barbara friedland

C evil

Cheney is a coward.  A cruel caitiff.  Cunning yet careless.

Crude.  Cynical.  Certainly too circumspect.

Conniving.  Contrary to chivalrous.  

He is a cheat.  A (war) Criminal.

Constantly creating chaos.  

Challenging to our Constitution.

A counterfeit patriot.  Calling Cheney a curmudgeon countermands how

dangerous he really is.

Crafty.  

A calamity for our country.  

Counter to counter intelligence.  

Clearly culpable for our vulnerability on 9/11.

Canine- sorry dog lovers.  Cheney is like an angry cur.

Champion of corporate crimes.

Caught breaking the laws.  

A Supreme Court challenge created the case to conquer Gore in 2000.

Certainly compromised our electoral systems and votes that were cast.

Caught cursing in the Congress.

Calculating.

Indict him and bring him to court.

The Stars and Stripes belongs to us all

During the turbulent 1960's and the now acknowledged failed war in Vietnam, liberals lost use of the 

American flag.

Brain dead folks waved it and put images on their bumper stickers.  America, love it or leave it.

As if one group, a silent majority as Richard Nixon called them, could determine how hundreds of

millions of people should demonstrate their love for their country.

It is not, we see clearly through the prism of time, to support a corrupt war and a disgraced 

Chief Executive.  Again, I am referring to Nixon, not George W. Bush.  For the moment.

Our nation was predicated and built on the belief of freedom of speech and the press, together

with three branches of government balancing one another.

To question actions taken on our behalf, by elected officials is not unpatriotic. Nor does it

merit exile.  It is what the Founding Fathers wanted.

In the brief time of unity following the attacks on 9/11, everyone seemed to reclaim the flag.

Except we had an evil President.  One, who if smart and alert, could have prevented the

tragedies of that day.  Or mitigated them.

Instead, he used terror and sadness to fashion his own venal agenda.  Tax cuts and

wars.

This President, unelected and cowardly, never learned the lessons of Vietnam.  Because he

did not serve.  Nor is he intellectually curious or interested in expanding his mind

through the study of history.

Thus, he started another war, with vague enemies and too much sacrifice by the military.

And we are still fighting it.

That is unpatriotic.  Of course Bush, Cheney and the whole crew, are more than that.

They are traitors and war criminals.  

Fools and cowards are not their most compelling faults since they sold out their country.

Our country.

And yet these people called others unpatriotic.  It was oft stated that if you did not

support George W. Bush, then you- in an inane absence of logic- were giving

comfort to our enemies.

Now it is clear that if you opposed Bush, you were supporting America.

Republicans seem to be the first ones questioning fealty to our nation.  Perhaps as a diversion.

But it is obvious that if you hate government, you disdain American.  For what is government but

a representation of, for and by the people,  The citizens.

Anyone who does not realize that taxes are critical to our nation's progress, well, they

hate us too. 

Elected and appointed leaders who abrogate our liberties, thus despise our freedoms.

The fact that Bush and Cheney authorized torture, outed a covert CIA agent and

threw our military into an invasion that had less planning than a PTA bake sale,

demonstrates that they are both monsters and quislings.

To pay taxes, support all Americans, respect and remedy government and question

policies is to love America.

Indict Bush.  Don't scapegoat a few underlings over torture.  

Just like drug investigations- aim for the head of the cartel.

They did not keep us safe

Not by any standard in the world.

Why do Americans allow these traitors and war criminals bleat repeatedly

that their actions, usually heinous and wrong, protected our country.

Imagine if you will, a soldier, stationed to guard duty.

He is relatively new, having been in the army for around 7 or 8 months.

He is continually warned about different potential enemies.  He is briefed in 

person and by intelligence memo.

Then one day, after weeks of ignoring the tocsins, this soldier decides to go on vacation.

He needs some rest and biking.  He returns to his post, sort of, and is present when

the unit is attacked.

And by the very group he has been warned about.  Dozens of iterations.

At first the soldier is paralyzed during the actual onslaught and then escapes from view.

For the entire battle.

Many are killed and more are wounded.  Braver men and women try to save those 

who were attacked.  The guard later promises bold action and revenge.  But sadly

it is all talk.

If this were true, and a soldier deliberately ignored repeated warnings and allowed those

he was sworn to protect, die, he would be court martialed.

Imagine if this fictitious soldier was able to use his dead comrades to further his own agenda.

And abridge freedoms and rights within the military groups.

But Bush, George W., is not in the military.  His brief stint did not prompt him to actually

show up all of the time.  A lot like his Presidency.

They claim they kept us safe from 9/12 on.

Except for that detail Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy your evening at the theater?

Bush, Cheney and the entire venal band did not keep us safe.  They ignored warnings

from our own intelligence and many world leaders.  They then further sacrificed

the dead and injured by using the fear and terror of many citizens to start and bungle

an invasion while cutting taxes for the wealthy.

Bush in essence deserted his post.  As Chief Executive and Commander in Chief.

Since he can not be brought to court martial, let's indict him.

It is George W.'s fault

that I was late to work yesterday.  Actually, I was on time, just not early.  As has been my habit recently.

I usually take one of the tunnels to travel eastside to westside in Baltimore City. But yesterday, all the roads were crowded with vehicles sausaged together.  I wasn't aware during rush hour, but a water main had broken in the downtown area.  Commuters were advised to find alternate routes. 

Those unfortunately caught in the snarl of flooding, traffic and work crews, were delayed by more than 2 hours.

For all the folks who hate government, despise taxes or  feel their mission in life is to simply reduce tax rates for the uber wealthy....

here is a scenario where citizens need the public sector and money.  Tax dollars. 

To replace old and failing infrastructure.  Not just here in my town, but throughout the United States.

Clean up crews are still working to pump out the garage, more than 24 hours later.  Businesses were disrupted and closed.

Even the Orioles game was affected, since the streets in question are en route to the Stadium.

Of course Bush was evil and stupid.  A lying war criminal and apathetic Commander in Chief.  His otiose indifference exacerbated the ramifications of the 9/11 attacks.  Possibly, with the available intelligence, they could have been stopped.

Bush the torturer.  The man who merrily left business and financial systems unregulated.  That is old news.

Everyone knows his failings.  But there is so much more.  

The bulging deficit.  The compromised environment.  Lost time in science and ecology.

Plus the absence of actually governing.

Ronald Reagan used to say that government was the problem.  No, evil leaders are the problem.

President Eisenhower oversaw building the interstate highway system in the United States.

Now we can't afford to maintain it.

People need to pay taxes.  If we want schools, police, roads, mail delivery and garbage pick up.

Government can also be a partner to find solutions to problems facing us and the world presently.

People who make more money, need to pay more taxes.  Trickle down means just that.

Maybe some gruel will pass through.  To the poorer classes.  You know, the men

and women who fight our wars.  Remove trash and fix the roads.

And since the Bush/Cheney assault on the middle class, other public servants are financially

struggling while trying to help the citizenry.

If you don't want to pay taxes, or your fair share, no problem.  No bailouts either.

And your Mercedes is going to suffer from driving off road.  Even private security details

rely on police departments.

Also, if you hate government, then by all means, don't run for public office. Or steal it when 

you lose.

Indict Bush.  Use a federal prosecutor.  Another way that government can help us.

Ross Douthat

The New York Times has a new conservative columnist, who, from his debut column, is poised to make William Kristol seem sane. 

Mr. Douthat has some linear control and puts forth a semi coherent argument, which means that Glenn Beck retains the position of unstable, drooling idiot.

Douthat has written that Dick Cheney should have been the Republican nominee for President in 2008.

Really?  I am speechless.  Why don't we have a traitorous war criminal campaign for the highest office in the United States?

Is Charles Manson too busy...?-  wait he is just a crazy psychopath who did not have the means to kill tens of thousands of people.

How about someone from the Khmer Rouge?  Citizenry issues.  Plus, these folks are apologizing for the more than 1.5 million dead.  Cheney has no issues of contrition nor does he believe that he did anything wrong.

Douthat  posits, I think, that a Cheney candidacy would crystallize true conservatism and provide a referendum on the tenets.

 Again, really?  Like unprovoked wars, poorly planned invasions, no preparation for homeland

defense and tax cuts for the rich....  all been proven to be public policy failures.

Why don't we scrounge around and find a Republican who states that the earth is flat and test that theory?

Look amongst those folks who don't believe in evolution and I am certain that "the ships will fall

off the edge of the earth" sort can easily be found.

Dick Cheney is not only evil, lacking any level of compassion or concern for the common good, but he is a coward.

A traitor.  A war criminal.  A mass murderer.  

Still, I understand he has a point that he wishes to make.  The former Vice-President- stolen office of course- is desperate to burnish his dismal legacy and prove that torture, invalidating large chunks of the Constitution and engaging in random warfare are all justified.

Fine- give him his day in court.  Literally.

Indict him.

Obessessed

The new movie starring Beyonce and two other people looks boilerplate and boring.

Derivative and stale.  Rabbit stew anyone?

The tabloids insist that Jennifer Aniston is obsessed with ex-husband Brad Pitt,

and by extension his present partner, Angelina Jolie.

I can not move past George W. Bush.  He is a perfect storm of negative,

evil and destructive qualities.  

According to Buddhism, all sentient beings possess the ten worlds, arching from enlightenment 

to the agonies of hell and anger.  However, one must try to tap into their 

better nature.  It is not automatic.  Or, apparently, instinctual.

Example:  Alberto Gonzalez.

Thus, because I follow Nichiren Dashonin's philosophy, I can not state that Dick Cheney

is completely evil.  I can proffer that all of his actions seem to come from the lower worlds

or the three poisons, as set forth by Buddhist writings.

By the way, the poisons are: anger, stupidity and greed.  

Whew, that just described the last 8 years.

What is even more galling about this lethal and venal twosome, and their coterie,

is that 1. neither seems at all remorseful or penitent; 2 each man believes that

their actions were not the design of Satan; 3 Cheney will not go away.

As in leave.  Be quiet.  Stop predicting terrorist attacks and justifying torture.

When I am bored, I play the game which is worse:  stupid and evil or smart and evil?

Both conditions are quite frightening.  But the Bush administration, stolen though it might

be, provides us with plenty of evil at both ends of the intelligence spectrum.

What is missing, at the present time, is manifestation of the law of cause and effect.

People who, after seizing the Executive Branch, proceeded to generate an endless parade

of cruel and inept measures.  Except for Cheney-  I believe he knew what he was doing.

Where is justice- man made or delivered by an enraged deity or universe?

Just an aside, if these men mandated and carried out torture, not to find out information

to protect our country but to fashion "confessions" justifying our illegal invasion of Iraq,

then there is no court equipped to adequately deal with them.  No punishment exists for such

treasonous actions.

The other version or rationale is that these so called leaders knew that torture did not

work, were not gleaning any useful intelligence and still persisted in their actions.

Which overlays their ostensible guidelines of leadership- doesn't work?

No problem.

As I stated at the start, everything reminds me of W.  Our bloated deficit.  Two 

losing wars.  The destruction of the Twin Towers.  Financial Meltdown.  New Orleans.

Science falling into disrepute.  

Indict him already.

Food Diary

Okay so this will not be the journals of Shakespeare.  There won't be any profound insight

on these pages.  Missing will be life changing ideas and words parsed in perfect

harmony.

It will probably just be a compendium of chocolate. I decided that I want to lose a few pounds.

And since I eat extremely healthy victuals in small portions, there is only one category's intake

has to be significantly reduced.  Sweets.  And that means chocolate.

Certainly my daily ingestion of spinach and no fat yogurt are fine.  I love vegetables.  It is

my penultimate food,  Next to candy.

I start to hallucinate by day three when I have tried in the past, to totally eschew desserts.

That is the reason that I can't stay on the South Beach Diet-  also grapefruit juice.  Won't

start my day without a glass of this incredible beverage.  When I was in college, I lifeguarded

during the summers.  This was the only drink that slaked my thirst.  I have loved it

ever since.  Fresh squeezed juice of this citrus fruit, is ambrosia.  Manna from 

heaven.  I know that the refrigerated containers all claim this.  But such commercial

products can not compare to taking one, halving it and forcing out the sweet/

tart liquid.  

But I digress.  Sort of.  Any diet that denies foods found in nature, is truly suspect.

I know that some regimes limit this or that for a few weeks.  Again, not acceptable.

As Americans we consume too much slop that lacks nutrients.  Really-

how much does a traditional fast food meal add to someone's overall health?

Unfortunately, I don't consume such food.  Nor do I drink much alcohol,

or eat highly salted snack and processed products.

No, the only way to cut calories will be from chocolate.  One of the reasons that

I get up in the morning.  Okay, get out of bed.

I start thinking about brownies during the last fifteen minutes of spin class.

And there is always a stash of fun size candy in my house.

So I have decided that in lieu of recording the plates of vegetables, bowls of 

oatmeal with blueberries as well as lean fish and salad.  I don't mean to brag

but my doctor has asked me to try to consume more salt. Not much NaCl

in Milky Way Midnight.

I will simply record the sweets I eat every day.  Hoping to shame myself into just a few

treats daily.

Indict Bush.

Ronald Reagan

You can fool some of the people some of the time.  But if you are Republican strategists, you

think you can fool all of the people all of the time.

For anyone who made 10 million dollars or less annually during the Reagan administration

and loved him-  you are an idiot.

If you are or know folks who are gay, or care about humanity writ large and admired this

President- you are an idiot.

People who support unions, workers or those marginalized by society and voted for

RR- you are an idiot.

Anyone who has money invested in a now completed unregulated Wall Street

and tears up at the name of Reagan- you are an idiot.

People who would like to see vibrant transportation systems in our country

and feel that he was a good Chief Executive- you are an idiot.

Citizens who are truly Christian or believe in family values and respect 

this man- you are an idiot.

Taxpayers who want to see a more equitable system in lieu of a huge

transfer of wealth to the rich, and you supported Reagan-

you are an idiot.

Married couples who did not perceive that enabling and almost

psychotic relationship between Ronnie and Mommy- his pet

name for Nancy- you are idiots.

By the way, Reagan calling his wife by such a sobriquet when

their children were not relevant to their lives was simply

creepy.  Dr. Freud, call your office.

Military enthusiast and fans of war who believe that Reagan conquered

Communism by simply saying: "Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall"-

well I have a bridge in Brooklyn.  Guess what- it's for sale.

Anyone who opines that bringing the Bush family into the Executive branch

was a good idea- then you are a moron.  I mean idiot.

People who believe that all jobs entail preparation together with hard work

and discern that Reagan brought such qualities to the Oval Office-

idiot.

If you think that Mr. Reagan was not stricken with Alzheimer's while still

President, ....

I will say in his defense, that at least the 40th President of the United States

was elected.  Both times.

Impeach Bush.

W might do in Talbots

Or Macy's.  Maybe Bed, Bath and Beyond or perhaps Best Buy.

When you decimate the middle class, you also take down where they frolicked.

Some companies did nothing wrong.  I am not referring to bankers or car manufacturers.

Most brands have tried to keep afloat while their natural consistency goes under.

Hard to buy new clothes when the house is being foreclosed on or the job is in jeopardy.

Tough to rationalize eating out when the bank account has a negative balance.

I am not referring to Le Cirque but independently owned restaurants or moderately

priced chains.

For some reason, the hate filled Republican Conservatives loathe the middle class.

And you thought their vile was only focused on gays, immigrants, Arabs, 

and science teachers.

They may despise the poor but they are bound and determined to swell their ranks.

How else can you explain tax cuts for the uber rich?  No real business regulation.

And then rewarding the criminals, I mean corporate executives.

I hired a new accountant this year.  She is wonderful.  She is looking to retire in a decade

or so.  Thus, she has been helping folks prepare their taxes for years.  

She told me that she witnessed the largest erosion of the middle class, from her vantage point, during

the past eight years.  What does that coincide with....?  Wait the stolen Bush Presidency.

We are becoming, she insists, a country of rich and poor.  There will be some at the extremes of both groups.

So, if our population cleaves in half, there will be demand for the cheap places to shop.  Wal-Mart and 

McDonald's will do fine.  Those clawing to save a penny on detergent will not care about the sustainability

ramifications of a mega corporation or fast food practices.  And how their actions can pulverize our planet.

Of course the rich can buy pretty much of whatever they want.  (However, Dick Cheney-

vindication and truth are not for sale.)

Businesses that helped the majority of mothers and families will suffer.  Many will fail

and others will continue to struggle to make a profit.

I hope that Talbots will survive.  Thank you Michelle Obama for wearing one of their dresses on 

a recent magazine cover.  I have oft said that if Sarah Palin had shopped there, her bill would

have been a fraction of the reported $150,000 or the rumored figure of more than double that.

So, to add to Bush's legacy- of torture, treason, war crimes, fiscal mismanagement,

lying to the citizenry, we can include destroyed Norman Rockwell's America.

Indict him already.

 

You're killing me

I have a modest plan, a small suggestion.  It is elegant and simple, and I believe, brilliant.

There is a lot of talk recently about torture and interrogation.  Dick Cheney, former Vice-President,

and full time Satanist, insists that nothing the Bush administration did was wrong.

The techniques utilized were not only not illegal nor immoral but they yielded tons 

of important information.  The world according to Cheney.

These thoughts against a backdrop of reiterations of proof that not only is torture inhumane but

people offer false testimony, their own goal is to stop.... the torture.

But Mr. Cheney insists that everyone else is wrong.  He is lobbying furiously

to release more memos demonstrating the level of intelligence that was gathered

using forceful means.

Right.  Such documents are housed next to the ones about unicorns.  And the tooth fairy.

But, I am willing to take this man at his word.  Not torture/important means of securing

information.  Got it.

Let's try it on him.

After all, we don't know what he did for 8 years.  The Congress asked, very politely

and he refused to testify.  Apparently he was not certain which branch of the government he 

belonged to since his duties also included presiding over the Senate.

Here's a hint Dick- you were a member of the Executive Branch.  Remember you were part of the 

cabal who hijacked the 2000 Presidential election.  Folks called you Mr. Vice President.

You hadn't stolen a legislative seat.

Really, all the clues are there.  

Still the Congress, chumps, backed down and off.  

But here is a perfect opportunity to vindicate Mr. Cheney.

Prove that the aggressive measures used in interrogation

are not torture while discovering what he did for 2 terms.

Better get a bathing suit.

Indict him and Bush.

Country of Spain- what happened?