Third Party & Independents:

The real chill wind thru the Senate today

It's not the endless speeches from the Democrats claiming how horrible it is we are divided and that the Alito confirmation vote has become so partisan. It's not the endless speeches from the Repubicans claiming how horrible it is that we are divided and that the Alito confirmation vote has become so partisan. It's a much deeper chill that is coming from the Senate.

US Government vs. Google

The US federal government has requested that Google, Yahoo!, America Online, and Microsoft hand over millions of random search results in preparation for the defense of the 1998 Child Online Protection Act. This act is being challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union, who argues that websites cannot realistically comply with the law and that the law violates freedom of speech.

Will The U.S. Army Survive The Bush Presidency?

I wondered how long it would take before a report like this hit the streets. Of course it will make few waves in the ocean of the American publics' opinion of the war, or their attention span. There will be no public outcry, nor demonstrations on the streets of campuses of our nation; everyone is too preoccupied with themselves to care about the nations soldiers.

Immature Dissent On Display

Georgetown University Law Center recently hosted a speech by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in which he defended the controversial NSA wiretapping of American citizen's phone calls with Al Qaeda members. The actual speech and the panel debate that followed were considered and informative. They gave an encouraging impression of Georgetown's commitment to discussing difficult issues in a mature, thoughtful manner. In stark contrast, the student protest during the Gonzales speech was an immature intellectual spasm that did nothing more than embarrass the Georgetown Law student body on a national stage.

Washington needs a good flush !

The stink over Washington D.C. is rising so high, jets flying over it at 35,000 feet will have to drop the oxygen masks for their passengers. It just keeps getting worse. There seems to be no end of wasted tax dollars, gross negligence in oversight responsibilities, bribes for legislation, and the pursuit of doubling our national debt to $10 trillion dollars and more. But my representatives are not responsible for this.

Valuing the lives of Non-Americans

It's something we should do as a matter of principle, yet do we? Or do we as Americans seem to believe only our lives are worth defending? Thousands are protesting in Pakistan over what appears to be another failed attempt to kill Ayman Zawahiri in which between 13 to 18 people died, some of them children. Even if it is proven that the Musharraf administration knew or gave permission for the bombing what does this "the ends justify the means" thought process create?

Putting Congress On Notice

Following is an email I sent to my Senators Hutchison and Cornyn, and Representative Henry Bonilla. I borrowed a theme designed by Common Cause and crafted the following Notice to Congress. Given that the margins of victory in many states in the Nov. elections will be merely thousands of votes, wouldn't it be something if Congresspersons received a few million of these type messages.

We're In Trouble

With a capital T; that rhymes with P; that stands for Police State. Recently our congresscritters and president decided to beef up and update the laws regarding violence against women, including harassment and stalking. Of course, they added in a few additional riders that had little or nothing to do with the purpose of the bill (new ATF and Postal Service rules are included). However, under section 113 under the heading 'Preventing Cyberstalking' is an unfortunately worded new law that could get many of us on the internet thrown in jail for doing nothing more than what I am doing right now.

Are We Ready to Deal with Iran?

Yesterday, Tehran announced that UN inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will arrive as early as Monday to break seals on Iran's nuclear research facilities and to supervise Iran's resumption of nuclear research and testing. Iran has claimed that the work on nuclear research will be focused on civilian and non-military activities. The United States and others have voiced concerns about Iran's attempts to develop nuclear weapons.

Be Good, or Be Diminished

America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.

Will this be "the" one case?

Today Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner ordered that DNA testing be done on evidence that has been stored since 1981 in the case of Roger Keith Coleman. Coleman was executed in 1992 for the rape and murder of his sister in law, Wanda McCoy. While it is obvious those who have fought for years for this testing to happen are attempting to establish proof to demonstrate an innocent man was executed as a way to stop the use of the death penalty, there are other issues this brings to the surface no matter the outcome.

Abramoff: Tip of the Ice Berg

Folks over at Vote Out Incumbents for Democracy created their organization knowing Abramoffs and DeLays were at work and that they represent only the tip of the ice berg in regard to bribing elected officials for votes in Congress and policy in the White House. Other organizations too, like Common Cause have been warning Americans of the scandals that would come as a result of our allowing our government to be sold to the highest bidder. But, it is crucial that Americans look past the Justice Department's action, to the underlying problem: the relationship between lobbyists and politicians.

Republicans Slipping in Texas

A number of items crossed my view in the last 24 hours, which appear to point to a slippage by Republicans over the State of Texas. Yesterday afternoon, I read a newsletter sent me by my State Representative, Carter Casteel. What was surprising was that much of her talk and legislation appears to be championing traditional Texas Democratic Party issues.