It happened long ago, of course, but the chart at left clearly shows how much one's opinions of the Iraq War are likely based in political ideology. There is a stunning divide in this country, as if you didn't know already. The one sided opinion of the Republican's shown here, is extraordinary. Though so is the Democrat's response (if not quite as much). The telling numbers here, however, are from the "Independents", of whom a majority see the war as a mistake. It is their response that is likely less politically based than either of the other two groups, and they are, after all, the ones who will be deciding the election this year. It's a good sign that the majority of those folks now seem to be "getting it".

You can fool some of the people, some of the time...

Hope to blog more about it later, but time is somewhat short today. Saw The Corporation last night, another excellent documentary in this --- apparently --- Year of the Documentary!

It's perhaps an overly-long, but overly-fascinating look at the Corporation in today's American/Worldwide Global Marketplace. Their history, from how they were established to be "a person" for all legal intents and purposes, through their modern day presence in every facet of our lives (realistically, legally and emotionally), through their current and future place as a force more powerful even than the Nation States that once regulated them.

The framework for the film, examining The Corporation as the legal entity of "a person" with all the rights thereof, but without any of the moral or ethical considerations or obligations, makes the case that if, in fact, the Corporation were "a person" it could well be considered --- in most cases --- to have the psychopathic tendencies of a serial killer.

Many corporate CEO's are interviewed throughout the film and not all are portrayed as villians. In fact, the argument is well-made that the CEO's are doing largely what we ask of them, and what they are legally bound to do in the wake of an Industrial Revolution that may have been ill-conceived from the start. Or at best, an Industrial Revolution run amok in an unsustainable chase for ever-increasing profits despite the costs to humanity, privacy and/or the limits of the environment. Several (though not all) of the CEO's interviewed are clearly wrestling with their corporate responsibilities versus their conscience as human beings on this planet. The revelations are sometimes encouraging, there are some clear heroes here, though frequently rather troubling.

It's an eye-opener worth seeing for anybody who has lived through the late part of the last century, and early part of the current one. There have been some stunning changes in the way Corporations effect every facet of our lives, especially over the last thirty years or so --- from marketing to parents via their infants, to the commercialization/privatization of Public schools, land, water and precious resources --- and most of it has been so insidiously gradual that it often has gone largely unnoticed by those of us who have accepted the encroachment of the Corporate culture into our every day lives without much notice or regard to the larger implications.

For those of you (like myself) who frequently wonder what all the hub-bub is about every time demonstrations and riots break out at a WTO conference or a meeting of the IMF, this film may provide some very specific answers.

It'll likely send a chill down your spine when you hear how the corporate powerhouses of Rupert Murdoch, Fox and Monsanto colluded to keep you from learning of the cancerous dangers from synthetic bovine hormones in the milk you drink and other machinations that are undoubtedly in the interest of short-term profit-making, if not in your best interests for a long and healthy life.

There are too many notable and fascinating segments to go into much detail for the time being. But I highly recommend you give it a look yourself. The Corporation is playing, or coming to a theater near you this summer. You can view trailers and clips online here.

The best summary of this year's campaign that I've seen so far. (At least as set to music). Well worth the download. Sound definitely required.

First they compare Democrats to Hitler in a campaign video on the Official Bush-Cheney website. (They edited the version of the ad they now have up to include a limp disclaimer at the front, and buried the ad itself deep into the website.)

And now, the Jefferson County, Kentucky Republican Party is handing out "Kerry is bin Laden's Man/Bush is My Man" signs at their rallies, just like the one hanging in the window of their headquarters in Louisville!

Their chairman, Jack Richardon IV, told Josh Marhsall (in a short blog item worth reading so you can see that this is no joke) that he makes "no apologies for it" and thinks "it's funny how the truth not only can be amusing but also make a point."

If you have any points, amusing or otherwise, to make to Jack, feel free to let him know at (502) 584-7111 or jcreppty@bellsouth.net.

Kudos to the BlueGrassRoots blog for the find and the good blogging in the name of a country that may someday again find itself truly united instead of divided by the likes of these sorts of people.

Kurt Kurowski at Democratic Underground outlines just a few of Dubya's many Flip-Flops.

As Kurowski points out, however, it was Ralph Waldo Emerson who sagely called consistency "the hob-goblin of little minds."

None the less, in the interest of "a silly little round of political pat-a-cake", since the bulk of his piece outlines indeed how the "flip-flopping" charge, as the GOP Talking Points put it, is little more than rhetorical sleight-of-hand, political expediency and shamless opportunism.

But in this season, I suppose, the unanswered shot can be the fatal one. Yes, we've covered some of the many George W. Bush "Flip-Flops" before, but it's always nice to have a well-bulleted list as a refreshing reminder/reference tool when met with the robotic-like parrotted Rush-rhetoric of your Fake-Conservative-Beyond-Any-Reason Brother-in-Law at this year's Labor Day BBQ.

Would anybody actually be surprised if the following story, reported in today's Sydney Morning Herald was true? The writer, Paul McGeough, was further grilled on his report late last night by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Why do I have a feeling we won't be hearing much about this in the NY Times or CNN? (See my upcoming article shortly for more details).

While I'm otherwise engaged for the moment...

Fun, funny and smart game to play at BushGame.com Click on Janet Jackson's animated tit on the left to begin! (Thanks to BRAD BLOG commentor, Quinn for the pointer!)

And the "Republican Survivor" series is now complete, but you can still watch all the episodes right here.

Both links are more fun with the sound turned up. Enjoy.

Well, here's an interesting "development"...if indeed it is one...

We'll see what the Times actually says on Thursday. But it's certainly an interesting, and Bush-like (Rove-like) way to dump Cheney without it seeming like they're actually dumping Cheney.

Note that the theory is said to have been advanced by "prominent Democrats" which could mean one of two things: 1) It's a lie to make the Bush Campaign appear to be in disarray and panic or 2) It's true, and by getting the word out early, the Dems hope to force a Bush denial, and in the bargain, keep it from happening.

Dumping Cheney (and putting a more centrist, moderate...dare I say "compassionate" conservative on the ticket), of course, being the best thing Dubya could do for himself. But why should he start now? Let's hope he doesn't anyway. Bush - CHENEY '04!!!

In a short blog item on more of Dubya's latest double-talk, wherein he's on a tear to convince folks that the Iraq War made perfect sense, Josh Marshall quotes two statements taken directly from the White House website...

Yes, if only Saddam had let those inspectors in, we could have avoided all of this.

History Rewritten 101. Vote Bush-Cheney.

Sure, it's just a rumor. But that never stopped Drudge from running with something before. BuzzFlash says it's more than just a rumor so they've gone ahead and outted him. Seems only fair.

As Republican Senators display their contempt for Americans via today's crashed and burnt Gay Marriage Amendment bill, it seems only just to add Gay Baiter / Mainstream Media Assignment Editor, Matt Drudge to the list of folks being "outted" of late through innuendo, evidence, or just plain nastiness.

With Lott-in-Sheep's-Clothing, Sen. Majority Leader Bill Frist and Soon-to-be-Ex-President George W. Bush lighting up a new wave of Anti-American, Anti-Gay zeitgeist in this country in their will-do-and-say-anything attempt to retain power, the list of Outted-by-Innuendo homosexuals at the top of the political food chain has been exploding of late.

In the last two weeks alone, I have heard, read or seen reference of one type or another to every one of the following as being gay:

Matt Drudge, John McCain, Rudy Guilliani, John Kerry (and "his ward" John Edwards), and even the manly "President" George W. Bush.

All prompting this years most crucial question for voters: Are you --- like all of the above --- more gay than you were four years ago? If so, save yourself through God, Jesus and the Republican Party! Vote Bush-Cheney '04. Poofter.

Developing...Hard...

It almost sounds as if she's protecting the environment, doesn't it?

But if you look closer at the sentence, you'll find...that it makes no sense whatsoever. Except in as much as it's meant to sound like she's protecting something.

Actually, what she's doing is giving up Federal Protection of much of our (previously) unspoiled precious National Forests so that Logging Companies can build roads in them to log some more! Cool, huh? George W. Bush is one great "President"! Let's have some more!

The whole story is here...January 20th, 2005 cannot come around quick enough.

Two documentaries from Producer/Director Robert Greenwald. Both available on DVD online for just $9.95 each as these important films find their way to theatrical wide-release via Internet word of mouth. I bought 'em last night. Why don't you?

Fox News Fans will love 'Outfoxed' as much as they love factual, accurate, fair and balanced information! You can watch trailers for both right here...for free!

· See the Trailer (via Quicktime or Windows Media)
· Visit the Website
· Buy the DVD or VHS for $9.95

· See the Trailer (via Quicktime or Windows Media)
· Visit the Website
· Buy the DVD or VHS for $9.95

The Rightwing Extremist-controlled "Conventional Wisdom" will tell you that the recent Senate Intelligence Report on the WMD fiasco sited "no evidence" of the Bush Administration pressuring the CIA to sex up their intelligence.

Well...the truth (for those who are interested in such a thing) is that this report was specifically meant to deal only with the CIA's failures. The report on the Administration's culpability in it all was --- by agreement between Senate Republicans and the White House --- set to come out only after the November election. So hopefully Dubya can look forward to reading that one from Crawford. It's only the American Electorate who once again get the shaft and will go to the polls without all the info they might have been able to use to make an informed vote.

But David Corn in The Nation finds the goods in this report anyway. Where the "National Intelligence Estimate" had one thing to say about the WMD's, the Bush Administration routinely upped the rhetorical ante when they spoke to Americans about it. Here's an example from deep within the report (deep enough that the Mainstream Media couldn't be bothered with it):

Mr. and Mrs. America (Mom and Dad): You were being lied to. Whether you like to hear that or not. Face it. Do the right thing, don't vote to put such a man back in the White House this November. Your country deserves so much more.

Corn also asks this on-the-money question:

Of course they do. As do we. But of course, in Bush's America, we're supposed to believe that we're not deserving of such consideration. Get with the program, Corn! You Freedom Hater!