It’s nice to see my representatives are actually doing some good on Capitol Hill. The Senate unsealed the closed McCarthy hearings today.

This is big news in my opinion. It’s proof that not everyone in our government is focused completely on Iraq. It’s also important that our government doesn’t keep secrets about its own skeletons from us. Ironically, McCarthy died a broken man whose only legacy was a Supreme Court decision saying that those who testify before the Senate do not give up their constitutional rights.

Even more good news! It appears the Senat was cool enough to post the closed hearings online for everyone to read. Even more proof the government doesn’t suck!

I’d like everyone to read this story about a United States citizen who is being detained without facing a judge. Why? Because the government says he is a “material witness” in an ongoing investigation. According to this interpretation of the Patriot Act anyone could be held indefinitely.

Yes, he is an Arab. Yes, he made donations to Islamic charities. Yes, he has been a citizen of the US for 15 years. Yes, this won’t happen to you because you’re an Anglo American. Yes, he is being denied his right to due process. Yes, he is being denied his Miranda rights. Yes, he is being strip searched everytime he leaves or enters his cell. Yes, this is America. Yes, I’m scared.

I tried to track down the author of this quote but couldn’t manage to.

Those who ignore the past are doomed to repeat it.

A friend of mine recently forwarded me a link to a brief history lesson that could shed some light on current events.

While I’m not sold on the possibility that Bush and Hitler have much in common, there are some striking similarities.

There have been a lot of forwards going around the Internet with remarks from WWII (aka The Greatest Generation) generation. While I totally agree WWII was an instance of good winning over evil. However, we shouldn’t forget that that same generation gave us Japanese internment camps and the Cold War. They also talk about how their families defended America’s freedom in the face of fascism and that the antiwar protestors should “shut up.” Forgive me if I’m mistaken, but isn’t me speaking against my government (also known as the right to free speech, the right to assemble, and the right to free press) one of those rights your fallen family members fought to defend?

My point is that our differing views, diversity, and ability to speak out are exactly why we have fought so hard in the past to defend our ways. Why can’t those who are for the war see that?

I have a two friends, in particular, who basically said “STFU” about my recent bashings of America. One made the argument I was against giving the Iraqi people the same freedoms I have to which I have a few responses.

If you are so much for these said freedoms, which 38% of Americans favor limiting, then why are you against allowing me my expression of said freedoms? I think America, on paper, is the greatest nation on earth, but in practice sucks.

People often misconstrue my critical stance of the US government as unpatriotic when in fact I’m fulfilling my patriotic duty to do just that. When they ask why I am critical I ask them why they aren’t in the face of such mounting evidence. I say shame on them for not being critical of their government. Our nation was founded by dissenters who were scared to death of government, which is why I’m so worried that the majority of Americans placate to the federal government now.

I’m not against dethroning Saddam. I’ve said it many times before that he’s dangerous and, in the interest of peace in the Middle East, something should be done. But that something should include unilateral support, solid evidence presented to the United Nations (or at least the American people), and a valid declaration of war.

I finally got around to seeing Michael Moore’s Bowling for Columbine today. I’m speechless. Combine the content of this movie with Against Empire, Shrub: The short, but happy political life of George W. Bush, and Stupid White Men makes for a sobering realization: America really does suck!

Horrific foreign policy that has seen us support murderous dictators such as General Agusto Pinochet and Saddam Hussein. Black Americans earned 61% less than white Americans, which, incidently, is the same earning rate recorded in 1880 (no that’s not a typo). We kill over 10,000 of our neighbors each year with guns, while Japan kills about 60 (remember the Japanese bring us Mortal Combat and the crazy Anime). The richest 1 percent of the country is making 157 percent more than they were in 1979, while those Americans in the bottom 20% are actually making $100 less per year (adjusted for inflation). To top it off we have a President who has threatened to shut down the White House AIDS office, denied college aid to drug offenders (murderers are still eligable), despite being a drug abuser himself, and cut $39 million in aid to libraries.

Yup, it’s a great time to live in America. We’re a bunch of peace loving, caring people aren’t we? If you are as mad as I am please contact your Senator or Representative.

Some one sent me a great link to what the flag stands for. It’s a great cynical critique of America using our, arguably, most cherished symbol.

I just ran across an amazing recount of media censorship during the first Gulf War. Evidently, Cheney, our current Vice President (has anyone seen or heard from this guy lately?), was ruthless in managing the media during the first Gulf War.

As Applewhite photographed the carnage, he was approached by U.S. Military Police who ordered him to leave. He produced credentials that entitled him to be there. But the soldiers punched Applewhite, handcuffed him and ripped the film from his cameras.

The article also mentions how the Pentegon repeatedly touted a 98% success rate of the Tomahawk missle and the precision of “smart bombs.” What they neglect to say is that only 6% of the munitions dropped during the first Gulf War were smart bombs and that in 1999 the Navy confessed the Tomahawks were, in reality, only about 10% effective.

Something I’m just now realizing is that GWI was ran by the same people in charge of GWII. I suppose their still pissed they didn’t get the oil the first time around.

Rumsfeld is a friggin hypocrit and so is the US government. A story outlining the US relationship with Iraq tells how we aided Iraq in its war with Iran because we viewed Iraq as the lesser of two evils.

If we knew he was the lesser of two evils then why the hell did we give him the chemical weapons? Only after he used them, which shouldn’t have shocked us, did we change our minds about his regime.

The above has a perfect analogy. First you find two schoolyard bullies. Then you choose the lesser of the two bullies. After that you give him a large stockpile of firecrackers. Once you’ve set this all up your “shocked” when little Tommy uses the firecrackers (provided by you) to blow up the neighbor’s (and his own) mailbox. Under current US law you would be just as guilty as he is.

A major setback for the US Government today in it’s ongoing “enemy combatant” debate. Jose Padilla has been given the right to meet with his lawyers by a federal judge. For those who don’t know Mr. Padilla is a US citizen who was working with al Qaeda to detonate a “dirty bomb” on US soild.

The decision is a legal setback for the Bush administration, which sought to block Padilla from meeting his defense lawyers under any circumstances, saying national security is more important than a detainee’s right to counsel.

No one will deny that Mr. Padilla is a very bad man, but in the same sense even Jeffrey Dahmer got to talk to his lawyer. The thing that scares me the most is that the US government denied a US citizen a basic right, the right to counsel.

I came across a short essay about the supposed “Coalition of the Willing” that we keep hearing about. I searched quite a bit around the net and couldn’t find a definitive list of who actually is a part of the coalition. The essay covers how many of the countries in the coalition are only a part of it because the US is increasing aid, paying them outright, or threatening action if they don’t join the coalition. Brings new meaning to the word “willing” doesn’t it?

I don’t have a source, but I remember hearing that Spain, Portugal, and Britain were the main allies. With Tony Blair’s own cabinet members threatening resignation I wonder how much help Spain and Portugal have to offer. Last time I checked neith Spain nor Portugal were considered anywhere near “global players.”