Hackers and Partisans United

I'm not going to call any names or spew any invective. I'm a fairly well read person. I followed the Congressional Probe into the Fla elections and I'm continuing to watch the Congress as the scandal regarding Republican Senatorial staffers hacking into Democratic colleagues' memos, correspondence and caucus matters lags into a nothing investigation along with Halliburton's variances and SEC wrongdoings by Club Bush contributors.

To demonize George W. Bush as a liar or as a phoney or even as a political opportunist isn't really fair. I see Mr. Bush performing the functions of a figurehead, opening law libraries, dedicating buildings, etc. etc. while the real work of the Oval Office is being conducted by....? I have my private ideas, but I cannot definitively prove anything, and in this forum it seems that inviolate proof is required to besmirch anything remotely connected to the Grand Old Party.

I am, as the mother of two adolescent sons, quite worried that we are expending vast military and weapons resources while spreading our troops incredibly and (in my own opinion nearly criminally) thin. I have spoken to several Presidential candidates and each assures me that we will give our military the resources to WIN in Iraq before we leave. We will NOT repeat the debacle of Lebanon, when President (well, I say President and not Mr. since he was elected) Regan turned tail and ran. Our forces deserve more than lip service, they deserve sufficient force numbers to equate with an ability to control the supply lines and municipal electrical and water supplies.

I have one question to ask of all of the people who have spoken so derisively (that means without respect) of any who question of the motives of this administration or even the wisdom of its' military and economic choices:

Are you aware that the Vice President receives each year a "stipend" from Halliburton in excess of $100K? Doesn't that mean that our Vice President moonlights for an energy company? Have you written to his office and asked what his position is on the $70 billion dollar overages that Halliburton has collected for its' "services" in Iraq (a contract they were awarded without any competition); that further, those overcharges by Halliburton were questioned by employees and their own supervisors replied that "the government isn't going to be looking closely at this". I did and he sent me a letter requesting that I contribute to his campaign for re-election. (Apparently his staff has a major problem with the English language).

I wish that Bush had instead listened to Scott Ritter and other voices, but he didn't and he invaded Iraq. From now on, if anyone decideds to retalliate, it will be our own fault. In my mind, that makes the need for our military to be present and protecting our own borders far more important than picking fights to make millions off of government contracts.We had the support of the world after 9/11 and now the terrorists are getting stronger in Indonesia, in Afghanistan, in Chechnya, in the Sudan and Rwanda, while North Korea and the Congo are in the hands of madmen. I no longer trust the word of this president, my secretary of state or anyone in intelligence or defense. What a sad sad thing to have to say out loud!

I will not support any American politician who sends Ameriocan troops off to war without 100% of the neccessary ingredients for a victory. The politicians spread us too thin in Korea, in Vietnam, and in the last Gulf War and caused far too many casualties. Voices within this administration have called for greater force numbers. The Democratic challengers agree that an insufficiently supplied force is a wasted force.

I've made up my own mind about economic theory by actually reading Keynsian models and educating myself. Anyone who thinks we can spend our way out of this recession is fooling themselves: we now are hearing about the great and wonderful benefits of deflation -- it will allow American goods and services to steeply drop in price. Golly, does anyone hear remember a little economic hiccup called The Great Depression?

Deflation is already ocurring in the tech and real estate sectors. It will continue so long as wages do not keep up with the cost of living. My husband will not allow anyone in his region to be paid a substandard wage. In fact, his employees are paid above the "market average" and he gets loyalty, high productivity and teamwork from his employees. In short, he tries to treat his workers as though they were his customers, especially since in our capitalistic system they should and can very well become his future customers! Of course, we choose to spend money at establishments that share our philosophy. My boys complain that Wal-Mart and Target have "cool stuff" but when they read about the way workers are treated and the places the products come from, they become less enthusiastic.

As for this war, I will not allow my boys to be used as cannon fodder, and I mean business. I don't for one moment think that Mr. Bush had the courage to fight for his country so it was best that he did whatever his Daddy bought him the right to do during Vietnam - the National Guard, Harvard Biz School, whatever. But I do not and I will not ever allow another administration to take a family member from me because some spoiled rich child paid to sit the conflict out. Too many good and patriotic souls were sent to fight wars that enriched the priveledged and came home maimed or killed.

When I see any of the administration now, all I can think of is the crosses, the rows and rows of crosses, in military graveyards. I pray that the families of those who have already sacrificed too much will find peace, and that God will again Bless America.

Until then, be safe and be a decent person. And try to become an educated American and cast an informed vote -- locally even more so than nationally. The local level is where the real corruption can flourish, but with care and attention democracy and the press eventually show the public who their representatives are.

the curmudgeon