Posts Made By: Rod Kaufman

The dems are in the process of attaching a rider on the defense appropriations bill that calls for the expulsion of Rumsfeld as secretary of defense, citing the opinions of various generals who have served under him.
Bush has,in the past, firmly stood by Rumsfeld, flatly stating,"I am the decider."
It will be interesting to see how many republicans will support the defense appropriations bill with the stipulation calling for Rummy's resignation.
An interesting and clever tactic by the dems, don't you think?...

Halliburton executives ordered a big screen television, ten large tubs of tacos, chicken wings and cheese sticks for last year's superbowl and then billed taxpayers for their party, according to a lawsuit unsealed on Friday. The company didn't deny the facts but disputes the lawsuit, according to the LA Times. The lawsuit also claims the company defrauded the government by double and triple billing for internet, food and gym services for US soldiers serving in Iraq.
The above is in addition to the fact that the army corps of engineers has withheld $55.1 million in disputed charges.
According to the lawyer who filed the suit, "The administration is not enforcing the laws against fraud when it comes to contractors in Iraq.". "When it comes to seeing the law is executed, the Bush administration is a no-show."
Halliburton defends their actions by stating it was done to improve "morale".
Pass the chips!

Dick Cheney was interviewed on "Meet the Press"...
Mr Dick says he now recognizes the insurgency in Iraq is no longer "in it's last throes." He now states the obvious," I think there's no question but that we did not anticipate an insurgency that would last this long."
He added, "...the world is better off today with Saddam Hussein out of power." "Think where we'd be if he was still there."
Ok, let us think about it. Let's assume that cooler heads prevailed and the US never invaded Iraq and deposed Saddam. Where would we be?
Saddam, being the mean tyrant that he is, would likely continue to be sanctioned by the UN which is why he never acquired WMDs in the first place.
His chief enemy, Iran (and not in his view,BTW,the US) would be looking over their shoulder worrying about him and not focusing on the US and the rest of the middle east.
Al Qaeda would have continued to be denied a safe haven in Iraq instead of using it as a training camp for it's operations. Saddam, as you should know, did not want anything to do with Osama or his number two man or any of Al Qaeda, period.
More than 100,000 Iraqis would still believe alive as well as thousands of US and coalition forces.
The five billion per month price tag for our continuing folly in Iraq could have been better spent or squandered by a pork barrel republican congress.
Tony Blair wouldn't have to think about the date of his upcoming resignation and the status of the US in the middle east would be leaps and bounds ahead of where it is today.
Oh, we also would have had ample forces to deal with Afghanistan, which we are now in the process of losing.
Just think of where would have been if we never invaded Iraq and deposed Saddam...

As discussed on CNN last week, it now appears Al Qaeda has a formal employment policy in place, replete with an application process and vacation policy.
The reporters at CNN stated the vacation policy at Al Qaeda is more generous than their own. The application process presumably contains a background check.
Bush claims Iraq is the main front on terrorism and if they're not defeated there, we will have to face them in our own cities. Intelligence organizations report most insurgents are home-grown Iraqis and I've yet to see any evidence they're planning to invade the US.
So the Al Qaeda network must be differentiated between those that initiate sectarian violence in Iraq and those who initiate the insurgency and those who arrive as recruitments from Al Qaeda. If the employment process of Al Qaeda has formal employment practices complete with benefits, it appears it's coming out of the caves and shadows and is far removed from it's appearance in Iraq as a result of the policies of George W Bush.

President George W Bush, vice president Dick Cheney and political advisor Karl Rove, are under seige by the likes of Colin Powell, Lindsay Graham,and John McCain over the military tribunal plan of the Bush administration.
Imagine that, the finest minds on the planet being challenged by the likes of Colin Powell and John McCain. George W Bush, Dick Cheney and Karl Rove, ah yes, the giants...
Our leaders are under verbal assault from wacko liberals, to wit:
Colin Powell: " The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism." "To redefine Common article 111 would add to those doubts." "Furthermore, it would put our own troops at risk."
Imagine the nerve of that liberal wacko...
McCain issued a statement from suspected liberal wacko retired army general John Vessey, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff under Reagon, who had the huevos to state: "the measure would undermine the moral basis which has generally guided our conduct in war throughout history."
Imagine that, these lib wacks have the nerve and stupidity to inhibit a measure that would protect their own lib wacko heads from being beheaded, geez...

That's what's being said about the US report on Iran's nuclear program by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA.
The watchdog group evidently finds fault with US claims that Iran is enriching it's uranium to a weapons grade level.
"Outrageous and Dishonest" appear to be quite harsh but then again the world opinion of the US over the Iraq mess is what it is...

Jim,
It's reported in today's edition of the LA Times.

Big wyoming country thinks it's bigger than the feds when it comes to regulating firearms for convicted offenders.
At issue is Wyoming's demand to allow persons CONVICTED of domestic violence to regain their "right" to own a firearm. Federal law prohibits people with such convictions from owning guns. Wyoming is POed at the feds because the feds threatened to disallow 11,000 CONCEALED weapons permits the state issued as a substitute for federal background checks for firearms purchases.
Wyoming republican leaders are promising a vigorous fight to regain the "right" of convicts to to own firearms after republican leader Cale Case heard from a single constituent who had lost his "right" to bear arms after being convicted of domestic violence. The National Rifle Association and the Gun Owners Foundation are filing briefs in support of the state of Wyoming.
Evidently the current body count of victims of domestic violence isn't high enough for big Wyoming country. It's simply got to be bigger than it is.
Let's consider a hypothetical example of what might happen if Wyoming prevails in it's noble cause. A convicted perpertrator of domestic violence relapses and, after beating his partner with his gun butt, he decides it's not enough and strays the line and pumps a few rounds into her for good measure. He then goes to the office of his patent lawyer who informs his client his patent for a new fast-ammo loading clip has been awarded to someone from Fargo. The enraged convict goes bananas again and blows his lawyer away, as well. At least the lawyer's ten gallon hat contains the brain splatter, otherwise, it might have looked like ripe melon. Anyhow, the lawyer is kaput and the convict calmy departs the office to live in the woods...where he thinks things over and kills himself.
US District Judge Alan Johnson is scheduled to hear arguments in the case Oct 6th in Cheyenne.

Jim,
The IRS does indeed have a case against a so-called "liberal church". Although in the case I've read about, the church likened a sermon offered by Jesus in rebuttal to Bush's policy of pre-emptive warfare.
I suspect 99% of the other IRS cases involve direct or indirect solitation of political support for Bush. Such cases have involved members of the Church sending out mailers supporting Bush's presidency in '04 with the church grounds being utilized by Bush supporters to lick the stamps, stuff the mailers, etc.
Ultimately, I agree with you in that no politics should be preached from the pulpit, either liberal or conservative. I think the IRS is right in this case: take a neutral stance or lose your tax exempt status...

The IRS has finally had enough from trans-fat suckin, nicotene-puffin, bible thumping, gasoline guzzling dumb---Bush voters who preach politics from the pulpit.
The IRS has 40 cases pending in which the agency is seeking to remove the tax-exempt status of Churches who practice politics from the pulpit.In addition, the IRS issued warnings to 15000 chuches to stay neutral on politics.
It's about time...