dubyaD40.com - Guest Blog

dubyaD40.com's Guest Blog

Our Primary Oath and our Government
Monday, June 26, 2006

Agnes Kincaid
June 25, 2006

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessing of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."....(Our Preamble)

"We the People," seem to have been left behind during the current administration. There isn't any domestic Tranquility and as far as promoting the general Welfare, securing the Blessing of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity and ordaining anything to the Constitution, we have become failures.

George Washington may have said it best in his farewell address: "The basis of our political system is the right of the people to make and alter their Constitution of Government. But the Constitution, which at any time exists, till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all. The very idea of the power and the right of the people to establish Government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established Government."

I don't remember "We the People," agreeing to amend or to disregard any part of our Constitution, but it has been done without our consent. We still gather round in that damnable circular firing squad arguing over semantics rather than the basis of the situation at hand, and still go without the means to an end that is clearly stated in the Constitution.

Polls support the fact that the people who support the war are the minority rather than the majority and yet we still remain in a country where the "war" was a farce and more of our soldiers are dying each day. If this was a true War, then why wasn't it declared? Because our government knew it was an invasion rather than a defense tactic and their deeds would be apparent sooner than later and they didn't want that. There are soldiers who have come out and refused to participate in this atrocity and they are being called "cowards" but I wonder if these people who make this judgment call would be willing to give their lives for this cause? I don't really think so unless they are given to the perverse enjoyment of other people's suffering.

George Washington and John Adams initially took an oath that swore allegiance to, ironically, King George of England, and later stated in the Declaration of Independence that there are times in which one must break such a pledge: "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government."

Both founding Fathers realized their pledge was to a tyrant rather than to a leader. Thus the birth of a Nation for and by the people, built on blood, sweat, and tears that has become in present day, a mockery of all that it was founded upon. This administration has disregarded its duty to the people and to the Constitution. It has made moot the sacrifice that was given in order to obtain true Freedom and not the mock idea of the travesty offered to Iraq.

Freedom was not given to us, it was fought for, died for, and in the end obtained by the brave and independent people of the New World. The men and women who serve our country need to be brought home immediately so they may begin their lives again and when I say again what that means is that after Iraq, after their sacrifices and the atrocities of war, everything has changed for them. They are no longer the same people who left the United States. PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) is a very real and a very dangerous disorder and living through life and death situations very day will take its toll.

The Enlisted Oath is as follows:, "I,......, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the president of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

Please refer back to the Constitution, George Washington and John Adams. In the current situation were Washington and Adams traitors or Patriots? If that isn't enough then let us refer to scripture as the Right wing is so fond of doing:, Jesus said,"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord." (Matt 5:33) "So help me God" and "Thou shall not Kill" seems to come to mind for me.

Permalink

Crazy Republican Talking Points
Monday, June 19, 2006

Stephen Crockett
June 18, 2006

An array of crazy Republican talking points has been sold by the massive Republican Spin Machine until widely believed by many uninformed citizens. Essentially these political lies can easily be debunked by simple applications of common-sense and logic. Here are a few of examples.

Saddam Hussein was the next Hitler and Iraq the next Nazi Germany. This is a staple Republican talking point used to sell Bush's invasion of Iraq. The claim is repeated on Right-Wing Republican talk shows, in media controlled by partisan Republicans and by hundreds of Republican talking heads.

Iraq was never going to be a threat to world peace on the scale of Nazi Germany under Hitler. The economy of Iraq was and is absolutely tiny compared to the United States. It could never fund a military threat that would seriously challenge the American military.

The United States spends much more each year on our military than the entire value of the Iraq economy by many multiples. Our nation spends 48 percent of the entire world's military expenditures on our armed forces. The next four big defense spenders are Japan, China, France and the United Kingdom at 3 to 4 percent each.

Saddam Hussein was the dictator of a nation with around ten percent of our population. His population was not as skilled, healthy or educated as the American public. His nation was not united behind Saddam Hussein’s leadership like Nazi Germany was under Hitler.

The earliest aggressions by Hussein were met and repelled by military actions by other nations. By the time George W. Bush invaded Iraq, the Iraqi military was no threat to Iraq's neighbors. Internal enemies of Saddam Hussein were growing stronger. Islamic militants were seeking to overthrow Hussein. Kurds were in revolt in northern Iraq. The Shia Muslims were restive in southern Iraq. The Iraqi economy was in shambles. Saddam Hussein was effectively contained and no real threat to America.

A second crazy Republican talking point concerns the outing of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame by highly placed operatives at the Bush White House. The essential lie is that Valerie Plame status as a covert CIA agent was not secret. The claim is that her CIA status was "well-known in Washington cocktail circles."

It is simply not true that Valerie Plame was widely known to be working for the CIA. Even her neighbors and best friends were unaware of her CIA connection. Logically, rumors at cocktail parties of Washington's power elite are not equivalent to intentionally publishing her covert CIA status in major newspapers. The fact is that the White House intentionally leaked her identity, in violation of US law, to politically punish her husband for revealing lies used by the Bush team to push the United States into invading Iraq.

In a third example, the death of al-Zarqawi has been promoted by Republicans as a major blow against the enemies of American occupation in Iraq. It is an easy sale to those without a deep knowledge of al-Zarqawi and his actions in Iraq.

This terrorist was engaged in bloody violent actions that actually undermined the popularity of the Iraqi insurgency among average Iraqis. Iraq is populated largely by Shia Muslims. The terrorist organization of al-Zarqawi was targeting the Shia along with American forces under his leadership.

While nominally aligned with the Bin Laden international organization, al-Zarqawi was attacking Shia leaders against the wishes of Bin Laden and his international movement. The international Bin Laden terrorists want the Shia and Sunni Muslims united in opposition to American interests. The death of al-Zarqawi may eventually result in a more united opposition by both Shia and Sunni Muslim fighters. It seems likely he will be replaced by a more effective terrorist leader. I am glad al-Zarqawi was killed but his death is certainly not a major blow against those opposed to American occupation of Iraq.

All citizens should condemn this kind of intentional disinformation and failed logic. There are hundreds of similar examples of intentional lying and distortion by Republican leaders on the most important issues facing our nation. When citizens hear these kinds of crazy talking points, they should immediately challenge them.

Stephen Crockett is co-host of Democratic Talk Radio and can be reached by email Here

Permalink

TONY SNOW! YOU CAN KISS MY ASS! A NUMBER?!!
Saturday, June 17, 2006

Beth
June 15, 2006

You son of a Bitch.

Here are some more numbers:

May 01, 2006
Marine Lance Cpl. Robert L. Moscillo, 21, of Salem, N.H.; assigned to the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed May 1 while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Anbar province, Iraq.

Army Cpl. Robbie G. Light, 21, of Kingsport, Tenn.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died of injuries sustained May 1 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his M1A2 Abrams tank during combat operations in Baghdad.

May 03, 2006
Army Pfc. Benjamin T. Zieske, 20, of Concord, Calif.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died of injuries sustained May 3, when an improvised explosive device detonated during a dismounted combat patrol in Kirkuk, Iraq.

Army Pfc. Christopher M. Eckhardt, 19, of Phoenix, Ariz.; assigned to the 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died May 3 from a non-combat related cause in Taji, Iraq.

Army Sgt. Joseph E. Proctor, 38, of Indianapolis; assigned to the 638th Battalion (Aviation), Indiana Army National Guard, Shelbyville, Ind.; killed May 3 when a suicide, vehicle-borne, improvised explosive device detonated near his observation post during dismounted combat patrol operations in Tammin, Iraq.

Marine Capt. Brian S. Letendre, 27, of Woodbridge, Va.; assigned to the Marine Forces Reserve's Inspector and Instructor Staff, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Plainville, Conn.; killed May 3 while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Anbar province, Iraq.

May 04, 2006
Marine Sgt. Elisha R. Parker, 21, of Taberg, N.Y.; assigned to the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed May 4, while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Anbar province, Iraq.

Army Staff Sgt. Gavin B. Reinke, 32, of Pueblo, Colo.; assigned to the 5th Engineer Battalion, 1st Engineer Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; killed May 4 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his RG-31 Mine Protected Vehicle during combat operations in Baghdad. Also killed was Spc. Bryan L. Quinton.

Army Spc. Bryan L. Quinton, 24, of Sand Springs, Okla.; assigned to the 5th Engineer Battalion, 1st Engineer Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; killed May 4 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his RG-31 Mine Protected Vehicle during combat operations in Baghdad. Also killed was Staff Sgt. Gavin B. Reinke.

Marine Cpl. Stephen R. Bixler, 20, of Suffield, Conn.; assigned to the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; killed May 4 while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Anbar province, Iraq.

May 05, 2006
Army 1st. Sgt. Carlos N. Saenz, 46, of Las Vegas, Nev.; assigned to the 490th Civil Affairs Battalion, Army Reserve, Abilene, Texas.; attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division; killed May 5 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Baghdad. Also killed were: Spc. Teodoro Torres and Sgt. Nathan J. Vacho.

Army Spc. Teodoro Torres, 29, of Las Vegas, Nev.; assigned to the 490th Civil Affairs Battalion, Army Reserve, Abilene, Texas.; attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division; killed May 5 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Baghdad. Also killed were: 1st. Sgt. Carlos N. Saenz and Sgt. Nathan J. Vacho.

Army Sgt. Nathan J. Vacho, 29, of Janesville, Wis.; assigned to the 489th Civil Affairs Battalion, Army Reserve, Knoxville, Tenn.; attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division; killed May 5 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Baghdad. Also killed were: 1st. Sgt. Carlos N. Saenz and Spc. Teodoro Torres.

Army Lt. Col. Joseph J. Fenty, 41, of Fla.; assigned to the 71st Cavalry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum N.Y.; died May 5 when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter he was traveling on crashed during combat operations east of Abad, Afghanistan, in the Kunar province. Also killed were: Pfc. Brian M. Moquin Jr., Spc. David N. Timmons Jr., Spc. Justin L. O'Donohoe, Sgt. Jeffery S. Wiekamp, Sgt. John C. Griffith, Sgt. Bryan A. Brewster, Staff Sgt. Christopher T. Howick, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher B. Donaldson and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Eric W. Totten.

Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Eric W. Totten, 34, of Texas; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum N.Y.; died May 5 when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter he was traveling on crashed during combat operations east of Abad, Afghanistan, in the Kunar province. Also killed were: Pfc. Brian M. Moquin Jr., Spc. David N. Timmons Jr., Spc. Justin L. O'Donohoe, Sgt. Jeffery S. Wiekamp, Sgt. John C. Griffith, Sgt. Bryan A. Brewster, Staff Sgt. Christopher T. Howick, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher B. Donaldson, and Lt. Col. Joseph J. Fenty.

Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher B. Donaldson, 28, of Ill.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum N.Y.; died May 5 when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter he was traveling on crashed during combat operations east of Abad, Afghanistan, in the Kunar province. Also killed were: Pfc. Brian M. Moquin Jr., Spc. David N. Timmons Jr., Spc. Justin L. O'Donohoe, Sgt. Jeffery S. Wiekamp, Sgt. John C. Griffith, Sgt. Bryan A. Brewster, Staff Sgt. Christopher T. Howick, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Eric W. Totten and Lt. Col. Joseph J. Fenty.

Army Staff Sgt. Christopher T. Howick, 34, of Hamburg, N.Y.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum N.Y.; died May 5 when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter he was traveling on crashed during combat operations east of Abad, Afghanistan, in the Kunar province. Also killed were: Pfc. Brian M. Moquin Jr., Spc. David N. Timmons Jr., Spc. Justin L. O'Donohoe, Sgt. Jeffery S. Wiekamp, Sgt. John C. Griffith, Sgt. Bryan A. Brewster, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher B. Donaldson, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Eric W. Totten and Lt. Col. Joseph J. Fenty.

Army Sgt. Bryan A. Brewster, 24, of Fontana, Calif.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum N.Y.; died May 5 when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter he was traveling on crashed during combat operations east of Abad, Afghanistan, in the Kunar province. Also killed were: Pfc. Brian M. Moquin Jr., Spc. David N. Timmons Jr., Spc. Justin L. O'Donohoe, Sgt. Jeffery S. Wiekamp, Sgt. John C. Griffith, Staff Sgt. Christopher T. Howick, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher B. Donaldson, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Eric W. Totten and Lt. Col. Joseph J. Fenty.

Army Sgt. John C. Griffith, 33, of Las Vegas, Nev.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum N.Y.; died May 5 when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter he was traveling on crashed during combat operations east of Abad, Afghanistan, in the Kunar province. Also killed were: Pfc. Brian M. Moquin Jr., Spc. David N. Timmons Jr., Spc. Justin L. O'Donohoe, Sgt. Jeffery S. Wiekamp, Sgt. Bryan A. Brewster, Staff Sgt. Christopher T. Howick, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher B. Donaldson, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Eric W. Totten and Lt. Col. Joseph J. Fenty.

Army Sgt. Jeffery S. Wiekamp, 23, of Utopia, Texas; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum N.Y.; died May 5 when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter he was traveling on crashed during combat operations east of Abad, Afghanistan, in the Kunar province. Also killed were: Pfc. Brian M. Moquin Jr., Spc. David N. Timmons Jr., Spc. Justin L. O'Donohoe, Sgt. John C. Griffith, Sgt. Bryan A. Brewster, Staff Sgt. Christopher T. Howick, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher B. Donaldson, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Eric W. Totten and Lt. Col. Joseph J. Fenty.

Army Spc. Justin L. O'Donohoe, 27, of San Diego; assigned to the 71st Cavalry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum N.Y.; died May 5 when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter he was traveling on crashed during combat operations east of Abad, Afghanistan, in the Kunar province. Also killed were: Pfc. Brian M. Moquin Jr., Spc. David N. Timmons Jr., Sgt. Jeffery S. Wiekamp, Sgt. John C. Griffith, Sgt. Bryan A. Brewster, Staff Sgt. Christopher T. Howick, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher B. Donaldson, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Eric W. Totten and Lt. Col. Joseph J. Fenty.

Army Spc. David N. Timmons Jr., 23, of Lewisville, N.C.; assigned to the 71st Cavalry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum N.Y.; died May 5 when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter he was traveling on crashed during combat operations east of Abad, Afghanistan, in the Kunar province. Also killed were: Pfc. Brian M. Moquin Jr., Spc. Justin L. O'Donohoe, Sgt. Jeffery S. Wiekamp, Sgt. John C. Griffith, Sgt. Bryan A. Brewster, Staff Sgt. Christopher T. Howick, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher B. Donaldson, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Eric W. Totten and Lt. Col. Joseph J. Fenty.

Army Pfc. Brian M. Moquin Jr., 19, of Worcester, Mass.; assigned to the 71st Cavalry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum N.Y.; died May 5 when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter he was traveling on crashed during combat operations east of Abad, Afghanistan, in the Kunar province. Also killed were: Spc. David N. Timmons Jr., Spc. Justin L. O'Donohoe, Sgt. Jeffery S. Wiekamp, Sgt. John C. Griffith, Sgt. Bryan A. Brewster, Staff Sgt. Christopher T. Howick, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher B. Donaldson, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Eric W. Totten and Lt. Col. Joseph J. Fenty.

Army Pvt. Alva L. Gaylord, 25, of Carrollton, Mo.; assigned to the 110th Engineer Battalion, Missouri Army National Guard, Kansas City, Mo.; died of injuries sustained May 5 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his RG-31 Mine Protected Vehicle during a combat clearing operation in Qasr Ar Riyy, Iraq.

May 06, 2006
Army Staff Sgt. Dale J. Kelly Jr., 48, of Richmond, Maine; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry (Mountain), Maine Army National Guard, Brewer, Maine; killed May 6 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his M1083 cargo truck during combat operations in Diwaniyah, Iraq. Also killed was Staff Sgt. David M. Veverka.

Army Staff Sgt. David M. Veverka, 25, of Jamestown, Pa.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry (Mountain), Maine Army National Guard, Brewer, Maine; killed May 6 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his M1083 cargo truck during combat operations in Diwaniyah, Iraq. Also killed was Staff Sgt. Dale J. Kelly Jr.

Marine Cpl. Cory L. Palmer, 21, of Seaford, Del.; assigned to the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died May 6 at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio of wounds sustained May 1 while conducting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq.

Marine Sgt. Matthew J. Fenton, 24, of Little Ferry, N.J.; assigned to Marine Forces Reserve's Inspector and Instructor Staff, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Fort Devens, Mass.; died May 6 at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., from wounds received April 26 while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Anbar province, Iraq.

Marine Lance Cpl. Leon B. Deraps, 19, of Jamestown, Mo.; assigned to the 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed May 6 while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Anbar province, Iraq.

May 07, 2006
Army Staff Sgt. Emmanuel L. Legaspi, 38, of Las Vegas; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Friedberg, Germany; died of injuries sustained May 7 when his unit came under enemy small arms fire during combat operations in Tal Afar, Iraq.

May 08, 2006
Army Staff Sgt. Gregory A. Wagner, 35, of Mitchell, S.D.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 147th Field Artillery, South Dakota Army National Guard, Yankton, S.D.; died of injuries sustained May 8 when an improvised fire projectile struck his Humvee during combat operation in Baghdad.

May 09, 2006
Army Spc. Aaron P. Latimer, 26, of Ennis, Texas; assigned to the 562nd Engineer Company, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; died May 9 in Mosul, Iraq. The circumstances of his death are being investigated.

May 10, 2006
Marine Sgt. Alessandro Carbonaro, 28, of Bethesda, Md.; assigned to the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died May 10 at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, from wounds received May 1 while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Anbar province, Iraq.

May 11, 2006
Marine Lance Cpl. Jason K. Burnett, 20, of St. Cloud, Fla.; assigned to the 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died May 11 in a vehicle accident in the Anbar province, Iraq. Also killed were Lance Cpl. David J. GramesSanchez, 2nd Lt. Michael L. Licalzi and Cpl. Steve Vahaviolos.

Marine Lance Cpl. David J. Grames Sanchez, 22, of Fort Wayne, Ind.; assigned to the 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died May 11 in a vehicle accident in the Anbar province, Iraq. Also killed were Lance Cpl. Jason K. Burnett, 2nd Lt. Michael L. Licalzi and Cpl. Steve Vahaviolos.

Marine 2nd Lt. Michael L. Licalzi, 24, of Garden City, N.Y.; assigned to the 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died May 11 in a vehicle accident in the Anbar province, Iraq. Also killed were Lance Cpl. Jason K. Burnett, Lance Cpl. David J. GramesSanchez and Cpl. Steve Vahaviolos.

Marine Cpl. Steve Vahaviolos, 21, of Airmont, N.Y.; assigned to the 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died May 11 in a vehicle accident in the Anbar province, Iraq. Also killed were Lance Cpl. Jason K. Burnett, Lance Cpl. David J. GramesSanchez and 2nd Lt. Michael L. Licalzi.

Army Pfc. Eric D. Clark, 22, of Pleasant Prairie, Wis.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.; killed May 11 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat patrol operations in Baghdad. Also killed was Pfc. Stephen P. Snowberger III.

Army Pfc. Stephen P. Snowberger III, 18, of Lopez, Pa.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.; killed May 11 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat patrol operations in Baghdad. Also killed was Pfc. Eric D. Clark.

Army Spc. Armer N. Burkart, 26, of Rockville, Md.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.; died May 11of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat patrol operations in Baghdad.

May 12, 2006
Army Spc. Brandon L. Teeters, 21, of Lafayette, La.; assigned to the 8th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, Fort Hood, Texas; died May 12 in Ludwigshafen, Germany, of injuries sustained April 20 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle during combat operations in Baghdad.

Marine Lance Cpl. Adam C. Conboy, 21, of Philadelphia, Pa.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; killed May 12 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Anbar province, Iraq.

May 13, 2006
Marine Lance Cpl. Richard Z. James, 20, of Seaford, Del.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; killed May 13 while conducting combat operations in the Anbar province, Iraq.

Army Spc. Ronald W. Gebur, 23, of Delavan, Ill.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died May 13 of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Baghdad.

May 14, 2006
Army Maj. Matthew W. Worrel, 34, of Lewisville, Texas; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Fort Campbell, Ky.; killed May 14 when their aircraft was shot down during combat operations in Yusufiyah, Iraq. Also killed was Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jamie D. Weeks.

Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jamie D. Weeks, 47 of Daleville, Ala.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Fort Campbell, Ky.; killed May 14 when their aircraft was shot down during combat operations in Yusufiyah, Iraq. Also killed was Maj. Matthew W. Worrel.

Army Chief Warrant Officer 4, John W. Engeman, 45, of East North Port, N.Y.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 312th Regiment, 30th Enhanced Separate Brigade, Clinton, N.C.; killed May 14 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Baghdad. Also killed was Master Sgt. Robert H. West.

Army Master Sgt. Robert H. West, 37, of Elyria, Ohio; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 312th Regiment, 30th Enhanced Separate Brigade, Clinton, N.C.; killed May 14 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Baghdad. Also killed was Chief Warrant Officer 4, John W. Engeman.

Marine Lance Cpl. Jose S. MarinDominguez Jr., 22, of Liberal, Kan.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; killed May 14 while conducting combat operations in the Anbar province, Iraq. Also killed was Lance Cpl. Hatak Yuka Keyu M. Yearby.

Marine Lance Cpl. Hatak Yuka Keyu M. Yearby, 21, of Overbrook, Okla.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; killed May 14 while conducting combat operations in the Anbar province, Iraq. Also killed was Lance Cpl. Jose S. MarinDominguez Jr.

May 15, 2006
Army Staff Sgt. Marion Flint Jr., 29, of Baltimore, Md.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Fort Carson, Colo.; killed May 15 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat patrol operations in Baghdad. Also killed was Pfc. Grant A. Dampier.

Army Pfc. Grant A. Dampier, 25, of Merrill, Wis.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Fort Carson, Colo.; killed May 15 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat patrol operations in Baghdad. Also killed was Staff Sgt. Marion Flint Jr.

Army Capt. Shane R. Mahaffee, 36, of Alexandria, Va.; assigned to the 489th Civil Affairs Battalion, Army Reserve, Knoxville, Tenn.; died May 15 in Ludwigshafen, Germany, of injuries sustained May 5 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat patrol operations in Hillah, Iraq.

May 16, 2006
Army Staff Sgt. Santiago M. Halsel, 32, of Bowling Green, Ky.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died of injuries sustained May 16 when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was conducting a dismounted clearance mission during combat operations in Baghdad.

May 17, 2006
Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class (Petty Officer 3rd Class) Lee Hamilton Deal, 23, of West Monroe, La.; assigned to 2nd Marine Division Fleet, Marine Force Atlantic, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; operationally assigned to the Regimental Combat Team-5, I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward); killed May 17 as a result of enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.

May 18, 2006
Army Lt. Col. Daniel E. Holland, 43, of San Antonio; assigned to the 352nd Civil Affairs Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died May 18 of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Baghdad. Also killed were 1st. Lt. Robert A. Seidel III, Sgt. Lonnie C. Allen Jr. and Pfc. Nicholas R. Cournoyer.

Army 1st. Lt. Robert A. Seidel III, 23, of Gettysburg, Pa.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died May 18 of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Baghdad. Also killed were Lt. Col. Daniel E. Holland, Sgt. Lonnie C. Allen Jr. and Pfc. Nicholas R. Cournoyer.

Army Sgt. Lonnie C. Allen Jr., 26, of Bellevue, Neb.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died May 18 of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Baghdad. Also killed were Lt. Col. Daniel E. Holland, 1st. Lt. Robert A. Seidel III and Pfc. Nicholas R. Cournoyer.

Army Pfc. Nicholas R. Cournoyer, 25, of Gilmanton, N.H.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died May 18 of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Baghdad. Also killed were Lt. Col. Daniel E. Holland, 1st. Lt. Robert A. Seidel III and Sgt. Lonnie C. Allen Jr.

Marine Cpl. William B. Fulks, 23, of Culloden, W.Va.; assigned to the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died May 18, at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, from wounds sustained May 1 while conducting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq.

May 19, 2006
Army Staff Sgt. Christian Longsworth, 26, of Newark, N.J.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died May 19 from wounds sustained when his convoy came under enemy small arms fire during combat operations in the Oruzgan province, Afghanistan.

May 21, 2006
Marine Lance Cpl. Benito A. Ramirez, 21, of Edinburg, Texas; assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed May 21 while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Anbar province, Iraq.

May 22, 2006
Marine Sgt. David R. Christoff, 25, of Rossford, Ohio; assigned to 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; died May 22 from wounds sustained while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Anbar province, Iraq. Also killed was Lance Cpl. William J. Leusink.

Marine Lance Cpl. William J. Leusink, 21, of Maurice, Iowa; assigned to 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; died May 22 from wounds sustained while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Anbar province, Iraq. Also killed was Sgt. David R. Christoff.

May 23, 2006
Army Spc. Michael L. Hermanson, 21, of Fargo, N.D.; assigned to the 164th Engineer Battalion, North Dakota Army National Guard, Minot, N.D.; died May 23 of injuries sustained when his RG-31 Mine Protected Vehicle came under improvised explosive device, rocket propel grenade and enemy small arms fire while on a route-clearing mission during combat operations in Abayachi, Iraq.

Marine Pfc. Steven W. Freund, 20, of Pittsburgh; assigned to 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed May 23 while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Anbar province, Iraq. Also killed was Lance Cpl. Robert G. Posivio III.

Marine Lance Cpl. Robert G. Posivio III, 22, of Sherburn, Minn.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed May 23 while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Anbar province, Iraq. Also killed was Pfc. Steven W. Freund.

May 25, 2006
Army Capt. Douglas A. Dicenzo, 30, of Plymouth, N.H.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry, 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany; killed May 25 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Baghdad. Also killed was Spc. Robert E. Blair.

Army Spc. Robert E. Blair, 22, of Ocala, Fla.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry, 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany; killed May 25 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Baghdad. Also killed was Capt. Douglas A. Dicenzo.

Army Pfc. Caleb A. Lufkin, 24, of Knoxville, Ill.; assigned to the 5th Engineer Battalion, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; died May 25 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., of injuries sustained May 4 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his RG-31 mine protected vehicle during combat operations in Baghdad.

May 26, 2006
Marine Lance Cpl. Kevin A. Lucas, 20, of Greensboro, N.C.; assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; killed May 26 while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Anbar province, Iraq.

May 27, 2006
Army Spc. J. Adan Garcia, 20, of Irving, Texas; assigned to the 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died May 27 in the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., of injuries sustained May 22 when his convoy encountered small arms fire in Baghdad, after returning from an explosive ordnance mission.

May 29, 2006
Army Spc. Jeremy M. Loveless, 25, of Estacada, Ore.; assigned to the Army's 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; killed May 29 when his Stryker came under enemy small arms fire during combat operations in Mosul, Iraq.

Army Capt. James A. Funkhouser, 35, of Katy, Texas; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died May 29 of injuries sustained when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during reconnaissance patrol operations in Baghdad.

May 30, 2006
Marine Cpl. Richard A. Bennett, 25, of Girard, Kan.; assigned to Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron-169, Marine Aircraft Group-39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died May 30 following a non-hostile helicopter accident May 27 near Taqaddum, Iraq. Also killed was Capt. Nathanael J. Doring.

Marine Capt. Nathanael J. Doring, 31, of Apple Valley, Minn.; assigned to Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron-169, Marine Aircraft Group-39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died May 30 following a non-hostile helicopter accident May 27 near Taqaddum, Iraq. Also killed was Cpl. Richard A. Bennett.

Army Spc. Bobby R. West, 23, of Beebe, Ark.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died May 30 of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated during dismounted patrol operations in Baghdad.

May 31, 2006
Army Spc. Brock L. Bucklin, 28, of Grand Rapids, Mich.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died May 31 of a non-combat related cause in Balad, Iraq.

Army Sgt. Benjamin E. Mejia, 25, of Salem, Mass.; assigned to the 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; died May 31 of non-combat related causes in Marez, Iraq.

Army Cpl. Alexander J. Kolasa, 22, of White Lake, Mich.; assigned to the 704th Main Support Battalion, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died May 31 of non-combat related causes in Baghdad.

There you go, Tony. There is part of that Number. That is just for May.

FUCKER!

BETH

Permalink

Fighting The Democratic No Ideas Myth
Monday, June 12, 2006

Stephen Crockett
Jun 12, 2006

The key to huge Democratic gains in the 2006 and 2008 elections is debunking the prevalent political myth that Democrats have not advanced a program of new ideas to solve our pressing problems and only criticize Republican policies. This myth is a recurring talking point for Republican politicians. It has been echoed unjustly by the Corporate Mainstream Media until many voters believe the myth.

The tight institutional control over debates and the introduction of alternative Democratic legislative proposals to Republican measures in the Senate and Congress have made it difficult to publicize Democratic ideas. The Republican policy of freezing out Democratic legislators from policy debate is intentional and undermines both democracy and effective government. It is useful to Republicans in terms of electoral politics. It is the core element used to create and advance the "Democratic no ideas myth."

The Corporate Mainstream Media has not been reporting on events and proposals advanced by Democrats because the Republican dominance of all branches of the government makes these Democratic ideas unlikely to become law until Democrats gain control of Congress. This media failure is unjustified. Actions and policies by opposition Parties out of power should be covered fully by print and broadcast journalists. The ideas exist but are not being reported by journalists.

Many of these journalists are spreading the "Democratic no ideas myth" because they failed to do their jobs as reporters by reporting the real truth. One of the best examples of this media failure was the Alternative State of the Union Address event and program put forward by the Democratic Progressive Caucus in January. The event was held at the Democratic National Committee. This organization of over 60 Democratic members of Congress presented a complete platform of progressive Democratic ideas and proposals on dozens of important policy issues. Many of these ideas were published in a special edition of the liberal magazine, The Nation which was one of the sponsors. It was ignored by all the major TV networks, cable news, newspaper chains and largest news magazines. The event and the ideas presented did not exist for most American voters because they were ignored by these journalists.

Democrats cannot schedule official public hearings by Congressional committees. Republicans control those Congressional committees and will not permit Democrats to examine Republican scandals, abuses or policy failures. Democrats like Congressman Conyers sometimes schedule more or less unofficial hearings. These hearings get very little coverage by the Corporate Mainstream Media.

Democrats running for public office should condemn the "Democratic no ideas myth." They should criticize the role of the media in creating and spreading this myth. All campaigns should issue press releases presenting their new ideas and discuss the media coverage of those ideas when the media fails to cover them. Democratic writers should tackle the myth directly issue by issue and submit their writings widely. We need to use the Internet, flyers and call-in shows to present the real facts.

Stephen Crockett is the co-host of Democratic Talk Radio
He can be reached at midsouthcm@aol.com

Permalink

9-11 Should Not Have Changed Everything!
Thursday, June 1, 2006

by: Stephen Crockett
May 31, 2006

In the aftermath of the 9-11 terrorist attacks, it became accepted politically that everything had changed in America. The idea was always simply nonsense. The Bush Republican machine used the public hysteria to sell a broad array of pro-Corporatist and anti-civil liberties measures.

The terrorists were never going to destroy America or American political conditions by acts of terrorism. The assault on American institutions and traditions were only going to be successful if they were launched by strong elements of the American political spectrum. Our nation was unfortunate to have the Bush Republicans in power during the 9-11 attacks.

The 9-11 attacks were successfully executed largely as a result of incompetence by the Bush Administration. The outrage expressed by the Republican establishment and their Fox News allies during the 2004 Presidential Election concerning Michael Moore's movie, Fahrenheit 9-11, was based on fear of facts. There was great fear that the American public would discover that political and policy failures by this Republican Administration. They could be documented unless the documents were hidden from public view.

The cult of government and corporate secrecy that surrounds Republican rule was sold on the basis of National Security. The doctrine has been used to conceal and justify a broad array of corruption and oppressive measures. The secrecy cult has not extended to the behavior, activities or privacy of individual citizens.

Big Brother government spying on average citizens has long been a fear of traditional conservatives but not by the Corporatists of the current Republican Right. These Bush Republican Corporatists want government behavior protected from the constraints of both law and public opinion. They want hide their corruption and abuses from the citizenry. This change is a serious threat to what America should be about.... true responsive and representative government.

Traditionally, Americans have rallied to the traditions of our Founding Fathers when faced by serious national challenges. We stood by our Constitution and Bill of Rights during World War II. The current conflict, with the forces of Bin Laden, is certainly not as serious as the worldwide war with the Nazi-Fascist-Japanese Axis.

The 9-11 terrorist attacks hurt us emotionally as a nation but were not seriously going to destroy our nation even if repeated over and over again. We are a much stronger nation than most Republican politicians want to admit. The 9-11 attacks were tiny when compared to our vast resources. We are by far the strongest military power ever seen on this planet. Our population is around 300 million and growing. We dominate an entire Continent and more.

Our economy is huge. Only the largest corporations can adversely damage our economic health as a nation. It is unfortunate that the 9-11 attacks did not focus on the damage that these corporations are doing to the interests of our American nation with the active support of Bush Republicanism. They are undermining the national security of our nation by exporting our manufacturing base and creating foreign enemies for the American nation.

It is time to use some logic politically. Use your votes to restore common sense. We need to open the actions of government to public view. We need to restrain excessive Corporate power. We need to restore individual liberties to our citizens. We need to secure the established traditions of our nation and rely on the teachings of our Founding Fathers. We need to admit that the 9-11 attacks should not have changed us in fundamental ways as Americans... because America is stronger than the terrorist threat!

Written by Stephen Crockett (co-host of Democratic Talk Radio http://www.DemocraticTalkRadio.com ).
Email: midsouthcm@aol.com

Permalink