BUSH: AN EMBARRASSMENT THE WORLD OVER

(AP) Tourists look at waxed figures of U.S. President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair with a missile during the annual Fallas festival in Valencia, eastern Spain, Friday March 18, 2005. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

CUBAN WOMEN DEMAND AMNESTY FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS


(AP) Laura Pollan (left), leader of the 'Ladies in White,' leads the rest of the group of wives of political prisoners during a march in Havana, Cuba, Friday, March 18, 2005. Nearly 30 wives of political prisoners marched to the headquarters of the government's journalists' union Friday to demand their plight be publicized in Cuba's state-run media, marking the second anniversary of the crackdown that put their spouses behind bars. Sashes say 'amnesty.' (AP Photo/Jorge Rey)

Even Chile is Ahead of the US in Equality at the Polls

In this socially conservative country where domestic violence is common and women earn much less than men, the two top parties have selected female nominees, virtually ensuring that Chile will get its first female head of state.
(AP)



Soledad Alvear, left, and Michelle Bachelet

South Dakota Governor Attacks the Right To Choose

One of the four new laws requires doctors to inform pregnant women, in writing and in person no later than two hours before an abortion, that the procedure ends the lives of humans and terminates the constitutional relationship women have with their fetuses.
(Los Angeles Times)

CIA Chief Defends Outsourcing Torture

Goss steadfastly asserted that this interrogation strategy is an important intelligence tool and is vital for the protection of U.S. civilians and fighting forces.
(AP)

Counting of Provisional Ballots Inconsistent Across the Nation

Two-thirds of the more than 1.6 million provisional ballots cast in last year's presidential election were counted, but there were wide differences from state to state. Alaska counted 97 percent of its provisional votes, Delaware just 6 percent.
(AP)

World Looks At Wolfowitz With A Weary Eye

Following the nomination of the outspoken hawk John Bolton as the next American ambassador to the United Nations, the outlines of a new Bush doctrine are becoming clear: whereas in the first term he used military power to topple Saddam Hussein, in the second term he will use "soft power" to advance American - and western - goals. The targets of this soft campaign are the "multilateral institutions" - the global bodies whose legitimacy in the eyes of the world stands as the sole opposition to the American superpower.(News.Telegraph.UK)

SIGN THE PETITION URGING DELAY TO RESIGN

Click here to sign the petition.

See the "Wage Peace" Movie

Click on the link to view movie.

Sen. Jack Reed Rails Against Bush's Social Security Scheme

For obvious reasons, the President has not mentioned this or other facts that are so critical to the Social Security trust fund. His privatization scheme requires cutting benefits by more than 40 percent, even for those who choose not to invest in privatized accounts.
Those choosing a private account could be hit with an additional ``privatization tax'' of 70 percent or more of the value of their account, which would be deducted from their Social Security benefits upon retirement.

Rahm Emanuel To Lead DCCC's Attack Against Republican Ethics Problems

Bill Burton, a DCCC spokesman, insisted that Ney’s seat is winnable for the Democrats. “We’re not trying to send a message; we’re trying to win every seat. We have a strong Democrat bench out there, including the former Senate minority leader from New Philadelphia, Greg Didinato, and State Rep. John Boccieri from New Middletown.”
(The Hill)

Sign Hillary's Petition to Count Every Vote

Click here to sign the petition.

A Letter from John Kerry: Thanks for Signing the Petition

Dear Friend,

Yesterday, we saw a relentless Republican attack on one of our most treasured natural wonders sneak through the Senate on a 51 to 49 vote. But, we also saw more than 260,000 Americans act in less than 24 hours to add their names to our Citizens' Roll Call in favor of protecting the Arctic Refuge.

It was the first time ever that I or anyone else could stand on the Senate floor and announce that, in a day's time, a quarter of a million Americans had gone online to express their passionate support for a given course of action.

That awesome display of grassroots power rattled our opponents. They even railed against my e-mail message on the Senate floor and entered its text into the Senate record. So, think of it this way. The Republican leaders of the Senate have 51 reasons to celebrate today, but you and I have 260,000 reasons to do the same.
If we keep working together - committed pro-environment Senators and a powerful grassroots movement all pulling in the same direction - we can still stop the plan for drilling in the Arctic from making it the rest of the way through Congress. And we can win the larger battle over two very different visions of America's energy future.

George W. Bush and the Washington Republicans have a plan to sell off our public lands to powerful special interests. As a result of their ruthless drive to undermine America's most beautiful natural treasures, the oil rigs are closer to the Arctic Refuge than they have ever been. But, the Bush administration's own scientists and economists admit that the Republicans' plan will not make us less dependent on foreign oil and will not lower prices at the pump. We have to put America's energy future in the hands of Americans - by inventing our way to real energy independence and having energy sources that create jobs and lower prices.
With your help, we will continue to wholeheartedly resist their special interest-funded partisan agenda. And, if we act with the same energy and determination as we have on this critical Arctic Refuge vote, sooner than later, our power and commitment will carry the day. I know you will be with me every step of the way and I thank you for the passion and energy that you bring to our work together.

Sincerely,
John Kerry

P.S. I told you that more than a quarter of a million people signed our Citizens' Roll Call in the first 24 hours after we launched it. Actually the news is even more impressive. As of this moment, there are over 400,000 signers to our Roll Call, including tens of thousands who signed after the vote to express their determination to keep fighting. Let's keep working.

BUSH CHOSES WOLFOWITZ TO HEAD WORLD BANK

The selection threatened to set off a bitter fight on the World Bank board, which must sign off on Washington's choice, at a time when Bush has said improving trans-Atlantic relations and America's image in the Arab world will be top priorities.
(Reuters)

OUTRAGE: SENATE VOTES TO DRILL IN ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Amid the backdrop of soaring oil and gasoline prices, a sharply divided Senate on Wednesday voted to open the ecologically rich Alaska wildlife refuge to oil drilling, delivering a major energy policy win for President Bush.
(CNN)

Bush Adds Yet More Mercury to Our Already Tainted Water

Western states could see a spike in toxic mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants in coming years under a rule finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday, national environmental groups charged.
(Denver Post)

No Ethical Compass: Republican Congressman Contracted Active Journalist During Campaign

"Clearly, clearly, there are reporters that go back and forth, and there is the potential for conflicts," Engleman said.
(Las Vegas Review-Journal)

The Ethically-Challenged Congressman

Despite GAO Recommendation, Bush Administration Refuses to Pull Fake News Stories

"This is more than a legal issue. It's also an ethical issue and involves important good government principles, namely the need for openness in connection with government activities and expenditures," Walker said. "We should not just be seeking to do what's arguably legal. We should be doing what's right."
(Washington Post)

Biased Sinclair News Strikes Again

Don Hammond, the new Washington bureau chief of Sinclair Broadcast Group's News Central news operation, provoked boos at a March 15 press conference held announcing legislation to prevent oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) when he revived disproved allegations about Sen. John Kerry's (D-MA) military record.
(Media Matters)

The Coalition of the Willing is Crumbling

Italy said Tuesday it will start drawing down its 3,000-strong contingent in Iraq in September, putting a fresh crack in President Bush’s crumbling coalition. Bulgaria also called for a partial withdrawal, and Ukraine welcomed home its first wave of returning troops.
(MSNBC)

HALLIBURTON PROFITS AS US SOLDIERS DIE

Click here to see a chart that shows the parallel between US military casualties in Iraq and Halliburton profits.

Pentagon: Halliburton Overcharged US $108 Million

A Pentagon spokeswoman said an audit released by Democratic congressmen on Monday that questioned $108 million in costs by Halliburton unit Kellogg Brown and Root was conducted to determine whether "fair and reasonable" prices were charged.

"The majority of costs questioned in this audit report are because DCAA (Defense Contract Audit Agency) auditors believe that KBR paid an unreasonable price for the fuel," the spokeswoman said.
(Reuters)

Click here to read about Halliburton's history of ripping off the American people.

SAVE THE ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Click here to sign John Kerry's petition to save the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

A Letter from Howard Dean

Dear Friend,

Sometimes partisan politics gets overheated -- I know that as well as anyone. But when one party controls all three branches of government, and then seeks to change the fundamental principles and rules of our democracy, we need to talk about it soberly and seriously.

The Republican Senate leaders have decided to fundamentally alter the role of Congress -- they want to give George Bush unprecedented power to manipulate the legislative branch and the courts.

Today Harry Reid and the Democratic Senators asked us, the American people, to help them preserve the right of our elected representatives to speak their mind on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

We have to act. Sign this petition, which we will deliver to every U.S. Senator, asking them to protect the right to free speech in the Senate. If they don't, it is not only their voice that will be silenced -- it will be ours:

http://www.democrats.org/freespeech

Here are the facts: George Bush has appointed judges to lifetime positions at a better rate than any president in nearly three decades. More than 95% of his nominees have been approved. Only ten nominees have been refused -- all because they are unqualified and out of the mainstream.

But that's not enough. And on this issue, as on Social Security, it is becoming more and more obvious to everyone that the Republican leadership is out of touch with reality.

More Americans voted against George Bush than any sitting president in history. And that same day, across the country, the Democratic candidates for Senate received over 4 million more votes than Republicans.

Americans did not endorse the fringe agenda to dismantle Social Security. And they did not endorse dismantling the system of checks and balances that have served our country for over 200 years.

Please tell your Senator to stand up for free speech:
http://www.democrats.org/freespeech

This is not a partisan issue -- it is an American issue. And we all must act together in order to protect our democracy.

Thank you.



Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

Greenspan: Bush Budget Deficit "Unsustainable"

"The federal budget is on an unsustainable path in which large deficits result in rising interest rates, and ever-growing interest payments that augment deficits in future years," he said.
(ABC)

PHOTO OFFERS DRAMATIC PROOF OF GLOBAL WARMING

A photo of Mount Kilimanjaro stripped of its snowcap for the first time in 11,000 years will be used as dramatic testimony for action against global warming as ministers from the world's biggest polluters meet on Tuesday.
(Reuters)

David Corn: Bush Rewards Loyalist Without Concern for Country

"What are her Hughes' qualifications for this post? Well, she has been Bush's chief spin doctor since he entered politics. Once a local television reporter, she turned to the dark side. During the 2000 campaign, she actively misled the press about key aspects of Bush's past--most notably, his military service and his drunk-driving conviction. As a White House aide, she used PR tactics, not the truth, to push Bush's reckless policies. Now she'll do the same concerning the United States' image abroad. (If she could sell Bush to the American voters, maybe she can sell dirt as food.)"
(David Corn)

Bush Appoints Hughes to State Dept. Post Despite Lack of Diplomatic Experience

"Declaring the United States “must do better job of engaging the Muslim world,” Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice introduced former presidential adviser Karen Hughes on Monday as the Bush administration’s choice for a State Department post designed to change Islamic perceptions about America."
(MSNBC)

Karen Hughes? To change Islamic perceptions about America? There was no better choice?

Hughes has NO diplomatic experience and is not an expert in Middle East or Islamic affairs.

CASINOS BOUGHT TOM DELAY WITH JUNKET

"House Majority Leader Tom DeLay traveled to Britain with his wife, several aides and lobbyists on a $70,000 junket mostly paid for with money from an Indian tribe and a gambling services company, The Washington Post reported Saturday. Not long after the outing, Rep. DeLay, the second most powerful Republican in the House of Representatives, played a key role in killing gaming-related legislation opposed by the company and tribe."
(AP/Washington Post)

President Clinton Leaves Hospital Feeling Well

"'I'm glad to be home and look forward to getting back to work within the next month or so,' Clinton said in a statement issued by his spokesman, Jim Kennedy."
(AP)

ABC: Afraid of Fox News?

"Fox News may be safe from ABC, but it's taken hits on a network closer to home. "The Simpsons," which airs on corporate sibling Fox TV, has repeatedly poked fun at the news channel. "It's such an easy target the jokes write themselves," "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening once told The Associated Press."
(AP)

RIDGE TRIED TO STRONG-ARM FORMER DHS INSPECTOR GENERAL

"Ridge 'was trying to get me not to give things to Congress and also to try to spin reports in a way most favorable to the department, and I resisted both of those,' former Inspector General Clark Kent Ervin said in an interview."
(AP)

IRAN: US IS "HALLUCINATING"

US officials are either unaware of the substance of the talks or (they are) hallucinating," Sirus Naseri, a senior member of Iran's nuclear negotiating team, told the official IRNA news agency. Iran says it needs atomic technology to generate electricity and will never use it to make bombs, as the United States fears."
(Reuters)

Arnie Taking a Page From Bush's Book of Scams

'I think there's a role for video news releases when they have legitimate purposes of education, but this goes from being an educational tool to a complete scam,'" said Democratic Assemblyman Paul Koretz."
(AP)

PELOSI: BUSH RECORD "DUBIOUS"

"The Bush Administration continues to set records of dubious distinction. With the highest one-month budget deficit and the second highest trade deficit ever, President Bush's place among the most fiscally irresponsible leaders in our history is secure."

(Office of Rep. Nancy Pelosi)

A STATEMENT OF CONSCIENCE AGAINST WAR AND REPRESSION

Zinn: Changing Minds, One at a Time

"Yes, thinking of the young people holding up the pro-Bush signs at the inauguration, there are those who will not be budged by new information. They will be shown the bloodied little girl whose parents have been killed by an American weapon, and find all sorts of reasons to dismiss it: "Accidents happen. . . . This was an aberration. . . . It is an unfortunate price of liberating a nation," and so on.

There is a hard core of people in the United States who will not be moved, whatever facts you present, from their conviction that this nation means only to do good, and almost always does good, in the world, that it is the beacon of liberty and freedom (words used forty-two times in Bush's inauguration speech). But that core is a minority, as is that core of people who carried signs of protest at the inauguration."
(The Progressive)

CIA INFILTRATING COLLEGE CLASSROOMS

"A new test program that is secretly placing CIA agents in American university classrooms for now operates without detection or protest,. With time these students who cannot admit to their true intentions will inevitably pollute and discredit the universities in which they are now enrolled."
(CounterPunch)

Chomsky: Kerry Was Too Far To The Right in 2004

"Presidential candidate John Kerry's platform and program were way to the right of popular opinion on just about every issue in the 2004 U.S. elections. To the extent that anybody could even understand the program, people didn't favor it. People who voted for Kerry are people who were concerned about the economy and about health issues. Do you think those people could tell you what Kerry's health program was or what he was going to do for the economy? I mean, I couldn't tell you. You have to do a research project to figure out what the program was. And it's not that people failed to know it because they're stupid. It's because it was not presented as something comprehensible."
(Infoshop News)

Sen. Obama: Bush's Use of African Americans to Push Social Security Scam "Offensive"

"Obama said he would prefer the president not frame his Social Security argument "in racial terms.'' Obama's strong words may have special significance since he is the only African-American senator."
(Chicago Sun-Times)

Human Rights Observer: Prisoner Abuse Dates Back to 2002

"Unreleased U.S. Army reports detailing the deaths of two Afghan men who were beaten to death by American soldiers show that military prison abuses began in Afghanistan in 2002, and were part of a systematic pattern of mistreatment, a human rights representative said Saturday.

More than two dozen American soldiers face possible criminal prosecution - and one already is charged with manslaughter - in the deaths at the main U.S. detention facility in Bagram, just north of the Afghan capital of Kabul."
(Seattle Post-Intelligencer)