Although they are waking up slowly, and maybe too late there are a few Republican Lawmakers that are saying no to Bush.
Either they are coming to their senses, have found a conscience or they are afraid of being prosecuted for war crimes, what ever their reason, they are taking a stand, and as with the rest of Americans are being brushed aside by him. He thinks he is above the law, so far he has failed to be prosecuted or impeached, but no one is above the law, no one can continue to lead a Country based on deceit and lies and hope to never have their World collapse around them, just as with Suddam he too will fall.
Martha
Name-Calling On Iraq

In yesterday's staged 11-hour debate on the Hill about the war in Iraq, supporters of Bush's bungled misadventure fell back on name-calling and deceit. Lacking any substantive rebuttal, pro-war legislators called critics who support a withdrawal plan "defeatist" and invoked the mother of all lies about the war in Iraq: that there was some association between Iraq and 9/11. But opponents of Bush's war were not so easily cowed.

While five Republicans have joined Democrats in opposing the war and supporting a withdrawal plan, the day's best oratory came from the lawmakers who knew the war was a mistake from the beginning. Rep. Barbara Lee and Rep. Lynn Woolsey both voted against the Iraq resolution in 2002. Rep. Lee attacked the pro-war camp's claim that Iraq is part of a larger counterterrorism strategy (in a recent survey , a majority of 100 top foreign policy experts agreed that Iraq had made the world more dangerous):

Today, we reached the sad milestone of 2,500 American brave troops who have given their lives and by the end of the year will have committed close to $400 billion.

Are we any safer as a result of this purposeless war in Iraq? Not according to the 9/11 Commission who’s report card gave the administration a failing grade in virtually every category relating to terrorism preparedness.

The Republicans try to claim that Iraq is the central front on the global war on terror. But the fact is, it has undermined our ability to protect our nation.

National security professionals recognize this, Mr. Speaker.

And let’s be clear: we’re spending billions to occupy a county that did not have weapons of mass destruction or terrorist ties and at the same time we’re cutting programs to secure our ports and keep nuclear materials out of the hands of terrorists. There’s something really wrong.

...

And while we’re debating this very bogus resolution, the most substantive decision on Iraq policy in recent days was taken out by the Republican majority behind closed doors.

They stripped from the war supplemental an amendment that we offered to prevent the establishment of permanent military bases in Iraq.

The American people don’t want an open-ended war and occupation.

Quietly removing a measure that was approved by both the House and the Senate is a gross abuse of the democratic process, and is further evidence that Republicans are afraid to level with the American people about their real plans for Iraq.

Let me tell you, there will be a day of reckoning. The American people are demanding answers.

“They deserve a truthful accounting of how we got into this unnecessary war, how the billions of dollars have been misspent, and when our troops are coming home.


And also they really deserve to know IF our troops are coming home, given recent reports that the administration is considering leaving a permanent force of 50,000 troops in Iraq and indications that establishing permanent military bases are not off the table.

And Rep. Lynn Woolsey excoriated the president's lack of leadership and summarized her own plan for getting out of Iraq:Just this week, the President of the United States said this about Iraq: "My message to the enemy is don't count on us leaving before we succeed...Don't bet on American politics forcing my hand, because it's not going to happen."

Except, Mr. Speaker, it's completely unclear what constitutes success, or when the mission will be "accomplished," under these circumstances.

Saying "we'll stand down when the Iraqis stand up" - well, that's just a talking point that gives the American people no clear guide as to when they can expect this war to end.

By leaving this question vague, by defining success entirely on his own terms, the President is allowing himself an open-ended commitment and a blank check in Iraq.

As for his hand being forced by American politics...what the President calls "American politics" is actually a majority of our citizens outraged at the loss of life, the hundreds of billions spent and the global credibility we've squandered.

The American people see 2,500 U.S. troops killed as of this morning; more than 18,000 U.S. soldiers gravely wounded; and thousands of others mentally and physically traumatized from their experience in the war. They see us losing the equivalent of one battalion every month in Iraq.

And they want answers. They don't want partisan resolutions - like the one before the House today - that does nothing to end this war.

All these sacrifices, Mr. Speaker, and for what? None of it is making Americans or Iraqis safer. In fact, the presence of nearly 150,000 American troops in Iraq has become a rallying point for anti-American extremists in the Arab world.

The people of this country support our troops - knowing there is nothing inconsistent about having the deepest contempt for this war while expressing the utmost admiration for the soldiers on the front lines.

Last fall, I traveled to Iraq and visited with our troops. My conversations with them confirmed what I already knew - that these are uniquely loyal, intelligent and courageous Americans.

If only those who are running this war had half the honor and integrity of the men and women who are fighting it.

It's time this Congress caught up to the American people. And it's time that the Commander-in-Chief "stepped up" by offering a solution instead of dismissing Americans' anxiety as just "politics."

It's time to establish a multilateral security force to keep the peace in Iraq, while shifting the U.S. role from military occupier to reconstruction partner. It's time to give Iraq back to the Iraqis; not continue occupying the bases...not attempting to control their oil.

This is what the American people want, Mr. Speaker. They want an end to this war. They're not certain exactly how or when, but then it's our job to execute those details.

They're looking to us for leadership. It's time this Congress and the President of the United States provided some.

--Alexandra Walker | Friday, June 16, 2006 11:09 AM

Every now and then a little humor can make one see the truth better than truth without humor.
I found this and felt it may jar people back to reality, although it is funny, it has more truth than humor.
Martha

Subject: New Element Discovered in the wake of Katrina

A major research institution has recently announced the discovery of the
heaviest chemical yet known to science. This new element has been
tentatively named "Governmentium."

Governmentium has one neutron, 12 assistant neutrons,
75 deputy neutrons, and 224 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an
atomic mass of 312.

These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are
surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.

Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert.
However, it can be detected as it impedes every reaction with which it
comes into contact.

A tiny amount of Governmentium causes one reaction to take over four
days to complete when it would normally take less than a second.
Governmentium has a normal half-life of four years; it does not decay
but instead, it undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the
assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places. In fact,
Governmentium's mass will actually increase over time since each
reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming
isodopes.

This characteristic of moron-promotion leads some scientists to
speculate that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a certain
quantity in concentration. This hypocritical quantity is referred to as
"Critical Morass."

You will know it when you see it. When catalyzed with money,
Governmentium becomes Administratium, an element which radiates just as
much energy since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons.

If you think our Republican controlled Nation is doing so well read the following articles.
We are headed for one of the most devastating depressions our Country has ever known, we are a Bankrupt nation.
Is it their claim of being such God loving people that continues to cause voters to vote them in, or is it the deception that they are going to fill your pockets with gold?
Is it the brainwashing technique they are using on the voters, telling them how evil the liberals are, or is it that America just don't take the time to look at the truth?
Before you go to the polls in November do your homework.
Please know who will work to give us back our Country!
Martha

US continues global market slump
BBC News
The global stock market sell-off has continued with US shares the latest to suffer amid mounting fears about inflation and interest rates.
The Dow Jones index sank more than 80 points, wiping out its gains for the year after worrying inflation figures.

Meanwhile, Japanese stocks saw their biggest one-day fall in two years and European stocks hit six-and-a-half month lows.

Commodity prices also fell with gold witnessing biggest drop in 25 years.

Gold prices dropped below the $600 mark, falling as low as $565.50 during the day, while copper prices stood 35% off peaks of $4.04 hit just last month.

Elsewhere, crude prices slid $1.80 in the US to close at three week lows of $68.56 a barrel.

Earlier, the FTSE 100, France's Cac and the German Dax index all closed about 2% lower, hours after Japan's Nikkei index closed down 4.1%.

The sell-off did little to calm jittery US investors, who led Wall Street on a roller coaster ride ahead of official data showing inflation had risen more than expected.

US rates

According to a US government report core wholesale prices, excluding food and energy, rose by 0.3% in May, more than the forecast 0.2% rise.

The data solidified belief that the Federal Reserve would raise the benchmark US interest rate to 5.25% after its 28-29 June meeting, the 17th rise in a row.

Traders added that some US investors had kept to the sidelines ahead of further consumer price inflation figures due out on Wednesday.

"The (reports) are continuing the theme of the last couple of weeks of an increase in inflation and a slowdown in economic growth, neither of which is good for equities," said Nollenburger Capital Partners director of stock trading Todd Clark.

UK figures released on Tuesday showed inflation hitting 2.2% in May, a seven-month high.

Although the rise was expected, the rate is now above the British government's target rate of 2%.

'Bumpy road'

Bank of England governor Mervyn King had earlier added to investors' uncertainty with a speech given on Monday.

He told business leaders in Scotland that recent fluctuations in stock markets reflected an economic outlook which was "far from certain" and that a "bumpier stretch of road" lay ahead.

The Nikkei lost 614.4 points - its largest single-day fall this year - to end at 14,218.6, a seven-month low. Big falls were also seen in Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Australia.

South Asian markets followed suit in early trading. Bombay's Sensex fell 4.2% to a low for the year of 9,080 points.

Analysts said that markets were likely to remain volatile until there was more clarity about the state of global growth and the direction of interest rates in the US.

The Short View: Braced for very bad news

By Philip Coggan, Investment Editor

06/13/06 " Financial Times" -- -- Another day, another bout of jitters on global equity markets. This time round, it seemed to be a rash of hawkish statements from Federal Reserve governors that convinced investors more US rate rises were on the way.

The extent of the Fed’s anti-inflation rhetoric is such that some analysts are looking beyond this month’s meeting. “We now think that the Fed will raise the funds rate by 25 basis points at the June meeting, and possibly at the August meeting,” says Richard Berner, US economist at Morgan Stanley. “(This) will pose a continued challenge to risky asset markets.”
That investors were braced for very bad news from the economic data was shown by the release of the US producer price index numbers. Even though the core index rose 0.3 per cent in May, slightly more than expected, equity markets rebounded after the announcement, since even worse had been feared.

The recent swing in sentiment was shown by Merrill Lynch’s monthly poll of fund managers which found that 61 per cent expected the global economy to slow in the next 12 months, compared with 40 per cent in April. The proportion of managers who are overweight equities has fallen from 66 to 54 per cent in the same period.

The most dramatic change in sentiment has been in Japan where the Nikkei 225 index is down 17 per cent since May 9 and 11 per cent on the year. Many global investors were caught out by the strength of the Japanese market last year and were forced to chase it this year. It looks as if this “hot money” is being swiftly withdrawn. But the Japanese market’s decline may have a silver lining. It may mean the Bank of Japan will be slower to raise interest rates, which will reduce the potential monetary squeeze on the global economy. Hugh Hendry of the Eclectica hedge fund says the markets are a bit of a paradox just now. Many investors are worried about inflation – but they are too early. He believes the US economy is about to have a sharp slowdown that will cause the Fed to slash interest rates. That may cause inflation in the long run but will be hugely beneficial for Treasury bonds in the short term.

philip.coggan@ft.com

How can we hope to take our Country back when our Democratic Lawmakers are ignoring us and voting with the ones that is destroying us.
Look at the ones in the list below and see if your Lawmaker is there, if they are write them a letter, tell them you know of their betrayal.
Let them know that you will be publicizing their name and their vote when they run again.
Please fight back, if you aren't a registered voter, register, and cast your vote.
We need real Democrats as lawmakers, instead of the ones that are voting against us.
How can we hope to take our Country back when our Democratic Lawmakers are ignoring us and voting with the ones that are destroying us.

Alabama did good this time.

THESE ARE THE SENATORS WHO VOTED TO GIVE ILLEGAL ALIENS SOCIAL SECURITY
BENEFITS.



REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL PARTY, THESE POLITICIANS NEED TO BE DEFEATED

IN 2006, 2008 OR 2010 WHENEVER THEY COME UP FOR OFFICE.



SEND THIS TO ANYONE YOU KNOW IN ANY OF THE STATES LISTED. THE ENTIRE
POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES NEED TO KNOW THIS NFORMATION.



THAT IS UNLESS YOU DO NOT MIND SHARING YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY WITH ILLEGAL
ALIENS WHO HAVEN'T PAID INTO THE SYSTEM, WHEN FUTURE ELIGIBLE

AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE BEING SHORTED AS THE FUND DIMENISHES.

Grouped by Home State
Alabama:
Alaska:Stevens (R-AK), Yea
Arizona:McCain (R-AZ), Yea
Arkansas:Lincoln (D-AR), YeaPryor (D-AR), Yea
California:Boxer (D-CA), YeaFeinstein (D-CA), Yea
Colorado:Salazar (D-CO), Yea
Connecticut:Dodd (D-CT), YeaLieberman (D-CT), Yea
Delaware:Biden (D-DE), YeaCarper (D-DE), Yea
Florida:Martinez (R-FL), Yea
Georgia:
Hawaii:Akaka (D-HI), YeaInouye (D-HI), Yea
Idaho:
Illinois:Durbin (D-IL), YeaObama (D-IL), Yea
Indiana:Bayh (D-IN), YeaLugar (R-IN), Yea
Iowa:Harkin (D-IA), Yea
Kansas:Brownback (R-KS), Yea
Kentucky:
Louisiana:Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Maine:
Maryland:Mikulski (D-MD), YeaSarbanes (D-MD), Yea
Massachusetts:Kennedy (D-MA), YeaKerry (D-MA), Yea
Michigan:Levin (D-MI), YeaStabenow (D-MI), Yea
Minnesota:
Mississippi:
Missouri:
Montana:Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Nebraska:Hagel (R-NE), Yea
Nevada:Reid (D-NV), Yea
New Hampshire:
New Jersey:Lautenberg (D-NJ), YeaMenendez (D-NJ), Yea
New Mexico:Bingaman (D-NM), Yea
New York:Clinton (D-NY), YeaSchumer (D-NY), Yea
North Carolina:
North Dakota:Dorgan (D-ND), Yea
Ohio:DeWine (R-OH), YeaVoinovich (R-OH), Yea
Oklahoma:
Oregon:Wyden (D-OR), Ye a
Pennsylvania:Specter (R-PA), Yea
Rhode Island:Chafee (R-RI), YeaReed (D-RI), Yea
South Carolina:Graham (R-SC), Yea
South Dakota:Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Tennessee:
Texas:
Utah:
Vermont:Jeffords (I-VT), YeaLeahy (D-VT), Yea
Virginia:
Washington:Cantwell (D-WA), YeaMurray (D-WA), Yea
West Virginia:Rockefeller (D-WV), Not Voting
Wisconsin:Feingold (D-WI), YeaKohl (D-WI), Yea
Wyoming:

This is a good example of the Bush Administration and his regard of the men and women that are fighting for our Country.
I think if one will research it they will find that the VA Hospitals are being ran by either The Carlyle Group or Halliburton, they have no regard for the safety or well being of our injured Troops, their only concern is for the profit they are making off them.
Martha
________________________________________________________________
Veterans Warned of Possible Virus Exposure
PDF | Email
The Associated Press
Jun 2, 2006 6:59 AM (5 hrs ago)

MILWAUKEE - More than 2,000 veterans were advised they might have been exposed to deadly viruses such as HIV when they underwent prostate biopsies at a medical center for veterans, a newspaper reported Friday.

The Department of Veterans Affairs sent letters dated May 8 to 2,075 men who had the biopsies between 1989 and 2003 at the Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said.

The letter cautions that equipment may not have been properly sterilized and encourages the veterans to return to the center for a free blood screening.

The risk was described as "very small," and officials said they have "no evidence that any patient who had a prostate biopsy ... has acquired an infection."

"We want to do the right thing here," medical center spokesman Chris Houterman told the newspaper. "We want to allay concerns."

Houterman said 304 men have gotten blood tests so far and none turned up positive for hepatitis C, hepatitis B or HIV, the three viruses being screened.

Zablocki is among 21 VA medical centers in the nation where potential sterilization problems were found with prostate biopsy equipment. It upgraded its equipment in 2003 and no longer is using the device in question.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.