The entire Iraqi débacle has been like observing a car crash in extreme slow motion, ever since the invasion. From Powell's shameful PowerPoint presentation at the U.N. to the current quagmire, was there ever a chance of things going differently, really? Perhaps the most absurd "difference" between conservatives and liberals in the U.S. is the "optimism gap" that even George Will of Washington Post editorialized about. There are even polls of how conservatives are living a more happy life than those negative, French-loving liberals!

It has always seemed to me that this "optimism" has been a blind faith in the robotic repeating of these empty, meaningless slogans. How many times has Bush promised victory in this war against a noun? In how many speeches has he promised that "as the coalition stands down, the Iraqis stand up"? I've come to believe that many conservatives deny a large part of reality because they're unable to rationally deal with the quite understandable psychological angst of a complex, morally ambiguous reality.

I, like other Americans who had the advantage of a high school civics class where "separation of powers" was elucidated, along with those who have some semblence of logic and reason, must -- at all costs -- speak out against the imperialist powers that have taken our Republic captive.

When the Supreme Court awarded Mr. Bush the Presidency, I shuddered at the crack in our Constitution's foundation. How could any of us imagined that Florida's Highest Election Official at the time, Katherine Harris, could have unleashed the Beast the White House now contains? Is Russ Feingold the only Senate Democrat who reads the Constitution? If there is anytime in the history of our nation to lay aside political ambition, it is now. Of course this President and Vice President should be impeached by the Congress and tried by the Senate for high crimes and misdemeanors. If they are not removed, what is to prevent them from refusing to leave in 2008? Term limits? Just another technicality. Especially if the next terrorist attack is a REAL surprise, unlike our heinous complicity of 9/11. It is clear that the insanity of the "long war" and the vision for total dominance of air, space, land and sea can only be stopped by the people. I pray it is not too late to redeem the times.

November 2006 may be our last hope to stem this tide. Get engaged. Talk truth to all you know. Grocery Store Lines. At the Post Office. Your children's teachers. Resturant Waitresses and waiters. Airplane seatmates. Farmer's Markets. Where ever you go, hold onto our true American Values: freedom, integrity and trust.

There's never been a better time for those of us who understand what is at stake, to stand up. Make a run for local, state or national office. I am. And if this grandmother can make a noise, you can too.

http://www.sammsimpsonforcongress.com

When we pulled our bases out of Saudi Arabia, we were going to go somewhere.

One of the big lies of the current administration is that we do not plan on at least 4 permanent bases in Iraq. But there have been so many lies.

>>Bush explained how much progress was being made in training the Iraqi security forces, ignoring Khalilzad's warning about their infiltration by Shiite militias. And Bush repeated his formula: "As Iraqis stand up, America and our coalition will stand down." Yet in testimony on Tuesday before the House, Gen. Abizaid said he would not rule out permanent U.S. military bases. In other words, the U.S. is likely to remain indefinitely. There will be no final hand-over, no conclusive standing down.

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Providing a training ground for budding jihadists thoughout the Middle East and Europe, US military bases will be required to put down any major disturbances that erupt. Why would the Iraqi military under an invader be better prepared to defend their country, than they were under a dictator? Iraq will be the Korean peninsula of this millenium in American history. Hence, we will require a larger and larger military to maintain our so-called peace throughout the world.

Get ready, it will only get more scary and ugly. Wait for the coming foray into Iran. The war drums are sounding a little loudly on this "threat".

Where, where, where are the Democrats?

In the face of obvious bullshit, where are the Democrats?

Handed total political "gimmes" on a silver platter, where are the Democrats? Where are the Democrats?

Faced with talking points that a four-year-old could debunk, where are the goddamn Democrats? Where are they? Where?

Where are the Democrats?

Where are the Democrats?

Where are the goddamn Democrats?

Where are they?

Where are the Democrats?

Where?

Where are they?

Where are the Democrats?

The Republicans are disintegrating. You don't have to be Franklin Roosevelt. You don't have to be John F. Kennedy. You barely even have to be Walter Mondale.

Clinton, Reid, Kerry--YOU HAVE NO GODDAMN RIGHT TO DO THIS TO US! YOU ARE THE ONLY OPPOSITION PARTY AND YOU HAVE NO GODDAMN RIGHT NOT TO OPPOSE THESE PEOPLE! DO YOUR GODDAMN JOB OR MOVE OVER AND LET HOWARD DEAN AND PAUL HACKETT RUN THINGS!

Not only might one ask, "Where are the Democrats?" How about "Where is Colin Powell?"

Without his presentation at the United Nations, this adventure would not have gone forward quite so easily as it did.

Isn't it time he came forward and offered either continued support for the invasion or...or...or?

Given the way the American people engage in the political campaigns and suck up all the rhetoric during campaigns and fall for the lies of the candidates it is no wonder the politicians continue to robotically repeat the big lie. They know it will eventually be accepted as fact. If it were not tragically sad it might be humorous to listen to the callers to talk radio who repeat the "talking points" as if they themselves were insiders. The partisan mantras come from the mindless that the politicians count on. The sheeple. The sheeple who believe the campaign commercials and lies. While the sheeple argue with each other they are being taken to slaughter.

If one reads the history of the neo con movement going back to Leo Strauss and Irving Kristol, one will find the ideology actually disdains the masses and Liberal democracy, and promotes government rule by a small group of intellectual elites. They needed a president they could manipulate. Enter a president who admittedly does not read..and had never traveled outside the US. What did he even know about the history of the Middle East? They had to accomplish this during his first term because there might never be another opportunity. He accepted their plan and did not have the intellect to think through to unintended consequences. His father rejected the ideology, and so did Clinton. If not this president, then who?

The philosophy and ideology of the neo con movement contradicts the Constitution of this country and the Bill of Rights which may explain the hubris and lack of respect this administration has for the Documents, the laws of our country and the citizens.

This war was never about WMD, it was about regime change and under our laws this is illegal. They lied, and their ideology permits that because they believe the end justify the means. Their plan failed. What do we the people do about it now?