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*Maybe I wouldn't either if I had a direct line to God. But what about Karl Rove ? From what is known about him, Mr. Rove does believe in them. In fact he is a master in spinning the media. Opinions expressed in the polls, like it or not, reflect what people read, hear and see in the media. Kidding aside, the president might not admit it in public but he follows the polls; he cannot escape them.The president gave a Veterans' Day speech (actually he never gives a speech, he reads a teleprompter) at Tobyhanna,PA. and ".....accused critics Friday of trying to rewrite history and charged that they're undercutting America's forces on the front lines." The same old refrain, raise the spectre of terrorism. One could detect a note of desperation creeping in. It is doubtful that it would have much of an impact. The president and vice president are losing the trust of Americans. What are things coming to !Most Americans Say Bush Not Honest That is the headline of an Associated Press report in Yahoo.com An AP-Ipsos poll last week asked people to state in their own words why they approve or disapprove of the way Bush was doing his job. Almost six in 10 disapproved, and they most frequently mentioned the war in Iraq — far ahead of the second issue, the economy. While the CIA leak investigation, the mishandling of Hurricane Katrina and high energy costs have all taken their toll, the polling found the Iraq war at the core of Americans' displeasure with the president. Almost six in 10 now say Bush is not honest, and a similar number say his administration does not have high ethical standards. "To use an unfortunate metaphor, Iraq is a roadside bomb in American politics," said Rich Bond, a former national Republican chairman. "Many of those who approve of Bush's job performance pointed to his Christian beliefs and strong values, the second biggest reason given for supporting him — after agreeing with his policies." "I know he is a man of integrity and strong faith," said Fran Blaney, a Republican and an evangelical who lives near Hartford, Conn. "I've read that he prays every morning asking for God's guidance. He certainly is trying to do what he thinks he is supposed to do." Read the full report in Yahoo.com*From Ron Fournier's report in the Washington Post :WASHINGTON -- President Bush seems to be turning the clock back to Election Day 2004, parrying with ex-rival John Kerry and harshly questioning his critics' commitment to U.S. troops. *"War hath no fury like a noncombatant."---C.E. MontagueA few noncombatants: G.W. Bush. Richard Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld.

*Remember them all. The list below names those who died in November. Source: icasualties.org It does not include six soldiers whose names were not confirmed by the Department of Defense (DOD) at time of publication. Daniel A. Tsue, 27, Marine Sergeant, Nov 01, 2005 Allan M. Espiritu, 28, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class, Nov 01, 2005 Dennis J. Ferderer Jr., 20, Army Specialist, Nov 02, 2005 Tyler R. MacKenzie, 20, Army Private 1st Class, Nov 02, 2005 Joshua J. Munger, 22, Army Specialist, Nov 02, 2005 Benjamin A. Smith, 21, Army Specialist, Nov 02, 2005 Mark J. Procopio, 28, Army National Guard 2nd Lieutenant, Nov 02, 2005 Gerald M. Bloomfield II, 38, Marine Major, Nov 02, 2005 Michael D. Martino, 32, Marine Captain, Nov 02, 2005 Darren D. Howe, 21, Army Specialist, Nov 03, 2005 Jeffrey P. Toczylowski, 30, Army Captain, Nov 03, 2005 Daniel J. Pratt, 48, Army National Guard Sergeant 1st Class, Nov 03, 2005 Kyle B. Wehrly, 28, Army National Guard Staff Sergeant, Nov 03, 2005 Jason A. Fegler, 24, Army Staff Sergeant, Nov 04, 2005 James M. Gurbisz, 25, Army Captain, Nov 04, 2005 Dustin A. Yancey, 22, Army Private 1st Class, Nov 04, 2005 Timothy D. Brown, 23, Army National Guard Specialist, Nov 04, 2005 Darrell W. Boatman, 38, Marine Gunnery Sergeant, Nov 04, 2005 Thomas A. Wren, 44, Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel, Nov 05, 2005 Joel E. Cahill, 34, Army Captain, Nov 06, 2005 James F. Hayes, 48, Army Sergeant 1st Class, Nov 06, 2005 Ryan J. Sorensen, 26, Marine Lance Corporal, Nov 06, 2005 Brian L. Freeman, 27, Army Staff Sergeant, Nov 07, 2005 Robert C. Pope II, 22, Army Specialist, Nov 07, 2005 Mario A. Reyes, 19, Army Private 1st Class, Nov 07, 2005 Justin S. Smith, 28, Army 1st Lieutenant, Nov 07, 2005 Jeremy P. Tamburello, 19, Marine Lance Corporal, Nov 08, 2005

If this man is a servant of God then God has a problem* Rev. Pat Robertson's statement about the voters in Dover,PA, was good news for moderates. Following report by Associated Press is from The Seattle Post Intelligencer: "VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson warned residents of a rural Pennsylvania town Thursday that disaster may strike there because they "voted God out of your city" by ousting school board members who favored teaching intelligent design." The more people learn about this preacher and see his image splashed on the media, the better it is for the nation. Apparently, he cannot control himself from saying outrageous things.Two Ex Presidents Come to the aid of the Current One Emergency Mission - on a lighter vein, don't miss this column by Andy Borowitz in Newsweek. A sampler: "The two former presidents appeared on television last night to make an appeal to the American people to provide relief, in the form of a legal aid fund, for the White House staff, many of whom are expected to lose their jobs and their offices in the wake of the current catastrophe"Republicans in CongressGoing through a bad patch or sign of things to come ? The Washington Post: "Meanwhile, the Senate Finance Committee broke up in disarray yesterday morning after failing to secure support for a tax package that would have extended the president's 2003 cut to the tax rates on dividends and capital gains. Joining the panel's Democrats, Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) declared she could not support a tax cut that primarily benefited the rich as Congress was trying to cut programs for the poor. But when the panel's chairman, Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), tried to win approval of a tax package without the investment tax cuts, panel conservatives refused to go along. And John McCain's sane voice speaks out against the forces of darkness and prisoner interrogation techniques. "But McCain, a former Vietnam prisoner of war and a possible 2008 GOP presidential candidate, is couching his effort in moral terms. "A clear and firm commitment on the part of the United States government that we will not only not torture, but we will not treat people in a cruel or inhumane fashion is absolutely vital," McCain said after a speech yesterday at the American Enterprise Institute." Comments Anonymous — 2005-11-11 BREAKING NEWS AP: God Apologizes for Pat Robertson (11-11) 9:10 EST (AP) – In an unusual direct communication with believers, Almighty God apologized today for the existence of Pat Robertson. In a written statement, the Christian deity described the 75-year-old televangelist as a “flawed prototype” introduced into the world “without adequate testing.” He said the “quality control problems” reflected in Robertson’s birth have since been fully addressed. God said he “regrets any inconvenience or annoyance” Robertson may have caused humankind and assured residents Dover, PA that he has no imminent plans to wipe the tiny hamlet off the face of the earth. ### musafir — 2005-11-11 Thank you, sandiegowilliam !

Unfortunately, we haven't heard the last from her The NY Times published the usual platitudes and Ms Miller herself did her share of blowing her horn. She is good at it. She certainly put it on thick while being interviewed by Lynne Duke of the Washington Post. "Miss Run Amok" is obnoxious. That is the overwhelming impression one is left with. Is there anyone who is going to cry for her ? I think not. Her former source for news about the non-existent WMD, the shyster Ahmed Chalabi is in town. He can hold her hands and commisserate. She is reported to be writing a book. No doubt she would receive job offers from the neocons. She would be perfect as the spokesperson for Donald Rumsfeld or media advisor for the VP. If not then a job with Fox News or Washington Times could be just right for her. Comments Lily — 2005-11-11 Yes- well said! No tears from me on her demise. She seems as able to parlay scandal into further success as readily as the next boo-hoo girl. She can shack up with Paula Jones. ((Sob)) Now I've become the news...((sob)) Oh pu-lease. When once I felt for her journalistic integrity, I don't see much reason to celebrate her martyrdom now! Fox can HAVE her.

Evolution and Intelligent Design*Interesting that in Dover, Pennsylvania, all eight members of the school board who supported teaching of intelligent design were defeated by challengers who opposed it. In Kansas, it was other way around--The Board of Education voted 6 to 4 in support of teaching standards that strongly favor the concept of intelligent design. "Schools to teach Doubts About Evolution Theory" The Post reported "TOPEKA, Kan., Nov. 8 -- The Kansas Board of Education voted Tuesday that students will be expected to study doubts about modern Darwinian theory, a move that defied the nation's scientific establishment even as it gave voice to religious conservatives and others who question the theory of evolution."That is Kansas, the land of Oz.

The Bush touch loses its power - Bye bye Kilgore*In Virginia, the appearance by the president for a last minute rally on behalf of the Republican gubernatorial candidate fell with a thud. "Democrat Kaine Wins In Virginia" reads the Washington Post report. A sign of things to come ? The voters, in their wisdom, made their decision based on local issues. The president's arrival at Richmond on Airforce One meant nothing to Virginians. In California, the voters trounced Governor Schwarzenegger's costly mid-term ballot measures. All four propositions put forward by him were defeated. The voters saw through him and punished him for deviating from his campaign promises. His chances of being re-elected in 2006 have become doubtful. Not quite "Happy days are here again" but it is a good day for many of us. One thing for sure, the president is not in high spirits today.Another hopeful sign for the future is voters' disgust nationwide with negative campaign ads. Both parties took part in doing their share of flinging mud. Didn't do them much good. The Bad News - Yes, there is some How To Make Enemies. The BBC reported that Italian State TV, RAI, broadcasted a documentary "accusing the US military of using white phosphorus bombs against civilians in the Iraqi city of Falluja." It is hard to believe that such actions and the inevitable deaths and injuries of Iraqi civilians can be shrugged off as "collateral damage". Meanwhile, the death toll for our soldiers in Iraq has reached 28 in the first seven days of November.The official figure for the wounded is 15477.Latest number for dead Iraqi civilians: Minimum 26,931 Maximum 30,318. This is what Harold Pinter, the eminent British author, winner of the Nobel Prize for literature in 2005, said when he accepted the Wilfred Owen Award: "We have brought torture, cluster bombs, depleted uranium, innumerable acts of random murder, misery and degradation to the Iraqi people and call it `bringing freedom and democracy to Middle East'. What we have unleashed is a ferocious and unremitting resistance, mayhem and chaos."And the JokeFujumori is refused bail in Chile. Whatever it was--bad intelligence from his aides, idiocy, or victim of a con job--Alberto Fujimori's decision to return to Latin America must have caused a lot of people to shake their heads. Did he really expect a red carpet on his arrival !

The burgeoning growth and impact of immigrants*Riots which erupted in France about two weeks ago have caused ripples throughout Europe. The skeleton in the closet has raised its ugly head. Molly Moore's report in today's Washington Post leaves no doubt about the seriousness of the situation. What is happening in France can happen in Germany and other countries in Northern Europe that opened their doors to "guest workers" who became permanent residents--permanent residents whose number keeps growing and with it their demands for rights and privileges that are at odds with traditions and customs of the native population.There is no easy solution. In some respects the situation has parallel to our own, especially in the west. Americans who are crowing about Europe's predicament and its inability to cope with Muslim communities have tunnel vision. We are not free from the threat of clashes with rising immigrant communities.Growth of the Hispanic population in the United States, especially in the west, has been exponential. See BBC's report "Bid to seal off US-Mexico Border" dated November 4, 2005. The wall, if it can be built, might succeed in reducing entries by illegal immigrants but it is not going to resolve the problem with those who are already here. What we need is foresight and enlightended approach by leaders of all communities to educate the population and promote harmonic assimilation of immigrants, not reacting piecemeal to their needs and demands. Failure to do so could result in conflicts similar to what is happening in Europe. *See data published by UC Berkeley: " By 2005, more than a third of all Californians are projected to be Latino. The portrait of California Latinos in the California Latino Demographic Databook addresses the characteristics of this growing population, detailing characteristics for Latinos by national origin, nativity, citizenship, and period of entry for the foreign-born, and providing comparative figures for non-Hispanic whites, blacks, and Asians."State of California Demographic Research Unit's web site contains a wealth of information on this subject.

Tony Blair Was Not Bush's Poodle* Two and a half years into the Iraq war we are already seeing books appear in print about the reasons for the war--attempts to justify it as well as facts and arguments that knock the proponents down. Sir Christopher Meyer, Britain's former ambassador to the United States, was not a dove then and is not one now. But he criticizes the rush to war, the timing, the planning or lack thereof, and the mistakes for which we are paying a heavy price. The Guardian, UK, has begun to serialise his soon to be published book "DC Confidential". Fascinating. "Tony Blair chose to take his stand against Saddam and alongside Bush from the highest of high moral ground. It is the definitive riposte to the idea that Blair was merely the president's poodle, seduced though he and his team always appeared to be by the proximity and glamour of American power.But the high moral ground, and the pure white flame of unconditional support to an ally in service of an idea, have their disadvantages."They place your destiny in the hands of the ally. They fly above the tangled history of Sunni, Shia and Kurd. They discourage descent into the dull detail of tough and necessary bargaining: meat and drink to Margaret Thatcher, but, so it seemed, uncongenial to Tony Blair."As the French commander Marshal Bosquet said in 1854 during the Crimean war, on observing the Charge of the Light Brigade towards the Russian cannon at Balaclava: "C'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas la guerre." (It is magnificent, but it is not war.) Comments Lily — 2005-11-07 What price do you think Blair and the UK will pay among the members of the EU? We know that those in Poland and other new members have been pressured to ease up on the American ass-kissing. What do you see (as far as dynamics) as a consequence now? musafir — 2005-11-08 Back in 2003, when Blair received support from the Parliament to be a part of the "coalition", majority of British citizens were against the war. Yet Blair won another term this year. Between the Tories and Labor, the voters supported Labor...even with Blair as the leader. Current racial riots in France could spread to other (Northern European) countries. UK, too, had its share. Blair's popularity has suffered and he might not serve a full term. The "coalition" in reality never meant much more than the US and Britain. Poland had 1700 hundred soldiers at the beginning of the year and started reducing the force. Political situation in Poland is not very stable but as long as the current leaders stay in power an outright opposition to US policies is not likely.

Attrition rate continues to be high* Iraq Coalition Casualties, a reliable source, is reporting 20 more deaths since the beginning of November. There is no end in sight. This from an editorial in Seattle Post Intelligencer: "The invasion of Iraq, with its futile search for weapons of mass destruction or a credible prewar link between Iraq and al-Qaida, and its terrible death toll among U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians, has become a noisy distraction from what Americans believed was the most crucial mission in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks: Capture and punish those responsible." "For Many In Iraq, Death Is Quick and Capricious", the Washington Post's Steve Fainaru writes about another facet of the situation faced by our soldiers: "The growing number of U.S. military deaths, which reached 2,000 last month and has since risen to 2,035, underscores a grim reality: There are countless ways to die in Iraq."*Graph - Death in Iraq, Washington Post "Always there has been some terrible evil at home or some monstrous foreign power that was going to gobble us up if we did not blindly rally behind it."---Douglas MacArthur Comments Lily — 2005-11-07 How timely that groups are pushing to declassify and release documents related to Johnson's intelligence failures pre- Vietnam- the parallels make the White House nervous, kind of an admission that this is in fact a 'quagmire". musafir — 2005-11-08 "Quagmire", yes the signs certainly point that way. No question that the disenchantment with Bush is growing but the administration is not going to back off--they cannot afford to. Admission of making a mistake will mean admission of lies and deceit. It will cause a firestorm.

Invasion of Privacy - Who Will Monitor the Monitors ? *Barton Gellman's report in the Washington Post, "The FBI's Secret Scrutiny" exposes the dark side of the Patriot Act. Mr. Gellman specifically covered one disturbing element of the act--National Security Letter--which is fraught with potential for abuse. Excerpts: "The FBI now issues more than 30,000 national security letters a year, according to government sources, a hundredfold increase over historic norms. The letters -- one of which can be used to sweep up the records of many people -- are extending the bureau's reach as never before into the telephone calls, correspondence and financial lives of ordinary Americans." "Issued by FBI field supervisors, national security letters do not need the imprimatur of a prosecutor, grand jury or judge. They receive no review after the fact by the Justice Department or Congress. The executive branch maintains only statistics, which are incomplete and confined to classified reports. The Bush administration defeated legislation and a lawsuit to require a public accounting, and has offered no example in which the use of a national security letter helped disrupt a terrorist plot." Shades of McCarthy era ? Yes. Incidentally, the film "Good Night and Good Luck" (currently in local theatres) about the late Edward Murrow of CBS and his brave battle against Senator Joseph McCarthy of the infamous House Un-American Activities Committee ought to be viewed by all who are interested in the abuses that took place under HUAC. Directed by George Clooney (he also acted in the role of Fred Friendly), David Strathairn is superb as Edward Murrow.*President left Mar del Plata with empty hands* No deal on Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). According to the BBC, the president said: "It's not easy to host all these countries. It's particularly not easy to host - perhaps - me." He said that as a joke but put his finger on the reason for the participants' failure to reach accord. He is not widely believed in Latin America, he is not liked in Latin America. Who can blame them. Based on records, how many Americans would buy an used car from him ?See Dan Molinski's report in the Washington Post.*Britain's former ambassador to the U.S. speaks out*November 5th issue of The Guardian,UK, contains an interview with Sir Christopher Meyer who served as Britain's ambassador to the United States from 1997 to 2003. Sir Christopher is more critical of Tony Blair than of George Bush about their roles in the war against Iraq. " He takes issue with the prime minister's claim that the war has not exposed Britain to terrorist attacks: "There is plenty of evidence around at the moment that home-grown terrorism was partly radicalised and fuelled by what is going on in Iraq. There is no way we can credibly get up and say it has nothing to do with it. Don't tell me that being in Iraq has got nothing to do with it. Of course it does." Comments Lily — 2005-11-06 No, indeed it is not easy to host Mr. Bush. What a comedian he is. He is not a capable leader and does not have the skills for diplomacy. SO-This does not surprise us, does it? Thank you so much for posting this bit on the PATRIOT ACT. I need to get more up to speed with this particular area (letters) . The fact that the process is not reviewed leaves it of course way open for abuse but what else is new. musafir — 2005-11-08 On November 7th, Kwame Holman of NewsHour (PBS) did an excellent follow up of the Washington Post article by interviewing Barton Gellman, author of "The FBI's Secret Scrutiny". Transcript of the interview has not yet been posted on the web site of PBS, but it is possible to listen to audio of the interview.