To: "Former Republican"

Re: "Steve, you shouldn't stereotype the military. You say that 99+% of Air Force colonels are Republican. In 2004, about two-thirds of the military's officers were Republican, and I know of no reason why the Air Force colonels should be dramatically different. http://www.dawn.com/2004/01/01/int9.htm Two-thirds is way less than 99%."

We have it on the sworn testimony of White House staff members Monica Goodling and Sarah Taylor that all promotions in the federal government that were under the control of the Bush Administration had to be vetted by Karl Rove's office to make sure they were "Loyal Bushies".

We know that the Air Force Academy has been taken over by fundamentalist Christians who are 99.99% Republicans.

Your statistic was from 2004 and we know that the Loyal Bushies have had for more years to continue their work and that the oaths they swore were to President Bush personally and not to the US Constitution.

What other conclusion should I reach?

http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/special/s0807/final.pdf

An Investigation of Allegations of Politicized Hiring by Monica Goodling and Other Staff in the Office of the

Attorney General

In March 2007, the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) began a joint investigation of allegations that in 2006 several United States Attorneys (U.S. Attorneys)were forced to resign for improper reasons, including improper political purposes. We also received an allegation that Monica Goodling, the

Department of Justice’s (DOJ or Department) White House Liaison and Senior Counsel to the Attorney General, had discriminated on the basis of political affiliation against a candidate for a career position as an Assistant

United States Attorney (AUSA). We therefore expanded our investigation to include the allegation that Goodling inappropriately used political or ideological affiliations in the hiring process for career Department

employees.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/003656.php

"I took an oath the president, and I take that oath very seriously," Sara Taylor said in answer to a question early in the hearing.

And right after a break, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) asked her if she was sure about that. "Did you mean, perhaps, you took an oath to the Constitution?" Leahy asked. It was a telling exchange.

http://articles.latimes.com/2005/apr/29/nation/na-academy29

Religious intolerance is systemic and pervasive at the U.S. Air Force Academy and, if nothing changes, it could result in “prolonged and costly” litigation, according to a report issued Thursday by a group advocating strict separation of church and state.

The 14-page report listed incidents of mandatory prayers, proselytizing by teachers, insensitivity to religious minorities and allegations that evangelical Christianity is the preferred faith at the institution.

If a Liberal were to spout such idiocy, (S)he would be branded as a complete nut and would never get publishing space ever again.

However Conservatives continue to spout dumb ideas (Was Malcolm X really Barak Obama's father?) without even a hint of reproach from anyone else. They even given extra air time on FoxNews.

Dick morris probably had his contract with FoxNews renewed for another four years to officially promote hatred of the Clintons on air. His guest slots on Hannity and O'rielly are assured.

One of the most common"smears" that Republicans threw at Democrats was to refer to Barak Obama as our

"Messiah", because we respected his leadership and appreciated his speaking. In fact the sneers were palpable in their every written or spoken word.

Now we see Conservatives fall into an absolute swoon over Ms palin, as though she were Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln all packeaged in one.

What I realize is that Conservatives NEED to have a Messiah as their politicial leader, and were infuriated when Barak Obama proved to be more popular than their entire political party.

That is why Conservatives have descended into Sean Hannity levels of hate, balanced by adoration of Sarah Palin that knows no limits. By 2012 I fully expect Fundamentalist Republicans to declare miracles due to her prayers at hospital bedsides, or pictures of her with halo-like lights surrounding her head.

And not one single Conservative will admit the fact that they themselves have selected a new Messiah for the Republican Party, and have begun the worship process that appears to be demanded of Republican Presidents.

It appears that some Democrats and all Republicans are shocked that a portrait of Karl Marx is not hanging from the Washington Monument.

Barak Obama is turning out to be exactly what he promised to be: A smart, serious President (elect) who will appoint smart, serious people to positions of responsibility in the US Government, without making a personal family loyalty litmus test the sole appointment criterion.

Or do you miss the horse show judges?

Re: "The more she is seen and heard, the less likely that she and/or others of her mentality will succeed to positions of leadership."

Except that Conservatives will only see Ms Palin through the carefully filtered lense of FoxNews, NewsMax and the WSJ Editorial Page. From that vantage, Conservatives will worship her even more than they did George W.Bush and (possibly) Ronald Reagan. Anything that hints, even slightly, on a non-Divine image will be declared just a Liberal media trick.

The George W. Bush bubble will expand to include all Conservatives nationwide.

Re: "And he won't be living in the US much longer anyway. Count on it."

It will have to be a foreign land that does not honor extradition for war crimes, but loves to execute people.

How about Saudi Arabia?

Or Texas?

Mr Gates appears splendid as Secretary of Defense primarily because he has the wonderful advantage of being compared to his predecessor, Donald Rumsfeld.

Watch for 100% of Conservatives who gave a free pass to Dick "deficits don't matter" Cheney and George W. "I'll sign anything that comes from a Republican Congress" Bush to be absolutely outraged by this.