Texas Republicans Launch New Vote Suppression Scheme

(202) 547-7610 - Fax (202) 547-8258
November 30, 2007
Contact: Matt Angle
On the web at http://www.lonestarproject.net/


Texas Republicans Launch New Vote Suppression Scheme
Craddick committee directive and GOP vote suppression think tank will attempt to justify denying Texans access to the ballot

Academic studies, media reports and fact based voter analysis consistently demonstrate that systematic, widespread or frequent voter fraud in Texas, or anywhere else in the United States, simply does not exist. Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick, however, has directed a State House committee to conduct an interim study on voter fraud with the clear intention of recommending legislation to limit the ability of thousands of eligible Texans to vote. (See the order here)


At the same time, former Tom DeLay aide and current Tom Craddick ally, John Colyandro, who remains under felony indictment for money laundering and other charges, has formed a "think tank" that is already using faulty data and illogical statistics to justify vote suppression tactics.

These most recent Texas Republican efforts to suppress voter turnout are consistent with Texas AG Greg Abbott's taxpayer funded phony voter fraud enforcement unit that the Lone Star Project has exposed and reported on extensively here.

Why do Tom Craddick and other Texas Republican leaders want to spend taxpayer resources to examine a problem that doesn't exist? Clearly Craddick, Abbott and others are attempting to justify dramatic changes in Texas law and election practices, including voter photo ID requirements, senior mail ballot restrictions and voter roll purges, that will reduce overall voter turnout as demographic changes take place in Texas that are increasing the influence of minorities in Texas elections.

The facts below demonstrate clearly that the Republican voter fraud initiative is a partisan scheme to hold power by suppressing the turnout of voters whose support Republicans are unable or unwilling to earn through legitimate public service.

Voter ID/Vote Suppression Bill Fact Sheet
Republican Claim: Voter Fraud is an "Epidemic" in Texas
FACT CHECK: Even fiercely partisan Republican Attorney General Abbott has admitted that after spending millions of Texas and federal taxpayer dollars investigating, "there have been few [voter fraud] prosecutions in Texas." The Austin American Statesman editorialized, “Voter fraud is not an issue because Texas is not being flooded with unregistered voters and illegal immigrants flocking to the polls. That just isn't happening.” (Source: Austin American-Statesman, April 26, 2007)

Republican Claim: Non-citizens voting is a major problem throughout the U.S.
FACT CHECK: The Department of Justice’s Ballot Access and Voting Integrity Initiative has resulted in just 14 convictions of non-citizens voting in the entire United States between 2002 and 2005. That is less then 5 noncitizens voting a year. (Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Public Integrity Section, Election Fraud Prosecutions & Convictions, Ballot Access & Voting Integrity Initiative, October 2002 – September 2005; The Politics of Voter Fraud, Minnite, Ph.D. Columbia University)

Republican Claim: Everyone has an ID
FACT CHECK: Even the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute admitted that 37% of Texas residents over the age of 80 did not have a driver's license. (TCCRI Commentary, May 1, 2007)

Republican Claim: Democratic operatives are pushing the opposition to the Voter Suppression Bill
FACT CHECK: The objections to the voter ID legislation are broad and bipartisan. The bill is opposed by non-partisan groups like the AARP and League of Women Voters, as well as every major Texas newspaper and many local newspapers. (Source: Associated Press, April 23, 2007) Former Republican Party Political Director Royal Massett has been one of the most outspoken opponents of the bill saying "Anyone who says all legal voters under this bill can vote doesn't know what he is talking about." (Source: The Houston Chronicle, April 26, 2007)

Additionally, each of the major daily papers and many smaller papers have penned an editorial against the voter suppression legislation including the:

Houston Chronicle – “With no proof of significant voter fraud in state elections, the Texas House is considering bills that would require voters to provide additional identification in order to register and cast their ballots. Not only is the legislation unjustified, if enacted it could disenfranchise large numbers of the elderly, the poor and minorities.” April 26, 2007
Dallas Morning News - “Voting is a privilege sacred to the Republic. The process needs to be secure. Violators should be prosecuted. But absent any evidence of serious security breaches at the polls, access to the voting booth needs to remain as unimpeded as it is today. The state Senate would be wise to stop this bad idea.” April 25, 2007
Austin American-Statesman – “Voter fraud is not an issue because Texas is not being flooded with unregistered voters and illegal immigrants flocking to the polls. That just isn't happening.” April 26, 2007
Fort Worth Star-Telegram – “The architects of this idea, pitched as a noble effort to prevent voter fraud, cannot be allowed to succeed with what is surely one of the greatest assaults on the right to vote in this state since passage of the federal Voting Rights Act in 1965.” April 23, 2007
Waco Tribune – “When asked for evidence that the problem is rampant in this great and vast state, partisans who cry “voter fraud” are strangely silent.” April 25, 2007
Corpus Christi Caller-Times – “Putting more procedural hurdles in the way of voters is precisely what the doctor did not order. In fact, it conjures up memories of the old poll-tax days, when the system actively discouraged voting by all but the "right" groups.” April 25, 2007
Republican Claim: Simple computer matching will remove improperly registered voters.
FACT CHECK: The Houston Chronicle Reported that the, ““hundreds of people who went to the polls found their names had been removed because of glitches in a $14 million Web-based state computer program intended to centralize voter registration lists.” The Chronicle also reports, “the system already has kicked registered voters' names off the lists [including] Prairie View Mayor Frank Jackson.” (Source: The Houston Chronicle, May 3, 2007; May 6, 2007)

Republican Claim: According to “Lite” Governor David Dewhurst: “On June 22, 2006, Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar Paul Bettencourt testified before the U.S. House Administration Committee that foreign nationals are both applying for and receiving voter registration cards. Data given to my office indicates that in Harris County alone since 1992, 3,742 voters have been removed from the voter rolls because they were not U.S. citizens.”
FACT CHECK: Republican Paul Bettencourt gave Congressional testimony disputing the above statistic. On June 22, 2006, Bettencourt appeared before the Committee on House Administration saying, “A review by my office in early 2005 turned up at least 35 cases in which foreign nationals either applied for or received voter's cards.” It is unclear why David Dewhurst’s number is exponentially higher than Paul Bettencourt’s figure. (Source: CQ Congressional Testimony, June 22, 2006)



Election Integrity???
Indicted DeLay Crony Heads
Voter Suppression Think Tank

Colyandro and DeLay mug shots


John Colyandro was indicted along with Tom DeLay on felony charges of money laundering, conspiring to launder money, and making illegal contributions of corporate money for his role in, “illegally funneling $190,000 in banned corporate money into the 2002 elections to help Republican candidates.” (Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, June 28, 2007) Colyandro is now Executive Director of the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute (TCCRI), which has launched a group with the cynical and ironic name "Election Integrity Task Force."

Colyandro has recruited two of the most harshly partisan Republicans in the Texas State House, Leo Berman (R-Tyler) and Betty Brown (R-Terrell) to co-chair the group. It will push "Purging voter rolls" and "Requiring photo identification at the polls." Betty Brown was the sponsor of an onerous voter ID bill in the House in 2007. One of Berman's most revealing quotes was made on the Texas State House floor last May, when he said, "Everyone on this floor needs a vote on illegal aliens to take home and say we did a little something about it." (Source: Austin American- Statesman, May 23, 2007)

Berman admitted in the Tyler Morning Telegraph that he, "asked House Speaker Tom Craddick to approve the topic for interim study." (Source: Tyler Morning Telegraph, November 29, 2007)

Why we are PROGRESSIVES!! Yeah!!

George W. Musharraf

http://pundits.thehill.com/2007/11/14/george-w-musharraf/

November 14, 2007
George W. Musharraf (Brent Budowsky)
@ 10:53 am
The leader says the nation must crack down on liberties to fight the war against terrorism.
The leader is surrounded by profiteers who make huge sums of money corrupting military budgets and political power.
The leader believes he is specially ordained from above to pursue his policies, which he believes are endorsed by higher authorities that exempt him from the rules of law and conduct that define democratic nations and democratic values.
This is the logic of the George W. Bushes and the Pervez Musharrafs of the world, who fail to respect democratic values, in the name of democratic values, with results that only help the enemy.
Let’s be clear: A Pakistani election conducted during a state of emergency is a fraud and a sham against freedom and democracy. An election during which media is closed, lawyers are imprisoned, dissidents are jailed, opposition leaders are put under house arrest, protesters are beaten up, voices are silenced and the people are held in contempt is not an election but a dictatorship without even a disguise.
Musharraf believes that Bush either supports what he is doing, or enables it.
Bush believes that a war can be won while losing the battle of ideas, while the truth is, it is the battle of ideas that is the true weapon to win the war that matters.
The U.S. should unconditionally oppose any state of emergency election and should make it clear that military assistance to those who promote this dictatorship will be halted until this martial law is lifted.
We should stand with the people of Pakistan, not the dictator, and unless we do, we will neither stand for freedom and democracy nor defeat the real enemy that lurks in Pakistan today: those responsible for Sept. 11, 2001, who remain under the protection of the government we support.

Bush vetoes Dems' health and education bill

Is this a surprise? Republicans are not pro us, the people, period. They are pro riches, pro corporations, pro war and destruction and pro death. Screw the children, teachers, workers and middle class.

LeMonton

War costs could total $1.6 trillion by 2009, panel estimates

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/13/hidden.war.costs/index.html

But there is no money for education and health care here at home. Well, of course Bush and cronies are spending our tax dollars in war, death, destruction and juicy contracts for the Halliburtons. And don't forget the tax cuts for the rich.

LeMonton

"We can counter terror with justice"

"By closing Guantánamo, we can end the policy of indefinite detentions that prevents people from accessing independent courts. We can remove the most visible manifestation of the human rights violations that the US continues to perpetuate in the name of "security." We can counter terror with justice."

Amnesty International

Take action to petition the close of Guantánamo
http://www.tearitdown.org/?tr=y&auid=3159658

It is so "Ridiculous”. It's time to strengthen Medicare

See the new "Ridiculous” video.

http://www.thisissoridiculous.com/

"there’s better things in this world to be thinking about"

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/09/us/politics/09clinton.html

“You people are really nuts,” she told a reporter during a phone interview. “There’s kids dying in the war, the price of oil right now — there’s better things in this world to be thinking about than who served Hillary Clinton at Maid-Rite and who got a tip and who didn’t get a tip.”

I agree completely.


LeMonton

I agree. Nancy Nord MUST do her job or Go!

Sign the petition here:
http://ga3.org/campaign/NancyNordResign/iiuk66i4r777xbex?source=20071106_con_pet


Dear Nancy Nord:

Millions of unsafe toys imported from China have had to be recalled under your watch, yet you refuse common-sense reforms that would help keep us and our children safe. Meanwhile, you have compromised your integrity by accepting trips paid for by the toy industry and other business groups. Americans want an agency that stands up for consumers, rather than one ideologically beholden to industry. We therefore call for your resignation.

LeMonton

Cool pic

This is what I call a cool pic.

Actually I have seen his guy John Cornyn in action and he is just a puppy dog, a rubber stamp, a puppet, a parrot of George Bush and Dick Cheney. He just repeats whatever his bosses at the White House tells him to say and votes in the way his is told. No self opinion or self initiative whatsoever. This man has the name public servant only in that, in name. Like Bush, he is a mole that serves only Dick Cheney and the special interests that bought the GOP many years ago.

LeMonton

Hispanics giving up on GOP

"Latino voters across the country feel increasingly alienated from the GOP as Republicans are “fighting to see who is more anti-immigration"

Tell me something I don't know.

LeMonton

-------------------
http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=f7e7c14fcef5a3a4c40ab67ec1e4e879

Hispanic Marketer Lionel Sosa Gives Up on GOP
-->
La Voz, Posted: Oct 31, 2007
WASHINGTON — For the first time, well-known GOP Hispanic marketing consultant Lionel Sosa won't be backing a Republican presidential candidate, reports La Voz, the Houston Chronicle’s Spanish-language publication. Sosa says the GOP’s harsh stance on immigration has made him question the direction of the party. Sosa, 68, who has worked on the campaigns of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, is endorsing Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson. La Voz reports that Sosa’s disillusionment with the Republican Party reflects a wider trend: Latino voters across the country feel increasingly alienated from the GOP as Republicans are “fighting to see who is more anti-immigration," according to Sosa. But Democrats haven’t closed the deal with Latino voters either, adds Sosa, noting the lack of outreach to Hispanic voters in the presidential campaigns of Al Gore and John Kerry.

A little bit about the practice of Rendition and the movie

A must see for anyone who loves freedom.

http://www.aclu.org/safefree/rendition/renditionfactfiction.html

LeMonton

Nobel winner James Watson: Black people are not as intelligent as white people

Nobel laureate biologist James Watson was suspended from his job after comments that black people are not as intelligent as white people. However, I have the perfect example to prove this is not true: Collin Powell vs. George Bush. Powell not only won the first gulf war, but advocated for the right strategy during this gulf war. Even decided to leave the administration before seeing his reputation being dragged into the current Iraq mess. Definitely the smarter of the Bush administration and the smarter Republican alive.

LeMonton

What every America-loving citizen should be working on

1. Fight Corporate Attacks on the Free and Open Internet

2. Campaign to advance Health Care for All

3. Stop the Bush administration from taking military action against Iran without seeking Congressional authority first

4. Advance energy independence through clean renewable resources

5. Ensure that Every Vote is Counted in our Elections

6. Guarantee Health Care for Millions of Children

7. Start working on taking back the White House in 2008

8. Demand the News Media Ask Tough Questions and Act as a Watchdog

9. Demand an Exit Strategy for Iraq

10. Campaign to restore Constitutional Rights and Liberties

11. Work to Stop Global Warming and Solve the Climate Crisis

True, wise words from Bill Richardson

"INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY WILL NOT ALWAYS SUCCEED ... BUT COWBOY DIPLOMACY WILL ALMOST ALWAYS FAIL,"

These are the best summary I have seen of why "Bush diplomacy" is just "moronic". Kudos to Richardson.

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071018/NEWS/71018027/1001


LeMonton

Obama and Cheney related!

It appears that Barack Obama and Dick Cheney are relatives. But this brings something else. Was Obama saying a few weeks back, during his campaign speeches, that a vote for Hillary Clinton was a vote for the political status quo of Washington insiders? But it looks to me that a vote for Obama could be a vote for the status quo of the Cheney dynasty!!!........I am joking!!! I'll take Obama any day and night over Bush, Cheney and any of those crazy-right-wing, racist, fanatics, obtuse-minded so called "conservative" "republicans" that have hijacked the old Great Old Party.

LeMonton

Fred "Lazy" Thompson: "I'm going to do it the way I want to do it."

Fred "Lazy" Thompson defends his style of campaigning for the Republican nomination by saying that he will do it the way he wants to do it! And I say to Fred, way to go boy! Show them who's the boss! Don't let them pressure you. Learn from the mistakes of your buddy Senator Craig. Don't yield to pressure.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/10/22/thompson-defends-campaign-style/


LeMonton

Bush veto of SCHIP stands

Shame on Bush and all the Republicans that voted against this important bill. Those are the same Republicans that have voted to spend $100 billion per year to make war in Iraq, but cannot spend $7 billion per year to provide health coverage to 10 million children. Actions speak so loud by themselves that no more words are needed.

We will remember this blatant abandonment of our children on November 4, 2008.


LeMonton

Brownback dropping from the Republican rat race

One out, a few more to go.

It is funny. They say they are conservatives, but guess which candidate is ahead in their nomination race...Giuliani!, the less conservative of all! And guess who is in second place in this party of good old christian boys (and girls)... Romney! the only one that is not a main street Christian (he's a Mormon). In the meantime, the ones with all the "credentials" are being rejected by their own and will be dropping one by one from the race. I say today 10/18/07 that the nominee will be Rudy Giuliani.

LeMonton

from The Hill: Privatized Part D Means $3.9 Billion in Taxes

For some reason this come to no surprise to me. Did you really think that George Bush would actually do something that would benefit the people over corporations? HA! Keep dreaming.

-------------------
Privatized Part D Means $3.9 Billion in Taxes (Rep. Paul Hodes)
October 16th, 2007

In 2003, President Bush told Congress that privatizing the delivery of Medicare services would lead to better coverage and huge savings. But yesterday the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee released a study showing that instead of bringing down costs, allowing private insurance companies to handle Part D has added $3.9 billion to our annual tax bill. It turns out that these companies aren’t able to negotiate prices with the same power traditional Medicare has, and that the small savings they are able to affect are not being passed on to consumers.

Needlessly handing over billions of tax dollars to insurance companies is not what I call fiscal conservatism. It is clear that this program has turned into a windfall for private insurance companies at taxpayer expense, and it’s time to look for methods that are friendlier to taxpayers and consumers alike.

Full report: http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1536

LeMonton

Believe it or not! Smart words from John McCain

"I believe the greatest strength of America is the lady who holds her lamp behind the golden door that says send me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses," "And I am grateful to live in a nation that has been enriched by people coming to our nation from around the world."
"I will do everything in my power to secure the borders, but I love this nation and I love the people who have come from around the world,"

One of the very few intelligent things McCain has said during his campaign.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/10/15/mccain-clashes-with-questioner-over-immigration/

LeMonton

Al Gore, the Man of the Moment!

Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize and congratulations are in order.

We all know that Al Gore is the real President of the United States. George Bush is just an usurper that haven't measured to the task in eight years, has brought shame to the United States and to the institution of the Presidency.

If Al Gore decides to run for president, all democratic candidates must drop their bids and rally around Al. Together with the American people we would kick all Republicans out of the White House, the House and the Senate; to the kingdom come.

LeMonton

"Get Congress Out of the Classroom"

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/03/opinion/03ravitch.html).

"Despite the rosy claims of the Bush administration, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 is fundamentally flawed."

Is this pattern familiar to you? The Bush administration making rosy claims that something is working, when evidence on the contrary keeps piling? A big banner stating "Mission Accomplished" comes to my mind, plus countless of statements and speeches stating that conditions in Iraq were improving, that "victory" (whatever that means) was just around the corner, we should just give it some more time. And as time passes, it just gets worse, losses pile and the waste is insurmountable.

LeMonton

Have you seen the movie "Man of the Year" with Robin Williams? He said that politicians are like diapers. They need to be changed frequently and for the same reasons (they get full of shit).

Well, I agree completely and I think it's time for a diaper change. And because none of the other parties are really contenders, I have decided that there is no choice, but to support Democrat candidates on 2008.

I found this on www.cafepress.com/cash_here

LeMonton

McCain OK with Bush's veto

John McCain said Bush did the right thing by veto the bill expanding health coverage for poor children (SCHIP). I don't know if you have noticed, but lately McCain is looking more like a clone of George Bush than the John McCain who once ran as maverick for the Republican nomination. I don't know what happened to McCain, but apparently he got tired of swimming against the flow, and decided to take it easy. Unfortunately, that's the best way of becoming irrelevant very quickly, as is happening to McCain right now. If he wanted to revive his campaign, he should found somebody else to imitate than George Bush. Among all people George Bush, my God! I guess McCain thinks that by imitating Bush he could get a few million "electronic ballots" thrown out and win the Republican nomination, and then get the presidency with the help of Diebold and the Supreme Court.

LeMonton

Shame on Clear Channel

Apparently Clear Channel does not see anything wrong on Rush "Limbo's" comments against our military. I guess "Limbo's" boss is in the same "rush" as his employee (probably by smoking the same thing).

LeMonton

MAKE THEM PAY! Yes to the war surtax

My grandpa used to say that with the mouth is very easy. Meaning those who speak, but are not willing to take action. Well, a similar situation we have here with the funding of the Iraq war. Republicans like to speak about support to the war, what better support to the war than putting our own pockets in it. Everybody likes OPM (other people's money). From investor to thieves, everybody is quick to grab and spend the money of others. But it is a shame when that is our own children's, grandchildren's, great-grandchildren's and great-great-grandchildren's money. If Republicans were really fiscally responsible (obviously with Bush they lost that title years ago) and had honor, would accept this surtax and face their responsibility to the American people and future generations.

LeMonton

"Limbo's" Phony soldiers

The problem with Rush Limbo and the likes is that they believe they are some sort of guardian of America and when anyone who contradicts them is either a traitor, unpatriotic or yes...a phony. And the phony...I mean funny thing is that they are always taken "out of context". Come on Rush, if you fell such a big man behind your mike insulting everybody you dislike or does not think like you, be also a big man to recognize you got a FOB moment.

What we need to watch is if Republicans will be willing to condemn Rush Limbo in the same spectacle they did with the MoveOn ad. And also if the Democrats have the enough cojones to push it through.

LeMonton

Edwards to accept public financing

The fact that Edwards is accepting public financing does not speak well of the status of his campaign, or at least that's what many suspect. Everyone knows that to win an election in this country you need money, and lots of it. And the fact that you want to do it "with only $45 million" when we all know takes at least $100 million, is not a good thing for Edwards. John Edwards says he wants to make a stand, set an example and he invites Obama and Clinton to follow suit, but for some reason I don't swallow it. Don't get me wrong, I hope he succeeds in his campaign and I would even like further that all candidates, of both parties, follow the example. But we all know that that main contenders in both parties have millions from corporations, unions, PAC's plus all the individual donors. I am a dreamer, but I am also realistic. Some $45 million cannot compete and I don't thing Edwards will make it. I certainly believe that the democratic nomination is now be between Obama and Clinton.

LeMonton

Gin"Grinch" wants to run for President

With GinGrinch running the spectacle of crazy right-wing nuts trying to be President gets even crazier. I guess Republicans will have a great repertoire to choose from. Between the insipid candidates that cannot put together an original plan and the crazy right wingers that would doom the planet in WWIII the second after saying I do. Let's see which one they choose.

LeMonton

Rush, Rush, Rush

I am waiting now to see a resolution in the House and Senate condemning Rush "Limbo" for insulting our men and women in uniform.

See kids. Learn and Say NO! That's what happen when you use drugs.


LeMonton

Obama is slipping

Obama is in danger of losing his credibility and therefore his "presidential standing". The reason, he is skipping lots of important votes in the Senate, when most of the other candidates are present to let people know how they think on the issues. My guess Obama is playing the game of trying to keep himself clean, by not attaching his name to controversial voting. The problem that's not a quality that Americans want in a President. Americans want a President who is willing to face the issues and deal with them, not run from them.

LeMonton

Senator Craig fights and stays in Senate...for now

Well done by Senator Craig! He finally had the cojones to be a man (at least this time) and fight his colleagues' pressure to step down. After all, being a good Senator has nothing to do with sexual orientation and all with common sense and character. I am not sure that Sen Craig has any, but at least I admire and applaud his newly found toughness and willingness to fight for what he thinks is right.

LeMonton

Biden's plan to split Iraq passes in the Senate

This is actually not a bad idea. Kurds in the north, Sunnis in the center and Shites in the south and a national cooperation agreement to manage the oil resources. But as always there are critics. According to the critics, Iraqis are against dividing their country.

Wait a minute!

I have been hearing that one of the main problems in getting a reunification and reconciliation in Iraq is because Shites, Sunnis and Kurds feel more Shite, Sunni and Kurd than Iraqi. And now that they could have the chance to have their own autonomous territories, they don't want "their country" split. This is a contradiction and I think those critics are wrong. A plan like the Biden plan if well designed, presented and implemented could be the only chance to solve the mess and get us out of Iraq.

Of course to have that plan well designed, presented and implemented will need competent people to do that job, what rules out the Bush administration and its cronies.

LeMonton

House joins Senate in condemning MoveOn ad

Again, the virus of stupidity keeps spreading! I agree with Bill Clinton on where were their weeping hearts when Republicans and the conservative attack machine like the Swift Boats attacked Sen. John Kerry's military record and likened Sen. Max Cleland, another war hero, to Osama Bin Laden. What really surprises me is why Democrats are so afraid to stand their ground and say NO to what is clear a smoke screen tactic from the Republicans to divert the public attention from their failure in Iraq. From their initial lies to go to war, to the continuous incompetence of the Bush administration, to the shameful rubber stamp Republican Congress that gave Bush a blank check over blank check over a blank check, to the constant rosy pictures of improvements in Iraq given by Bush, McCain, and now Petraeus, it is an insult to the American people to allow that Republicans get away with this charade.

LeMonton

Democrats fail in passing another Iraq bill

What do you expect. We still have too many Republicans in Congress and Democrats are still too afraid to really act. Under this situation the warmongers still win.

LeMonton

Senate condemns MoveOn ad

I guess idiocy and "clowness" is contagious. Let me know if there is a vaccine available. Democrats united to Republicans in condemning a legal organization for exercising its free speech rights.

LeMonton

Romney: Act like Republicans

I don't know what Romney is talking about! Republicans have never stopped acting like Republicans.

Just take a look at the state of things in America and you will see the undeniable craftsmanship work of wholly hearted Republicans. Since they took Congress in 1994 and the White House in 2000, we have seen how the poor has been screwed, how workers and teachers have suffered, the education system is in disarray, how health care is a luxury for the few, wars meant to stuff the pockets of corporations while the sons of the poor are dying and being mangled. Civil liberties eroded and racism and divisions on the rise. The environment is a disaster and our children and grandchildren future has been mortgaged.

Honestly I never expected nothing less!

LeMonton

Healthcare access to children...Naaah!!

I really don't understand why Bush doesn't want poor children to have access to health care. I really don't understand that republicans' obsession with screwing the poor. Republicans relentlessly defend the spending (waste) of billions of dollars in Iraq, and with the same passion some of them defend cutting health care to children and to any other defenseless citizen who may need it. I guess because the little guys cannot afford a well-paid lobbyist they do not deserve much of our government and services.

LeMonton

Senator Craig came to DC to visit old friends

Sen Craig appeared in a republican party luncheon and apologized for any embarrassment he may have caused. I would have loved to see the faces of his fellow senators. "I just hope he washed his hands, God knows what he was touching before coming here?" Some may have thought. I am sure that all avoided to be in a restroom with him at the same time.

an opinion and comment by...
LeMonton

Giuliani at War with MoveOn

It looks like republicans do not know anything better to do than to make War.



My grandpa used to tell me than when somebody has nothing positive to say or to contribute, or even worst, when that somebody has no idea on how to really tackle the issues, then has no choice but to go negative. And I think is clear that because Giuliani cannot answer on why he never showed up to work in the Iraq Study Group, or why he relocated the NTC emergency command center in the WTC, against all the recommendations, and then lied about it in national television, then he had no choice but to divert the public attention by attacking Hillary Clinton and now MoveOn. What we need to see is of the public will swallow this, one of the oldest trick in the book.





an opinion and comment by...
LeMonton

Top GOP candidates to skip PBS debate at black college

Moderator Tavis Smiley accuse GOP candidates skipping debate of ignoring minority voters.

During the presidency of these "compassionate" republicans all minorities, especially Hispanics and blacks have been mistreated and insulted in all different ways. From republican party officials to elected officials to their allies in the talk shows, they have taken abuse to minorities to new lows. We saw the insults in the debates over immigration reform and in how the Bush administration responded to Katrina. Top GOP candidates do not want to face blacks and they don't want to face Hispanics either. They just can't.


http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2007-09-13-tavis_N.htm


LeMonton

"Washington ‘Misled’ Blair Over Plans for Postwar Iraq"

extract from TimesOnline: "Britain’s outgoing Ambassador to Washington has accused the Bush Administration of misleading Tony Blair over its much-criticised plans for the reconstruction of Iraq after the invasion of 2003.

Sir David Manning, who leaves his post at the end of this month, said that Britain was left in the dark as Donald Rumsfeld, the former US Defence Secretary, overruled the plans for postwar Iraq drawn up by Colin Powell and the US State Department.

“There were plans made and deployed in the State Department, but in the end the State Department wasn’t allowed to take the job,” Sir David told the New Statesman.

“I did not know that [Rumsfeld’s Defence Department] was going to take over the running of the country. We didn’t have any sense that that was about to be the way postwar Iraq was going to be run.” "

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article2441997.ece

LIVESTRONG - Lance Armstrong Foundation

A cause worth supporting. Learn more at www.livestrong.org

by LeMonton

John Edwards' ad

This is a good one that speaks for itself! LeMonton

I do believe Bush!

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." -- President George W. Bush, Aug. 5, 2004.

This is the only thing that George Bush has definitely excelled during his presidency.

an opinion and comment by...
LeMonton

Presidential Address

My fellow Americans,

Screw you. I've done pretty much whatever I wanted in these 8 years and won't stop now.

Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah...


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LeMonton

Mike Gravel says to Americans: "You're 'fatter and dumber'"

For those who don't know, Mike Gravel is a former Alaska senator and democratic presidential hopeful. He is speaking harsh words. Nobody likes to be call those things. But it cannot be denied we are fat and we elected George Bush as president for two terms. What's dumber than that! Let me clarify. We sort of elected GW as president in 2004. However, enough people voted for him to leave the door open for the electoral mess that followed. So, yes...we are overweight and sometimes intellectually challenged.

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LeMonton

Giuliani: "Clinton, MoveOn.org, and the New York Times should apologize 'for what the did.'"

Dear Rudy,

This is to inform you that citizens exercising their first amendment rights has nothing to apologize. If the good General thinks he was slandered and defamed, then he is more than welcome to go to court and sue. You can even be his attorney. Those who can't stand the heat should not be in the kitchen. In the meantime Rudy, you should be spending your time explaining to this nation what are your plans to end the 4,000 American lives-50,000 Iraqi lives-$100 billion a year Iraq war, to solve the health care crisis, the solve education crisis, to solve the crime crisis, and to repair all the damage that your daddy, GWB, has made to the reputation of this nation.

Attn.

LeMonton

MoveOn pays $65,000 for an Ad that costs $181,000 and Giuliani whines...Bua! I want that too!...

Talking about clowns in the GOP circus. Apparently Rudy does not know the ad rates in the city he was a mayor. Anyway Rudy, $65,000 is the price for non-profits...you clown. Inform yourself better then talk. That's what happens when you just repeat, like a parrot, what you see on the New Your Post.

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LeMonton

Where is the outrage when humans are abused?

This commentary piece from Roland S. Martin posted on CNN caught my attention. Mainly because it is true. The animal case cruelty my Michael Vick draw national attention and outrage. However, hideous crimes are committed to humans on a daily basis and for some reason we do not react with the same level of national outrage. I guess we all feel nauseated and disgusted and angry when we hear about certain cases like the recent Megan Williams abuse, but it doesn't reach the level of a Vick's case. When Michael Jackson held his child in the air outside that balcony or Britney Spear was photographed driving with her child in her arms on the drivers seat, there was national outrage. When a woman, a child or an elder is abused, again we feel disgusted, but there is no national outrage. I guess it happens so frequently that we get hardened by it. The media shares part of the responsibility by pumping more coverage to celebrity-related stories. However at the end, is the reader's fault because we are the consumers of media stories. If we change our news consuming habits rejecting sensationalism and demanding action at each single case, I think we will be better at the end, even if it takes more work from us and the authorities initially.

an opinion and comment by...
LeMonton

Bush to withdraw some troops

Way to go Mr. President! I am sure that your save face speech will be that the enormous progress your policies have made in Iraq have made possible that some troops come back home. Honestly it was about time that after 4 years, almost 4,000 American lives, 50,000 Iraqi lives and half a trillion dollars you have some results to show, even if they are just a half secure Baghdad and some sheiks finally working together in Anbar province (I don't know what happened to the rest of Iraq, does it still exist?). And that's not counting the intangible cost like damage to our reputation all around the globe.

an opinion and comment by...
LeMonton

Sen John Cornyn of Texas - What a suck up, idiot!

Listening to the second day of testimony of the good General and the good Ambassador, I had the "displeasure" of listening Sen. John Cornyn, the junior senator from Texas. His turn on the mike was a pathetic "black kiss" to George Bush's "strategy" in Iraq. He spend most of his time talking about progress in Iraq and the good news and complaining that nobody was talking about those good news. I guess nobody is talking about those good news because "THEY DO NOT EXIST, JOHN". At one moment I really thought he was going to drop on his knees and pray the "hail to George Bush".

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LeMonton

Fred Thompson calls Democrats to return MoveOn donations

Let's make a deal Fred. When republicans return the donations from all those racists organizations KKK like.

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LeMonton

MoveOn "Attacks" the General

Did MoveOn really attack the good General?...

General Petraeus is a public servant. He is supposed to serve by the people, for the people and to the people. And the people have spoken very clearly and more than once that we want out of that irresponsible campaign called the Iraq war. However, the good General has decided just to continue the "stay the course" Bush propaganda to keep us pinned down in that mess until next summer, as he proposes now. The General is definitely betraying the wishes of the people to comply with the wishes of his political boss.

I applaud MoveOn for drawing attention to the real meaning of the General report.

an opinion and comment by...
LeMonton

Is General Petraeus credible?

Gen. Petraeus is as credible as independent his actions and words are from Bush and Cheney. And because we know that his words and actions cannot be too far from the White House then the good General cannot be 100% credible. His anxiously expected report will be sanitized first by the Bush administration, so I expect more of the same b.s. we have been hearing from Bush. That it has been tough over there, but some progress that cannot be ignored has been made and we should give it a little more time to see if it works. Then he throw a little bone to democrats by saying that we could bring home a few troops on spring if current progress continues. At the end it would be just more of the same "staying the course". The course of war, wasting money and lives; both American and Iraqi.

an opinion and comment by...
LeMonton

Republicans don't want to face Hispanics

I wonder why republicans are so scared of facing the largest minority and the fastest growing population group of the country. Let me guess...I remember now! Republicans have spent years, and lots of money demonizing, smearing and scapegoating (Howard Dean's word) Hispanics for political gain.

Republicans needed a new issue to divide the public, so they could rally their demoralized base; and guess who were next; Pedro and Maria who crossed the border without papers to live the American Dream. These poor taco and tortilla eaters were the perfect target: language barriers, no money, low profile, not much voice to demand rights. However they underestimated the Hispanic culture (I know, I've spent years in America Latina).

I wonder what they would say to the Hispanic community after blaming them of almost every problem and crime in America. They blamed them for raise in crime, failing schools, decrease in property value and even terrorism! I am sure with a little work republicans could blame them for the mortgage debacle, the Iraq war and even for Bush not being able to capture Bin Laden.

an opinion and comment by
LeMonton

Fred Thompson

Just another clown added to the GOP circus to repeat the same message of pro Iraq war, racism against poor Mexicans coming to this country to achieve the American Dream, tax cuts and benefits for the rich while screwing the poor, more incentives for corporations and screwing the poor (did I repeat this?), abandonment of the environment, privatization of social security and education, anti-workers rights, government control of women bodies, government control by religious fanatics, hate against gays and lesbians, intolerance, division, "retrogradism" and did I mention screwing the poor?. And all this under the blanket of holier than thou Christians and "values" watchers, while judging gays and lesbians, hating poor Mexicans for the sin of wanting a better life in America and screwing the poor (again).

an opinion and comment by...
LeMonton

New Osama video

Let's ask George Bush, Cheney and Rice why after 6 years we haven't still captured Bin Laden. Wait!... it could be that we deviated all the troops and money to follow Bush's and Cheney's fetish, wet dream in Iraq (and of course motivated also by the defense industry and Haliburton that saw and seized the opportunity, moved their puppets and ended up earning the billions of dollars)? I leave the answer to each on of you.

an opinion and comment by...

LeMonton

Portions of the USA Patriot Act declared unconstitutional

If this is a nation that was formed based on freedom and liberties, by people escaping from persecution, of course it is illegal for the government to spy on people without proper court warrants. A court warrant is what would give some sort of guarantee that spying on U.S. citizens is based on facts and not political persecution. I wonder how many of us, outspoken citizens against the current government abuses, have been "spyed" over illegally. I just hope they got my good angle in their pictures and videos...

an opinion and comment by...

LeMonton

'We're kicking ass'

Per Bush, 'We're kicking ass'! Well, magically the addition of about 20,000 troops have done in a few weeks what hundreds of thousands U.S. troops plus a few more "subcontractors" haven't been able to do in years. If that's all what it takes, a surge, I guess it is only a matter of months for Bush to solve all the crisis that ails this nation: the health care crisis, the education crisis, the crime crisis, the drug crisis, the housing crisis, the poverty crisis, the energy crisis, the immigration crisis, etc, etc, etc. After all, it only takes a "surge".

an opinion and comment by...

LeMonton

Healthcare as a luxury

I was reading a book of health care economics and I was astonished that according to the authors, health care is not a basic necessity. Water is a necessity, food is a necessity, but health care is not according to those authors. So health care is what is called a luxury! I am sure that in going to be more than a few that call that argument idiotic and therefore who wrote it, idiots. A yacht is a luxury, because the lack of a yacht won't kill you. But lack of health care (as lack of food, water or shelter) will kill you. But I agree that health care has become a luxury in the United States. Only those with money can afford proper health care.

As long as we do not recognize how important is that each person in this country have access to proper health care, we are definitely not the most civilized nation of the planet.

an opinion and comment by...

LeMonton

Senator Craig

Well, well,

Senator Craig case is just another example of the many hypocrisies and contradictions inside the Republican party. The press reported an alleged homosexual scandal involving the senator and he was quickly fed to the wolves, not because of the bathroom brawl, but because the homosexual allegations. Republicans like to cover themselves with the blanket of "values", however, it really is a place where people cannot be who they really are. Republicans like to paint themselves holier than thou Christians, but they judge people and exclude people and I wonder where is the Jesus in that. How can they pretend to convince this nation they deserve to lead us when they keep pushing homosexuals, immigrants and others away. Until that party has the guts to accept everyone, and I mean everyone, then they will have the moral standing to lead ALL Americans.

an opinion and comment by...

LeMonton

Iraq War!!!

Hello,


The main issue for the 2008 elections will be without doubt the Iraq war. And it is unfortunate that when we have so many important problems right here at home, we are spending so many dollars and human resources in a country where we should not be in the first place.



The irony here is that whatever the reason was for Bush Jr. to trick us to invade Iraq, by going there we have given Al-Queda a new training ground where they did not have one before, fueled a new generation of suicide extremists and created more enemies than ever before.

I don't really know what's going on in the head of George Bush and his pals that they cannot understand that the solution to Iraq is political and not military. And because the solution is political we have to engage not only the tribal leaders inside Iraq, but also Iraq's neighbors namely Iran and Syria.

But I guess we cannot expect George Bush to have the wisdom to clean up his act when he was not smart enough to avoid it in the first place. I guess that's the job of the next president.

an opinion and comment by...

LeMonton

I Am Back!!!

Hello,

I am LeMonton. And I have learned that if you believe on what our founding fathers created; a nation of liberties and rights where everyone should be able to access some basic things like education, health care and your elected representatives; you have to stand up and fight for it.

Anyway, I am back with one goal in mind, tell it like it is with the hope that some people will benefits from my experience and decide to leap forward and help put this nation back on the right direction: away from extremists, corporations and religious fanatics and once again on the hands of the people, for the people and by the people!

LeMonton.
"No one who really cares, like the truth, can stay in the dark forever"