Ford Jr. Supports Torture

Sept. 27, 2006, Harold Ford Jr. votes FOR HR 6166, the GOP "terrorist interrogation" Bill that weakens Habeas Corpus rights of those accused of criminal acts, and undermines the restrictions on torture agreed to in international law.  The Bill gives Bush the "right" to commit more criminal acts in volation of U.S. and International law!

My Stop Harold Ford Jr. Web page has been updated to add this to the long list of HFJr’s anti-Democratic, pro-Republican votes..

Why Are Democrats and the Democratic Party Supporting Harold Ford Jr. ???

Stop Harold Ford Jr.!

Anti-Gay "Values Voter Summit" Attacks "Faggots"

From ThinkProgress

"Values Voter Summit" Features Attack on "Faggots";
Claim That Gay Rights Movement Inspired "From The Pit
Of Hell Itself"

This weekend, some of the nation's leading
conservatives from Tony Snow and Attorney
General Gonzales to Sen. George Allen (R-VA) and Gov.
Mike Huckabee (R-AK) to Ann Coulter and Sean Hannity,
appeared at the Family Research Council's "Values Voter Summit."

An hour and a half after Snow's speech, Bishop
Wellington Boone, founder of the Wellington Boone
Ministries, took the stage and announced, “I
want the gays mad at me.” Boone said that while
“the gays” are “saying a few
things” about him, “they’re not
coming at me strong." In an effort to change
that, Boone declared:

Back in the days when I was a kid, and we see guys
that don't stand strong on principle, we call
them "faggots". [People] that don't stand up for
what's right, we say, "You're sissified
out!" "You're a sissy!" That means you
don't stand up for principles."

As Right Wing Watch notes, another speaker at the
conference later claimed the gay rights movement was
inspired "from the pit of hell itself" and has a
"satanic anointment." He suggested that the
anti-Christ is himself gay, citing a verse from the
book of Daniel saying the anti-Christ will have no
desire for a woman.

Full transcript:
Think Progress

Will the Democrats Drop the Ball (again)?

Flipping through channels this morning I caught an interview on Fox News (sic) with a supposed "Democratic Strategist", I didn't get her name but she was a babbling idiot. The Fox interviewer was making a strong case that Democrats were running out of issues to run on. Gas prices are dropping, the economy is in good shape, and even Osama Bin Laden may be dead. What issues do the Democrats have? What are their alternative policies to Bush and the Republicans? "Well," the democratic ding-bat responded, "look at the price of milk"!!! That was her response! This well-paid "Democratic strategist" could only respond with that piece of crap.

I knew the Democrats were taking a big risk by focusing on gas prices and getting Osama Bin Laden. I could see the "October Surprise" coming a mile away.... Gas prices are dropping (though still too high, and why?), and European intelligence has been published that claims that Osama Bin Laden may be dead. Bush could hardly take credit for it, but it will no doubt boost his poll ratings more on the "war on terror." Despite all the mistakes of the Bush Admnistration, the American people still trust Bush and the GOP more than the Democrats on fighting the "warr on terror." And I don't see how opposing "torturing" terrorist suspects will help Democrats. Watch how the Republicans turn the anti-torture proponents into "soft on terrorism" liberalism.

Well, first of all, why are the Democrats accepting the whole premise of a "war on terrorism", especially in Iraq?? Some Democrats have made the point that Bush's invasion of Iraq had nothing to do with terrorism, and has made the threat of terrorism even a larger threat to the U.S., but it has been too little too few and too late. The media, and many "moderate" Democrats are still accepting the whole "war on terrorism" lie, which is a cloak for the Republican neo-fascist takeover of the government, the erosion of civil rights, and the unconstitutional usurption of more executive power.

The Democrats SHOULD be quesioning the "war on terrorism" and making the case for the IMPEACHMENT of the Bush/Cheney regieme. The need to be talking about "class warfare" being waged by Bush, the GOP and their coporate rich allies agaisnt the working class. The should be making the case for UNIVERSAL, public health insurance to cover every U.S. citizen. Instead, they talk about "prescription drug benefits" for a few seniors, or minor band-aid fixes to larger problems.

While many on the "progressive left" have been assuming that Bush's poll numbers will continue to fall and that voters will be throwing Republicans out of Congress, I see something else. I see Bush's poll numbers going back up, with more focus on fighting the "war on terrorism", the possible death or capture of Osama Bin Laden, lower gas prices to give the illusioin of an improving economy, and the conservative-right dominating the political discourse on terrorism, war, and taxes, and the Democrats babbling on talk shows about the price of milk...

Imagine There's No Religion...

Religion and politics are a dangerous combination. It seems like Democrats and Republicans are both playing the religion card to appeal to religious voters. The Republican Religious Right have repeated the lie that liberals are "ungodly" and hostile to religion so much that Democrats have even bought it. Harold Ford Jr. filmed an ad in a Baptist church to show that he has religion, and "knows right from wrong." American Atheists say Ford has crossed the line separating church and state. Sometimes Ford Jr. sounds more like a preacher than a politician. A dangerous combination.
Pope Benedict continues his crusade against science and reason, condemning Europeans and Western society for embracing science and secularism on his recent trip to Germany. Just Imagine a World Without Religion! Hard to believe millions of people still follow the leader of that archaic cult. I can't think of any institution that has done more harm to western civilization than the Catholic Church.

FREEDOM FROM RELIGION!

Conservatives Claim Religion is Under Attack (?)

The anti-gay christo-fascists are trying to tie their anti-gay marriage/rights agenda to religious oppression. Read this A.P. article from Sept. 14:
-------
Conservatives Say Religion Under Attack
September 14, 2006 12:57 PM EDT

WASHINGTON - Religious conservative leaders, sensing declining alarm over same-sex marriage, are warning that the debate over homosexuality has prompted attacks on religious freedom.

By expanding the discussion from marriage to religious expression, social conservatives say they will reconnect with religious voters and religious leaders who don't necessarily view same-sex unions as a threat.

"There are a number of pastors that said, 'Look, we don't get involved in politics, I'm not going to get involved in this issue, I just want to preach the gospel,'" said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council. "When they realize their ability to preach the gospel may very well be at stake, they may reconsider their involvement."

Perkins and others are building a case file of anecdotes where they say religious people have spoken out against gay marriage only to be punished. Perkins specifically cited the decision by Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich in June to fire his appointee to the Washington area transit board after the board member referred to homosexuals as "persons of sexual deviancy."

The board member, Robert J. Smith, said he was expressing his personal beliefs as a Roman Catholic.

The subject of religious expression will be the main theme of an Oct. 15 gathering in Boston of conservative religious and political leaders that will be broadcast to churches nationally.

Many social conservatives credit the furor in 2004 over gay marriage for mobilizing voters in key states who voted for President Bush. Since then, however, 16 states have passed initiatives or legislation banning same-sex marriage and several court decisions have upheld those bans.

"As the immediate threat has diminished so has the awareness," Perkins said.

Eight states have ballot initiatives in November to prohibit gay marriage, including some states with closely contested congressional races. Perkins said religious conservative groups planned to use direct mail and the Internet to alert voters about the stands candidates have taken on the marriage issue.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
--------

Now...it should be clear to rational thinking people, that it is the RELIGIOUS RIGHT who are ATTACKING the rights of gay people! They however, are trying to turn the facts around to argue that by SUPPORTING the rights of gays and lesbians, weare attacking the rights of conservative religious people who oppose homosexuality and civil rights for gays and lesbians. It is a very twisted, but effective political strategy.

The anti-gay Christo-fascists and the neo-fascist Republicans teamed up in the 2004 election to use gay marriage to re-elected George W. Bush. It worked. Millions of Bible-thumping poor and working class people, including many African-Americans, joined with the Republican Religious Right to oppose the civil rights of gays and lesbians, and gave George W. Bush a second term to continue the Fascist Republican assault on peace, freedom and social justice. This strategy has worked so well, you can expect more of the same in the 2006 and 2008 election.

What about our Democratic "allies"? They seem to be so afraid of being accused of "attacking" religious conservatives that they are going along with this strategy!

Harold Ford Jr., the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, has a whole section on his campaign website called "My Faith as My Guide" in which he emphasizes his opposition to same-sex marriage as proof of his religious values! He has a new campaign ad filmed in a church he claims to be his own and the reason he knows "right from wrong."

Why aren't more Democrats willing to stand up for the SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE, and for the civil rights of NON-CHRSTIANS? Where are those campaign ads?

Civil marriage is a CVIL RIGHT, not based on religious beliefs or the Bible. This is a CIVIL RIGHTS issue tied to the SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. The Religious Right is trying, once again, to IMPOSE their religious beliefs upon everyone, and then cry persecution when anyone opposes what they are doing or tries to defend the separation of church and state.

Harold Ford Jr. is following the Christian Right's strategy of (a) using religion to oppose the civil rights of gays and lesbians and (b) to use government to support theocratic policies.

Another reason I consider Harold Ford Jr. to be one of the most dangerous Democratic candidates and why I oppose him.
STOP HAROLD FORD JR.

Bush Sees Religious "Third Awakening"

Another example of Bush's extremist religious worldview:

President Bush told a group of conservative journalists in a closed session yesterday that he believes a "Third Awakening” of religious devotion is underway in the United States, coinciding with the struggle against terrorism he painted as “a confrontation between good and evil.” The First and Second Great Awakenings refer to waves of Christian fervor in American society in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, respectively.

14 Characteristics of Fascism (Exercised by Bush!)

Following up on the Thom Hartmann column on Republican Fascism, here is a video describing 14 characteristics of FASCSM as exercised by the Bush Regime.
14 Characteristics of Fascism

Islamic or REPUBLICAN FASCISM?

Here's a MUST read article by Thom Hartmann on how the Republican Right is trying to redefine "fascism" and apply it to Islamic fundamentalists who actually seek to impose THEOCRATIC, not fascist governments. It is, in fact, the Republican Right which is supporting facism, a government and society dominated by the military and the corporate rich.
Islamic or Republican Fascism? Also check out Thom Hartmann's new book SCREWED: The Undeclared War Against the Middle Class.

9/11 and the Myth of the Liberal Media

Well the cons are at it again, re-writing history. They revised the history of the Great Depression, the Cold War, Ronald Reagan,etc.. and now they are promoting more LIES about 9/11. Of course, it was the Democrats fault, Bill Clinton and his administration are to blame. They were soft on terrorism, they had several chances to take out Osama bin Laden and failed, etc. It's all over right-wing talk radio.. and the ABC miniseries "The Path to 9/11"--another example of the right-wing bias of the U.S. media. We all know that the "liberal media" mantra of the right is a lie, and they know it. They have scared the media into bending over backward to counter the liberal media claim by promoting the right-wing conservative views and shows. Right-wingers dominate every major cable news program and channel. There are very few "liberals" and NO left-wing progressive voices on any TV network news program. "The Path to 9/11" is just another brick in the wall, they neo-fascist takeover of the U.S. media. The mainstream media was, in fact, complicit in selling the Bush Lies to justify the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq, and they continue to promote the lies about the "war on terror" and linking it to the Iraq occupation.
The TRUTH about 9/11, as presented in Fahrenheit 9/11, is that it was BUSH and his incompetent administration that failed to protect the American people from terrorism. It's laid out even in the 9/11 Commission reports, the Bush administration FAILED to act when warned in advance of the terrorist plots. Dick Cheney's terrorism task force did not even meet! Condi Rice handed Bush the information about terrorists planning to fly planes into buildings, and he ignored that. And when the terrorists hit on 9/11, he sat in an elementary school classroom reading My Pet Goat. And since 9/11 Bush has used the "war on terror" as a justification for illegal military action, usurping more and more UNCONSTITUTIONAL executive powers, and has weakened the constitutional protections for U.S. citizens.
When will the U.S. media, the American people and the Democratic Party wake up and defend the American people and the U.S. Constitution from this neo-fascist administration??? There is hope for the later two, but the media seems to still be under the control of the neo-facists.
I'm sick and angry at anyone who still supports the neo-fascist Republican Party, it is a party based on LIES. It is a FASCIST party that promotes theocracy, corporatism, militarism and threatens the constitutional foundation of American democracy.

CONSERVATIVE JUDGE SPEAKS OUT AGAINST FEDERAL GAY MARRIAGE AMENDMENT

LEADING CONSERVATIVE JUDGE SPEAKS OUT AGAINST FEDERAL GAY MARRIAGE AMENDMENT

Conservative 4th Circuit Federal Appeals Court Judge Harvie Wilkinson, who was long-rumored to be on President Bush's short-list for possible Supreme Court candidates, writes today in the Washington Post, "The chief casualty in the struggle over same-sex marriage has been the American constitutional tradition." Arguing against congressional passage of a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, Wilkinson said, "The Framers meant our Constitution to establish a structure of government and to provide individuals certain inalienable rights against the state. They certainly did not envision our Constitution as a place to restrict rights or enact public policies, as the Federal Marriage Amendment does." Rejecting arguments propounded by many conservatives that sanctioning gay marriage would destroy families, Wilkinson responded, "It is not wrong for gay citizens to wish to share fully in the life of this country, to partake of its most basic and sacred institution, and to experience the intimacy, bonding and devotion to another that only an institution such as marriage can bring. To embrace this view one need not believe that sexual infidelities will disappear but only that many gay couples will make good on their vows and lead fuller, richer and more productive lives as a result."