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Via The Agonist comes this link to an on-the-record interview Bush granted to a number of Christian journalists the other day. Here's a sample:
Separation of church and state [is] important in America. And by that I mean the people of faith should participate in the state, and there's a difference.
Okay, I know what he said. But does anyone know what he means?
If you don't stop by Whiskey Bar on a regular basis you should. The analysis is always edifying and the writing is so damn good. Here's a taste:
Knocking Saudi Arabia out of the oil producing business for two years would bring the global economy to its knees - and probably bring about the fall of the House of Saud. In other words, it would be an enormous victory for Al Qaeda, the kind that would make the current fiasco in Iraq look like a paper cut.
Now, go drink deep . . .
Just received another audio postcard from Dennis Kucinich, this time from Alabama. Here's part of what it says:
Hi everyone, this is Dennis!I have just concluded three days of campaigning in Alabama, and all of the mythologies about the deep South and the inability of the Democratic Party to register victories in the deep South ought to be challenged because what I saw and heard was an effort by so many people, Democrats and Independents alike, to demonstrate a connection with the highest vision of this country. The south has been through some of the earliest turmoil in America dealing with the challenges of race, and yet when you see the tremendous strides that have been made, and also the awareness and the consciousness to try to heal the wounds of the institution of slavery and the desire to try to truly unite America, you realize that the south is a very special place. And so I'm grateful to all those who helped put the campaign together there.
Help Dennis and the Democratic Party continue to reach out and re-connect Americans across the mythical divides of race, region, gender and class. Click here to listen to Dennis' complete message and then click here to make a donation to support his campaign to bring Democrats together again . . .
It was nice to discover the other day that notwatchingtelevision had been linked to by The Ruth Group, 
though how Ruth and her friends stumbled across us out here in blogdom's boondocks we've no idea (we've also no idea why we've slipped into the royal we but assume our regal delusion willl pass momentarily).
In the time that I've been blogging I've formed an amoebic sense of inter-connection within a flowing world of unknown friends. And now The Ruth Group and I (see, I told you it would pass) have become aware of one another in the stream.
I'd have to say I'm the primary beneficiary of this confluence because The Ruth Group is a wonderfully informative and well-organized site. In fact, I'm turning it into my browser homepage because the posts and resource links there are just too good not to check out from day to day. Here, just for fun, click on the Dissent image and peruse the other protest graphics at Project for the Old American Century, a site Ruth and her group are highlighting right now . . .
Unlike Richard at Tikun Olam-תקון עולם: Make the World a Better Place I'm okay with Kerry's quietism at this point in the game. For one thing, this post at Needlenose (via Atrios) reminds me to be skeptical about the source of Nagourney's talking points. For another, as I've already said, Kerry's reserve has gives space for other things to grow: for states like Oregon and Alaska to boost Kucinich's profile (who, btw, has just sent an audio postcard from Alabama that I'll be posting soon); for Dean's DFA group to get traction; even for Nader to draw backup attention to Dennis' progressive anti-war positions. All sorts of things. I think that, so far, Kerry's low-key campaign style and sonorous pronouncements have been effective against BushRove's fan-the-flames reactionary strategies; hopefully it has helped dialed down the din to a point where voters can at least hear themselves think.
Besides, I sometimes think Kerry's apparent lack of aggressiveness on the stump doesn't mean seriously aggressive moves arent' being made behind the scenes. Remember how a Kerry campaign official warned BushCo that if they started playing dirty, "then everything's on the table. Everything"? Well, Kerry's been in the Senate a long time and his knowledge about "everything" (like BCCI, international money-laundering, weapons deals, the drug trade, various intelligence linkages, etc.) runs pretty deep. I wouldn't be surprised if some of that knowledge is having its effect on events right now . . .
Has there ever been such an example of flagrant willful ignorance as this administration? The list is endless, but here's one more recent example. Howling At A Waning Moon, my blog source for all things having to do with the environment (which, if you think about, is all things), has posted this article from the LATimes on an army order to cut environmental protection spending so it can spend wreaking havoc on the environment in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It seems the Pentagon sent an email to commanders around the world ordering them to "take additional risks" by cancelling programs and delaying enforcement of laws related to environmental programs.
Fortunately, someone leaked the internal memo to folks outside, and after reporters jumped all over the story, the army rescinded the orders. At least for the time being, at least on paper, environmental programs will continue to comport with established laws and policies.
Serendipitously, no doubt, at the same time the Army was being exposed for planning to circumvent environmental rules it was showing off prototype alternative-energy vehicles at an airbase up in Alaska. According to this AP report, also posted at Bob Whitson's Howlings site, the open house at Elmendorf Air Base was billed as part of a four-day symposium on military applications of clean-energy technology. But it sounds like just another automotive-industry trade show to me.
I know the argument that goes, "Military investment in new technologies helps advance the economy." But quite frankly, there's a willful hypocracy embedded in a campaign to show off energy-saving military vehicles -- and their promised billion-dollar defense contracts for industries that successfully lobby against environmental standards in the civilian realm -- at the same time that the Army is caught trying to undermine the standards that do exist. Add to that the war lobby's silence on the use and catastrophic effects of depleted uranium and it's hard not to conclude that "military-industrial complex" is a synonym for "voluntary idiots" . . .
Paul Krugman, often a lone doubting Thomas on the pages of the NYTimes these passed few years, has a great column today on why the media has been so docile in reporting on the Bush administration since 9/11. Finally, he says the worm seems to have turned, but it's still an open question whether or not it will roll over once again . . .
Meanwhile, via Daily Kos comes news that the press out in South Dakota is getting auppity, too. With backing from the Associate Press and other news organizations, the Sioux Fall Argus won a suit to unseal records of pardons secretly granted by former governer, congressman and recently convicted manslaughterer-by-automobile Bill Janklow.
Among those secretly pardoned? Well, there's Janklow's son-in-law, who promised he'd cleaned up his act but needed his record cleaned up to so he could apply to law school. And then there's a slew of other folks convicted for crimes ranging from drunk driving and disorderly conduct right through to manslaughter and molestation.
Now, personally, I don't see anything wrong with pardoning folks who get into trouble at some point in life but manage to work through their problems and move on. In fact, I think our tax dollars should be going to develop programs that support folks who've come from trouble or get in trouble so they can negotiate their way through to the other side.
No, for me the pardons themselves, even the ones for friends and relatives aren't the problem. It's the sense of privilege, the abuse of power, the goddam Republican hypocricy I'm tired of . . . and it looks like the 4th estate is finally growing weary of it, too.
AP reports that now that former Baathists have been put in charge in Falluja the city is beginning to look like an Islamic mini-state, replete with floggings and public humiliations. This isn't what I envisioned when the ersatz prez spoke about liberating Iraq.
Deep Blade Journal has a stirring post on Dennis Kucinich's speech to the Maine Democratic Convention over the weekend, complete with links to video of his inspiring address. (Deep Blade has just updated his site and the links are still a bit funky. So the one I'm providing here is for the blog, not the specific post. You may have to scroll down if he adds more between now and your visit).
DB is less enthusiastic about John Kerry, who addressed the convention via audio link but did not attend in person. My take is slightly different than his. I am a Kucinich supporter and have been since early on (I started out supporting Dean because I wanted to amplify his sound, but as soon as Dennis' campaign became visible I made the switch). His positions are expressions of the shift from a hierarchical to wholistic paradigm that I believe can usher in a New Age of Enlightment for the 21st century.
But that doesn't mean I find the way John Kerry has approached this campaign so far uninspiring. I see him defining his leadership style in part as that of a public servant who's duty is to create the political space in which our democratic form of government can thrive. His low-key, some might complain too-low-key, campaign has denied his opponent's campaign fuel and consequently forced it to burn its own. I call that smart. At the same time, instead of sucking in all the political oxygen for his own campaign, Kerry's present tactics allow enough breathing space for Dennis -- and, yes, for Nader -- to keep getting their messages across.
Think about it. In 2000 progressive critiques was barely heard. In fact, Al Gore, to his discredit, aligned himself with his party's decision to ban Nader's participation in debates. What Nader proved then is that, in spite of mainstream efforts to silence him, voters were willing to make the extra effort demanded to seek him out and give him their support.
As you can probably tell, I don't hold Nader responsible for Gore having lost the race. I think he served as a megaphone for the progressive voice in the Democratic Party that has been drowned out much to long. Kucinich and the Progressive Caucus have helped keep that voice alive; Nader helped it to be heard. And Howard Dean heard it and synthesized it with the DP's more recent moderate positions, thus helping insinuate progressive values early on into the primary debate.
To tell the truth, I've felt for a long time that these folks have a strategy, have a plan and we've been watchng the unfolding. Think back on the primaries and how many variations on Democratic themes got heard. Sometimes, when I'm feeling particularly generous, I'm even willing to consider that Holy Joe has played his role. For what have his conservative pronouncements demonstated but that the vast majority of Democratic aren't interested in hearing that.
Al Gore, to his great credit, gave a magnificent speech just yesterday in which he contextualized the damage done to America's reputation and her spirit by the current incompetent and corrupt administration. In it he had this to say the Kerry campaign:
In my opinion, John Kerry is dealing with this unfolding tragedy in an impressive and extremely responsible way. Our nation's best interest lies in having a new president who can turn a new page, sweep clean with a new broom, and take office on January 20th of next year with the ability to make a fresh assessment of exactly what our nation's strategic position is as of the time the reigns of power are finally wrested from the group of incompetents that created this catastrophe.Kerry should not tie his own hands by offering overly specific, detailed proposals concerning a situation that is rapidly changing and unfortunately, rapidly deteriorating, but should rather preserve his, and our country's, options, to retrieve our national honor as soon as this long national nightmare is over.
Clearly Al Gore and I are on the same page, and for the first time in a long time, most of the Democratic Party appears to be, too. Let's not bash Kerry for being the kind of leader who respects his colleagues and the electorate enough to invite us to think creatively about the difficult problems that we face. And listens to us when we do . . .
I just received this link in my email to an audio postcard from Dennis Kucinich, pumped after capturing 50% of the vote in the Alaska primary! Here's the text, or you can click the image of Dennis to hear the audio for yourself. And if you truly want a to see a progressive agenda in this country, send Dennis money and help influence the Democratic Party's platform at the July convention . . .
Hi everyone, this is Dennis!
I just got off the phone with an ABC reporter from Anchorage, Alaska, who informed me that we took 50% of the vote in the Alaska state caucus. That is tremendous news for a campaign that has been growing with strength across this country, and now we've achieved a first place tie in a state, and I'm so excited about it!
As you know in the last week we've had a lot of success. We started off the last week with 17% in Oregon. We went to 25% in the Maine state caucus. We went to 30% in the state convention in Colorado. And now we've received word of 50% in the state of Alaska. I'm in Montana now. I've been campaigning across this state for the primary, which is on June the 8th.
In the last 10 days, we've had stories in the LA Times, in the New York Times, in USA Today. I've been on Meet the Press, on Crossfire, on the Wolf Blitzer show, and on MSNBC. And there's more attention being given to our message. And our stand for peace and for civil liberties and health care for all and fair trade is finally beginning to resonate!
» Dennis Talks About the Issues
Now, it's true, the direction of the nomination appears to be more or less decided. However, we're having an impact on the direction of our Party, and YOU'RE having an impact on the direction America's going to take for the next four years. So, it's not too late. And it's not too late to give us even more energy in the remaining primaries and caucuses.
So I'm asking for you to double whatever contribution you've made. Help us now make an even stronger statement in states like Montana. Help us now call across this country for a new direction in Iraq that would bring in U.N. peacekeepers and bring our troops home. Our peace plan is finally getting the kind of national attention not only that it deserves, but that will serve to help spur a resolution of what's going on. And our call for universal, single-payer, not-for-profit healthcare is resounding from sea to shining sea because Americans are increasingly being driven into poverty because of this bad health care system.
And so this is something that has been not just my accomplishment, but yours as well.
So let's get ready to take the next step for the next strong showing, and perhaps the next victory. Let's get ready to march into Boston, not only 2000 strong with our supporters coming from all over the country, but also with even more delegates.
» How to Join Dennis at the Convention
» Make Your Reservation - It's a Donation, too!
So what an exciting windup as we move towards the stretch of this campaign and head towards the finish line! How exciting it is that we are finding an opportunity to at last make the country aware of the power of our campaign and the power of our message. So thank you! So help us keep it going! This is up to you! Please, go to that place at our web page right now where you can make an additional contribution. Help us in the next few primaries. The only thing that stands between us and victory is a few more dollars! Make it happen!
» Contribute to Change in the Democratic Party!
So thank you. Let's continue our efforts and I couldn't be more proud of the campaign team that we put together in places like Oregon and Maine and Colorado and Alaska and all the other states where we gained delegates and all the other states where we have strong support! We're putting something together that's gonna change this country. You know it and I know it. So let's keep moving ahead.
Thank you so much! And make sure that you go to that place where you can help us raise the money we need to continue empowering our efforts. I look forward to seeing you soon! This is Dennis. Thank you!
Click here to contribute to Kucinich for President online.
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Kucinich for President
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