Taj Mahal
“Corrina”

DraftGore.com’s full-page ad in The New York Times:

An Open Letter To Al Gore   Dear Mr. Vice President: In the dark days of December 2000, when you bravely conceded the election you knew in your heart you had won, you said: “I do have one regret: that I didn’t get the chance to stay and fight for the American people … especially for those who need burdens lifted and barriers removed, especially for those who feel their voices have not been heard. I heard you and I will not forget.” Today we respectfully ask that you honor that pledge and hear us now. You say you have fallen out of love with politics, and you have every reason to feel that way. But we know you have not fallen out of love with your country. And your country needs you now - as do your party and the planet you are fighting so hard to save. There’s no higher calling than when a nation asks for you to lead. We’re asking you to lead now, and we hope you’ll rise to it. - Jarrett Wold, Minot, N.D. You often quote Winston Churchill to remind us that we are entering a period of consequences with regard to the global climate crisis. You have done a superhuman job of bringing world attention to this issue. But this effort needs to be raised to a higher level. Only from the Oval Office can you wield the kind of influence needed to move countries, policies and corporations to bring about meaningful change. The period of consequences you talk about is upon us in many other equally critical areas as well. Our Constitution is being trampled and our most cherished civil liberties are in grave danger. The executive branch is not accountable to anyone. And the people most in need of a voice in this country need someone in the White House who will speak for them. Thousands of Americans are dying needlessly in Iraq while our reputation in the world has plummeted to an all-time low. The war on terror is backfiring as our enemies grow stronger and our resources are drained in an endless and unwinnable war. This is one of the most serious foreign policy crises our country has ever faced. You were the first American political figure to brave political waters and warn us of the perils of

starting a preemptive war in Iraq. You were right. But time to reverse the damage is running out. Given your experience, insight and the respect you enjoy among world leaders, you are uniquely positioned to bring this war to an end and restore America’s good name. As you so often say, Mr. Vice President, these are not political issues. They are moral issues. That’s why more than 136,000 people have signed our petition asking you to run for president in 2008. Ours is an urgent call to service on behalf of the country we love, the democracy that’s slipping away from us, and a world and planet that are in peril. We write on behalf of our children and grandchildren and plead with you to to lead us to a brighter future. Many good and caring candidates are contending for the Democratic nomination. But none of them has the combination of experience, vision, standing in the world, and political courage that you would bring to the job. Nor do they have the support among voters that you enjoy and that would lead you to victory in 2008. Mr. Vice President, there are times for politicians and times for heroes. America and the Earth need a hero right now - someone who will transcend politics as usual and bring real hope to our country and to the world. Please rise to this challenge, or you and millions of us will live forever wondering what might have been. Sincerely yours, Draft Gore, on behalf of the thousands of our volunteers and the 136,000 people who signed our petition asking you to run for president

DraftGore.com

I’d like to see the smirk permanently removed from this little twits mug. Surgically if needed!!!

No sooner did Alberto Gonzales resign as attorney general last month than he retained a high-powered Washington criminal-defense lawyer to represent him in continuing inquiries by Congress and the Justice Department.

Gonzales’s choice of counsel, George Terwilliger-a partner at White & Case-is ironic if not surprising. A former deputy attorney general under the first President Bush, who later helped oversee GOP lawyers in the epic Florida recount battle of 2000, Terwilliger had been a White House finalist to replace Gonzales-only to be aced out at the last minute by retired federal judge Michael Mukasey.

The top concern for Gonzales, and now Terwilliger, is the expanding investigation by Glenn Fine, the Justice Department’s fiercely independent inspector general, according to three legal sources familiar with the matter who declined to speak publicly about ongoing investigations. Originally, Fine’s internal Justice probe-conducted in conjunction with lawyers from the department’s Office of Professional Responsibility-focused on the mass dismissal of U.S. attorneys late last year. The investigation has since broadened to include, among other matters, charges that Gonzales lied to Congress about the Bush administration’s warrantless surveillance program and the circumstances surrounding his late-night March 10, 2004, visit to the hospital room of then attorney general John Ashcroft. At the same time, Congress is continuing to pursue more documents on harsh CIA interrogation techniques approved by Gonzales.

More at MSNBC

Good good good on nixing the retroactive liability and legal immunity for communication firms. Although Bush is likely to veto it. And then…..will the Dems cave in again to his heiny’s wishes?

From CQ:

The House Judiciary Committee split along partisan lines Wednesday to approve legislation requiring more judicial and congressional oversight of foreign intelligence surveillance. The vote was 20-14. The measure faces an almost certain presidential veto unless it is changed further along in the legislative process. The House Intelligence Committee also was expected to approve the bill (HR 3773), also along partisan lines. The measure is expected on the House floor next week. Democratic leaders want to move quickly on the legislation, which is intended to replace a six-month intelligence surveillance law (PL 110-55) lawmakers passed before the August recess. But President Bush said the Democratic’sponsored bill would “take us backward” and “would be a grave mistake.” “While the House bill is not final, my administration has serious concerns about some of its provisions,” he said. The Intelligence Committee met in closed session, although ranking Republican Peter Hoekstra of Michigan released his opening statement, which echoed Bush, calling the bill “beyond repair.” But the Judiciary debate was open and lively, and focused early on something that was not in the bill - a provision sought by the White House to provide retroactive liability protection for communications firms that might have aided government surveillance efforts. A substitute amendment by J. Randy Forbes, R-Va., that would have, among other things, provided retroactive liability, was defeated 14-21. House aides said the Intelligence Committee also rejected an amendment pressed by Republicans to provide retroactive legal immunity.

God forgive me for saying this……but I wish this evil bastard’s pacemaker would quit on him. He has already caused so much death and destruction and his only vision is for more of the same.

Officials in the Bush administration are divided over the significance of intelligence provided by Israel that led to last month’s strike inside Syria on a reported nuclear facility, the New York Times reported Wednesday.

According to the Times, at issue is whether intelligence presented by Israel months ago to the administration that Syria had begun work on a nuclear weapons program was conclusive enough to justify military action by Israel, and subsequently, a rethinking of American policy toward the two nations.

US Vice President Dick Cheney and other conservatives in the administration are portraying the Israeli intelligence as credible and argue that it should cause the US to reconsider its diplomatic overtures to Syria and North Korea.

By contrast, the Times reports, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her allies in the White House said they do not believe that the intelligence presented so far merits any change in the American diplomatic approach.

More at The Jerusalem Post

11 U.S. deaths in October and 84 wounded.

Turkey is drawing up authorization plans for military incursion into northern Iraq to stop Kurdish rebels using the area as a base. The U.S. is opposed to this action.

Iraqi officials are investigating the shooting deaths of two Iraqi women by mercenaries employed with Unity Resources Group. Unity provides security services to RTI International, a group based in Research Triangle Park, N.C., that promotes governance projects in Iraq for the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Security developments for 10/10/07

Coalition forces in Iraq are withering. At its height, in the months after Saddam Hussein was toppled, the multinational force numbered about 300,000 soldiers from 38 countries 250,000 from the United States, about 40,000 from Britain and the rest ranging from 2,000 Australians to 70 Albanians. By January of this year, though, the combined non-U.S. contingent had dwindled to just over 14,000. As of Tuesday, it stood at 20 nations and roughly 11,400 soldiers.

Iraq officials are seeking $9 million apiece for victims of the Blackwater shooting in September. Gee, that’s alot more than the $5,000. they thought was fair!

The Polish embassy in Iraq has been move for safety reasons after an attack on diplomat’s cars and the wounding of the Polish Ambassador.

Time magazine askes if the U.S. has abandoned Shiite Souhern Iraq, and answers…yes.

As a side note, I watched some of the Republican debate last night. If any one of these idiots becomes President (other than Ron Paul), and Bush hasn’t attacked Iran yet…… they will. When asked if a President needs congressional authorization to attack, Romney actually answered, I’d have to ask my attorney. WTF………

Is this a case of “function follows form”, or “…the egg and the chicken”? I don’t know. But as much as it may cause your head to hurt, it certainly has an ‘appropriate’ feel to it. And all of it brought to you by FOX!

Kiefer Sutherland will serve 48 days in jail

Actor pleaded no contest to DUI charges; A-24- season will go on as planned

LOS ANGELES - Kiefer Sutherland pleaded no contest Tuesday in his drunken driving case and will begin serving a 48-day jail sentence while his Fox TV drama “24″ begins its winter production break in December.

The show’s star agreed to serve 30 days for driving with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit of .08 percent, as well as 18 days for violating his probation for a 2004 drunken driving case, according to court records.

The actor was not in the courtroom and his attorney, Blair Berk, entered the plea agreement. A second misdemeanor charge, driving under the influence, was dropped. The charges stemmed from a traffic stop in Los Angeles last month.

Associated Press

MSNBC.com

Mr. Ward, it’s your belief that a man who disappeared for a week and sought treatment is “a national embarrassment”? What the hell do you call the last six years under the Bush regime???

Mr. Ward, you’re a councilman and help create public policy, so you should know better. You, sir, embarrass me!

Lawyer: Missing N.J. mayor was in clinic

Atlantic City leader was reportedly in facility known for mental health care

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - The mystery of this gambling resort town’s missing mayor appeared to be close to a conclusion Tuesday, with a request before a judge to declare his office vacant.

An attorney for Mayor Robert Levy explained the town leader’s two-week disappearance involved time at a Somerset County clinic known for treatment of substance abuse and mental health issues.

He has been home since Thursday, his attorney Edwin Jacobs said.

Associated Press

MSNBC.com

A picture worth a thousand words… but not much else. Heckuva job there, Bush!

White House: Al-Qaida expected to intensify

Homeland Security report says group trying to place agents within U.S.

WASHINGTON - Al-Qaida remains the “most serious and dangerous” terrorism threat and is expected to intensify attempts to place agents inside the United States, a White House report said on Tuesday.

Despite efforts to destroy the group responsible for the September 11 attacks, al-Qaida has protected its top leadership, replenished its lieutenants and “regenerated a safe haven” in Pakistan’s tribal areas, the report said.

Al-Qaida also continues to pursue weapons of mass destruction and is trying to acquire and use chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear material, said the “National Strategy for Homeland Security” report.

Reuters

MSNBC.com