A Republican Defector

An interesting piece in the Eugene (Oregon) Register-Guard by a longtime Republican who feels so betrayed by what that party has become that he is hanging it up and dissociating himself from the party once and for all.

Karl Rove Remarks

TCR offers these two quotes juxtaposed, without comment. I certainly concur that they speak for themselves.

Conservatives saw the savagery of 9/11 in the attacks and
prepared for war; liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers. Let me just put this in fairly simple terms: Al Jazeera now broadcasts the words of Senator Durbin to the Mideast, certainly putting our troops in greater danger. No more needs to be said about the motives of liberals.

--Karl Rove 6/22/05

Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

--Hermann Goering 4/18/46, during the Nürnberg trials

In Memoriam - Carlo Maria Giulini (1914-2005)

Saudi Regime a rogue state, newest member of Axis of Eviule ?

Today our friend The Cunning Realist is pointing out this piece in the Guardian. Do some of us recall that one of the justifications for invading Iraq was the Hussein regime's refusal to cooperate with U.N. nuclear inspections? Seems our so-called allies the Saudis are doing the same thing. By the logic of the Bush Doctrine, we should be giving them an invasion ulimatum even now. But don't hold your breath.

TCR on similarity between Vietnam and Iraq

The Cunning Realist has a truly excellent post, "History's Rhyme," giving an analysis of the similarities between Vietnam and Iraq, thus shedding light on the total implausibility, even on its own premises, of current U.S. policy.

Bush Admin. Prevaricates on Global Warming

NYT: Bush Aide Softened Greenhouse Gas Links to Global Warming -- This is an example of why I remain convinced that the Bush Administration is bent on the destruction of our environment, in flagrant disregard of America's laws. This rogue administration is out of bounds on almost everything, but on the environment they are nothing short of criminals.

My Letter to Nazi Apologist Pat Buchanan

June 2, 2005

Mr. Patrick J. Buchanan
The American Cause
501 Church St., Suite 217
Vienna, VA 22180

Dear Mr. Buchanan:


I recently came across your May 11, 2005 column in WorldNet Daily. I am appalled, sir. Your views are positively un-American. Were a so-called liberal to express views anything like as far from, and as contemptuous of, the principles for which tens of thousands of my parents’ generation fought and died, he would be pilloried and attacked by you rabid-dog conservatives. But this, sir … all but defending Nazism, accusing Churchill and FDR, who were faced with terrible choices as their best options, of virtual treason, and ignoring the published facts about the genocidal intent of the Nazi regime; failing even to mention the murder of millions of Jews… this, sir, is beyond the pale.

I agree with former Mayor Ed Koch. Anyone who sits at the same table with you on the Sunday talk circuit as you spew your right-wing propaganda and hate is polluted by your very presence, and should refuse to do so.

You should hang your head in shame, and withdraw forever from public life.

Very truly yours,

David Studhalter