As we approach this Independence Day, I took the time to once again read the Declaration of Independence.

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/docum... /

I think it’s good to occassionally reflect on our history and review some of the things that have helped make us all “Americans”.

This year, as I read the Declaration, I was simply stunned at the similarities between the abuses of King George III, and our current King George.

From the Declaration (bold for our new king)

“The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

- He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. (signing statements)

- He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers. (refusal to comply with laws passed by the congress, bypassing the judiciary to conduct secret warrantless wiretaps, domestic spying, data mining, and seizure of banking records. Suspension of Habeus Corpus for those HE decides are enemies)

- He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. (Roberts, Alito...enough said)

- He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance. (Department of Homeland Security, White House Iraq Group, Pentagon Propaganda Office)

- He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power. (torture, indefinite incarceration, targeting of civilians, zero checks on his power to use the military anyway he sees fit, even in our own country, against our own citizens)

- He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. (Environmental destruction, Katrina, 9/11, thousands upon thousands of civilians and military dead)

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For these abuses, I declare my Independence from *, from Republicans, and from the fear they require to stay in power. I'm sick of being told that I should be afraid. I'm sick of being told who I should be afraid of. I'm sick of having the worst day this country has experienced in my lifetime shoved in my face as justification for "just one more liberty" being scurried away down the rabbit hole.

I will remember this Independence Day that we did not elect a king. I will remember what our founding fathers did when confronted by a man who was "the decider".

I want to leave you with one final passage from the Declaration:

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

All we have to pledge is our vote.

Throw the bums out, impeach, try, convict, imprison!

On this Memorial Day, I would like to express my appreciation to my fellow DU vets and active duty. I heard some "talking head" on CNN talking about how we should thank a vet for our freedom. I don't know about you, but I've never felt that way. I serve in the military, but I've done no more to protect America's values than the defense attorney doing pro-bono work to defend an innocent man, or the young man marching across a bridge in Alabama, or the reporter exposing corruption in government. Why should I get special praise or thanks. I didn't give America it's freedom...the Constitution did.

Anyway, check-in if you like. I'm active duty U.S. Navy. 22 years and counting. 16 of those 22 on sea duty. Served on USS IOWA (BB-61), USS KEARSARGE (LHD-3), USS CARTER HALL (LSD-50), USS CARL VINSON (CNV-70), and a couple of fleet VFA squadrons, plus a tour with ACU-4.

"I don't want a military that the government can be proud of...I want a government that the military can be proud of"

Anyone know what IOWA stood for? It's Our Way A$$hole

29% of borrowers who took out home loans in 2005 owe more than the value of their homes

Bolding is mine.

http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusinessnew...

I'm posting this here, because it's a day or two old, but I had this article e-mailed to me. I have not seen any of our MSM reporting on this. Did I miss something? Why do I need to get news about the Fed chairman talking about the imminent danger in America's Real Estate Market from a foreign news source???

Apparently, his speech took place in Chicago, so why is the only mention I hear of this in an Irish Financial News article that someone had to e-mail me? Where is the MSM??

from the article:

By Finfacts Team
May 18, 2006, 15:29

US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said today in Chicago, that he is concerned about the rising number of home loan delinquencies in the US. His remarks coincide with a report in today's Wall Street Journal that soaring housing prices and aggressive mortgage lending have saddled American home buyers with ever greater levels of debt, and early signs are now emerging that more people are unable to keep up with their monthly mortgage payments.

The Journal says that recent studies by several Wall Street firms point to rising delinquency rates on home mortgages that were issued last year, a period when lenders were pushing hard to keep business going as interest rates and home prices were rising. The increase in late loan payments comes as more buyers have been forced to stretch financially to afford ever costlier houses in recent years, and many homeowners have increased debt by tapping their home's equity. Analysts say that laxer lending standards on the part of mortgage lenders also resulted in higher debt loads, which some borrowers are now struggling to repay.

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I don't mean to be a "gloom and doomer", but below is more Real Estate speculation that ought to scare the hell out of some people. Again, the bolding is mine for emphasis.

In 2004, the number of homeowners who purchased or refinanced with a new first mortgage with zero percent equity in their homes climbed to 10.6%. By September 2005, the number of borrowers who took out loans in 2005 with zero percent equity in their homes jumped to 29%. If home prices appreciate 10% this year, then the 29% national figure will drop to 15% of all year 2005 purchases and refinances of first mortgages. However, if home values depreciate 5%, then about 38% of all homeowners across the country who purchased with a loan or who refinanced in 2005 with a new first mortgage will have zero percent equity in their homes.

How is this sustainable????

For the life of me I can't figure this out. All the "hate-talkers" and right-wingnuts are pushing this movie like it's the "Passion of the Bush".

Do the actors all scream "thank God for George W. Bush" as they charge the cockpit?

Heard one wing-nut going on and on the other day about how all Americans should see this movie and that it will show them what a "great leader and inspiration" the pretzledent is.

Did I miss something? Did I miss the part in the story where Chimpy led the charge into the cockpit, and is only with us today because he daringly parachuted out at the last minute. Maybe he pulled a Bugs Bunny and simply stepped out of the plane as it got close to the ground.

For God's sake...How does reminding America that the pResident was cowering in a bunker while America was under attack make him look good? How does reminding America that he did nothing but sit there and read a children's book after learning America was under attack make him look good? How does reminding America that the person behind these attacks is still free and mocking us make him look good?

Could it be that the hope of the Right is to once again strike fear into the hearts of America? Is that how they plan to hold onto power...by convincing America that we should be petrified and stocking up on duct tape?

and finally...Isn't America sickened to the point of projectile vomiting by the shameless exploitation of one of the most terrible days in our nation's history by this president and this congress?

Isn't it time to say, enough is enough.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060418/pl_nm/...

and OJ's still looking for the real killers.

I'm concerned about higher gasoline prices," Bush said at a Rose Garden news conference to name new staff appointments.

"The government has the responsibility to make sure that we watch very carefully and investigate possible price-gouging, and we will do just that," Bush said in unprompted remarks about energy prices.

"At this time of year people are beginning to drive more, getting out on the highways, taking a little time off," Bush said. "That increasing demand is also part of the reason the price of gasoline is going up."

In all the furor from the “right” about the ABC Producer that had the audacity to say "Bush made him sick", there is something critical that the “right” is missing.

I’m an active duty military member, who also happens to be a “bleeding heart liberal”. If there was ever an opportunity to deal with “bias”, I might be the one you could look to as an example. That, however, is not the case. I have been extremely successful, and have advanced from “E-nothing” to the officer ranks. You might be wondering how a “bleeding heart liberal” could advance so far in a world where every TV is “locked-on” Faux News?

The answer is very simple, and it is something that most Americans practice every single day. It’s something called ”Personal Integrity” and ”Professional Ethics”.

Here’s one thing you won’t see in the “right’s” rush to destroy Mr Greene. You won’t see an examination of the number of stories run on Good Morning America that were favorable to the “right”, or to the pResident. They won’t be able to show you proof that there was any “bias” in the stories presented. For them, the simple fact that Mr Greene expressed an negative opinion about Bush, is enough to condemn him and indict the entire news media.

That’s because the “right” can’t comprehend, and does not practice ”Personal Integrity”, or ”Professional Ethics”. Those values are foreign to them. Think for a minute about the rush to hang Mr Greene, and then think of the last time you heard a story from Rush or Hannity that was favorable to the Democrats. You won’t find one, because they are unable to overcome their bias and practice ”Personal Integrity”, or ”Professional Ethics”.

Let’s examine for a minute, how important ”Personal Integrity” and ”Professional Ethics” are to everyday life in America. The ability to practice these values and put our biases aside, enables:

- The pro-life doctor to provide quality medical care to a woman that has had an abortion.

- The anti-war police officer to provide safety and security to pro-war demonstrators.

- The devout Christian to provide food and shelter to a poor Jew.

- The fundamentalist nurse to provide counseling and hospice care to the gay man dying from AIDs.

- It enables the “bleeding heart liberal” working for the staunch conservative to be advanced solely on his merits.

Those are just a few examples of Americans puting our biases aside and practicing the art of ”Personal Integrity” and ”Professional Ethics.

It's no wonder the “right” can’t comprehend that. They don't practice it.

Thought I'd give this it's own thread.

* says "Repukes don't fear the future".

I say, "it's easy not to fear something YOU DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT"

Here's some of what they fear. Please add your own. I just thought of a new one...something Repukes don't fear..."MASSIVE DEBT FOR OUR CHILDREN'S, CHILDREN'S, CHILDREN!!!"

- Bearded men
- Homosexuals
- Strong, independent woman
- Unions
- Liberals under their beds
- Secularist
- DEA (maybe that's just Rush)
- Debate
- Truth
- Sex
- Hollywood
- Immigrants
- Service in the Military
- Single mothers
- Senior citizens
- Teachers
- Reporters (at least honest ones)
- Vietnam Veterans
- Mother's of dead soldiers
- Bill Clinton
- Hillary Clinton
- George Clinton (Funkadelics)
- Environmentalists
- Peace Activist
- Higher wages
- Health Care
- Jack Abrahamhoff
- Veterans