What is It Good For?

For a country at war, no news is good news. The same is true for families in which there's a son, daughter, wife, husband, brother, sister at war. Unfortunately, for six more American families on Monday, heart-breaking news came.

This Press Association article cites a Multi-National Force director's statement and an Associated Press tally of American deaths. This year has been the deadliest year for Americans since Bush started the war in 2003; and we're only 10 full months in.

I wrote this blog post a few months ago about the war and have pretty much blocked the war out of my mind and conversation since. The problems for Iraq and for the U.S. presence in Iraq are only worsening.

My beefs with the President are intensifying. Not only has Bush moved pivotal positions and departments to the political right as well as ravaged crucial domestic programs, but he has kept up this lying, filthy, dead-end war. I support the troops as individuals but I refuse to support the war that our government has sent them to fight. For more info on how to support a member and members of the military objecting to the occupation of Iraq, visit http://www.thankyoult.org/.

-------breath--------

Quick story from my week:

On Monday night I felt for a moment that I was living in a neighborhood which may resemble Baghdad and other war-torn areas. I was washing dishes in the kitchen when I first hear a helicopter overhead. I think, 'nothing new; helicopters are always flying around this neighborhood, overstaying their welcome and the usual time it takes things to fly overhead.'

A few minutes later, when I leave the house and head for the bus (bowling night, up Vermont), the helicopter is still there. Its circling with its floodlight pointed at either the block south of me or a house in between my street and the next. The hum and chop of the helicopter keep up as the chopper flies in circles, keeping its lamp on basically the same spot at the end of my street.

And that's basically where I'm headed... a little frightening. But, my neighbors are acting like I imagine most people would act in places that have incidences of violence, harrassment, and chaos... they're going about their business. One guy is working on his car. A couple women are standing against the wall of the grocery store just chatting. I didn't see people running, hear anyone screaming, or feel the electricity some scary events generate locally.

Once I got to Broadway I look south and, sure enough, the copter's floodlight is focused on a spot a couple hundred yards away. A white Camry is stopped with all its doors open; and its surrounded by police cruisers, more of which arrive over the next few minutes.

I saw a few dudes sitting on the sidewalk, cuffed, leaning up against the wall of the 99 cent store I shop at. The whole scene is lit up by the bright lights from the cruisers and chopper. Likely, the chopper followed the car to where it was (if it were a chase, that would be the second chase to end in my neighborhood in the last week) and the cruiser cops pulled the accused out of the car and put them on the sidewalk. Traffic's partially stopped but pedestrians have barely noticed.

Phew...

I wonder how likely we are to see a peaceful 2008 (like that Facebook group I'm in).

Next President of the United States

• Who's going to be the next president of the United States?
• Where will the money come from for future wars if we have a bleeding liberal in the White House to spend all our tax dollars on humanitarian things, like water, healthcare, and education?
• Truthfully, why should we even let Bush go after he's done such a great job at the helm?

I want a couple answers; not somebody to persuade me one way or the other, just some fuckin answers. If you get the urge, respond with another post on these or other candidates...

1. Like whats with Obama?He's optimistic - whatever that means. He's got a community organizing background - may have even worked with the organization I work for now. But his credentials for running a nation with so many challenging national and international seem to be lacking, not just in his own right, but also compared to his opponents. Also, he spoke on the house floor not too long ago and only barely mentioned the incorporation of recent immigrants into our society while throwing out some awfully strong rhetoric about protecting the homeland and borders. Check it.

2. Hillary - could she do it?Hillary Clinton's qualified to run for, if not also serve as, president. Two things: 1) Her campaign poster a few months back read something like, 'Let the conversation begin.' That's not a winning slogan. 2) Liberal media outlets claim that she sits in little tea cups at the carnival with economic conservatives detached from social justice causes, including the humanitarian things I mentioned above. This Nation article highlights that. I would say that her and her husband must have the wierdest relationship of any political family since Kennedy; but I don't follow First Marraiges very closely. On her website, she talks about wage gaps for women, ending the war, and the other typical issues.

3. Edwards - is he for real?
His southern accent (and you other southerners out there, please chime in here) has steadily increased in intensity over the last few years. I would trust him, and I think he's the most honest candidate on the Democratic side so far; but his accent reminds me of how my dad switches between drawl and plain-speak when we go down to get spots on a deep-sea-fishing boat or equally as backwoods an excursion. So far, Edwards has great appeal to labor and other progressives. I fear that the reason he didn't win the nomination in 2004will come back to haunt him despite the upped effort at southern charm and sincerity. His website is here.

4. Kucinich - who can say something bad about Kucinich?
I can. Supposedly, he switched his stance on a woman's right to choose immediately before his entrance into the race. His website has him endorsing abstinance training as part of a 'reproductive rights' page.

That's the beginning of the candidate discussion. Please weigh in where your opinions or knowledge are strong ('Got to have that knowledge' - Afrika Bambaataa).

Impeachment

My anarchist-leaning sister and conservative uncle agree... President Bush should be impeached. The intersection between lying and incompetence has been blurred too many times to consider either one absolutely or solely the problem.

I thought anew of this impeachment idea while talking with my uncle. We were sitting at my mom's and fellow grads' graduation party this weekend. [The food was great - brought some of it back to LA. The scene was cool - the first existentialist church. The beer tasted great. And the company and occasion topped it all.]

This country is at war. And for no good reason. The lying and lack of accountability, the corporate greed and lack of punishment, politicization and lack of recognition, and more awful stuff at the helm of this country.

But the conservatives are breaking with Bush, too. This time over immigration, gonzales, and Iraq.

Do you think his lies merit impeachment? Or is impeachment not worth it even if its the right thing to do?