David, no one in this world can “feed themselves,” under any conceivable socio-economic system.  In fact, the one presently dominant hereabouts tries to take advantage of that inescapable fact by employing as one of its prime operating methods the interposition of as many artifactual, commercial, and legally enforcible barriers as possible between the people enmeshed in its toils and the actual living arrangement from which all nourishment comes naturally quite free-of-charge. 

If all you’re saying is those most adept at manipulating the current system, or lucky enough to’ve been born into an especially advantageous position within it, will do what they feel they must to maintain the status quo, that seems self-evident.  What else but that is the cause of the heterodyne whine overwhelming the civilized world’s senses these days.

It is in the very nature of positive-feedback-loops, however, that they do inevitably self-destruct on account of the amplifier effect inherent in every one of them.  Sooner or later imbalances that are necessary to get such a process going in the first place are magnified to a degree the structural components haven’t the integrity to sustain.  The Anglo/American mercantilist/financier system is right now so riddled with this “dynamic augment” it is coming to pieces right before our eyes, if we’ll only look away from the gaudy distractions of canned entertainment and the bloody diversions of armed conflict long enough to see it.

Your reluctance to look at ends and means ignores the reality that the means ends are come-by essentially dictate the terms by which those ends are held.  Robbery can gain possession, but its spoils are then subject constantly to being lost in like manner…..an eventuality, even a likelihood that must be constantly guarded against, inevitably eating-away the “profits” of the venture to nothing.  This is happening to America’s ill-gotten gains, even as we two swap ‘viewpoints.’

Goods acquired in fair and free exchange, on the other hand, allow the transactors to enjoy the benefits of what they hold with the blessing of the whole community.  What’s more, none of it need take place under the artificial auspices of some “ism” or other.

The might-makes-right system of “global” capitalist exploitation obviously falls into the former of these two possible arrangements.  So it is really not surprising that the threat and use of armed violence has come to be the “business model” of-choice for its latter-day practicioners, as they seek to sew-up resources their falling-apart machinery can’t keep running without.

This old Indian has some actual experience with quicksand, David, but is entirely innocent of “philosophy.”  Ideology is certainly not the same thing as reality, as you point out.  It’ll sure as hell “color” one’s perceptions of that reality, though.  That’s why us surviving primitive savages are so careful to steer clear of the stuff.  We like our reality whole and un-filtered, knowing our continued good health depends on it. 

Meanwhile, we’ve watched our “civilized” brothers and sisters sicken and die being force-fed the refined notions so beloved of their master manipulators…...who are, by the way, anything but “always with us.”  That’s a natural fact they themselves are all too aware of, which is why they expend so much of their spoils trying to keep it secret from you who have such a desperate “need-to-know.”

You seem to concede that “capitalism” must sooner or later come to a bitter end.  From here on The Rez we can actually SEE it coming, and a whole lot sooner than later.  We’re not under any onus, either, to think-up something to take its place.  We got along fine without it long before we met it, and we’ll get along even better when it’s long gone.

Nothing personal, Kola.

HokaHey!

David,
Is it possible for capitalism to exist without poverty and international expansionism?  Are ability, motivation, and creativity solely inspired by aspiration for wealth? Is human nature so devoid of reason, that we can only establish systems that benefit some and exploit most?  Is it possible for everyone to have hope, or is hope only for those who are considered special?

David, I was amused to see you invoke the Platonic ideal of the philosopher-king, since that appears to be the motivating force behind the neoconservative movement and their rampant misreadings of Leo Strauss.  The irony is that no one would attribute a doctoral degree in philosophy to Bush II, even an honorary one, unless, of course, that “folksy” persona really IS meticulously-conceived act (which is certainly not beyond the realm of possibility).  The other irony is that Plato DID try to put his theory into practice in Syracuse and was apparently lucky to get out with his skin intact:

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-Mff23hgidqmHGqbcv.lfskakEtS6qLVHUEMFUG4-?cq=1&p=175

Tao,

Because I point out that the flower is red,  doesn’t mean I love red flowers.  With all due respect, you seem to be wallowing in philosophical quicksand.  An “ends/ means” debate is about as irrelevant to this situation as debating whether or not Adam should have bit into the apple. 

A favorable end never justifies faulty means, philosphically speaking.  But that’s not the point.  The end is people’s ability to feed themselves.  We’re all so entangled in the mess that any means undertaken to preserve the system will be favorable to letting the system collapse.  And you can’t have the debate you’re choosing without speaking to alternative economic & political systems.  So lets just say, for the sake of argument, that the positive-feedback-loop (nice call), perpetuates to its inevitable conclusion.  Then what?  Capitalism, Socialism, Anarchy, Tribalism, Futilism? 

Reality and ideology are two separate things, and really, what end is it that you desire?  The spiders have been spinning this web for a long time Kimosavi, and its quite large, strong and sticky. If you remove the hegemon from the picture the vacuum would suck the world into abject chaos and anarchy - Iraq everywhere - & hey, maybe a future generation will come out better off for it, but in the mean time, alot of people like life.  So I see little point in bitching about the “masters” because they will always be there in some form or another. 

The current form is about as natural as katsup, and like katsup, its primary ingredient IS natural - man’s will to power will not disappear in the absence of American Capitalism.

I lived in Europe for a time and I must say, I much prefer not having a cap on my earning capacity and potential (but there will always be some kind of cap). And while our government officials are presently working to reverse that ability, I think the capitalist structure is favorable to its corollary so long as there are labor regulations.  So as long as man has the ability and motivation to create, there will be degrees in individual capacities and capabilities. Being rewarded for excellence is appropriate, being that the reward is the ability to live well.  Its called “having hope”. 

Would it be better to have lawlessness, mob rule? Or global communism where the best and brightest have no motivation to help his fellow man through his work? 

The current war is very disturbing to me.  There had to be better alternatives to the judgement that was made.  Alternative energy is just one thought - but that would require completely new infrastructure… Ideally, there would be no war, but there ALWAYS has been.  Maybe a law stating that the king of the world must have a PHD in philosophy?  Plato thought so!  Sorry, since you’re not from America (either Canada. Netherlands or Britain I’d guess) and therefore much smarter than us, please tell me what your ideas are, because as morally wrong as this all is, the alternative could be far worse for everyone.  Be careful what you wish for Kimosavi, cuz it may come true!

“The president of the United States does not have the sense God gave a duck—so it’s up to us.”

Well, it’s unfortunate that a species not as bright as a “bird,” is the Commander-In-Chief—and the kicker, is that with two years left in office, this diminutive brain could still cause a “world of damage.”

The duet of Cheney and Bush is a bit terrifying—two buddies—one is malevolent and the other is incompetent; two adjectives that precisely describe our policy in the Middle East.

good to have you back online, our immediate future will be dependent upon the real will of the people who unfortunately do not depend on these types of sources for their info. the mandate of the dem. congress must include impeachment with the continued fight for basic social programs to reach that still silent and hopefully cognizant enough majority whose support must forever be fought for and maintained.

Oh my God, what a mess. Absolutely no doubt in my mind that this war was solely created to ‘off’ Saddam. A personal family feud between the Bush and Hussein clans. It’s a damn shame that our troops are caught in the middle. Doing their job for their country…fighting a lousy war based on a lie.

How many more civil liberties do we sacrifice. (now they can open our mail too) How many more men, and women do we sacrifice (on both sides). What happens to the children! Who gets to pay the bill. (our kids, my kids!) What a disaster! If Bush isn’t impeachable-than no president ever was or will be. The bad part is, if he was, then guess who’s up to bat. Crap! (Mutually Assured Self Destruction!)

It’s absolutely time for the Democrats to step up and be heard. Do not wait. That’s what the November election message was all about. Don’t DILUTE the message. Make it stick. Accountability!

I absolutely love this country that has given me so much. I want to preserve it’s core values for our children’s sake. The values that existed before this mess began. The message of America has been horribly, dangerously distorted, and this must be fixed. I don’t think we can take another two years of this incompetent insanity.

I am an honorably discharged Navy veteran of the Vietnam war era-and I didn’t like that mess either.

Ron Keller

The media (except for FOX) does not completely ignore the truth about the war and bush but it needs to improve.

There is only thing that needs to be done quickly because nothing else will work—-Millions and Millions of us need to go to our capitol and remove these criminials..MILLIONS&MILLIONS;&MILLIONS;——nothing else will work.

RE: • Comment #45931 by David  on  1/06  at  10:26 am — “The government exists to protect the economy and the economy exists to protect the government.  Its an end in itself.”

& •    Comment #46483 by TAO Walker  on  1/09  at  2:15 pm —“That holds-up, however, only so long as the system’s ‘managers’ can keep it totally isolated from ‘outside’ interference.  Thus the inescapable imperative to go “global” with their neoCONs piracy…the plot was doomed by it’s own internal contradictions before it ever, so to speak, got off the ground…just exactly what kind of “end” it is.”

>>>>>> I’ll weigh in

The New World Oligarchy is exactly that. No loyalties but to the deals they cut from every corner of the globe to perpetuate their agenda of limitless growth and limitless wealth.

David is right when he points to the end of energy hegemony by global financiers implied by the inevitable paradigm shit that new decentralized energy systems imply.

Tao Walker is right when he points to the intrinsic failure of imperialistic adventures by men who can hear nothing of what the earth beneath their every step has to tell them.

As for the end, it looks more and more like a thermonuclear conclusion unless we the people can find the guts to take down these neocon madmen, schooled on the elitism of Leo Strauss and the fascism of Carl Schmitt, and driven by Nietzchien craving for endless war. 911Truth is the only issue sharp enough to pierce their vampire hearts.

Support 911Truth - End War of Terror

HokaHey! It’s a good day to die!

White House control of major Telivision nrtworks stonewalls the truth.  How do you get out to the masses. The democrats remain spineless. How in the world can we stop this madness??????  Two more years just might be to late.

Having just re-read “David” #45710, his latest (#45931) re-statement seems more an attempt to back-pedal from his fairly straight-forward ends-justify-means argument made earlier, and to deflect from “theamericanpeople” much of the onus they deserve for their own studied ignorance, than it is a to-the-point counter to this Indian’s admittedly acerbic observations.  If their ‘tone’ rubbed him wrong…..well, plain-speaking will often have that affect on those grown accustomed to the false comforts of soft-soap.

American’s have for generations been “....lied to on this grand a scale….”  If they aren’t used to it by now it’s most likely because those doing the lying are so good at tailoring their lies to fit the essentially self-righteous self-image so many Americans so slap-happily indulge in.  Wanting now to cry “foul,” as their home-grown privateers at last make clear their intention to subject the “homelanders” to the same exploitative regime and police-state methods that’ve been long practiced and polished “overseas” (with usually broad-based domestic approval), just doesn’t fly here on The Rez.

“David” sums-up his latest comment with a near-perfect description of a positive-feedback-loop, “The government exists to protect the economy and the economy exists to protect the government.”  He suggests that the heterodyne whine of such a politico-economic system is inevitable, and self-perpetuating, given the existing ordained arrangement.  That holds-up, however, only so long as the system’s ‘managers’ can keep it totally isolated from ‘outside’ interference.  Thus the inescapable imperative to go “global” with their neoCONs piracy.

Of course, that is exactly the fatal flaw in their grandiose scheme.  It is being perpetrated in a small ‘corner’ (however supposedly “out-of-the-way”) of a whole Living Universe.  Our wannabe tormentors ultimately have to rope everything and everyone everywhere and forever into the suffocating confines of their own ‘un-dead’ condition.  Yet they can’t even corral us surviving primitive savages here on Turtle Island.  So the plot was doomed by it’s own internal contradictions before it ever, so to speak, got off the ground.

“David” is quite right, in his analysis of ‘the situation,’ when he concludes, “It’s an end in itself.”  Now all he needs to figure out is just exactly what kind of “end” it is.

HokaHey!

It sounds as though George W. Bush believes himself to be God’s personal representative on earth.  If so, the man is certainly mentally ill and needs to be removed from office so that he can receive treatment.

I agree with Molly 99%! What I don’t agree with is her statement that Democrats haven’t come up with a plan… how could she forget Jack Murtha’s phased withdrawal idea so soon?
She is right about one thing, no one in the current admin is going to stop Bush, and no one in office is going to be able to stop him, unless he is physically arrested and put in shackles.

Tao Walker,

Thanks for the lesson, but you can save your patronism & sarcasm.  Regardless, you make valid points that I agree with.  I have never supported this war, this administration, or their agenda.  I never said that “I” think little of people’s capacity for understanding the motives, just that the administration knew that they could not tell the the people their true motivations.  In fact, the reason Bush talks like he’s retarded is because he thinks we’re retarded! And overall, he might be right because it took the country five years to do anything about this administration!

The Republicans who do understand the true reasons for the wars are, I’m sure, perfectly fine with them in principle, because they are the ones who depend on oil for plastics, transoprtation for shipping, etc.  The means justified the end. Their entire bisiness world depends upon oil being afforrdable, and therefore, to our politicians, so does their very existence.  Nevertheless, a large percentage of Bush’s base are not in tune with big business and world economics (let alone politics) and simply would not suport the invasion on those grounds, so they had to trump up this “war on terror” to scare the hell out of them in order to mobilize their support. 

The decision to invade was poor at best and the lack of foresight and consideration of Iraq’s cultural history was arrogance extrordinair (which is, coincidentally the very reasons why Bush’s dad did not attemp to remove Hussein following the Gulf War).  But all I was pointing out were the reasons this debocle began, and the reasons why it won’t end anytime soon.  Republicans are big business thru & thu and money knows no morality.  Maximizing profit is the ONLY maxim and therefore the means DO justify the ends to these people. 

At the moment everything is quite clear, although following 9/11, little of this was to most people, because we’re not accustomed to being lied to on this grand a scale and with consequences being so dire.  Unfortunately, even now, at this stage, many in Bush’s base still believe that the war in Iraq is soley about killing terrorists, and that this has something to do with revenge for 9/11.  The citizenry here was meant to be traumatized by 9/11, and that is exactly what most people were.  The administration knows full well that the majority of their base don’t connect the dots and they took advantage of this to such an extreme that even the cluless are starting to wonder.  So thank you Tao Walker for letting us know that you saw the motive along, but its plain fact that many didn’t and still don’t and will never take the flag away from their face long enough to see that our government for what it is.  Many don’t believe that this war had anything to do with oil at all because we are lied to over and over and over, and moreover people’s patriotism overrides their rationality.  But even fewer people knew or know now that the exigence for the war was a matter of national security.  Afterall, what government is going to passively allow their economy and tax dollars to dry up when something could be done about it?  Means justifying ends?  Give me a break.  The government exists to protect the economy and the economy exists to protect the government.  Its an end in itself.

Hopefully Molly has never attempted to raise boys..I pity the men they would have become.
9-11 happened because Molly’s hero Bill Clinton was to busy using his stones to get off instead of protecting the homeland.  Molly’s continual bashing and thrashing proves that women do verbose three times that of men. Blah, blah, blah.

RE:  “Fake images and claims have been a part of this fiasco from the beginning. We need to cut through all the smoke and mirrors and come up with an exit strategy, forthwith.”

>>>> 911Truth

is the truth that will free us from this nightmare — the only issue strong enough to cut through the “smoke and mirrors.”

Blow back does not work. The “blow back” position supports the regime’s claim: “they hate us for our freedom…” or whatever — doesn’t matter, it’s a myth. Islamofascism is a myth, carefully cultivated for decades from Brzezinszki’s “Grand Chessboard” strategy of supporting Islamic fundamentalism to thwart our rivals in the Middle East, starting with the Soviet Union in the late 70s. The whole program peaked spectacularly on Sept. 11, 2001, with the Mother of all False Flag attacks. Since then they’ve kept everyone scared witless with color alerts, tragic and pathetically phony London and Madrid bombings and the laughable “liquid bomb” hoax; all of course noisily connected to al Queda. Certainly, to be sure, the rogue network orchestrating these events in service to the New World Oligarchy can cue one to be delivered any where any time.

This must end. These neocon madmen, driven by Nietzchien craving for endless war, must be stopped and the only issue sharp enough to pierce the vampire heart of this monster is 911Truth. Molly, please lend your voice.

Support 911Truth - End War of Terror

“Whatever happened to the nation that never tortured?”

Give me a break.  Read some history.  Maybe start by looking up Con Son Island, and Operation Phoenix, two examples from the Vietnam War.  Then read about the Korean War.  In fact, do a little research on every goddamned war this country has involved itself in.

Me and you, Bubba! Let’s all meet in Washington DC on January 27 for the mass demonstration organized to send the message to Congress: Act NOW to End the War!

All the info on the UFPJ web site, including housing board and ride board with buses and vans from across the country: http://www.unitedforpeace.org

Hope to see all my fellow Bubbas there.

Thanks, Molly.

Molly, we need a one-term limit for Congress and the Admin, and a ban on all pacs operating for the benefit of other countries.Our middle east policies are controlled by such, and have been for many years.

David (#45710) sure doesn’t think much of the average person’s capacity to see the obvious.  Try this. 

There is and has been all along at least a gut-level suspicion among “theamericanpeople” that their self-inflicted “addiction” to oil has put them at the mercy of events and circumstances bound at some point to spin out of their control.  So early-on a substantial majority of ‘em were all in-favor of their home-grown privateers’ armed assault on the Iraqi regime sitting atop what are said to be the world’s second biggest reserves.  (They even “volunteered” to provide the “boots-on-the-ground,” on the understanding their sons and daughters were only going to “a cake-walk.”)

There is, however, a long-time tendency in the American character (call it chronic hypocrisy?) not to want to know what is being inflicted on others to prop-up America’s profligate life-style.  Best if the depredations of economic imperialism aren’t brought up at all, but if they’re so blatant they can’t be covered up, then Americans’ refined sensibilities require the piracy be wrapped in the flag, and beribboned with the rhetoric of “liberation” and “democracy.”

Whatever other failings the present crew manning the American corsair-of-state’s quarter-deck might have (and let’s face it, these are legion), they had their constituents’ susceptibilities to self-serving propaganda pegged perfectly.  And they played-on this carefully cultivated (by commercial and congregational interests) flaw in the national character to pull-off their own pet scheme to “go-public” with their crazy plot to rule the world…..tarted-up as “The Project for A New American Century.”

Told at the time the “prize” could be had on-the-cheap, most Americans essentially said “Go for it!”  But even best-laid plans “gang aft agley,” and the haste and sloppiness of this god-spieling gang’s machinations went that way in one hell of a hurry, and in-spades.  Until now things’ve turned so ugly even a people long habituated to armed robbery in their name are becoming a little sick at the sight…..not to mention the trillion-dollar-plus price-tag.

So along comes “David,” in the nick of time, to tell us that Americans’ “need” for “cheap” oil pretty well justifies any means to acquire as much of it as their bloated appetites demand. This will certainly be received as “gospel” by thieves and junkies of every kind.  This Indian can’t help but wonder, though, how happy y’all’ll be one of these days soon when you predators have become the prey.  Wait a minute!  Isn’t your “president” already tapping your ‘phones and reading your mail?

HokaHey!

Read somewhere that Molly was fighting health problems again - seeing her column gives me hope

that she is doing ok - healthwise - our thoughts and hopes are with you, Ms. Ivins

that American has not yet lost one of it’s most powerful voices for populist, pro-America, pro-common sense government

you’re right, Ms. Ivins - WE the PEOPLE have let this happen - who should be so cynical to think Mr Bush and Mr Cheney would take the 9/11 attack and turn it into a tool of partisan, anti-democratic manipulation of government while their wealthy supporters loot the federal treasury through sweetheart non-compete deals?  Yet it has been worse than that.

Why did a private security company (Blackwater) provide security for US Administrator Bremer in Iraq - why weren’t US military troops appropriate?

Why DID Mr. Cheney’s Halliburton Co get a huge contract for services to military without competitive bidding?

Why are we using private mercenaries to implement US government official policy?  Why isn’t the military the sole instrument of violence on behalf of WE the PEOPLE of the UNITED STATES?

Who holds Blackwater and the rest of those mercs to account?

I agree with you, Molly.  STOP IT NOW.  You have an excellent idea; continue writing against the Iraq war until it ends.  This is what the majority of the American people want.  It is time for this government to hear and respect WE THE PEOPLE.  Thank you.

However dishonest the reasons the administration gave the public for going to war were, I have a pretty good hunch that there were in fact good reasons for going to war in Iraq.  I would dare to say the reasons were unconventional and ones that the majorty of the public would simply never understand let alone support. I will venture to say also that those who screamed loudest against going to war had a direct connection to the reasons the invasion was necessary.  I will also guess that France and Russia struck an oil deal with Saddam, which would have driven the price of gasoline to something like $10 a gallon, which would, in effect, cripple our economy.  It was a matter of national security.  Now that things are so out of hand there, we can’t simply leave and hand a radical millitia the mean of production - our means of production!!!  If we allowed the Russian/ French deal to go through, he United States of America would soon resemble a third world country with epidemic poverty and unemployment hovering around something like 60%.  So instead we invaded and siezed control - or are trying to anyway.  This is why the Dems really aren’t calling for immediate withdrawl - their hands are tied and they know the necessity of oil in this endeavour, as we are unequivically the largest consumers of oil on the planet and our very existence as a power depends on it comming cheap.

Sorry, Molly, it’s too late.  He has absolute power.  There is no way to stop him.  Within the next two years the coup will be complete and America will be a dictatorship.  2004 was our only chance and we lost it.  Democracy is no more.

I agree with your passion and applaud your determination, but you wrote: “The Democrats have yet to offer a cohesive plan to get us out of this mess. Of course, it’s not their fault…”  Of course it’s (partly) their fault!  They are almost as complicit in this deadly fiasco as the Republicans!  They put their finger on the pulse of the public’s nationalistic madness that Bush fomented following 9/11, and now act like they only supported the war because they were given faulty information.  “Bush lied to us,” they cried, and are still crying.  Yes, he lied.  But no, they were not deceived.  They simply caved. 

As I said, I’m glad you are writing articles with this emphasis, and I have always appreciated your forthrightness and your humor.  But let’s not kid ourselves about the role of the Democrats in this.  They have (with few exceptions) very little integrity in this matter.  I’m hoping the incoming folks—Democrats and Republicans—who haven’t been so stained by this last 6 years will take on the responsibility of bring the troops home, and bringing this administration to justice (even before 2008).

Molly,
I was worried about you.  We love you and wish you the best.
It’s so good to hear from you again.  Nobody knows the Bush criminal enterprise as well as you. 
This is a frightening time in our republican democracy.  We are morphing into the old Soviet Union.  Let’s hope the DemocratIC Party (enough with the “Democrat Party” stuff, unless you want to be called memebers of the Republic Party) will start to stop the slide towards tyranny.
As of today, at least we have some hope…

As I read the above article I said we need more
Molly Ivin’s then I changed my mind. What we need
is more people with the integrity, and The GUTS
to tell it like Molly. I believe many of our
elected officials need to re-read and state the
Oath’s they took. Most of them claim to be
Christians.    THE OATH
Many officials must take a pledge when they enter
public office. This Oath of office is a promise
to carry out the duties of the office honestly
and faithfully. According to the Constitution of
the United States, the nations president must
take the following oath at inauguration: “I do
solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faith-
fully execute the Office of the President of
the United States, and will to the best of my
Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Con
stitution of the United States.”
All United States officers lower in rank than the president take oaths much like the one
above.
How many elected officials can you think of
have NOT lived up to their Oath? Don’t you
think it’s about time they started?

on January 27, you can send your message to the new Congress, a major march and rally is being held in Washington DC for peace and impeachment.

Welcome back and Happy New Year. People are officially getting madder by the day. I wondered when that would happen. It’s very encouraging. The war in Viet Nam was started by politicians but ended by the people. They took to the streets,half a million alone in DC. Not long after that it was all over. Nothing good has ever been accomplished in this or any other country without people making their feelings heard. It gets a little ugly for a while, but it works. Just look back over the past 100 years. Thank you, ANNA

Let’s take our little groups and unite and then see if main stream media can ignore us.

Lookin4Reason: Been there done that.  There were protests all over the world and the corporate media (no such thing as mainstream media) essentially ignored them by minimizing them.  We need our own media.  There is no getting around this fact.  Please see my post #45562

Stephen Smoliar: The biggest problem with the impeachment process is how much time it takes.

Impeachment will not take place unless there is a “critical mass” of people demanding it.  Unfortunately a critical mass cannot occur unless people are educated, informed and enraged on the issue.  People will not be educated, informed and enraged on the issue unless the media does its job.  And our corporate media will not do its job.  Once again, we need our own media.  There is no getting around this fact.  Please see my post #45562.

TaoWalker: When Condoleeza Rice lied about not meeting with George Tenet on July 10, 2001 and being briefed about an imminent Al_qaeda attack only to admit later that day that the metting took place all alarm bells were ringing.
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/10/03/rice-urgent-threat/

It was plainly clear that at the very least the administration knew an attack was coming an deliberately DID NOTHING to stop it.  Was there any news coverage of this revelation?..Possibly the most important revelation in the history of our country?  NONE!  And you expect the media to report on 9/11 inconsistencies?  I guess I have to repeat what I’ve said now twice.  WE NEED OUR OWN MEDIA!

Where are the leaders who will fix it?  Us, that’s who.  Such an endeavor is called changing the world and it begins with our seeing to it that Congress cuts off all funding for the Iraq war as per legislation already introduced by congressman Dennis Kucinich.  After that we make sure Congress impeaches President George Bush, whereupon he’s sent to the International Court of Criminal Justice, to be tried there for his crimes against humaity.  And after that?  Empire collapses.  And then?  It’ll be up to us.

Welcome back Molly,
You were gone so long. I was afraid they might have had you wearing a black hood on a plane to Syria.

Hope to see you and all your readers in the crowd:

Join CODEPINK and many others in a national march on Washington, D.C., on Saturday, January 27, to call on Congress to take immediate action to bring the troops home.

Keep up the good work.

(re. Comment #2 by Stephen Smoliar)

No, impeachment *does not* have to take a long time. In fact, the salient high crimes do not even have to be investigated and proved—they can be STIPULATED. Because Bush and Cheney have been publicly flagrant about illegal wiretapping, torture, reading personal mail without warrants, suspension of habeus corpus, holding American citizens without charge or trial, etc. These are just flat-out crimes under our constitutional system and nobody’s disputing that they’re going on. N-O-B-O-D-Y.

So, what’s the holdup? Write the bills of impeachment and bring the guy up on charges. He can either say, “No, I’m not doing it,”—in which case, the public record will quickly refute him ... or “I’m doing it, so what?”—in which case, impeach him for high crimes.

What’s so hard about the above? Why does it need to take months? It would be over in weeks. How long did the Clinton impeachment take? C’mon, grow a pair and grow up and let’s do this thing that needs to be done.

We are a country of laws, right? Right?

The Dems intend to hold “oversight” hearings on Iraq.  If they call people to testify, no excuses allowed, put them under oath and then really hold their feet to the fire, there should be some interesting revelations.

Hopefully the issue of private entities filling what are actually military jobs will be first on the committee’s agenda.  Foreinstance, at present there are 100,000 contractors in Iraq, 20,000 military contractors and companies being awarded $300 million contracts.  What are the implications of directly involving the private sector in the business of war?  If the military pulls out, do the contractors have to pull out?  What does contract law say about this possibility?

It may be that “oversight” hearings will reveal a very unsavory underbelly of the Iraq invasion which could end up tipping the scale to pull-out, not tomorrow but yesterday.

Contract law, which I know zilch about,

Welcome back Molly! I missed you.
Thank you again for speaking out plainly and clearly, a most American virtue. Sometimes you are the only antidote to the sick, Alice-In-Wonderland worldview so prevalent today.

If only you could convince even some of your media friends to write with such open passion and conviction, I might even start reading the newspapers again.

I agree somewhat with TAO Walker - we really, really need a spotlight, microscope and spectrum analyzer turned on “9-11” and the whole justification PROCESS; the people most responsible are being quietly spirited away into other posts, vanishing like rats down a sewer…

And, for all you fanatics, please: if you’re going to use the Book of REVELATION to bolster your argument, I really can’t take your argument seriously until you at least learn the correct name for that material ^_^

The biggest problem with the impeachment process is how much time it takes.  Assuming that the process could be executed all the way to a vote in the Senate, it is very likely that the vote will come too late to have much effect (other than giving Cheney enough time to pardon Bush).  Personally, I think that the biggest problem facing the Democrats is to get the Congress (both houses) WORKING again, given the track record they managed to rack up over the last two years.  (See the hyperlink from my name to a blog entry on this subject, which includes a link to the ROLLING STONE cover story in this same topic.)  It is more important for the Democrats to provide the American people with a government that works again than to throw all of their effort behind taking punitive action against an ideologue whose followers will continue to believe in him, regardless of what the punitive action may be.

Right on Molly!!!  It’s time to gather all of our peace groups into one or two, perhaps DC and local for the purpose of opposition.  There are just too many so a protest ends up with a few instead of many.  Remember that there is strength in numbers.  Let’s take our little groups and unite and then see if main stream media can ignore us.  Whether it’s UFPJ or Gold Star Families, we all have the same goals: expose the lies, tell the truth, stop the Iraq war and prevent an attack on Iran, and perhaps prosecution of war profiteering.  The change is in the wind, let’s set the sails.

Every day, we will review some factor we should have gotten right.  Okay Molly,

1. We need a real independent media to present accurate information to the public.  And then present that information in context.

If the media did their job we wouldn’t be in Iraq.  But much of the media is bought out or too scared to challenge Bushco.  If we had a genuine media Bush would’ve been impeached after the Downing Street Memos.  But the media chose not to even cover them.  Just two examples of how the media creates “reality”.  As long as we let them create reality we’re fighting a losing battle.  We also need to restore the Fairness Doctrine.

2. We need voting itegrity.  How did we get to the point where elections have been privatized.  And how did this happen with no media coverage???  If we had honest elections Bush would’ve never gotten into office and we wouldn’t be in this mess.

Every single issue we discuss here flows from these two needs.  Every issue.  Iraq, the deficit, trade imbalance, health care, abortion, energy independence, minimum wage, the military industrial complex etc. etc, COULD ALL BE SOLVED WITH A REAL MEDIA and VOTING INTEGRITY.

Hey George Soros are you out there?  WGN TV is up for sale.  WGN is on every cable provider in the country.  If Mr. Soros bought WGN TV we’d INSTANTLY have a news outlet, WGN NEWS, that is very popular.  We could put a Keith Olberman like anchor on the news and very quickly be able to get our message out to millions.

Molly!

Where have you been? My gosh it’s great to see you’re back!

Now, about that war and all the war-mongers, notably the War-Monger-In-Chief! We know, we all know he has not and probably never will do the right thing. (not to be confused with the “right” thing)

Only one answer ...
CUT OFF FUNDING FOR THE WAR!
If we cant get our new Democrat congress to flex their gonads enough to do THAT, then IMPEACHMENT is the only answer!

Now that they’re caught between a pit and a steam-roller we cant allow them to be persuaded by “political analysts” to do nothing and go down or get mowed down in 2008! This is a decision we have to force them too! 

These guys need to understand the MAJORITY want this war to end!

Molly,

It is a bit hard to imagine what you, me, and Bubba can do when the Executive pen that signs any bill into law can fabricate just about any Signing Statement the President can dream up at the same time.  I would prefer to let “the new system” have at least SOME honeymoon period and see what Nancy and Harry try to do.  It looks as if both of them plan to throw a lot of strength behind oversight and appropriations.  The former may not have much power over the Executive Branch;  but the latter should be able to apply “the power of the purse.”

My own sympathies lie with the final paragraph that Elizabeth Drew wrote in her Hanuary 11 NEW YORK REVIEW article:  “Almost everyone in Washington understands, even if they don’t say it, that there is no real solution to what now seems to be the most disastrous foreign policy decision in American history.  It’s now a matter of how to bring America’s involvement to an end with the fewest bad consequences.  Despite all the studies and reports and amendments, events in Iraq itself will likely define the outcome.”

As a final thought for the faith-based crowd, there should be a hyperlink from my name above to a recent blog entry I composed, proposing some Old Testament thinking about the nature of governance in the Middle East.

Since Mr. Bush believes he must have a “victory”, let’s just declare that we have succeeded.  Our mission was to rid Iraq of WMD’s.  We have now determined there are (were) none, so, “mission accomplished”.  If you want to change the reason to become ridding the world of Saddam, since he is now dead, we can once again declare, “mission accomplished”. If you want to change the reason to giving the gift of democracy, we gave the gift, however, they gave it back, but nonetheless, “mission accomplished”. If you are still hanging on to the notion that we are fighting terrorism, we are not, we are spreading terrorism.  If we are to accomplish the mission of getting a handle on terrorism, we need to first begin by getting out of Iraq.  Call, write and e-mail every member of Congress and tell them you want them to STOP funding this war.  Call, write and e-mail every member of Congress and tell them you want no more troops sent to Iraq and you want the ones who are there brought home.  As many as 75% of our troops in Iraq say they want to come home.  As many as 80% of the Iraqis say they want us to leave.  As many as 70% of Americans believe this war is a mistake.  With these numbers, why are we not pulling back? Mr. Bush believes himself to be the “decider” but if he insists on continuing on this failed path of pursuing a victory which exits only in the windmills of his mind,  Americans must decide to remove Mr. Bush from office.

Hey Molly,
With all they’ve done so far, what makes you think the Neocons will be influenced by our elected representatives in Congress?

Isn’t it time to start thinking about getting out of here? What are we waiting for? Martial law?

Molly,
Dictators don’t need public opinion polls.  They have Fox/Pravda to TELL the public what to think.

They have Blackwater as a private fundamentalist “Christian” army, complete with 20,000 to 30,000 fanatics armed with M-16s to patrol the streets and take the “special” actions the military cannot get away with.

They actively recruit fundie “christian” officers and white supremicists into the military so they will be ready to declare the USA as a “Christian Republic” to end 230 years as a secular democracy.

They have massive financial support from wealthy individuals and corporations that they feed the taxpayers’ money without oversight while decrying “welfare fraud”.  And those wealthy respond by producing propaganda and mounting private attacks on ANYONE who dares question the dictator’s crimes.

And they have LOTS of scapegoats to explain away their continual failures.

The only “Facts” that matter are those the support their weird, sick, whacked-out view of the world.  For all we know, Bush really BELIEVES he needs to start a full WWIII conflagration to bring about Armegeddon and “The Rapture”.  Kill 2 or 3 billion people because some lunatic writing 1700 years ago had an insane vision—Read Revelations: The RAVINGS of St. John the Divine.  There is NONE of the love, understanding and FORGIVENESS that Jesus was supposed to have taught, that flows through the Gospels (and I’m not even a Christian).  Only hellfire and damnation for anyone who isn’t a total zombie to “St.” John’s psychotic schizophrenic vision.

And George W. Bush is a madman who believes this insane fairy tale is “the Truth”.

So why worry about polls when in your paranoid delusions you believe God is whispering directly in your ear?

Keep it up, Molly.  I couldn’t agree with you more. Bush based this war on a tissue of lies, and as the lies fall apart, he will do everything possible to save “face” and protect his “legacy.” And that means the needless deaths of more U.S. troops and Iraqis.  Utterly shameful.

MOLLY!,MOLLY!,MOLLY!!!!!

you are a goddess!, and such a brain, you go girl! i really love reading your stuff, one thing one might add and you have probably already done it, is that the whole cause of our government problems is, campaign contributions, it can all be fixed without those bribes, shovel on some dirt and expose them for what they are. sic’em.

louie

Molly Ivins will be smart to give a close reading to Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War,” if she really intends to conduct the sustained out-of-Iraq-now campaign she describes here.  There she will learn what a crippling mistake it is to cede to your adversary the setting of the terms-of-engagement (as the neocons in all their ideological arrogance and martial ignorance so stupidly did as a favor to Saddam). 

For starters, she’d best stop calling what is going on in Iraq a “war” at all.  It is, in fact, a huge criminal enterprise that has co-opted the U.S. Armed Forces to do much if its bloodier business.  She needs to take a clear-eyed, hard-nosed look at the way her opponents’ forces are arrayed, their stratagems and tactics of-choice, and the peculiarities of their command-and-control arrangements.

For example, she will see that protecting, polishing, and propagating the 9/11 myth is a top priority for everyone with a stake in the project. It is no exaggeration to say the whole thing collapses like the ‘twin towers’ without “the official version” to prop it up.  Sun Tzu would urge a relentless assault on this weakest of pretenses as offering the best chance of ending the the entire privateering operation in the least amount of time.

If Ms. Ivins will focus a steady barrage of fact-based attention on all the obvious holes, glaring discrepancies, and impossible assertions making up the 9/11 myth, she will not only hit its perpetra(i)tors where they are most vulnerable. She will find her own efforts reinforced and amplified by a growing force of knowledgeable experts, and supported by an apparent majority of ordinary Americans who just aren’t ‘buying’ it anymore.

The thrust of Ms. Ivins’ opening salvo here is to remind her readers of some of the misleading representations and outright lies that’ve been cynically trotted out for a frightened and gullible public’s consumption.  She should recognize that all of these ‘lesser’ confabulations are essentially derivative, intended to serve as ‘feints’ and distractions.  If she and others continue to fall for the ruse, to go on swatting at ‘gnats’ while the “BIG LIE” at the center of it all goes unchallenged, they will in all likelihood (and as intended) exhaust their efforts to no avail.

There’s no reason to question Ms. Ivins’ sincerity or doubt her resolve.  Her grasp of what is at stake seems more than adequate.  The consequences (already on grotesque display) of failing to stop the rape of Iraq and the ruin of America, and to arrest its principals, are not merely “unacceptable.”  They may well be unsurvivable.     

At this point there’s nothing to lose by going for the ‘jugular’ that is the 9/11 myth.  Open that up and the rest will follow of necessity.

HokaHey!