A few notorious neocons have created a new organization called The Foreign Policy Initiative. They are promoting US involvement in the world. Spreading freedom. The board: Bill Kristol, Robert Kagan. Far as I can tell these guys are advocating for the military industrial complex and their pocket books.
( we definitely need to keep an eye on themCollapse )

I keep noticing these frowns in the news. When the lips are turned in just a little bit, the person is only moderately bothered. When a person's lips are stretched wide and folded inward until you can't see the lips at all, they are extremely troubled and insecure. This tight grimace with no lip visible and the edges turned down is the ultimate sign of disgrace. These facial expressions are universal because they are controlled by the limbic system. Monkeys make the same faces for the same reasons.


note: too bad the pix don't stay up, huh? I just deleted some image links that were defunct but more will become so over time. June 2010

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http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/11/17-1
Everybody wants a pardon.
Bush already pre-pardoned himself for all his past, present and future crimes back in the Spring of 2008.

Today is seven years after the event which has become known simply as 9/11. I can't deny that this event has had an impact in my life. It was when I realized that that those in power are entirely corrupt, and that we the people do not get much that could be considered factual news. I personally was able to avoid seeing television footage of the event for a couple of years afterward. I did not want to know. I tried to avoid it. But eventually it was in front of me, and what I saw caused me to question everything that I had been told, everything that I had read.
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Since Suzanne left I've had house guests and a lot going on besides school. There was a test today in Organ Systems that probably dropped my average but not enough to worry about passing. My last houseguest is leaving this evening. It was nice to have friends around for a few days, and it will be nice to just focus on school until the end of the quarter.
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At least, that's what it sounds like from these emails I get from "The Pen". Why don't I hear about Impeachment from any of my other sources? You may recall that a while ago I was griping because Nancy Pelosi said "Impeachment is off the table" and proceded to work on everything but that. She is the speaker of the house, and as such, if both Bush and Cheney were impeached, she would be president. Nobody seems to want to talk about that possibility, least of all her.
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I've been blaming our situation on a complacent and comfortable populace. As long as we are fat and happy, we aren't likely to start a revolution. But this editorial (behind cut) proposes that there is an inherent weakness and timidity among liberals---an unwillingness to grasp power and use it.

I think they're right, but I don't understand. Why are liberals like this? What is wrong with wielding power?

Pelosi's statement that impeachment is off the table is a prime example of someone who is in a position of power but doesn't want to appear to want the power. She should be saying "Look out guys, we'll remove you and I'll take over if you don't start flying right". It is exactly her responsbility as Speaker of the House to take that power if needed. I pick on Pelosi but we have an entire congress of wimpy representatives who would rather say "bad boy" than to take the stick away from the bullies and use it themselves to enforce proper behavior.

Even the timid and the shy can break out of old habits and become outspoken proponents of truth. Each of us so-called Americans who do not actively participate in guiding our representatives needs to break out and take action too. My pen is greased: lots of congressmen and senators are hearing from me. It's time for all of us to take our responsibility to this nation seriously.

Democracy requires an educated and involved populace, or it will fall. Ours is making whistling noises, it's falling so fast.

( Read the Editorial from Buzzflash about How and Why the Democrats Are WeakCollapse )

Check this 2003 writing out, it's good:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul110.html

Here's his general summary of what neocons believe:

They agree with Trotsky on permanent revolution, violent as well as intellectual.

They are for redrawing the map of the Middle East and are willing to use force to do so.

They believe in preemptive war to achieve desired ends.

They accept the notion that the ends justify the means – that hard-ball politics is a moral necessity.

They express no opposition to the welfare state.

They are not bashful about an American empire; instead they strongly endorse it.

They believe lying is necessary for the state to survive.

They believe a powerful federal government is a benefit.

They believe pertinent facts about how a society should be run should be held by the elite and withheld from those who do not have the courage to deal with it.

They believe neutrality in foreign affairs is ill-advised.

They hold Leo Strauss in high esteem.

They believe imperialism, if progressive in nature, is appropriate. Using American might to force American ideals on others is acceptable. Force should
not be limited to the defense of our country.

9-11 resulted from the lack of foreign entanglements, not from too many.

They dislike and despise libertarians (therefore, the same applies to all strict constitutionalists.)

They endorse attacks on civil liberties, such as those found in the Patriot Act, as being necessary.

They unconditionally support Israel and have a close alliance with the Likud Party.

You used to be a man of morals. You had heart, soul, and intelligence! But something happened. Did politics get to you? Too much money, too much power...you were not strong enough to stick to your true values. You are MY Senator, and I no longer respect you. But I think that somewhere in you there is still a spark of integrity, and it is to that spark that I speak.
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