Joy to the World! Obama Has Come too!

I hope you have a great Christmas Day! I thought you might like to see this very funny editorial cartoon from the London Times. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas,
Michael

A Personal Christmas Message

Merry Christmas Eve Bloggers - There are many things to talk about when it comes to the celebration of Christmas, or the birth of God on earth, and one of them, in my humble opinion, is to celebrate our blessings. Count them if you will. That is my Christmas wish.

Let's see, I have people I love and a life that I love to enjoy. You all know who you are out there, especially my family and friends. I would like to extend that joy to my fellow bloggers. I enjoy our blogging, and you guys make life more interesting. I hope each and every one of you enjoys a wonderful Christmas celebration.

So, since I have a blog, I thought I might share a few thoughts about what Christmas means to me at this stage of my life. It's from me to you, or for anyone who cares to eavesdrop. I don't want to talk about abstracts, however, I want to focus on the blessings we can can smell, see and hear.

For example, I live in a very beautiful place - the hills of Southern California. I feel blessed for the fact that I walk around each morning appreciating everything. I'm one of those fortunate enough to smell the flowers, pick the fruit, and grow a garden.

In December, I often enjoy an extraordinary view of the ocean and high snow capped mountains in the distance. I don't take them for granted. I always look at them. I always appreciate them. I guess you could say that I count my blessings daily.

The Native Americans had it right; they took the time. We should all take time, each day, to fill ourselves with the spirit and the beauty of everything around us. It doesn't matter where you live; there is usually something beautiful in the most common places.

That's my wish this Christmas. I think some Christians lose sight of the world Jesus came to appreciate, and focus too much on an unfortunate desire to see the next. Buddhists are better at it. They talk about the next life, but they also talk about appreciating this one. They meditate and try to become part of both. It's pretty cool if you ask me. I appreciate their teachings too

You see, in my opinion, Jesus came here to say that we have plenty to love and enjoy here on Earth, and that if we live decent, charitable lives, that life here will be a blessing for all of us. We all have something good or special in our lives, and it's up to each of us to take the time to find it, and to appreciate it.

So, let's celebrate the birthday of a man - of God - who taught us all how to be appreciate one another, and how to appreciate our many gifts and blessings. So, my Christmas wish is that WE COUNT OUR BLESSINGS, and be charitable and giving to one another. I know I will do my best. Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Eve Message #1 - Michael

Provocative Pope Says Gay Lifestyle is a "Destruction of God's Work"

Hello Bloggers - In shocking statements to the Catholic Curia, or governing body, Pope Benedict said today that "saving humanity from homosexual or transsexual behaviour was just as important as saving the rainforest from destruction." Wow! Is he serious? Homosexuals and transsexuals are a threat to humanity? That's news to me.

On a more serious note, I think he is being incredibly irresponsible, even reckless. I don't care if he's trying to protect the morality of man, or the church, the only RESULT of statements expressing hateful judgements on a whole community of people - including millions of YOUNG PEOPLE - is self-hatred and SUICIDE. Statements like that do nothing to help make the world more moral. They do nothing to heal or help. They only HURT!

If you don't agree, and you think the Pope wasn't expressing hate, then I don't think you've ever been on the receiving end of it. Trust me, those kinds of statements hurt people. They make people, especially young people, feel like they're not good enough, and that they need to be fixed somehow. There is plenty of evidence to support it. They also encourage acts of hate, or violence. This is bad, very bad. We're not talking about a disease that can be cured. We're talking about human beings who have little choice but to be who they are.

He went on to say that "[the Church] should protect man from the destruction of himself." The pope said humanity needed to "listen to the language of creation" to "understand the intended roles of man and woman." He compared behaviour beyond traditional heterosexual relations as "a destruction of God's work".

"DESTRUCTION OF GOD'S WORK? He's equating homosexuals with a destructive force. It's almost as though he's making homosexuals scapegoats for all kinds of moral problems. I'm sorry, but that's hateful. Again, this is BAD, VERY BAD!

The Catholic Church opposes homosexual acts, gay marriage, and, in October, a leading Vatican official called homosexuality "a deviation, an irregularity, a wound". I wish I could confront that Vatican official. In my opinion, he's the only wound that should be healed.

Homosexuals are not a "destructive" force, no matter what you say. There are plenty of heterosexual problems out there that are destructive that should be addressed. Why pick on a weak minority? I'm sorry, but I cannot tolerate that kind of language. I might be very spiritual and part Catholic, but I think the Pope is FULL OF BS!

He also defended the Church's right to "speak of human nature as man and woman, and ask that this order of creation be respected". I would like to say to HIS HOLINESS to LEAVE THE GAY COMMUNITY ALONE! They are often victims of extreme violence. It's a dangerous thing to call them out, to point a moral finger at them that way. It's going to lead to a world of HURT!

Stick to the teachings of Jesus. He didn't seem to have a problem with gay people. If he did, he probably would have said something. In my humble opinion your Holiness, any pain and suffering, or death, resulting from those words ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, and the CHURCH'S. I would be careful what is preached from your pulpits, because the words might even lead to lawsuits.

Hasn't the church already hurt gays enough? You might represent the Catholic Church, or even God on Earth, but in my opinion you are saying things to hurt, not to help.

Monday's Political/Spiritual Rant #2 - Michael

PS - The London Times and other great world newspapers reported on this story, and they all seem to agree that the Pope stoked homophobia. I agree.

Evidence that Bush and "Hands-Off" Republicans are Responsible for Crisis

Hello Bloggers - It's a subject that I've been debating both on this blog and in real life with my Republican friends for a VERY long time. Who caused the economic crisis that we're experiencing today?

Most of my Republican friends think it's the Democrat's fault. They usually blame Clinton and the deregulation of the late nineties. Of course, they don't acknowledge that those changes were the result of Republican legislation, a strong Democratic opposition, and ultimately executive or Clinton compromises.

They also like to blame everything on Fannie and Freddie Mac, and the Democrats lack of legislative oversight. Again, they refuse to acknowledge the role of Republicans in the EXECUTIVE branch who were actually responsible for that oversight. There were plenty of regulations available to the EXECUTIVE branch to prevent what happened.

The whole Fannie/Freddie argument is absurd when you look at the laws and regulations in place at the time. Feel free to try and debate it, but it's accurate when you do the research.

So, why am I bringing it all up again, and why is this a RAVE and not a RANT? Because The New York Times/Herald Tribune has published a FANTASTIC - very long and very thorough - new article that does a very good job of describing what went wrong, and describes what I've always said, that GEORGE BUSH AND HIS LACK OF OVERSIGHT is what caused most of the problems. It describes the events in excruciating detail, and does a very good job of placing the blame mostly on BUSH and his "hands-off philosophy.

"We can put light where there's darkness, and hope where there's despondency in this country. And part of it is working together as a nation to encourage folks to own their own home." — President George W. Bush, Oct. 15, 2002

The Times describes how "there are plenty of culprits, like lenders who peddled easy credit, consumers who took on mortgages they could not afford and Wall Street chieftains who loaded up on mortgage-backed securities without regard to the risk. BUT the story of how we got here is partly one of Bush's own making, according to a review of his tenure that included interviews with dozens of current and former administration officials."

The paper adds that "his conviction that markets do best when let alone" coupled with the fact that he "pushed hard to expand homeownership, especially among minorities, an initiative that dovetailed with his ambition to expand the Republican tent — and with the business interests of some of his biggest donors" is very interesting. It adds that "his housing policies and hands-off approach to regulation encouraged lax lending standards."

If you want to learn more, visit the article. I don't have much to add. I've been saying this for over a year now. I've been one of the few screaming about the crisis, even BEFORE it hit the news. Just ask many of my friends. In earlier posts on this blog I described how alarmed I was by the TYPE of mortgage companies that hit the market after Bush. To those paying attention, it was obvious that rules were lax and the market was bloated. Something had to go wrong.

Unfortunately, it went even more wrong than I thought. I never dreamt it would be this bad. The really sad part is the way my Republican friends never want to take any responsibility.

They continue to blame the borrowers (personal responsibility despite corrupt lenders and unmanageable rules governing paperwork), the Democrats (Fannie and Freddie caused everything, despite all the evidence to the contrary), and a few bad lenders (right, a lack of oversight and Wall Street's resale market had nothing to do with it).

I don't bother arguing with them anymore. I don't think they'll ever take responsibility for anything, much less ALL THE DAMAGE THEY CAUSED OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS! I just hope those in the middle, the independents and the moderates, learn about what happened, and point the finger of blame where it belongs most, on GEORGE BUSH.

It was his ridiculous hands-off philosophy as president that made him the WORST PRESIDENT IN HISTORY! What a STUPID way to govern. As I always say, thank you so much for electing such MORONS, and for getting us into this mess. For God's sake, TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY!

George Bush, and many other "hands-off" Republicans like Gramm and Delay, are responsible. They've caused so much pain and suffering, and yet they're such narcissistic psychos they'll never know the damage they caused. We beg you, please learn from your mistakes, and don't inflict them on us anymore.

Monday's Political Rave #1 - Michael

PS - The White House has published a lengthy rebuttal to the New York Times cover story. I read it, and, like most of their crap, it seems far less convincing with far fewer citations than the Times article.

Using their usual tactics, they call the Times article "gross negligence." In my opinion the Bush Administration is both GROSS and NEGLIGENT in the way they always attack the press.

Well Mr. Bush, it isn't working these days. People know that you're to blame, and that you're also a scoundrel and a liar. Let's see you talk yourself out of this one in the history books.

The Brave Don Quixote de La Pentagon

Good Morning Bloggers - I think one of the most interesting lawsuits out there right now is the one alleging conspiracy "to facilitate the terrorist attacks and purposefully fail to warn those inside the Pentagon," that contributed to injuries suffered by April Gallop and her two-month-old son on 9/11.

She filed a civil suit on Monday against former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Vice President Dick Cheney and former US Air Force General Richard Myers, who was acting chairman of the joint chiefs on 9/11. She included other unnamed persons with supposed "foreknowledge of the attacks." That's pretty intense, and very interesting.

The 15 page complaint is a long shot, but many 9/11 observers believe it is a well crafted attempt that documents plenty of conspiracy, fraud, mismanagement and negligence. It all sounds pretty scary, and if true, could change the whole face of the 9/11 attacks.

If you ask me, the whole Bush Administration has been one big attack of fraud and negligence. I like the idea of justice here, but if April Gallop is allowed to recoup her damages from the Bush Administration's criminal activities, it begs the question whether we all should be able to. Let's face it, the last eight years have been laced with conspiracies to defraud us all, and we all deserve some justice.

Sorry, that's harsh. April and her son were physically harmed, so go for it April! I love your courage in the face of such overwhelming odds. You're a modern-day Don Quixote in many ways, using whatever means to strike at those who threaten you and her family. I admire you. I hope you win it.

Saturday's Political Rave #1 - Michael

Robert Mugabe Calls African Leaders Cowards

Good Morning Bloggers - So, what are you African leaders going to do about it? Zimbabwean President - only by a murderous and corrupt election unrecognized by most countries - Robert Mugabe has said African leaders "are not brave enough to force him from power," the state-run Herald newspaper reports.

Hey African leaders, I think he's questioning your manhood. Are you going to just sit and take that from a OLD CRAZY MAN like him? What are you, SHEEP? I think you cowards (his insinuation, not mine) should get off your butts and go in and arrest him - or do whatever you want, we don't care.

I know, why not put him on trial for killing his own people and destroying a nation? That sounds like a pretty good idea to me.

Going further with his INSANITY, he also told a meeting of his Zanu-PF party that "he would soon meet his political rivals to try to break the deadlock over a unity government." There's just one problem. HE KEEPS ARRESTING AND ABDUCTING THEM! For months now - since the agreement brokered by South Africa - Mugabe has been arresting and abducting opposition members. So, it's kind of expected that the opposition MDC says "abductions of its members threatens the talks."

People, Robert Mugabe NEEDS TO BE ARRESTED OR KILLED! Why doesn't somebody do something about it? How about you Republicans? Aren't you guys the BIG DICTATOR KILLERS? Haven't you been saying that you're proud that George Bush removed Saddam Hussein because he was killing his people. Well, Mugabe would be a pretty easy kill. GO FOR IT!

Oh well, I won't hold my breath. We all know that most Republicans actually like dictators. History shows they've been pretty good business partners with the far right. I guess we'll have to see if Obama and Clinton can do something - anything.

Friday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

PS - He's also reported to have said: "I will never, never, never surrender. Zimbabwe is mine." Come on people, this is getting old. This is a crazy old man with a very small army killing his people. DO SOMETHING!

Sean Hannity Chosen "Misinformer of the Year"

Hello Bloggers - It's my pleasure to thank Media Matters for choosing our favorite simpleton, the neanderthal of news, the uninspired, the unevolved, Sean Hannity, to be their "Misinformer of the Year."

"He has been a prolific and influential purveyor of conservative misinformation," according to Media Matters - and myself. Sean - "the Repetitive Monkey" - Hannity has admitted to do whatever it takes to stop the Democrats. He is a scoundrel and a LIAR. He is media SCUM. Media Matters made a very wise choice.

A man like Hannity would do well in any society. People like him come in many forms, and all are reprehensible. He's the liar and the propagandist. He's the prison stooge, the camp rat, the coward, the low life who sells secrets for favors. He's the one who rats out the good guys to get what he wants. People like him spew lies, wreck lives, and thrive on chaos. Sean Hannity is nothing but human vermin.

They use religion, ethics and morality as blunt instruments to control, persuade, and plunder. They act as judge, jury and executioner, and rarely burden themselves with matters of personal morality. To be blunt, they play God. They deserve exile or worse.

I'll agree with Media Matters and decent people everywhere, and name Sean Hannity as the Our Rants & Raves choice for THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD for December 2008! It would have been for the whole year, but I think O'Reilly and a few others deserve some consideration, don't you?

Thursday's Media Rave #1 - Michael

The Ominous Signs Keep Coming

Hello Bloggers - I've been saying it for a while, and I will continue to say it - the DOLLAR IS IN TROUBLE! Bloomberg is reporting this morning that the world’s biggest currency-trading firms say "the dollar’s appeal as a haven amid the financial crisis all but evaporated."

Come on people, do you need me to hit you over the head with a frying pan? If you want to grow your money over the next ten years, diversify your savings now or you will be stuck in cheap dollar investments. Think about it this way, people overseas invested in US/dollar investments because it was safe. Now it's not, got it? The dollar is one more victim of the nightmare that is George Bush.

"The U.S. currency slid to a 13-year low against the yen today and had its biggest one-day decline versus the euro after the Federal Reserve reduced its target interest rate yesterday to a range of zero to 0.25 percent, the lowest among the world’s biggest economies."

“Prospects ahead appear particularly ominous for the world’s reserve currency once global economic stability starts to build up.” The Fed’s debt purchases will cause the dollar to weaken to $1.4860 per euro, analysts led by Robert Sinche, New York-based head of global currency strategy at Bank of America Corp., wrote in a report yesterday."

Wow, it's happening even earlier than I thought. People are pulling their money out of the US faster now, and it will only get worse. I knew the dollar would collapse, but I thought people would wait until after the crisis calmed down a bit more. Oh well, at least the Republicans will have a harder time making the upcoming depression look like a problem for the Democrats. The earlier it hits the better I guess.

I don't know about my fellow Americans, but I'm looking at international investments, especially nations with strong natural resource holdings. It makes sense to look to nations/currencies that will BENEFIT FROM THE US SPENDING but NOT SPEND THEMSELVES.

Canadian-dollar investments/natural resource bonds look good to me. I'm also looking at Eurobonds. You can always come back home when things calm down. I'm only suggesting we don't get trapped. I'm looking north and overseas for my financial safety.

George Bush left so many problems, and according to most experts the only way to get out of the hole is to spend, so no matter what happens the dollar will suffer.

As always, I would like to thank my Republican friends again for electing MORONS who got us into this mess. Your HORRIBLE JUDGEMENT has led us to this crisis. I think you should all be BANNED FROM VOTING until we can repair the damage you've caused.

The signs keep coming people.

Thursday's Financial Rant #1 - Michael

Obama Chooses Divisive Rick Warren

Good Morning Bloggers - I understand it, but I can't believe it. Barack Obama has chosen Orange County preacher Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration. It makes sense politically (for the next election at least), but it's a real slap in the face to the people who feel that Rick Warren isn't the open-minded saint many make him out to be.

The move positions Warren to succeed Billy Graham as the nation’s preeminent minister, but Billy Graham was known to be very bipartisan - or apolitical. Warren has been involved in many political movements, at least here in California. He was a main supporter of Proposition 8 that TOOK RIGHTS AWAY from gays and lesbians. He's also known as a major supporter of Republican causes.

As I always promised, I WILL CRITICIZE DEMOCRATS when I feel they deserve it. In this case, I think Barack could have made a better choice. I would have preferred Jeremiah Wright, if only to piss off the far right. No matter what, there were many better candidates. I think Warren was a very bad decision, no matter how political it may be. Rick Warren will need to evolve before I consider him representative of all Americans. Bad choice Barack.

Thursday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

Madoff and the American Market Meltdown

Good Morning Bloggers - I love prognostication, predicting all kinds of world events, mostly in business and politics/world affairs.

So, I would like to share a little theory I have that isn't being discussed much yet. Unless Obama can prevent it, we are facing years of American decline. Not because of domestic problems alone, but due to A LOSS OF RESPECT AND TRUST IN THE WORLD. Now, to speculate.

Our American financial system has been the envy of the world for over a century. We took the best parts of the British system and over time developed many advancements that helped build it into the wealthiest on Earth. I won't go into all the historical details that made it great, but suffice to say that it developed into the most trusted system.

Ignoring many citations, allow me to say that things are not looking good. The nightmare of the Bush Administration and its lack of oversight is the main reason why so many people around the world are now losing faith in the American financial system. Despite huge investments worldwide, the incompetence of the Bush years has resulted in instability and market turmoil.

I would argue there have been many final straws - that broke that proverbial camel's back, but the most recent and offensive was the announcement of potential billion-dollar writedowns worldwide caused by exposure to the Madoff hedge fund mess. Foreign losses alone could run as high as $11 billion (€8 billion).

Europe's largest financial companies and institutions revealed their exposure in the billions, and the European governments who own large percentages of those companies are due to lose billions in taxpayer money. That is not good news people. Those were our FOREIGN CUSTOMERS.

Think about it people! What Americans aren't hearing on their cable and local news is HOW ANGRY AND BETRAYED FOREIGN INVESTORS ARE FEELING RIGHT NOW. It's a main topic of daily conversation in the foreign media. It's only Americans who aren't talking about it. To be clear, they're angry at many countries, especially Iceland, but they're VERY ANGRY with US. Actually, to be blunt, they're FURIOUS!

This is serious people. The American financial system is LOSING MORE THAN JUST MONEY, IT'S LOSING THE TRUST OF CUSTOMERS WORLDWIDE. So, ask yourself, what is usually the result of a loss of trust. Well, in most businesses it means the customers will stop doing business with you. That has some pretty serious ramifications for Americans.

Once things begin to get back to normal, and foreigners stop buying American financial instruments based on a worldwide panic, they will begin to withdraw from American financial institutions. They will look to countries that will enforce regulations and promise stability. They're not like Republicans, they value financial stability above all else.

The result will inevitably be a falling dollar, higher interest rates, less investment, and a VERY SLOW ECONOMY due to our overwhelming debt (thanks to you Republicans) that will be very difficult to manage.

The real IRONY here is that Republicans still think they're trusted by people when it comes to money. I hear it everyday with my Republican friends. They still believe they know what's best when it comes to the economy. It's amazing. It never ceases to amaze me just how good Republicans are at lying to themselves and others. They have a true gift.

Well, like most things when it comes to Republicans, it's a lie. Average Americans and people worldwide have started to see that American market deregulation and Republican-led economic theories have created market chaos. WE have LOST CREDIBILITY and they don't even see it. Then again, they never do.

People everywhere (except rich Republicans) have lost both respect and trust in the American system. Unless Obama can assuage our customers, then we are looking at many years of being the world's bad boy. Foreign investment will be harder to find.

In a way the nation will be like it was in the early 1800s, saddled with debt and unable to borrow money. The only difference this time is we don't have tons of natural resources to sell and cheap labor to offer an industrial revolution. That is, of course, unless we're willing to make some pretty drastic changes to our system.

So, there you have it. We can only hope that Barack Obama and his brilliant team will do something to restore that respect and trust. It amazes me, but I really believe that my countrymen, especially Republicans, fail to see the whole picture. It's important people. We need to learn, to care, and to be aware of what's happening in the world. We need to care about how they see us more than ever. We can no longer afford to turn inwards.

Republicans are especially ignorant. They need to stop believing the propaganda. I don't care what FOX "News" says, we do not have the best of everything. Learn the FACTS people. We need to learn to see the forest through the trees. We need to be less xenophobic and more global. Unless we can do it, I predict severe hardship for America in the future. I welcome your perspective.

Tuesday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

Why Didn't We Think of That?

Good Morning Bloggers - So, somebody FINALLY took a shot at George - the target - Bush and they used a shoe. I find it kind of sad, because it shows how frustrated yet powerless people are today. George Bush will leave office next month and the worst we did to him was throw a shoe at him. Oh well, the man is still a hero to me, and I would like to rave this morning that George Bush had a shoe thrown at him.

WE THE PEOPLE have not been able to prosecute this man - thanks to Nancy - let everybody go - Pelosi, so what else is there to do but throw something at him in anger. It's a pathetic state of affairs. Oh well, at least somebody did it. Somebody plucked up the courage to hurl something at that lying, thieving, torturer of a president.

I'm sure many of you Republicans out there will be horrified by my words, but you should know that he stopped being my president many years ago. He's nothing but a sleazy criminal to me. Throwing a show at him is nothing to me. I would like to see him handcuffed, tried, fined, exposed, and finally imprisoned for the rest of his life. The man is SCUM to me.

If we don't prosecute him, then I believe George Bush should have shoes thrown at him for the rest of his life. Perhaps that angry reporter has given us all a cause, a political statement to use against him in the future.

That's IT! Why don't we all start to threaten him with our own personal projectiles? The shoe incident could open a new form of protest, a way for us all to vent our anger at the man who practically destroyed our nation and the world.

The way Kruschev is remember for shoes, perhaps the idiot Bush will always be remembered as that horrible president who was so hated that a man actually threw his shoes at him. What might seem petty to some is BOLD and BEAUTIFUL to others. This may be the Bush legacy. We can hope.

To me, that man is a hero. He did what many of us would like to do. George Bush is nothing more than a murderous criminal, and for all of you who still believe the man, or feel some kind of pity for him, I suggest you RESEARCH AND READ ABOUT THE HORRORS THAT HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR before you turn your anger against me.

Don't give me that crap about being loyal to our president. He is no president, he is criminal. He should have been impeached and tried long ago.

So, since I can't have real justice, allow me to thank that reporter. You're a hero and a friend to those of us who do not bury our heads in the sand, to those who know the truth.

Monday's Political RAVE #1 - Michael

Bush Gives Medal to Domestic Terrorist

Good Morning Bloggers - Are you guys as angry as I am about the fact that George - the IDIOT - Bush has awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second highest honor for a civilian that recognizes Americans “who have performed exemplary deeds of service for the nation,” to that Nixon Administration CROOK and DOMESTIC TERRORIST CHUCK COLSON!

Bush seems to continue his quest to be the MOST OUTRAGEOUS president ever. Come on, the man was President Nixon's counsel from 1969 - 1973 and went to JAIL for refusing to cooperate in the WATERGATE investigation. He was the first member of the group to serve prison time after he pleaded GUILTY to OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. The man is SCUM. Is that what you Republican's consider an exemplary citizen?

I guess it stands to reason that Bush would see no harm done when it comes to obstructing justice. Just look at his Administration. It's almost a school for those wanting to learn how to obstruct justice. It just blows my mind that he would actually go so far as to give the second highest civilian medal to somebody who actually went to jail over it. I must admit, despite all my Bush rantings, this one leaves me almost speechless.

Think about it, past recipients include boxer Muhammad Ali, baseball great Henry “Hank” Aaron, civil rights icon Dorothy Height, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Colson the CROOK was given his medal alongside 24 recipients, including actor Gary Sinise and Teach for America founder Wendy Kopp. I'll bet they were impressed with COLSON being there with them - NOT!!!!

Back in 1973 Colson was called the “evil genius” of the Administration. Watergate historian Stanley Kutler points out that Colson sought to "hire Teamsters thugs to beat up anti-war demonstrators, and he plotted to raid or firebomb the Brookings Institution."

So, let me address my Republican readers. I especially want to hear from the ones who kept screaming day in and day out about Bill Ayers during the election. Don't you have a problem with this? Bush just gave a national medal of honor to a man who plotted to FIREBOMB a Washington institution. Wow, the silence is deafening. Unless you object, and I'm hoping to hear from some of you who do, then I say you're a bunch of freakin hypocrites. Then again, I already knew it.

Like Ayers, who is now a model citizen fighting for education reform, Colson has spent the years since Watergate trying to be a good citizen. Then again, when you look closer, it hardly merits a national honor (especially since he was a domestic terrorist). He has been an evangelical prison reformer running the nonprofit Prison Fellowship.

Of course, there has to be a Republican angle to his preaching. He advocates for “privately run prisons and the delivery of all social services by faith-based groups.” Wow, an evangelical prison reformer who fights for privatizing prisons. That does deserve an honor - NOT!!!!

As many of you who read this blog know I am appalled by most of what George - Fredo - Bush does, but to be really honest I never thought he would go so far as to give out a national medal of honor to one of his henchmen. Okay, not HIS henchmen, but still a REPUBLICAN HENCHMAN.

It really does throw me for a loop. I hope you guys remember this, because it's one more example of CORRUPT Republicans acting like they're above it all, holding themselves to a different standard, and acting like the government is their own personal play toy whenever they take power.

To me, it's one more reminder that they're all a bunch of narcissistic psychos WHO NEED TO BE REMOVED FROM POWER and forced into whatever restraints are necessary to make sure they don't do any more damage. I don't know about you, but I can't take too many more of their surprises.

Friday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

Democrats Can Be Such Idiots!

Hello Bloggers - I would like to write straight from the heart this morning and say I think we Democrats can be such IDIOTS! What the hell is wrong with us? We allow ourselves to be played by the corporatists and the Republicans like a bunch of fools. How you ask?

Think about it? There's TONS of evidence that "pay for play," or more accurately pay to play, has been BIG over the past eight years within the Bush Administration, maybe even within the past Republican Congress. There has been circumstantial evidence of it involving dozens if not HUNDREDS of cases stretching through all levels of government. So, what has Congress done about it? TALK, TALK, and more BS TALK! The Interior Department alone was PAY to PLAY heaven, and you hardly saw it covered in the press.

All of of sudden this MORONIC FOOL of a governor Rod Blagojevich of Illinois is caught on tape by the Elliot Ness of the Justice Department, Patrick -the guy who failed to push the Scooter Libby case all the way up to Rove, Cheney or Bush - Fitzgerald, and we Democrats act like the sky is falling. Why should we worry at all about this case? One Democratic idiot gets caught on tape and we allow the compass needle of questions involving governmental ethics to point in our direction. Give me a freakin break!

Let's stop worrying about Blagojevich! The man's a FOOL! Let Fitzgerald figure it out. Let's KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN CRIMINALITY! Let's use their Rovian tactic and turn the spotlight on their crap while our idiot is being prosecuted. Let's take advantage of the fact that the media is TALKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES to point the finger AT THEM! Stop allowing them to control it! Take control of the topic!

Come on Democrats, stop acting like idiots. Let's not allow them to dictate the terms of the national debate, much less the conversation. We need to talk about their CORRUPTION! We need to talk about their CRIMINALITY! We need to GET ANGRY about THEM! They did MOST OF THE DAMAGE, and we need to keep talking about it. Blagojevich is NOTHING compared to what they've done over the past eight years. He's a minor thug compared to the Bushies.

Please, if anybody from the press is reading this, use this opportunity to talk about the real criminals in government. Democrats, please use this opportunity to TURN THE TABLES ON THEM! Let's stop being played like fools. This is THEIR ISSUE, not ours. For all those who want to keep talking about our extremely LIMITED corruption, I have a t-shirt you can buy. Feel free to email me and I'll make sure you get it.

Thursday's Political Rant #2 - Michael

Mugabe "Cures" Cholera While People Die

Good Morning Bloggers - The London Times is reporting this morning that President Robert Mugabe said “there is no cholera” in Zimbabwe any more because the country's doctors had cured the outbreak.

Well, every international health care organization disagrees. The World Health Organization gives daily updates on the state of Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic, and it says today that "at least 783 had died of the disease and 16,403 had been infected as of yesterday." There is no evidence of "curing" the outbreak. As usual, Mugabe is a liar and a murderer. Par for the course I guess.

South Africa has declared its border with Zimbabwe a "disaster zone" and Zimbabwe's neighbors are freaking out due to the number of people trying to get out everywhere. The United Nations is considering all kinds of emergency options.

So, despite all that Robert - the war criminal - Mugabe says there is no more cholera. As I stated on my earlier post, this man MUST BE ARRESTED OR ELIMINATED in whatever way possible. He is a menace to his people and to the people of Africa. I hope African leaders to do more to stop him. I hope the UN led by countries heavily invested in Africa TAKE ACTION and remove that sick, murderous, evil psycho immediately.

Thursday's Political Rave #1 - Michael

Joe the Plumber Scares the Hell Out of Me

Good Morning Bloggers - The latest gossip out of the recent election is AWESOME! Didn't you hear? The Raw Story is reporting this morning on a Glenn - "wow, the man is nuts" - Beck interview where "Joe the Plumber" supposedly said that John McCain made him "feel dirty" and that Sarah Palin was "the real thing."

I'm sorry, but this is both hilarious and frightening! The random guy that John McCain and the Republican Party made their mascot - Joe "the Plumber" Wurzelbacher - said that he felt “dirty” after “being on the campaign trail and seeing some of the things that take place.” The really funny/sad part is what he said after he had a one-on-one meeting with McCain.

"I asked him some pretty direct questions...they appalled me, absolutely. I was angry. In fact, I wanted to get off the bus after I talked to him.” Asked why he stuck by McCain's side despite being "appalled" by the candidate, he said, “honestly, because the thought of Barack Obama as president scares me even more.” Unfreakinbelieveable!!!!! Is this guy for real?

“Sarah Palin is absolutely the real deal,” he said. "With Sarah Palin, I don't want to say I felt a presence but she definitely had energy and she definitely went to work for [the] American people, and it disgusts me on how often they try to bash her just for her sincerity. It's just, you know, she really wants to work for America and I mean, I wish people would listen to her and let them, and let her work for us. You know, she wants to serve us. She's not looking for power."

Excuse me Joe, but we did LISTEN. We tried to LISTEN more, but the campaign wouldn't let us. In the end, WE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING! Did you listen? Something tells me that your judgement was clouded by something. Joe, we weren't looking for a simple public "servant," we were looking for a president.

I hate to sound like a blue state snob, but COME ON PEOPLE! This is NUTS! Sensible, responsible citizens can only tolerate so much from these idiots. Yes Joe, that judgement of yours makes me think you're an IDIOT! People like you constantly VOTE AGAINST YOUR OWN BEST INTEREST! Not to mention you ruin it for the rest of us.

So, my only conclusion is that Joe is a typical, ill-informed, irrational voter? He was appalled by his candidate but still refused to vote for a good man like Obama because he "scared" him. What the HELL! Why didn't he just go talk to Obama more and GET OVER HIS IRRATIONAL FEAR? I'm sure Barack would have given him an interview if he wanted one. There's got to be more to the story. Oh yea, how about CLOSED MINDEDNESS and RACISM!

We're up against irrational people that buy into "presence" and "morality" and "energy" over actual knowledge, experience and substance. Didn't we hear the same crap from these fools when they voted for George - "the idiot" Fredo of the Family" - Bush? I don't get it. They actually scare me now. They have too much power. They should not be the swing vote for the future.

How many ignorant blue collar racists are out there? Why do they like Sarah Palin so much? Why can't they see that voting based on irrational emotions gave us Bush? Why don't they see the danger in thinking that way? Why don't they see the damage they've already done? Okay, that's enough ranting. Now, what do we do about them? We need to make sure they don't cause any more damage.

When things get better economically in this country, and the American people are once more swayed by fear and divisiveness, then people like Joe will matter again. As Democrats we need to reach out to the "Joes" of this country. We need to sit down with them before the next election to see if we can change some minds - or mindsets. We need to figure out what motivates them beyond fear and hate. We need to agree with them that cuts are important, but that lower taxes often means mortgaging our children's future. We need to become their friends. We need to educate, not intimidate. So, who's with me? Let's DO IT!

Wednesday's Political Rant and Opinion #1 - Michael

Republican Justice is Not Blind

Hello Bloggers - For the record, I want to be perfectly clear that I AM THRILLED they arrested Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich today on charges of conspiring to get financial benefits through his authority to appoint a senator to fill the vacancy left by Barack Obama.

The man's a PIG! Any politician capable of what he's alleged to have said and done should be arrested. HOWEVER, I also want to say that I think it's EQUALLY APPALLING that the Bush Administration has suffered few arrests despite a MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE against them. JUSTICE IS NOT BLIND in this country. IT IS BIASED based on who is in power.

I think it's important to point out that as long as Republicans are in power, as long as they continue to have their people within the NSA and elsewhere, the only political lawbreakers will be Democrats. Please join me and write your representatives to look into WIRETAP ABUSE! Do not trust that this will end with the transition. Obama has enough on his plate. Congress should act! Republican operatives need to be identified and eliminated!

Tuesday's Opinion #2 - Michael

Coming Out Would Have Been Preferable

Hello Bloggers - Minneapolis judges say that Idaho Senator Larry Craig has lost his latest attempt to withdraw his guilty plea in a Minneapolis airport men’s room sex sting.

That is FANTASTIC! I cannot tolerate that guy - that's my attempt at reversing their intolerance. He's a smudge on humanity, especially the same-sex part. He's an emotional and sexual retard with a "wide stance" that should be shunned by both groups.

It gets worse. If you look into his Senate track record you find a man who sold his soul to lumber and mining interests long ago. You're wrong if you think it was for the citizens of Idaho. He fought against good government and environmental groups that had tons of evidence to suggest those industries cause far more harm than good. There were better industries to promote; he chose not to.

He also fought against every gay rights initiative. If I may address you Larry, you weren't a good leader. You are a horrible hypocrite, and a creep too - my guess. Trolling for sex in bathrooms? What is wrong with you dude? What a role model? Actually, you're kind of sleazy and scummy like many Republican hypocrites. Anyway, the GUILTY plea will stand and you'll always be remembered for being a HYPOCRITICAL PERV.

Ironically Senator, you would have been better off just being openly gay. There's very little stigma for that these days. There's a BIG one for being a bathroom pervert - straight or gay. Something tells me that you're going to grow into a very lonely, miserable old man. Perhaps you and George Bush could form a club? Good luck with that Larry. One more karmic, Republican tale of good riddance to bad rubbish.

Tuesday's News and Opinion #1 - Michael

Idiot Bush Deserves a Little Credit

Good Morning Bloggers - BIG NEWS - HELL HAS FROZEN OVER! I am about to write a rave about George - the WAR CRIMINAL - Bush (I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit). I never thought he would deserve such a thing, but being an honest person I have to give credit where credit is due.

Incredibly, White House chief of Staff Joshua Bolten sent a memo December 1st to all of President Bush's political appointees asking them to tender their resignation effective Jan. 20th - the day President-Elect Barack Obama is sworn into office.

"To provide the President-elect maximum flexibility in assembling his Administration, and consistent with past practice, President Bush is requesting letters of resignation from all non-career appointees except Inspectors General and those individuals that hold termed positions," Bolten wrote.

Wow, that is good news. I wonder if they'll listen. Ideologues tend to have their own rules sometimes. A few Bush appointees have been saying they do not intend to resign, as required at each transition. Those announcements were shocking at the time, but then again we are talking about Bush appointees. It's good to see the White House actually call for their resignations.

Now, as always when it comes to this government, we wait. Let's see if they actually follow his lead. No matter what, George - the Fredo of the family - Bush deserves credit (YUCK!) for taking action. It makes me wonder if he sees the handwriting on the wall, and knows that he's in BIG TROUBLE on many fronts.

Of course, this rave does not excuse the fact that he's still the WORST president in American history. It does not excuse the fact that he stole two elections, failed to prevent an attack on our own soil, lied us into an aggressive war that tortured people and broke our international agreements, broke dozens of domestic laws, spied on his own people, allowed his own citizens to drown, destroyed the economy through neglect, and basically FAILED AS PRESIDENT AND AS A FELLOW HUMAN BEING! Other than that, he deserves a little credit.

So, to my detractors out there, this should be proof that I do give the idiot credit if he does the right thing. His problem is that he doesn't usually do the right thing. Now let me go throw up.

Tuesday's Political Rave #1 - Michael

PS - Of course it was too good to be true. There is a caveat, like there always is with these people. I just found this article that contradicts the earlier claims. It suggests that the Bushies are "burrowing" into the next government.

Alan Keyes Loses Again

Good Morning Bloggers - So it seems that justice does exist in this great nation, especially after the US Supreme Court turned down an emergency appeal from a New Jersey man who says President-elect Barack Obama is ineligible to be president because he was a British subject at birth.

I wrote about the case (supported by Republican loser Alan Keyes) earlier on this blog, and I will admit to being somewhat critical of the Republican idiots who are still fighting this battle.

There were two absurd cases claiming Obama's ineligibility to be president, and both were dismissed. So, what do you Republican nut jobs plan next? I'm speaking to you Alan Keyes. What crazy BS should we expect from you? I hate to guess. I do hope the Secret Service is doing something to identify all the wackos out there, and hopefully keep them as far way from the President-elect as possible.

Unfortunately, in addition to the attempt during the Democratic Convention, I think we're going to see a few attempts on his life over the next few years. There are too many racist morons out there to think otherwise. Why must we suffer these fools? I thought they were all going to move to Canada if Obama won. Canada probably doesn't want them. Damn!

Monday's Political Rave #1 - Michael

A Personal Letter to Bill O'Reilly

Hello Bloggers - I would like to write a quick open letter to Bill O'Reilly. So, here I go.

Mr. O'Reilly, I would like to say THANK GOD that you lost that horrible radio show. It was an abomination! You were one of the worst liars on radio, and that's saying something!

I say this from the heart, and from all of us who consider you to be a sort of repulsive CANCER wedged within the American psyche. You're like some kind of horrible, outrageous splinter that's impossible to dislodge. You are nothing more than human debris, which should have been swept away years ago. You are a loudmouth, Republican tool we would all be better off without!

I realize that you will continue to pollute our airwaves, and will most likely continue to trash some minds - unfortunately some young minds - with those God-awful books of yours, but still I'm happy that you experienced one deserved failure.

You can spin it all you want. You can say that you just needed to focus on your TV show - and other parts of the empire - all you want, but YOU STILL FAILED! We can take some satisfaction in the fact that you will have a shorter reach. You have been cut down a bit. You are less potent. YOU ARE IN DECLINE!

As I've written on this blog before, you are nothing more than a grotesque bully who deserves to have the snot kicked out of him. Your specialties are lies and intimidation for the most part. You are the epitome of double standards, holding most people to measure in ways that you would never expect of your own disgusting modus. You create chaos. You are despicable.

I can only hope that this is only the beginning of a long, slow, ugly demise for you. There are many examples throughout history where horrible people got into positions of wealth and power. Remember, there are just as many examples of how they came crashing down. How they ultimately wound up miserable and lonely, shunned by decent people. Who knows, that might happen to you. We can only hope.

Good riddance to bad rubbish. Now let's work to fix the rest of the airwaves. I only hope that either Thom Hartmann, Stephanie Miller, Randi Rhodes, or Ron Reagan move in to take your place. Unfortunately, we all know that's too good to be true. Talk radio is a long way from being fair and balanced, but let's hope this is a beginning.

Friday's Media Opinion #3 - Michael

It Was a Recession, It's Now a Depression

Hello Bloggers - I went to Wikipedia, one of my favorite places, and looked up the definition of a depression.

Their definition is: "a rare but extreme form of recession, a depression is characterized by abnormal increases in unemployment, restriction of credit, shrinking output and investment, numerous bankruptcies, reduced amounts of trade and commerce, as well as highly volatile relative currency value fluctuations, mostly devaluations. Price deflation or hyperinflation are also common elements of a depression."

So, let's see, the US Commerce Dept. reports today that US companies axed 533,000 jobs in November, 183,000 more than was expected. It represents the 11th MONTH IN A ROW OF LOSSES!

Most economists today are calling it the worst slump in employment since 1974. The federal unemployment rate stands at 6.7%, but most economists believe the number is MUCH HIGHER because it doesn't account for people who fell off the rolls or who are underemployed. No matter what, they say that it's evidence that the country is in a recession.

Yea, right, I think it's more likely an early depression. I know many say that you need 10% or 20% unemployment to claim a real depression, but I think that's beginning now. Construction, finance, telecommunications, entertainment, auto and retail are all starting to announce HUGE LAYOFFS. If Congress allows the auto companies to collapse, in my humble opinion, we are witnessing the start of another depression.

The last one lasted about twenty years. How deep will this one go we all need to ask? I think it's beginning NOW! I could be wrong - I do read lots of different opinions about it. So, what do you think? Let's discuss it if you're willing.

Friday's Opinion #2 - Michael

Somebody Arrest or Shoot Robert Mugabe

Hello Bloggers - As part of my new casual decent into personal opinion, I would like to start by saying that somebody, anybody, needs to either arrest or shoot Robert Mugabe.

Without pointing out too many specifics, I would like to say the man has destroyed his nation - Zimbabwe - in a way that George Bush only wishes he could have done here. Though George did a very good job I might add.

For those who haven't been following the news, Zimbabwe has been spiralling out of control for years now, ever since Mugabe enforced land reforms that threw out the colonialists (who knew all about farming) and destroyed what some used to call the "bread basket" of Africa.

After he stole elections, he forced thousands of people from their suburban homes into the wilderness, and after plenty of other horrible things, created what is the highest inflation in the world - so high it's impossible to quote. The man has destroyed the infrastructure and the people.

The nation's lack of resources has now led to a massive cholera epidemic that has killed over six hundred people so far. The African thugs who have supported Mugabe are starting to see the epidemic bleed into their own borders, so now it appears they might actually do something about removing the criminal.

My least favorite - and our least effective - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in South Africa now trying to make something happen. I hope she's more effective than usual.

So, in my new casual style, I will also introduce another new blog instrument - THE WORST PERSON IN THE WOLD today. I say that Robert Mugabe wins that dubious honor.

I don't want to advocate violence, but when somebody is KILLING HIS PEOPLE, I am left with no choice except to say get rid of him - at least wound him so he leaves. Hopefully somebody will do something about it.

Friday's Opinion #1 - Michael

Plan to Add More Personal, Blurby Posts

Good Morning Bloggers - It's a new day on Our Rants & Raves. I've decided that I should express more personal opinion and worry less about citing news sources all the time. I think I've demonstrated my credibility as a newshound and feel that it would be more interesting to write more extemporaneously, allowing my thoughts to wander more without having each relate to a specific news article or citation.

So, I would like to introduce my new blog technique - my personal opinion without too many news sources. If a reader has a problem with my lack of citations, simply write a comment and I'll be happy to cite whatever news source I used to write the piece. I hope it will lead to more robust, opinionated discussions, more visceral emotions, and hopefully a more interesting exchange of ideas. I hope you agree.

Friday's Blog News #1 - Michael

Spitzer Talks About Bailout and Wall Street

Hello Bloggers - I've written in favor of Eliot Spitzer before on this blog. I want him to become a bigger player in the Democratic Party again.

Now he's come out and written a VERY good article for Slate. "A more sensible approach would focus not just on rescuing pre-existing financial institutions but, instead, on creating a structure for more contained and competitive ones."

I recommend reading it. It's full of good points about the crisis related to financial institutions, corruption, and Wall Street failures. Enjoy! Michael

Alan Keyes is a Bitter Republican Loser

Good Morning Bloggers - Well, once again I'm not surprised by the craziness of the Republican far right. The McCain campaign was bad enough, but the idea that they're still fighting to keep Barack Obama out of office is simply mind-blowing.

The Houston Chronicle, a fairly reputable newspaper, is reporting this morning that "the U.S. Supreme Court will consider Friday whether to take up a lawsuit challenging President-elect Barack Obama's U.S. citizenship, a continuation of a New Jersey case embraced by some opponents of Obama's election." This does NOT make the Supreme Court look good if it's true. The document was certified by a state government for heaven's sake.

So, they still think the birth certificate is a forgery. The birth certificate that was officially validated by the government of Hawaii, one of the fifty states. The conspiracy theorists are all up in arms because the governor of that beautiful state had the certificate sealed to protect it. They, of course, are reading that to mean that it's a forgery and should be authenticated by the US Government. Wow, that says a lot about states' rights.

It's fortunate that most legal experts say the appeal has very little chance of succeeding. Most observers believe the court will not overlook the fact that state OFFICIALS stamped it as authentic - something courts rely on every day to settle disputes.

Alan Keyes, who lost to Obama in the 2004 Illinois Senate race, is one of the plaintiffs. What the hell is your problem dude? Do you enjoy stirring crap everywhere you go? Your suit is a joke, which kind of makes you a joke. There, I've said it, YOU ARE A JOKE!

Hawaiian officials say the certificate is locked in a state vault to protect it. No matter what you think, they are the officials and you're not. They have the authority to call it authentic and to lock it up to protect it. GET OVER IT YOU FREAKIN LOSER! I say that to both Keyes and all you Republican idiots out there who keep wasting our time.

I think we Democrats need to get used to this crap. When you listen to the Republican crazies out there like O'Reilly, Hannity, Savage, Beck, it's obvious that we're going to have an irrational opposition for many years to come. They're going to continually pitch whatever dirt they can, just to see what sticks. The McCain campaign was a dirt throwing machine. Of course, they're blind to the fact that they all look like SCUM!

Barack is an American! Deal with it you weirdos! I guess the only answer is to work harder and talk louder about things Americans really care about. That should make help drown out their BS. I do have one prediction though. After living through the last eight years, I'm of the opinion that once everything is back on track, and people begin to feel comfortable about how things are going, they will once again start to listen to the crazy right.

Those guys always seem to benefit when things quiet down, and people begin to dwell on issues that divide us, instead of what matters. They feed on that division. It is obvious to me and many Americans that they are the bottom-dwelling scum. They mostly surface after we clean up. Just like mold in the real world, they grow on healthy bodies, turning it dark and slimy. Oh well, let's do our best to keep the mold away for as long as possible. Anybody have a good anti-fungal to use on Alan Keyes?

Thursday's Political Rant #1 - Michael