previous issue August 20

Musharraf, Not Bush, Follows Nixon by Ray McGovern It is the height of irony that the relatively young democracy of Pakistan has been able to exercise the power of impeachment inherited from the framers of the U.S. Constitution, while the constipated committee captained by Conyers cannot. Under Pakistan’s constitution, the country has a bicameral legislature with 100 senators and over 300 representatives in the National Assembly. The president is head of state and commander in chief of the armed forces. Sound familiar? The difference is that the Pakistani legislature has checked Musharraf’s unconstitutional accretion of power by exercising its constitutional power to impeach. In contrast, Conyers has chickened out. Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency? America on the Couch by Mike Whitney Our national symbols have taken a pasting since Bush took office; the American flag in particular. Old Glory used to embody our collective aspirations whether that meant "traditional values" or "liberty and justice". But no more. Now the flag has become the property of a small gaggle of neo-fascists and right-wing loonies who display their shiny brass lapel-pin on their chest to identify themselves among other like-minded wackos. They might as well put lightening rods on their collars for all the difference it makes. Attitudes really haven't changed that much about torture. Most people still think its wrong and think it should be illegal. More importantly, knowing that your country deliberately inflicts pain on people really matters; its a game-changer. It's not possible to respect a country that uses torture. What people feel is revulsion not respect. And, it's disturbing, too. It proves that something is rotten in America. We've become a nation of creeps. Are You Ready For Nuclear War? by Paul Craig Roberts The Republicans will get us into more wars. Indeed, they live for war. McCain is preaching war for 100 years. For these warmongers, it is like cheering for your home team. Win at all costs. They get a vicarious pleasure out of war. If the US has to tell lies in order to attack countries, what’s wrong with that? “If we don’t kill them over there, they will kill us over here.” The mindlessness is total. If you desire to be poor, oppressed, and eventually vaporized in a nuclear war, vote Republican. Obama is Finally Learning How to Play the Bloody Game PM Carpenter Ah shucks, no announcement yet on Barack Obama's veep choice? I am positively … underwhelmed. I don't mean to imply that I'm apathetic about who Obama's choice (Joe Biden) might be. Naturally it's an important decision for the Democratic candidate, and of course the suspense (Joe Biden) is killing me.

Today's Quote:

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."

- Martin Luther King Jr.

Editor's Notes & Rants:

Capitalism is the Satanic religion of Greed, and our politicians are its High Priests.

Why is the EPA hiding the facts about the bee die-off?

AP caught telling the truth for once.

Never trust a Zionist. Ever.

McCain plagiarizes Solzhenitsyn for own personal history.

McCain thinks the middle class makes $5 million dollars a year. And of course, his $500 million dollar fortune makes him "just an average guy."

Cindy McCain has been lying about being "an only child."

McCain "cheated" at the evangelical debate. Good thing the Jesus freaks don't consider that a sin...if you're a Republican.

"Change" we can't believe in: Barack Obama is the same old bigot in a new disguise. Obama turns against gays at Jesus Hatefest. He declared he is against gays having equal rights in marriage, and said gays needed to be "fixed." I don't know who I am voting for, but I do know I will be voting against Barack Obama!