experience with war; most emphatically when that lack of experience came in spite of ample opportunity in that person's youth.

How do you feel about rich white guys who prance about the world promoting war, even though they themselves used their personal privilege to avoid participation in any of the military conflicts of their day?

I don't like them very much, and I think it is a fitting monicker: they are hawks because they encourage war, and they are chickens because they are cowards.

The New Hampshire Gazette publishes a Chickenhawk Database!

These men cloak themselves in the mantle of patriotism and militarism, but have never bothered to participate themselves. They are generally, though not exclusively, Republicans who preach the bible of corporate takeover. They are men who insist our Constitution has something to do with financing the post-war military-industrial complex. They are men who use religion to scare people into line. They are evil men and two of them are the current president and vice-president of the United States. They are having a big party in New York right now, and it is reported that they have a softer side. They don't have a softer side! They are lying hypocrites out only to get as much for themselves as they can.

Don't be fooled by the GOP! And spread the word about the chickenhawks.

The New Hampshire Gazette Chickenhawk Database

---

Here is the Yahoo article about the Republican's softer side (reprinted without permission):

"Republicans to Show Softer Side at NY Convention

"Tue Aug 31, 4:05 AM ET Reuters

"By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent

"NEW YORK (Reuters) - Republicans hope to show voters a softer side on the second Day of their convention on Tuesday, with first lady Laura Bush and movie star turned California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger taking center stage.

"Laura Bush will share personal insights about President Bush and stories of his leadership, while Schwarzenegger steps into his biggest national spotlight since Taking on his new role as a substantive political leader last year.

"Both speeches, and most of the night's "People of Compassion" theme, are part of a Republican push to appeal to swing voters by featuring their most moderate voices at the convention.

"Tuesday's session will feature the two most prominent black speakers at the convention, Transportation Secretary Rod Paige and Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele. It will focus on some of Bush's domestic education, health care and economic policies.

"The opening night featured former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain, who both have strong appeal for moderates and swing voters, leading an impassioned salute to Bush's leadership after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and his aggressive response in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"He has not wavered, he has not flinched from the hard choices. He will not yield, and neither will we," McCain said of Bush, his bitter rival in the 2000 Republican presidential primary. He will join Bush on the campaign trail on Tuesday.

"Bush will visit Iowa and Pennsylvania after a morning stop in Nashville, Tennessee, where he will speak to the annual convention of the American Legion veterans' group.

"His Democratic challenger, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, will speak to the veterans' group on Wednesday. Kerry, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, has been embroiled for weeks in a battle with a pro-Bush group of Vietnam veterans who have questioned his war record and medals.

"Recent polls show Bush, who will accept the nomination for another White House term in a televised speech on Thursday, gaining ground and in some cases moving ahead of Kerry nationally and in key states.

"Republican state delegations, adopting the session's "compassion" theme, planned a series of local community activities ranging from scraping and painting day care centers to serving meals at a mission.

"Democrats have accused Bush of abandoning the "compassionate conservative" principles he espoused during the 2000 presidential campaign with his push for huge tax cuts and his record of about 1.8 million lost jobs.

"Kerry's vice presidential running mate, North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, planned to argue on a campaign trip to West Virginia that one night of compassion at the convention could not overcome four years of Republican miscalculations, aides said.

""George Bush once said that results matter when choosing a president -- he couldn't be more right," Edwards said in remarks prepared for delivery in Beckley, West Virginia on Tuesday.

""The past three and a half years may have yielded results for his corporate friends, but everyday Americans have seen nothing but empty promises, fewer jobs and higher costs."

"His speech on Tuesday will be a switch of sorts for Schwarzenegger, a political newcomer and leader of heavily Democratic California who has kept his distance from Bush and some of the president's more conservative policies.

"He visited the convention hall late Monday to familiarize himself with the podium, practicing a passage from his speech that talked about his memories of Communism and the specter of Soviet tanks in his native Austria.

"Anarchists threatened to disrupt the city on Tuesday in the latest anti-Bush protests during the convention."

-- END OF REPRINTED ARTICLE --

My Fellow Americans:

International Soccer Really is Amazing

It is the fourth week of play for the Premier League, the top-flight soccer (a/k/a football) league in England. My team Arsenal Gunners remains undefeated, and played brilliantly against the newly-promoted Norwich side. Arsenal has not lost in 44 games! A record. They played last season without a loss and picked-up where they left off.

I became a soccer fan while spending time in London. I starved for baseball information and the only games shown live on television started at midnight, sometimes later. I needed something, and when an American friend took us to a match at Highbury, in North London, I was hooked.

The match of the day for me this Saturday was the dreaded Manchester United Red Devils visiting Blackburn Rovers, at Ewood Park, which aired live at 7:30 A.M., in Brooklyn.

Manchester United is probably the most famous sports team in the world. I know Americans will insist it is the Yankees, but that simply isn't true. Most countries of the world doesn't play or follow baseball, and those that do most often follow soccer with more enthusiasm.

I loathe Manchester United, and refer to them as ManUre. They are a tedious bunch of superstars. They are not as boringly arrogant as American athletes, they are more prima-donna-like; still they make my skin crawl. They sold David Beckham two seasons ago, and that has not proven to be a smart move for seller or buyer!

ManUre is filled with other notables: Ryan Giggs, the Welsh international. The hateful Roy Keane, an Irish international. Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portugese pretty-boy who starred on that nation's European Cup and Olympic Teams. Kleberson, the Brazilian international. And a host of the best international players that money can buy (who aren't playing for Real Madrid.)

Last year they bought Tim Howard, the goalkeeper of my MetroStars. I am a season-ticket holder for the Metros and Howard was the best American goalkeeper ever! It didn't take long for ManUre to scoop him up. I am very happy for Tim Howard, as he is now making millions; but I will never forgive ManUre for taking him away from us.

Blackburn Rovers are a perennial middle-of-the-pack team: not good enough to win any trophies, nor bad enough to be relegated from the bottom of the standings. Blackburn features Brad Friedel in goal. Friedel, a 33-year-old, Lakewood, Ohio native has played in the English Premier league since 1997, and often works as the goalkeeper for the US Men's National team. His career started at UCLA and includes stints at Brondby of the Denmark Super League, Galatasaray of the Turkey First Division, and Columbus of Major League Soccer.

Blackburn also feature Lorenzo Amaruso, the much-traveled Italian international. Brett Emerton, a 25-year-old Australian international. 32-year-old Paul Dickov, a Scottish international who has played for Arsenal, Manchester City, Brighton, Luton and Leicester. New acquisition Morten Gamst Pedersen of Norway. Former ManUre player, Dwight Yorke, the 33-year-old Trinidad & Tobago former international who also spent part of his career at Aston Villa (in Birmingham).

As you see, English Premier teams attract some of the best players from around the world.

Saturday's match would feature two opposing American goalkeepers. This was exciting! When the line-ups were announced, I learned that a third US-born player would be on the field (a/k/a the pitch): 18-year-old Jonathan Spector who was obtained from the Chicago Sockers would start in defense for ManUre.

This was all Friedel's match. He made save after spectacular save for ninety-plus minutes.

Paul Dickov scored a goal for Blackburn in the 17th minute and the 1-0 lead held as the clock approached 90:00 minutes!

In soccer, the clock never stops and the action rarely slows. On those few instances when play does come to a standstill, the official on the field keeps track of how much time elapses and that time is added to the end of the corresponding half. Generally, this stoppage time amounts to one or two, occasionally three minutes.

During the second-half, in the 63rd minute, ManUre's French international Luis Saha made a spectacular breakaway that was halted by an illegal block by Lorenzo Amaruso. Amaruso was shown a second yellow card and dismissed from the game (a/k/a match). Blackburn would have to play the remaining 27 minutes (plus added time) with only ten men to ManUre's eleven! Not a pretty proposition.

Still, Friedel continued his day of amazing saves, denying everything ManUre could throw at him.

At the 90th minute, the sideline official held aloft the board announcing the stoppage time: 4 minutes! FOUR MINUTES!

You see, in the English Premier League, as with all professional leagues like major league baseball, NBA, and the NFL, it is the job of the officials to help ensure that the game remain popular in the eyes of the ticket-buying public. In this vein, the officials generally slant their calls in favor of the popular and glamorous teams. I am an Arsenal supporter (a/k/a fan), so I know this is true. Arsenal is a championship team and the calls go our way more often than they don't! It isn't fair, but it is it way things are. Of course, New York Yankee, Boston Celtic, and Dallas Cowboy fans will deny this vehemently along with their ManUre brethren and will insist that this is the insistence only of bitter losers and those envious of their teams' successes. Those who would deny this are wrong; and their defense of such officiating makes them look like blind consumers in Ford Pintos and not like learned sports fans. It happens. So be it.

Since one of the world's most popular teams was losing, it behooved the official to minimize the possibility of a ManUre loss. Four minutes should have done it!

Well . . . it did! In the 94th minute. The dreary and tedious Alan Smith managed to put an equalizer (a/k/a a tying goal) past Friedel after an illegal hand-ball pass from Luis Saha with less than a minute left to play, and ensured some fruits of ManUre's labor: a draw (a/k/a a tie).

There never should have been four minutes of added time. Saha should have been called for the hand-ball. Blackburn should have won.

Irrespective, this was a wonderful game to watch. I recommend rising early some Saturday morning and tuning-in to your local international sports channel to watch a match from Europe, or some Sunday night watch a match from South America. I may be angry about the result of the Blackburn match, but that's the way it goes sometimes!

Next Saturday, the US men's team will play a World Cup 2006 Qualifying match against el Salvador. Check your local listings!

Blackburn (free registration)

Manchester United

Premier League

Arsenal

Swift Boat Liar Under Fire For Role In Anti-Kerry Campaign

Alfred French, one of the scumbags in the Swift Boat Liars Against Kerry campaign is now proven to have lied! In the famous television commercial, French says: "I served with John Kerry. . . . He is lying about his record." French even signed a legal affidavit confirming his statement. French has now admitted that he did not witness the events mentioned in the affidavit and was relying on what friends told him!

This man is now a proven and admitted liar!


It gets better!

Alfred French is an assistant prosecutor in the Clackamas County, Oregon district attorney’s office! This man is a sworn member of the bar and a government prosecutor and he lied in an affidavit that is a central piece of documentation in a nation-wide scandal.

At the Clackamas County District Attorney's website D.A. John Foote states: "The primary purpose of the Clackamas County District Attorney's Office is to fairly, impartially and honestly enforce all criminal laws. The ultimate goal is to make Clackamas County a safer and healthier place to live." (link below) Since it is a crime to knowingly sign a false affidavit, his efforts to make his county a safer and healthier place to live should include the termination of Al French's employment.

Please contact the DA and let him know you want French removed from the public payroll.

By Mail:
District Attorney John Foote
Clackamas County District Attorney's Office
807 Main Street
Oregon City, OR 97045

By Phone:
(503) 655-8431

By Email:
districtattorney@co.clackamas.or.us

Please take the time to call or write. These jerks on the right-wing, er . . . wrong-wing, have been pulling this crap for too long. Let's start getting them fired and disbarred for their actions! Let there be ramifications!

Peace.

KATU-TV report

MSNBC Article

US Newswire News Advisory

Oliver Willis' View

Clackamas County District Attorney's Office Website

POSTSCRIPT:

I wrote this message to Clackamas County D.A. John Foote:

"Dear District Attorney Foote:

"At the District Attorney's Office website it says: "The ultimate goal is to make Clackamas County a safer and healthier place to live."

"I read this to mean you want to keep your citizens safe from crime of all kinds.

"I am not a lawyer, but I believe that signing an affidavit that you know to be false is a crime. A member of your staff, Alfred French, is now embroiled in a raging controversy that he created by lying in the media and signing an affidavit he knew to be false.

As a member of the bar, Mr. French knows what he did was at least immoral, and probably illegal.

A man like that has no place on your staff or any legal staff, and I hope you will consider asking for his resignation.

I can be reached at this email address.

Sincerely."

I received this "Out of Office AutoReply" from Mr. Foote:

"Thank you for contacting the Clackamas County District Attorney's Office.
This office will no longer be responding to messages regarding Al French.
However, all messages pertaining to regular business will be promptly
addressed. Thank you."

I wonder if this means Mr. Foote plans to retain Al French and refuses to discuss it, or if he plans to take action and refuses to discuss it. Hmmmmmmmm.

GOP CONVENTION PARTIES: Are You On The List?

Will you be in New York City for the Republican Convention? This list of parties, entertainment, and entertainers for the ConFab comes from a variety of sources: news reports, secret lists, personal invites, phone calls, e-mails, snooping on colleagues desks, overheard conversations, etc. I received it from a friend.

Just because you know where the party is doesn't mean you're getting in. Most of these are invitation only. Still, it might be nice to mill about outside the venues making your opinion and presence known (without breaking the law, of course)!

I have bolded the names of Republican entertainers so you can stop consuming their products.

SATURDAY, 28 AUG 04:

9 p.m.: Media Party at the Time Warner Center.

SUNDAY, 29 AUG 04:

10 a.m.: Israel Project event at Baruch College.
Noon: Host Committee BBQ at the Gracie Mansion.
Noon: Brunch honoring Denny Hastert at Tavern on the Green.
1 p.m.: Log Cabin Republicans and Mike Bloomberg Event at Bryant Park.
3 p.m.: Republican Main Street Partnership event with singer Faith Hill.
5 p.m.: Salute to Broadway. Mike Bloomberg's Welcoming Party on Broadway.
5 p.m.: RGA "Martinis in Manhattan" Reception at the New York Palace Hotel.
5 p.m.: Gov. George Pataki Welcome Party on Ellis Island.
5 p.m.: NRCC Salute to Tom Reynolds and Mike Rogers at the New York Yacht Club.
5 p.m.: NFIB First Tee Golf Event with John Boehner at the Metropolitan Pavilion.
5 p.m.: Kerr-McGee Reception with Don Nickles at the Mandarin Oriental.
6 p.m.: RSLC Opening Dinner at the Stone Rose.
6 p.m.: NRSC Welcome Reception at the Intrepid.
6:30 p.m.: Arnold Schwarzenegger Parkison Benefit with Michael J. Fox at Sky Room.
7 p.m.: Americans for Tax Reform present the Hotline Comedy Show at Tishman Auditorium at the New School University.
7 p.m.: RNC Regents/Rangers Event with a concert by Linda Eder at the Lincoln Center.
7 p.m.: CNN "Capital Gang" Reception at the Time Warner Center.
9 p.m.: "R: The Party" hosted by Jenna and Barbara Bush featuring Stephen Baldwin, Barret Swatek, Angie Harmon, Jason Sehorn, Aaron Buerge, the Gatlin Brothers, Bo Derek, and Ric Flair at the Roseland Ballroom.
9 p.m.: Deloitte Sunday Night Fever event honor Vito Fossella featuring Gloria Gaynor at the Irving Ballroom.
9 p.m.: David Dreier Bowling Event at Bowlmoor Lanes.
10 p.m.: A Tribute To Southern Leadership at the Crobar.

MONDAY, 30 AUG 04:

9:30 a.m.: Breakfast with CNN execs and anchors at the CNN Convention Diner (Tick Tock Diner).
11 a.m.: RAGA Brunch at Loft 11.
11:30 a.m.: NFIB Luncheon at the Museum of the City of NY.
Noon: NRSC Luncheon at the Tavern on the Green.
Noon: Warrior Foundation Luncheon honoring Rudy Giuliani at Cipriani.
1 p.m.: Host Committee event honoring Ted Stevens and Don Young at Gracie Mansion.
1:30 p.m.: W Stands for Women Briefing at the Waldorf-Astoria.
4:30 p.m.: A New England Clambake honoring Mitt Romney featuring Joe Piscopo and his 17-piece band at the Flight Deck.
5 p.m.: RGA hosts a "New York Night at Noche" at Noche.
5 p.m.: Americans for Tax Reform event at the Yacht Club.
5:30 p.m.: NRSC Dinner with James Inhofe, Norm Coleman, and Orrin Hatch at Morton's.
5:30 p.m.: Creative Coalition** Event with Joe Pantoliano, Tony Goldwyn, and Ron Reagan at Kenneth Cole.
6 p.m.: ACE-O salutes the House Financial Services Committee featuring Frank Sinatra Jr. at the Rainbow Room.
6 p.m.: Diamier Chrysler-Union Pacific event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
6 p.m.: Salute to Ed Gillespie at Gustavino's.
7 p.m.: Real Estate Roundtable honoring George Allen at La Goulue.
8 p.m.: Salute to TX GOPers at the China Club.
9 p.m.: Magnum Entertainment Party featuring ZZ Top and Kiss Nation at BB Kings.
10 p.m.: Akin Gump honors Ken Mehlman at Bryant Park Grill.
10 p.m.: AGA Wild West Saloon honoring the House Resources Committee featuring Charlie Daniels Band and 38 Special at Crobar.
10 p.m.: Best Little Warehouse in NYC "aka Boehner Party" at Tunnel.
10 p.m.: Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Event at Bergdorf Goodman.
10 p.m.: Rock the Apple Georgia Style salute to Saxby Chambliss featuring Martina McBride at the Roseland Ballroom.
10 p.m.: NASDAQ Desert Reception at the NASDAQ Marketsite.
10 p.m.: "Salute to W Stands for Women" featuring Mary Bono, Katherine Harris, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Marilyn Musgrave, Melissa Hart, Ginny Brown-Waite, Shelly Moore-Capito, Marsha Blackburn, Judy Biggert, Tom Cole, Darrell Issa, Christopher Shays, John Sweeney, Ed Gillespie, Ann Wagner, Maria Cino, Ari Fleischer, Mindy Tucker Fletcher and Federico Castelluccio at Pressure.
11 p.m.: NY-NJ Delegation Event at Winged Foot.

TUESDAY, 31 AUG 04:

8:00 a.m.: Mitch McConnell Golf Event at Winged Foot.
9:30 a.m.: Financial Services Roundtable brunch honoring the NY Delegation and House Financial Services and Senate Banking Committees at Tavern on the Green.
11 a.m.: RLCC Brunch at Remi.
11:30 a.m.: Council on Foreign Relations Luncheon at the Harold Pratt House.
Noon: RGA "Governors, First Spouses and Chiefs of Staff Luncheon" at Central Park Boathouse.
Noon: Lincoln Diaz Ballart 50th B-day Luncheon at Cinquanta.
Noon: EIA-CEA Western Wireless luncheon honoring Chip Pickering at Sky Club.
Noon: JP Morgan Chase Women's Luncheon with Deborah Pryce at the JPMC World Headquarters.
1 p.m.: RGA Golf Tournament at Bethpage Black.
4 p.m.: BIO Reception for Sue Kelly and Michael Ferguson at NASDAQ.
4:30 p.m.: Hope Street Kids/Deborah Pryce/Harry Potter Event at the Time Warner Center.
4:30 p.m.: Fleishman Hillard CA Delegation Event at the Lincoln Center.
4:30 p.m.: Creative Coalition** gives Amo Houghton the 2004 Congressional Spotlight Award featuring Joe Pantoliano, Tim Blake Nelson, Richard Kind, Giancarlo Esposito, Catherine Dent, Hallie Eisenberg, and John Paul DeJoria at Carolines.
5 p.m.: Judd Gregg Reception followed by "Hairspray" at Gallagher's Steak House.
5 p.m.: Ronald Reagan Foundation Reception at LeCirque.
5 p.m.: National Restaurant Assn Reception at Tribeca Grill.
5 p.m.: ABA honors Richard Shelby at Sotheby's.
5 p.m.: EEI honors Joe Barton at the Supper Club.
5:30 p.m.: Republican Majority For Choice and Mike Bloomberg event with Bo Derek at Sky Club.
6 p.m.: Financial Services Forum Reception at Madame Tussaud's.
6:30 p.m.: NRSC Dinner at Tupelo Grill.
7 p.m.: Jerry Weller at the NY Yankees/Cleveland Indians Game at Yankee Stadium.
7 p.m.: NASD Reception at One Liberty Plaza.
8 p.m.: Another TX Delegation Party at BB Kings.
9:30 p.m.: Weekly Standard/Distilled Spirits Council/Economist/Roll Call Party at the yacht Club.
10 p.m.: Another Boehner Party at Tunnel.
10 p.m.: Another NY Delegation Party at Noche.
10 p.m.: "An Arabian Night in New York" featuring John H. Sununu, John E. Sununu, Darrell Issa, Mitch Daniels, Jeanine Pirro, and William Hamzy at Dahesh Museum of Art.
10 p.m.: Creative Coalition** Gala featuring Robert Bennett, Chuck Grassley, Trent Lott, John McCain, Arlen Specter, Mary Bono, Dave Camp, Michael Castle, Mark Foley, Jerry Weller, Joe Pantoliano, Giancarlo Esposito, Joe Piscopo, Juliette Lewis, Tim Blake Nelson, Hallie Eisenberg, Catherine Dent, John Paul DeJoria, Richard Kind, Chris Lawford, and Michele Lee. Max Weinberg is the entertainment. Party's at SPIRIT New York.

WEDNESDAY, 01 SEP 04:

7:30 a.m.: EEI Golf Invitational at Bethpage Black.
8:30 a.m.: Great American Farm Breakfast hosted by Thad Cochran at Broadway Ballroom.
8:30 a.m.: WISH List Breakfast honoring Sue Kelly and Nancy Johnson at the Sheraton Hotel.
11:30 a.m.: NFIB Wine Tasting Event at Del Frisco's.
Noon: Metlife-AREVA-Chubb-Fidelity-Siemens Luncheon honoring the Senate leadership at Sky Club.
Noon: PWC Luncheon honoring Rob Portman at Rainbow Room.
Noon: KOMPAC Luncheon for Denny Hastert at the Lincoln Center.
2:30 p.m.: RGA's a Brooklyn State of Mind featuring Mike Huckabee's Band "Capitol Offense" at the River Cafe and Fulton Ferry Landing.
4 p.m.: My Southern Celebration featuring Southern food, art, music and culture at Splashlight Studios.
4:30 p.m.: Salute to the Ohio Delegation at the Rainbow Room.
5 p.m.: Mothers Against Bush host an Alternative Party featuring Harvey Weinstein and Arianna Huffington at the Tribeca Grill Loft.
5:30 p.m.: Santorum 2006 Reception featuring Bo Dietl at Tuscan.
6 p.m.: SIA-Bond Market Assn event honoring Michael Oxley at Penthouse 15.
6:30 p.m.: NRSC Dinner at Tupelo Grill.
8 p.m.: Jerry Lewis and Duncan Hunter Event at Intrepid.
9 p.m.: Magnum Entertainment Night II featuring Marshall Tucker Band, Dickie Betts and Great Southern and Super Diamond at BB Kings.
9:30 p.m.: RIAA Enter the Limelight honoring Bill First and Denny Hastert at Avalon.
10 p.m.: Another Boehner Party at Tunnel.
10 p.m.: World of Hope Foundation honors Bill Frist at Rockefeller Center.
10:30 p.m.: "Live from New York It's Wednesday Night" hosted by John and Cindy McCain featuring Darrell Hammond and Joe Piscopo at Cipriani. (Interesting Note: When you open the invite it plays "Mama Mia" and contains your personal RSVP code -- non-transferable of course!)
11 p.m.: Northstar Leadership PAC and Norm Coleman reception at Club Macanudo.
11 p.m.: Tribute to Giuliani at the Rainbow Room.

THURSDAY, 02 SEP 04:

10 a.m.: NRSC Continental Breakfast at Metropolitan Club to be followed by the morning briefing.
Noon: KOMPAC and Denny Hastert Luncheon at Carmine's.
Noon: NRSC Luncheon at Metropolitan Club.
5 p.m.: RGA Rocks the Planet at Planet Hollywood.
5 p.m.: GOP Salute to the Entertainment Industry honoring Gordon Smith with a special tribute to Jack Valenti at the Rainbow Room.
6 p.m.: Israel Project event with Ambassador Arye Mekel on the Mariner III docked at the Chelsea Pier.
8 p.m.: Another Salute to TX GOPers at BB Kings.
10 p.m.: Another Boehner Party at Tunnel.
11 p.m.: Next Generation of Leaders event featuring Jenna and Barbara Bush, Emma Bloomberg, Emily Pataki and Taylor Whitman at Gotham Hall.

Please make an effort to welcome this slime to New York as they arrive at or leave from one of these events. Give 'em a Bronx Cheer!

**Note regarding The Creative Coalition.
According to their website: "The Creative Coalition is the premier nonprofit, nonpartisan social and political advocacy organization of the entertainment industry. Founded in 1989 by prominent figures in the creative community, including actors Alec Baldwin, Ron Silver, Christopher Reeve, Susan Sarandon, Blair Brown and Stephen Collins, TCC educates and mobilizes leaders in the arts community on issues of public importance, specifically in the areas of First Amendment rights, arts advocacy and public education.

"The Creative Coalition changes, evolves, and continues to surprise those of us who've been around since the beginning. What won't change is the commitment, intelligence and generosity of spirit that characterize our members' forays into the media and the work of our membership."

Humor:

Personal Ads in the Dublin News

I received this in the mail from a friend. I had to blog it!

Heavy drinker, 35, Cork area. Seeks gorgeous sex addict interested in a man who loves his pints, cigarettes, Glasgow Celtic Football Club and starting fights on Patrick Street at three o'clock in the morning.

Bitter, disillusioned Dublin man, lately rejected by longtime fiancee, seeks decent, honest, reliable woman, if such a thing still exists in this cruel world of hatchet-faced bitches.

Ginger haired Galway man, a troublemaker, gets slit-eyed and shirty after a few scoops, seeks attractive, wealthy lady for bail purposes, maybe more.

Bad tempered, foul-mouthed old bastard, living in a damp cottage in the arse end of Roscommon, seeks attractive 21 year old blonde lady, with a lovely chest.

Devil-worshipper, Offaly area, seeks like-minded lady, for wining and dining, good conversation,dancing, romantic walks, and slaughtering cats in cemeteries at midnight under the flinty light of a pale moon.

Limerick man, 27, medium build, brown hair, blue eyes, seeks alibi for the night of February 27 between 8 PM and 11:30 PM.

Optimistic Mayo man, 35, seeks a blonde 20 year old double-jointed supermodel, who owns her own brewery, and has an open-minded twin sister.

Joke - Tracking Time in Heaven

A man dies and goes to heaven. On his arrival, he is surrounded by millions of clocks. Curious, he calls over an angel. "Angel, what are all these clocks for?" he asks.

"There is a clock for each person left on earth. It's how we keep track of how much time they have left."

Suddenly, the hour hand on one of the clocks spins around very quickly.

"Angel, why did that happen?" the man asks.

"Well, when someone acts like an ass, we take an hour off their life."

The man thinks awhile and eventually asks, "Where's George W Bush's clock then?"

"Oh that?" says the angel. "We keep that in the office as a fan."

What Happened To All That Tax Cut?

I received this in an email from Dave. The proof is in the footnotes.

As a presidential candidate in 2000, George W. Bush pledged his tax cut proposals "are especially focused on low and moderate income families."[1] Those proposals became law - but a new study by the non-partisan Congressional Budget office reveals otherwise.[2]

According to the CBO study, the wealthiest 1 percent of all taxpayers - whose earnings average $1.2 million - are receiving an average tax cut of $78,420 this year.[3] Meanwhile, the middle 20 percent of taxpayers - whose earnings average $51,000 - are getting only a $1,090 cut.[4] Those in the bottom 20% - averaging earnings of $16,620 - get just a $250 cut.[5] The result: "President Bush's tax cuts have shifted federal tax payments from the richest Americans to a wide swath of middle-class families."[6]

Sources:

1. "A Tax Cut with a Purpose," GeorgeWBush.com, archived from 11/2000.

2. "Effective Federal Tax Rates Under Current Law, 2001 to 2014," Congressional Budget Office, 08/2004.

3. "Report Finds Tax Cuts Heavily Favor the Wealthy," New York Times, 08/13/04. (May require log-in and account creation)

4. Ibid.

5. Ibid.

6. "Tax Burden Shifts to the Middle," Washington Post, 08/13/04. (May require log-in and account creation)

Joke - Revocation of Independence

When Al Gore won the election of 2000, but the Party appointed George Bush instead, a humorous 'letter from the Queen' made the rounds, and I thought it would be a fun way to remember how important it is to pay attention to this election.

To the citizens of the United States of America,

In the light of your failure to elect a President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective today.

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchial duties over all states, commonwealths and other territories. Except Utah, which she does not fancy. Your new prime minister (The rt. hon. Tony Blair, MP for the 97.85% of you who have until now been unaware that there is a world outside your borders) will appoint a minister for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire will be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

1. You should look up "revocation" in the Oxford English Dictionary. Then look up "aluminium". Check the pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it. Generally, you should raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. Look up "vocabulary". Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as "like" and "you know" is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. Look up "interspersed".

2. There is no such thing as "US English". We will let Microsoft know on your behalf.

3. You should learn to distinguish the English and Australian accents. It really isn't that hard.

4. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as the good guys.

5. You should relearn your original national anthem, "God Save The Queen", but only after fully carrying out task 1. We would not want you to get confused and give up half way through.

6. You should stop playing American "football". There is only one kind of football. What you refer to as American "football" is not a very good game. The 2.15% of you who are aware that there is a world outside your borders may have noticed that no one else plays "American" football. You will no longer be allowed to play it, and should instead play proper football. Initially, it would be best if you played with the girls. It is a difficult game. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which is similar to American "football", but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like nancies). We are hoping to get together at least a US rugby sevens side 2005.

7. You should declare war on Quebec and France, using nuclear weapons if they give you any merde. The 97.85% of you who were not aware that there is a world outside your borders should count yourselves lucky. The Russians have never been the bad guys. "Merde" is French for "shit".

8. July 4th is no longer a public holiday. November 8th will be a new national holiday, but only in England. It will be called "Indecisive Day."

9. All American cars are hereby banned. They are crap and it is for your own good. When we show you German cars, you will understand what we mean.

10. Please tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us crazy.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Stalinist Campaign Tactics in Michigan

Kathryn Mead, a 55-year-old social studies teacher, has seen Queen Elizabeth and Pope John Paul in person, but she has never seen a sitting United States president.

The Michigan Democrat secured a ticket to see the current American president during a campaign stop at Traverse City Senior High School.

Upon arrival at the venue, she offered her photo ID and ticket for admission. Her ticket was taken and ripped in half by a GOP operative or Secret Service agent (it's not clear to me who it was) and she was refused admittance. Why? Because she was wearing a Kerry/Edwards sticker on her lapel!

Last time I looked, the right to assemble was enhanced by the right to speak and to dissent. Sadly, if you haven't noticed by now, dissent is considered disloyalty and unpatriotic by the current administration.

Kate Stephan, chair of the Grand Traverse Republican Party, could not be reached for comment after the rally.

I have been unable to find their phone numbers, might it might be nice to give Kate and the Michigan GOP a call or send an email to let them know this stinks!

Send lots of messages.

Peace.

You can complain to the Michigan State Republican Party at this link.

See Kate Stephan's lovely website here. Please note its dysfuncionality.

The Traverse City Record-Eagle article

2004 Olympic Crap

Since 1984, I have found the Summer Olympics to be duller and duller and duller each time they come around. As leader of the Los Angeles Olympics that year, Peter UberAlles introduced unbridled commercialism to the previously amateur-oriented, blatantly non-commercial Games.

It has been a disaster since.

The worst part of Olympic television coverage by NBC is the plethora of commentary and special features shown in lieu of actual sporting events. Long tedious profiles of 18-year-olds whose lives have been so dramatic that they have actually been sick and had fevers and rebelled against their elders. Imagine! Is there anything more insipid than a five-minute profile, or a three-minute profile of a teenager? Nothing.

Last night, at about 8:30 PM, we were tuned-in and a reporter was being interviewed by a commentator about the interesting feature he produced about being a reporter in Athens.

OK: So this is one television personality talking to another television personality about how important their experiences are as television personalities at a television broadcast. Scintillating!

A Discovery-channel style profile began by following an ancient Greek road outside of Athens, and the self-important reporter who was sharing his experience offered a voice-over that said: "Evolution may be controversial . . . "

What?!?!?! Let me understand: NBC considers evolution to be controversial? What is the controversy? Does NBC really think that homo sapiens have developed via the lovely creationism story proffered by malnourished prophets who lived in a desert 5,000 years ago?

It gets better! In a description of Ellis, an outpost of Athens used for athletic training, the voice-over explained that "Prostitution was rampant . . . " as if it was some sort of disease or crime. In case you don't know, most civilized nations do not ban prostitution, because it cannot be stopped. Prostitution is an honorable profession and it was no more rampant in 770 B.C. Greece than is corporate deregulation in modern America.

(Which do you think is more vulgar and has had a more negative impact on humanity: Prostitution or Bank Deregulation?)

It's not bad enough that NBC has commercialized the Olympics beyond recognition; but their moralizing against evolution and their Victorian attitudes about prostitution are downright offensive.

More important than the moralizing, though, is the idea that NBC considers evolution to be controversial. Evolution is not controversial. Please send them an email at nbcolympicsfeedback@nbcuni.com and ask them why they think it is controversial.

Peace.

Approval Rating Rises

Jim McGreevey has not had the easiest time while being Governor of New Jersey. His administration has been rocked by charges of favoritism and inappropriate appointments. His approval rating has been dropping over the past few months.

McGreevey's troubles all came to a head last week when he resigned his office because he was about to be exposed as having been involved in an extra-martial affair.

In his resignation speech, McGreevey acknowledged that his affair had been with a man, and he 'came-out' during the speech.

What might have been the collapse of a once-promising political career has turned-out to be a bit of a blessing in disguise! Not only does McGreevey now have the comfort of honesty, his approval rating jumped two points after his revelations!

Good luck, Governor!

Arkansas Hometown Channel Article

Republican National Convention

Day One Agenda

Revised, August 2004

06:00pm - Opening prayer led by Billy Graham
06:15pm - Supplementary opening prayer led by Fred Phelps
06:30pm - Prayer in thanks of first two prayers
06:45pm - New energy policy presented by Enron
07:00pm - Canonization of Ronald Reagan
07:15pm - Additional prayers
07:30pm - Opening remarks by Halliburton
08:00pm - Prayer for the safety and well-being of Ken "Kenny-boy" Lay
08:15pm - Additional remarks by Halliburton
08:30pm - Stoning of a homosexual
08:45pm - New healthcare policies presented by Kaiser-Permanente
09:00pm - Invasion of Iran or North Korea (TBD)
09:15pm - Halliburton contributes $1.4 billion to Republican party
09:30pm - Reagan elevated to Savior, Holy Trinity now referred to as "The Quad"
09:45pm - Bush undergoes plastic surgery to look more like Reagan
10:00pm - Cheney runs into Ronald Reagan Jr and tells him to go fuck himself
10:15pm - Recall of troops from accidental invasion of South Korea
10:30pm - Burning at stake of girl who had abortion after being raped by cousin
10:45pm - Dancing around golden calf
11:00pm - Stoning of another homosexual
11:15pm - New forestry policy presented by Weyerhaeuser
11:45pm - Thank God for his wisdom in appointing Bush as president
12:00pm - Two hours of closing prayers led by Pope John Paul II
02:00am - European hookers arrive for delegate entertainment

What is Communion?

Is it the sharing of feelings, experience or commonality? Is it a religious fellowship? Is it just a religious sacrament? Or is it all of these?

As a Catholic child, I had a very narrow idea of Communion. It was just a sacrament. It was simply a time when I filed to the front of a church and received a wafer that was, or represented (depending on the level of your religious conviction), corpus christi. I never had a sense of the bigger picture: that I was gathered with a group of people who shared common beliefs and were celebrating, with me, a sense of community, love, charity, and spiritual fulfillment. Communion is a lovely thing.

When I received my First Holy Communion, I really felt part of something. It was rather beautiful and comforting. I think that is the role of religious rites and sacraments: to comfort, and to build confidence.

Churches and religion are filled with symbolism and folklore that test our faith. Is the host, that little wafer, really the body of Christ or is it a representation of the body of Christ? If it is the body of Christ, then what makes it so? Is it the shape of the host? Must the body of Christ be a round wafer, or can it be triangular? Is it the width? Must the wafer be thin, or can it vary in width? Must it be made of a particular grain, or can oat, soy or wheat equally be consecrated as the body of Christ?

I know this all seems absurd, but what is more absurd is that the Catholic Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey, has declared that church law requiring that the body of Christ be made of wheat (what?????) invalidates the First Holy Communion of eight-year-old Haley Waldman, because the host served to her contained no wheat. Haley is allergic to wheat. Church law states that the host, the wafer, that is consecrated to become the body of Christ must contain wheat, or it is not really the body of Christ, just a wafer. Hmmmmm.

Okay! So you have a child enthusiastic about receiving Communion and becoming a part of Christ's living community on Earth. She is allergic to wheat, so she is served a wafer that contains no wheat. She celebrates her communion with the Catholic community, then discovers that some idiot named Rev. Stanley P. Lukaszewski has invalidated her blessing and acceptance into the community because a gluten-free substitute was unacceptable and could not be the body of Christ.

So . . . I am supposed to sit here and believe that a gluten-based wafer can be consecrated into the body of Christ, but that a non-gluten-based wafer cannot.

Let me get this straight: I am supposed to stretch my faith far enough to believe that wheat can be the body of Christ, but I am not supposed to stretch my faith far enough to believe that soy can be the body of Christ?

Hello?!?!?! Father Lukaszewski! Are you on this planet? Did you know that this little girl looks to you for guidance and hope and faith and you have slammed the door shut on her because she is allergic to wheat? Do you think Christ would have turned her away from his Passover feast, his Last Supper, because she was allergic to wheat?

As Haley's mother said: "This is a church rule, not God's will, and it can easily be adjusted to meet the needs of the people, while staying true to the traditions of our faith." AMEN!

I certainly hope that this idiot priest is pulling this as a publicity stunt to get in the good graces of the whacko right-wingers who have co-opted the Catholic Church. I hope that good people in the church, like the priest and parishioners who provided Haley her non-gluten wafer and welcomed her into the community of Christ, will stand-up and speak-out against idiots like Lukaszewski, and condemn the parochialism that has so negatively impacted the church since the installation of the Polish fascist as pope.

Good luck, Haley. If they get you down, you can always hook-up with the Episcopalians! They have better clothes and cars, anyhow!

Peace.

The 1010 WINS report

Vietnam Vets Attempt To Smear Kerry

I wanted to ignore this one, but I must speak up.

In an ad campaign funded by GOP donor Bob Perry, a group of Vietnam veterans calling themselves Swift Boat Veterans for Truth claim that John Kerry lied about his actions during battle in order to secure medals and discharge.

Their claims are, of course, outright lies.

The former soldiers interviewed in the commercial were not on Kerry's boat in the Mekong Delta when his acts of bravery included killing an enemy soldier who was aiming a rocket at his boat, and saving the life of Lt. Jim Rassman by turning his boat around and rescuing him from the water while under heavy fire.

Bob Perry is a bad man who builds pricey homes and makes huge profits he then uses to fund republicans who keep the skids greased for his Houston-based business practices. Hmmm, I wonder if he knows George W Bush?

He is a man with a lot of money who has found a bunch of idiots willing to lie to further their own lots in life. The men who are lying about Kerry for their own profit are: Al French, Bob Elder, George Elliott, Louis Letson, Van O'Dell, Jack Chenoweth, Admiral Hoffman, Adrian Lonsdale, Larry Thurlow, Grant Hibbard, Shelton White, Joe Ponder, and Bob Hildreth. These men are scum. Remember their names and speak poorly of them in conversation. Pick one and send him a letter asking what kind of person he really is!

How much has Perry paid these guys for this? Has he simply donated a case of bourbon to their tax-exempt social club disguised as a veterans organization so they can drink themselves blind and not have to look in the mirror?

John Kerry was a war hero in the most unpopular war our nation was ever involved in. I am not a fan of war heroes. I am not a fan of war. Kerry's war-mongering isn't why I am voting for him. Still, I think it's disgraceful that scum like Perry who finances scum like George Bush should belittle Kerry's heroism and integrity.

None of these men were on Kerry's boat when he rescued Jim Rassman. Jim Rassman is a lifelong republican who states that Perry's shills are "people without decency"! God bless you, Mr. Rassman! Thank you for speaking-out against this lying pack of scum!

The scoop at FactCheck.org

FactCheck's info on Rassman

If you want to watch the smear advertisement, it is here.

PS: If you visit the swiftvets site, please note that the "Back to Ad" link on the "Read The Script" page links to Hurricane Electric Internet Services. I wonder what they have to do with all this? Maybe we should each send them an email asking why swiftvets has a link to them!

Hurricane Electric
760 Mission Court
Fremont, CA 94539
web: http://www.he.net
Phone: 510 580-4100
email: info@he.net

A Joke - Two Elderly Men

Two elderly men were out driving in a large car, both could barely see over the dashboard. As they were cruising along they came to an intersection. The stoplight was red but they just went on through.

The man in the passenger seat thought to himself, "I must be losing it, I could have sworn we just went through a red light."

After a few more minutes they came to another intersection and the light was red, and again they went right through it.

This time the man in the passenger seat was almost sure that the light had been red but was really concerned that he was losing it. He was getting nervous and decided to pay very close attention to the road and the next intersection to see what was going on.

At the next intersection, sure enough, the light was definitely red and they went right through it again.

He turned and said, "Harry, did you know we just ran through three red lights? You could have killed us."

Harry turned to him and said, "Oh shit, am I driving?"

Recipe: Dick Mac & Cheese

Gather the ingredients: macaroni, butter, flour, milk, cheese, ground white pepper, cayenne pepper, small onion, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, vegetable oil.

Gather the equipment: pasta pot, heavy saucepan, large bowl, cutting board, knives, grater, casserole.

In pasta pot, cook one pound of macaroni.

Cube 12-16 oz of white sharp cheddar cheese
Grate 6-8 oz of yellow mild cheddar
Slice 6-8 oz of yellow mild cheddar

Mince one small onion.

Preheat oven to 400.

In a heavy, medium saucepan, melt 3 T butter over a low heat. When butter is bubbling, add 3 T flour and whisk into a roux (paste). Increase heat to medium low and continue to cook roux until the smell of flour has vanished but DO NOT allow to brown.

Slowly pour in 2.5 cups milk, stirring constantly.

Add onion, white pepper and cayenne pepper to flavor, and let cook until very hot, but do not boil.

Add cubes white sharp cheddar cheese and cook until all cheese is melted, stirring occasionally.

Coat casserole with vegetable oil.

Melt 2 T butter in small cup or bowl, then stir in 1 - 1.5 cups breadcrumbs.

Drain macaroni and dump into large bowl. Pour in cheese sauce and stir until all macaroni is coated.

Transfer half of this mixture into casserole. Cover with a layer of grated yellow mild cheddar.

Pour remaining mixture over that. Arrange sliced cheese on top.

Cover with breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese.

Baked covered for 30 minutes, then uncover and cook fifteen more minutes, or until bread topping turns golden brown.

Allow to sit at least 20 minutes.

Serve.

Yum!

Humor - Actual blurbs from church bulletins

The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

This evening at 7 p.m. there will be a hymn sing in the park across from the church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

The associate minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge -- Up Yours."

Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the BS is done.

Low Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. Please use the back door.

The Lutheran men's group will meet at 6 p.m.: steak, mashed potatoes, beans, bread, and dessert will be served for a nominal feel.

Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at Calvary Memorial Church. Come and hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.

Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday in the recreation hall. Come and watch us kill Christ the King.

Miss Charlene Mason sang, "I Will Not Pass This Way Again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your husbands.

Next Sunday is the family hayride and bonfire. Bring your own hot dogs and guns.

The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.

The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water."
The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus."

Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Jack's sermons.

Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community.

Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you.

Don't let worry kill you off. Let the Church help.

At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.

Eight new choir robes are currently needed, due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles, and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

The church will host an evening of fine dining, superb entertainment, and gracious hostility.

Potluck supper Sunday at 5 p.m. Prayer and medication to follow.

The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the church basement Friday at 7 p.m. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

Boo! Are You Scared Yet?

I am of the belief that a lot of information about terrorism pours into the federal government on a daily basis. I think this has been true since Lolita Lebron and three compatriots attacked the House of Representatives in 1954, in what was probably the first terrorist act within our borders.

Oh! You didn't know about the Puerto Rican freedom fighters who walked into the House and opened fire. They killed none, wounded one republican congressman, and made their point that Puerto Rico should be independent, not a colony.

There have been many attacks against government building sin the past fifty years; but we don't talk much about them and they are not part of our history. If all domestic terror was listed chronologically in history books like presidents or wars, it would be more difficult for News Corporation and the republicans to scare the bejesus out of us as a warm-up to the GOP convention.

I'm a little angry about this latest stunt!

This past weekend, an anonymous counter-intelligence official reported that over the past 36-72 hours there has been a lot of information gathered about possible new attacks against American financial institutions. This is news?

Come on! Wake up! Don't be gullible!

Every 48-hour period since 1954 has been jam-packed with warnings of domestic attacks by our own citizens, like The Weathermen, or foreign operatives, like Lebron.

Bill Clinton warned repeatedly about the dangers of Osama binLaden, but the republican-dominated congress said he was just distracting from his blow-job, and they couldn't be bothered when he publicly discussed this information!

Our nation has been collecting information about domestic danger for fifty years, and now that the current administration and their pals in the media need to keep control over the marketplace, they have been frightening us into thinking another building will be attacked any moment.

Please ignore them! If there is danger, they should take care of it and stop trying to scare the public! They should just do their friggin' jobs and stop profiteering from taxpayer fear!

Now, as we gear-up for the GOP fanfest in New York, the importance of these terrorist risks suddenly increases! I don't know who are the bigger assholes: the people who 'leak' the information, the people who publish it, or the idiots who believe it is relevant! If you are any of them, you're an ass!

Don't be afraid! We are a wonderful people! We can be great again. Ignore the friggin republicans who want to blame the poor and the disenfranchised for all your troubles while they rape you of your income and scare your children with threats of bombs at home whilst they throw young adults under tanks for big oil profits!

Walk tall and vote these asses out of office!

Some Yahoo!