Democratic Debate Yields Clear Winner

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

The first democratic presidential debate was like watching a beauty contest, or perhaps choosing a scoop of ice cream. So many choices, all a little different, but all perfectly splendid by any account. I came away from the debate last night feeling refreshed, and even optimistic. I know who the winner was… America.


B. Thomas Cooper

We actually have choices that don’t include excepting the status quo, code words for neo-conservative extremism. We don’t have to keep financing a bad war. You want my opinion? Don’t give George W. Bush another dime for Iraq. If so agreed, I would however be willing to give him enough money to purchase a rope to hang himself with. Maybe justice would indeed prevail when his head pops off and his body slumps to the dirty floor. I don’t believe in capital punishment, but I’d make exceptions for George W. Bush and his cronies. They have caused the deaths of a thousand Columbines.

At any rate, this being the worst administration in US history, it stands to reason that anyone other than the current occupant of the White House can only be a vast improvement. McCain not withstanding, of course. The election is still far too distant to begin with the predictions, but we all have good reason to get a little giddy about the eventual outcome. The heart and soul of America is about to change hands, whether George W. Bush likes it or not.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

Gonzo Gets Peppered

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

Gonzo Gets Peppered

US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales maintains he has done nothing wrong, and he said so again today in front of an obviously skeptical Senate committee investigating the dismissal of eight US attorneys.

The hearing resulted in some rather heated exchanges, most notably between Gonzales and Republican Arlen Specter, who peppered Gonzo with all the precision of a prizefighter. Gonzo seems stunned by the early onslaught, and spends much of the first round back-peddling. As the bell rings, ending the round, Gonzales is languishing against the ropes, with Specter maintaining the pressure. I give the round to Specter, 10-8.

Gonzales recovers somewhat during the following round, only to take several more hard shots to the head, leaving his legs wobbly and his eyes glazed. Gonzo had claimed he trained rigorously in preparation for this showdown, but he is clearly outmatched. Indeed, it appears Gonzales should have spent more time sparring, and less time running.

This drubbing will only serve to kindle growing doubts about Mr. Gonzales.
Perhaps it is time for Gonzo to heed the calls to throw in the towel, and call it a day before he suffers any further irreversible damage.

I really have no idea what the Attorney General is hiding, if anything at all.
I do know he behaves oddly when his conduct is scrutinized. Has he actually done anything wrong? Who’s to say, I guess. No-one really knows for sure, except Mr. Gonzales himself, and perhaps Carl Rove’s hairdresser.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

Confronting the Violent Truth

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

Early Monday morning, an emotionally disturbed student brandishing two handguns methodically shot and killed thirty-two of his fellow students at Virginia Tech before turning one of the guns on himself. It is believed to be the worst shooting spree in US history, and president George W. Bush expressed deep sadness.

Meanwhile in Baghdad…
On Wednesday, four separate car bombs detonated throughout the city, killing at least 190 persons, and injuring dozens more. George had no comment.

However, it was the same George W. Bush who recently claimed violence was decreasing throughout Baghdad, further suggesting the drop in violence was the result of his so called “troop surge”.

What Bush doesn’t mention is the fact that prior to the invasion of Iraq, Baghdad had a lower violent crime rate than Washington DC, our nations capital, and a stones throw from Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech.
A nation mourns the loss of thirty-two promising lives. Make that thirty-three. The flag of our nation has been lowered in their honor. We are grief stricken.

Baghdad.
Citizens clean up after a day in which 190 persons died violently in the streets. This particular day was unusually deadly for Iraqis. The average daily death count in Baghdad is around one hundred. But 190 in one day? Why, that’s nearly six times the single worst shooting massacre in US history.

Forgive me, as it is not my intent to marginalize the loss suffered by so many as a result of the Virginia Tech massacre. It was a terrible event, and it has effected every American.

But how can we still be clinging to the notion that we have somehow improved the quality of life for the average Iraqi?

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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US Marines Slaughter Civilians During Shooting Rampage

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

Afghan human rights groups are denouncing the conduct of US marines following the indiscriminate, cold-blooded massacre of innocent civilians along a 10-mile stretch of highway in Nangahar province. The dead include a one year old boy, a four year old girl and three women.

In a newly released report, the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission states:

"In failing to distinguish between civilians and legitimate military targets the U.S. Marines Corps Special Forces employed indiscriminate force. Their actions thus constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law standards."

The commission based its report on interviews with victims and their families, witnesses, local community leaders, hospital officials and police.

Additionally, a U.S. military commander has determined the Marines may indeed have used excessive force and has referred the case for possible criminal inquiry, according to a senior U.S. defense official.

The rampage resulted in 12 deaths and another 35 injured. The marines involved apparently snapped after a van rigged with explosives crashed into their convoy.

War is for the very stupid.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

The Troubled Presidency of George W. Bush

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

The troubled presidency of George W. Bush will expire in January of 2009. He will not be returning.

His legacy will be that of an ignorant and dangerously self centered warmonger who brought shame and disgrace upon this once great nation of ours. It will take decades to undo the damage. Only an absolute fool would continue to support or defend the transgressions of this administration. It is a terrible, terrible thing George W. Bush has done to America.

The next president, whether Democrat or Republican, male or female, black or white, will face the extraordinary task of salvaging our nation. The current administration began with a surplus, but has driven the federal government to the very brink of bankruptcy. Our military is on the verge of collapse. Our soldiers are languishing in a quagmire both at home and on the battle front.

The so called “surge” has proven to be nothing more than replacement troops for the ever shrinking “coalition of the willing”. Apparently, their ‘will’ to participate in an unjust war has vanished, leaving the US to go it virtually alone. Failure in Iraq is not an option… it’s a fact.

George W. Bush is akin to a malignant tumor that needs to be removed sooner rather than later, and impeachment is still an option. Unfortunately, like any cancer, the very real fear is that it may already be too late. The cancer that is the Bush administration may have already destroyed the host…
The United States of America

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

God Bless You, Kurt Vonnegut

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

"Many years ago, I was so innocent I still considered it possible that we could become the humane and reasonable America so many members of my generation used to dream of. We dreamed of such an America during the Great Depression, when there were no jobs. And then we fought and often died for that dream during the Second World War, when there was no peace.

But I know now that there is not a chance in hell of America’s becoming humane and reasonable. Because power corrupts us, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Human beings are chimpanzees who get crazy drunk on power. By saying that our leaders are power-drunk chimpanzees, am I in danger of wrecking the morale of our soldiers fighting and dying in the Middle East? Their morale, like so many bodies, is already shot to pieces. They are being treated, as I never was, like toys a rich kid got for Christmas".

Kurt Vonnegut
1922 - 2007

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

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Team Bush Falsified Iraq Evidence

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

It is now official, and officially documented.
George W. Bush and his cronies willfully manipulated evidence prior to the invasion of Iraq, with the intent of frightening Americans into supporting the invasion.

On Thursday, a 121 page report by the Pentagon’s acting Inspector General Thomas F. Gimble was released in full by Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who accompanied the release with a statement of his own, in part, stating: "It is important for the public to see why the Pentagon's Inspector General concluded that Secretary Feith's office 'developed, produced and then disseminated alternative intelligence assessments on the Iraq and al-Qaeda relationship,' which included 'conclusions that were inconsistent with the consensus of the Intelligence Community.' "

So much for plausible denial.

They knew damn well what they were up to. With most Americans still reeling from the September 11th attacks, the administration employed a few terror tactics of their own, frightening the US populace into submission. No
patriotic American would dare question the rhetoric. It just wouldn’t have been prudent.



Anyone who did so was demonized, ridiculed, marginalized, and cast aside.
The mantra was deafening, but dumb. We need to fight them there before they can bring it back here, etc. We can’t wait for the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud.

Shoot now, let God sort ‘em out…
And indeed, we did just that.

The invasion went on as planned. No-one gave a damn that it was in clear violation of US and international law. Few acknowledged the glaring discrepancies. Bush wanted war at any cost.

At any cost.

Bush wanted war so bad he could taste it. He wanted war so bad he was willing to lie to about it, over and over again. He would not take no for an answer. Obviously, Mr. Bush got what he wanted.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

Bush Backs Gonzales

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

George W. Bush says attorney general Alberto Gonzales is an honest man,
but he has yet to produce any evidence supporting his claims. After all, who is Bush to talk?

Let’s not be foolish with the facts. It just wouldn’t be prudent. This is the same George W. Bush who lied about wmd, yellowcake, mobile chem labs, etc. Only an absolute fool would believe he is now somehow compelled to tell the truth. Bush is not an honest man. Oh, and neither is that ambulance chaser he appointed attorney general. Birds of a feather, so to speak.

It’s tragic, really. How many times have we caught these scumbags lying about one thing or another? On the other hand, how many times have we caught either of them telling the truth? Do the math, you shouldn’t need a calculator for this one.

The answer is obvious. Only an absolute fool would continue to support George Bush at this juncture. He and his cronies have done more damage to this formerly great country of ours than bin Laden and Saddam Hussein combined. The US is morally and financially bankrupt. Our glory days are behind us.

Are you ready to impeach the son of a bitch? You better be…
Unless you are looking forward to another twenty-one months of downward spiral. If you think things are bad now, just keep doing nothing about it. Trust me on this one. If we don’t act soon, the situation will get far worse, and that, I’m afraid, is the honest to God truth.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo