More tales from non reality land

"Howard Dean said capturing Saddam would not make America safer. Three years later no one can board a plane with more than four ounces of liquid toiletries in a zip loc bag, no one who attended that speech could enter without being scanned and lets not even mention how much "safer" our troops are in Iraq, let alone the Iraqis..."

_____

And, as of January 2007, any citizen attempt to enter or leave the U.S. will be required to have pre- departure clearance from HSA.

I'm not making that up. e.g.,

We’re All Prisoners, Now: US Citizens to be Required "Clearance" to Leave USA

October 26, 2006

Forget no-fly lists. If Uncle Sam gets its way, beginning on Jan. 14, 2007, we’ll all be on no-fly lists, unless the government gives us permission to leave-or re-enter-the United States.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (HSA) has proposed that all airlines, cruise lines-even fishing boats-be required to obtain clearance for each passenger they propose taking into or out of the United States.

It doesn’t matter if you have a U.S. Passport - a “travel document” that now, absent a court order to the contrary, gives you a virtually unqualified right to enter or leave the United States, any time you want. When the DHS system comes into effect next January, if the agency says “no” to a clearance request, or doesn’t answer the request at all, you won’t be permitted to enter-or leave-the United States.

Consider what might happen if you’re a U.S. passport holder on assignment in a country like Saudi Arabia. Your visa is about to expire, so you board your flight back to the United States. But wait! You can’t get on, because you don’t have permission from the HSA. Saudi immigration officials are on hand to escort you to a squalid detention center, where you and others who are now effectively “stateless persons” are detained, potentially indefinitely, until their immigration status is sorted out.

Why might the HSA deny you permission to leave-or enter-the United States? No one knows, because the entire clearance procedure would be an administrative determination made secretly, with no right of appeal. Naturally, the decision would be made without a warrant, without probable cause and without even any particular degree of suspicion. Basically, if the HSA decides it doesn’t like you, you’re a prisoner - either outside, or inside, the United States, whether or not you hold a U.S. passport.

The U.S. Supreme Court has long recognized there is a constitutional right to travel internationally. Indeed, it has declared that the right to travel is “a virtually unconditional personal right.” The United States has also signed treaties guaranteeing “freedom of travel.” So if these regulations do go into effect, you can expect a

lengthy court battle, both nationally and internationally.

Think this can’t happen? Think again. It’s ALREADY happening. Earlier this year, HSA forbade airlines from transporting an 18-year-old a native-born U.S. citizen, back to the United States. The prohibition lasted nearly six months until it was finally lifted a few weeks ago. Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union are two countries in recent history that didn’t allow their citizens to travel abroad without permission. If these regulations go into effect, you can add the United States to

this list.

See also: http://hasbrouck.org/IDP/IDP-APIS-comments.pdf

This dude just admitted on camera to the criminal purchase and possession of a particularly demonized illicit drug. Will he be hauled in for questioning and charges?

Asked and answered, I guess.

I suppose he'll be running off to "rehab" shortly.

Recall the fundie preacher who said that our troops in Iraq should pray for the President?

How about a little handy laminated Prayer Card that’d fit in the front pocket of your kevlar vest (if you even got issued one), for easy access while you’re lying there in the desert bleeding slowly to death from your blown-off legs:

“Heavenly Father, please see to it that President Bush fully enjoys his Colossal Shrimp Cocktail and Jonah Crab Claws (Served with Ramsey’s Cocktail Sauce and Spiced Remoulade), Herb Roasted Lollipop Lamb Chops served with Warm Yeast Rolls, Baked White Cheddar Farfalle, Sweet Potato Souffle, Asparagus Tier with Lemon-Garlic Aioli, Chocolate Roulade (Christmas Log): Soft Ganache Frosting with a Chocolate Sponge, Meringue Mushrooms, Magnolia Leaves in White Chocolate, Raspberries, and Long Stem Strawberries with Dark Chocolate Dipping Sauce during White House festivities during this time of Wartime Sacrifice. Father, further I pray that the President be able to keep his drives in the fairways, and his long putts true for pars and birdies.

In the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, I beseech Thee.”

"We're going to stay in Iraq to get the job done as long as the government wants us there."

- Bush in Amman, Jordan on Thursday, Nov 30th 2006

_____

Note the weasel phrase, second part of the sentence, "as long as the government wants us there."

How soon will it be that there will be a new, anti-U.S. / pro-Iranian Shia government that explicitly no longer wants us there? Such a happenstance will clearly be none other than Bush's fault, but he and his lackeys will no doubt blame it on others. His lifelong M.O.

What a fucking mess.

Paraphrasing Lewis Lapham, Bush's world is one populated by merely two people; it is a place wherein Bush the Actor need only please Bush the Audience.

Our Narcissist in Chief.

Bush is indeed heading toward becoming "a uniter, not a divider." He's inching ever closer to uniting the entire elecorate against his mindless, arrogant tenure.

With, of course, the exceptions of Laura and Barney.

I'm with Sam Harris on this whole religiosity thing. Left unchgallenged, it's dangerous, no doubt about it. See www.samharris.org.