The Abuse Will Go On. . .

The cynical election ploy of three repug senators was shown up for what it really was when they agreed that the Bush administration would be allowed to go forward with its illegal practices of detention, interrogation and trial of accused terrorists. Congress will not pass legislation that formally reinterprets or reaffirms the Geneva Conventions (no paper trail). Nor will the Senate, at least formally, endorse the administration's use of interrogation techniques that the civilized world regards as cruel and inhumane (in other words, torture). And, 'supposedly' trials of accused terrorists will be fairer than the system outlawed in June by the Supreme Court, as if we'll ever know what the new and improved system is.

Thus, Mr. Bush will continue using the CIA to secretly detain and abuse terrorist suspects. He will do so by implementing his own interpretation of the Geneva Conventions by executive order, and by relying on more than questionable Justice Department opinions authorizing such practices as exposing prisoners to hypothermia, waterboarding and prolonged sleep deprivation and so on and so on. Under the 'compromise' agreed to yesterday, Congress would recognize his authority to do this, while preventing prisoners from any appeal to U.S. courts. CIA personnel will also be immune from prosecution for these serious abuses of human rights, both past, present and future!

Such is the result of the 'moral indignation' of senators McCain, Graham and Warner (repugs all). So, U.S. violations of international law will continue with Congressional assent- fighting terror with terror. America's moral and legal standing in the world will only continue to suffer when such 'standards' are codified into American law, as it looks will be the case.

BLOG ON

The Worst of the Worst

"So, I have come to develop a loathing for him. If you want to accuse me of hating George Bush, go right ahead. Guilty as charged. If a man is this indifferent to the people whose lives hang in the balance based on his actions, I think he is a terrible person. If you don't hate him, you're not paying attention."- from Cenk Uygur's post titled "Top Ten Worst People in the Bush Administration" at the Huffington Post.

Click on the post link to read the entire article!

BLOG ON

Torture is Torture, Right?

Not in Bush world. . .

As most of us know, recently the Supreme Court ruled that al Qaeda detainees are protected by the Geneva Conventions, which ban "humiliating and degrading treatment." So, the 'law abiding' (lol) Bush administration is now telling the military that it may not (One supposes, no one in the administration had previously read the Geneva Conventions?) :

-force detainees to be naked, pose in a sexual manner or perform sexual acts.

--place hoods over detainees heads or duct tape eyes.

--beat or electrically shock, burn or otherwise inflict any form of pain on detainees.

--use hypothermia or treatment which will lead to heat injury of detainees.

--perform mock executions in front of detainees.

--deprive detainees of the necessary food, water and medical care.

--use dogs in interrogations of detainees.

But, not surprisingly, this sadistic administration wants it codified into law that the CIA may not be constrained from doing these things:

--attention grab, which involves the rough shaking of detainees.

--attention slap, an open-handed slap to the face of detainees.

--belly slap, meant to cause temporary pain to detainees, but no internal injuries.

--long-term standing and sleep deprivation of detainees, 40 hours at least.

--cold room, in which detainees are left naked in cells kept in the 50s and frequently doused with cold water.

--water boarding, in which detainees faces are covered with cellophane, then water is poured over it triggering an unbearable gag reflex.

. . .and who knows what else, because its 'secret'.

Since when does the law of the land not apply to everyone? Ahh, only in Bush world. . .

Scarey!

BLOG ON

Latest Data on Poverty in America

In this period of 'great economic growth', according to the delusional Bush administration, these recently released facts by the Census Bureau are quite telling of the real America:

-In 2003, 2004, and 2005, the percentage of the poor living in deep poverty stood at 42-43 percent, higher than in any prior years on record.

-The percentage of the poor who are below half the poverty line has risen steadily over the last two and half decades: from 34 percent in 1980 to 39 percent in 1990 to 43 percent this year.

-The actual percent of the population who lived in deep poverty in 2005 rose to 5.4 percent!

-The poverty rate is higher in the fourth year of an economic recovery (2005) than it was in the previous recession (2001).

-The median income for non-elderly households was $2,000 lower in 2005 than in the 2001 recession year.

These developments in a so-called 'economic recovery' are unprecedented in economic recoveries (with data going back to the 1960s). They are bad news for the poor, indeed.

It is the shame of the republic!

BLOG ON

Tell Everyone!

Connecticut is under attack by the notorious. . .

JOE BUSH a.k.a. The Monstrous Morph

Click above or on the title link to see the evil evidence
-Courtesy of the Huffington Post's 'Contagious Festival'.

(This message not endorsed by joe lieberman, george w. bush, their supporters or donors. Any similarity to persons living or dead is entirely intentional.)


BLOG ON