of the Republican Samaritan when he vetoed SCHIP?

Jesus told many stories to illustrate his teachings. The story of the Republican Samaritan is one of the most helpful in understanding how Jesus wants us to live our lives. Surely it influenced the Decider when he decided to veto. We know that Bush is famously reluctant to discuss his faith and its role in his life, but I think he should have made an exception and reminded us all of the story of the Republican Samaritan. Read it once again, below the fold.

They will escape earth's atmosphere in seconds, moving at unbelievable speed toward their penultimate target—a wormhole near Alpha Centauri. They will plunge into this wormhole and emerge into the Neocon Alternate Universe, never to be approached again by earthly beings.

U.S. diplomat sees some progress in Iraq

[Ambassador Ryan Crocker] also warned lawmakers against relying heavily on a list of benchmarks to measure gains made in Iraq. Earlier this year, Congress asked the White House to report on progress made in 18 target areas for political, security and diplomatic reforms; last week, the administration reported mixed results.

"The longer I am here, the more I am persuaded that progress in Iraq cannot be analyzed solely in terms of these discreet, precisely defined benchmarks because, in many cases, these benchmarks do not serve as reliable measures of everything that is important — Iraqi attitudes toward each other and their willingness to work toward political reconciliation," Crocker said.

I suppose the media hasn't given this much attention, since they figure Americans don't remember what happened two weeks ago.

Iraq's prime minister said Sunday that he has ordered a halt to the U.S. military construction of a barrier separating a Sunni enclave from surrounding Shiite areas in Baghdad after fierce criticism over the project at home.

"I oppose the building of the wall and its construction will stop," al-Maliki said during a joint news conference with the secretary-general of the Arab League. "There are other methods to protect neighborhoods, but I should point out that the goal was not to separate, but to protect."

He did not elaborate but added "this wall reminds us of other walls that we reject, so I've ordered it to stop and to find other means of protection for the neighborhoods."

Al-Maliki: No Wall in Baghdad Community

But what do we find in an AP article from yesterday?

He lied. The barrier is still going up. It is certainly reminiscent of Bush's famous denial that the U.S. government spied on American citizens without a warrant.

OK, if you think that you can reason with Bush, if you believe that he has the best interests of the United States at heart, I beg you to read Glenn Greenwald's column in Salon, found by way of Attaturk's post at Atrios' blogspot: Well there's one thing we know Bush sure loves him those historians

Glenn Greenwald's article: The president receives "lessons" from his neoconservative tutors

Greenwald demonstrates that Bush's mind is closed to common sense and the will of the American people. Bush is the creature of the neocons, and welcomes the poison they continue to pour into his ears. Greenwald uses several different accounts of a "literary luncheon" written by the neocon attendees to prove that Bush is lost to the real world, and that the danger to the world is incalculable.

So we were sitting there with Friday night pizza and cheap wine and listening to the Dixie Chicks' award-winning CD, The Long Way Home.

If the Right Wing Nutters hadn't politicized this group during the invasion of Iraq, I probably wouldn't ever have purchased and enjoyed a Dixie Chick album, since I rarely listen to country. Probably without their intense anger and sorrow over the reaction to Natalie's 2003 remark, the Dixie Chicks wouldn't have been inspired to write these fine songs. Apparently millions of other people have had an experience similar to mine.

But what I want to know is, why aren't rightwingers/Republicans/conservatives all over America jerking in stiff-limbed little dances around their living rooms, quivering in an ecstasy of Bush Hate?  

Senator Voinovich:
I see that you voted "Nay" on S. 470, to my disappointment and disgust.

I find it very odd that the "War in Iraq" is not listed in your drop-down menu of subjects. Polls show that for most Americans it is their number one concern. We went to the polls in November and sent a very strong message to Washington. We want our troops out of Iraq.

BarbinMD wrote a story on the contentious meeting of the Iraqi parliament where al Maliki introduced the new U.S. security plan.
The New Way Forward:  A Progress Report

Judging from a story in the UK Times, the Sunnis may have good reason to doubt al Maliki's sincerity.

Death squad chieftains flee to beat Baghdad surge

A former senior Iraqi minister said most of the leaders loyal to Moqtada al-Sadr, the radical anti-American cleric, had gone into hiding in Iran.

I must confess that while I take protesting in the streets very seriously, I have fun deciding what to write on the sign or signs I carry. (Sometimes I have too many ideas.)

But I would appreciate feedback and suggestions from Kossaks. Do you think that straightforward signs like "Bring the Troops Home" or "Stop the War" are better than attempts to be clever or eye-catching?  

Before the 2004 elections I drew a cartoon cowboy and pasted a photo of Bush where the face would be. It was titled "STOP MAD COWBOY DISEASE." It got itself on the news, briefly, but it clearly wasn't enough to win the election for Kerry.

My sign at the protest after Bush's surge speech said:

NO TO
DOUBLING
DOWN WITH
AMERICAN LIVES

Here's an idea I got from a sign at that protest:

Invade Iraq   and      Surge Troops
  Dumb           and     Dumber

He stroked his wispy white beard and looked up at her quietly, in an almost kindly way, that frightened her.

"So. It will be four years in March since we invaded, thousands are dead, and you still have more to say about the Iraq War?" he said.

Georgette nodded and advanced hesitantly toward Sam, uncertainty taking form in her mind at this new expression on his face. The glow went from her heart, the warm fantasy of battle which had sent her here on winged feet. She half-grasped what was in Sam's mind as he mourned the deaths of thousands. She could not wholly understand or analyze what he was feeling, but it seemed almost as if she too had been brushed by whispering ghosts. She was seeing through Sam's eyes the passing of more than 3,000 brave Americans, and the grievous wounding of thousands more.

Sam spoke again, his voice light and cool.

"You haven't lost anyone in your family. That makes it nice for you, doesn't it?"

"Oh, how can you say such things," she cried, stung. "You know how I loved them all!"

"No, I can't say I do. Most unexpected given your stinginess with veterans' benefits."

The defiant al-Maliki also slammed the top U.S. military and diplomatic representatives in        Iraq for saying Iraq needed to set a timetable to curb violence ravaging the country.

U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said Tuesday that al-Maliki had agreed to the plan, announced at a rare joint appearance with Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, who said he would not hesitate to ask for more troops if he felt they were necessary.

It sounds to me as though al Maliki isn't that anxious for Republicans to win on November 7.

Studebaker is a fantastic candidate for this year's election.
Studebaker for Congress

Strickland and Brown are doing well in the polls, so Ohio is clearly tired of the same old, same old Republican greed and short-sightedness. Stephanie got her start as a DFA member, but has never held political office. She is a veterinarian who has no ambitions to be a career politician. The current anti-incumbent feeling makes her an excellent candidate to run against Turner. Add to that her intelligence, her business experience, her progressive positions, her genuine, charming personality. They add up to a winner. The young team directing her campaign is enthusiastic and experienced. But we need more help.

Describing himself as a self-made man, "unbought and unbossed," J. Kenneth Blackwell spoke at length to those gathered at Omega Baptist Church on Sunday about personal responsibility in battling the problems faced by Ohio's black residents.

Blackwell mentioned his Democratic opponent only once and not by name, while referencing his own track record of recruiting black people to top jobs. 'I want you to ask him, of his 12 years in Congress, how many black folks has he hired,' Blackwell said.

Stephanie Studebaker is concerned about the corruption in Washington. She is worried about the jobs bleeding out of Ohio by the tens of thousands. She believes the NSA wiretapping without a warrant is illegal. She sees the task of balancing the budget as a moral responsibility. She supports a woman's right to choose. I can support Ms. Studebaker 100% and I'm sure most Ohio Kossaks can as well.

Studebaker for Congress

Bush eyes the center; this can't hurt

It marked a turn for this presidency. George W. Bush, having once been a darling of the aggressive conservatives -- an in-your-face kind of president, ideologically speaking -- gave a speech Tuesday that turned toward the political center. It could have come from his father, of all people.

Bush said the Iraqi oil industry, already suffering from sabotage and lost revenues, must not fall under the control of     Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida forces in Iraq led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

"If Zarqawi and bin Laden gain control of Iraq, they would create a new training ground for future terrorist attacks," Bush said. "They'd seize oil fields to fund their ambitions. They could recruit more terrorists by claiming a historic victory over the United States and our coalition."

It's too bad Bush didn't take out bin Laden and al-Zarqawi when he had the chance. Then they wouldn't be available to take over Iraq's oil fields.

At the pro-Bush rally several miles away, there were some heated moments when two members of Protest Warrior, a group that frequently holds counter protests to anti-war rallies, walked in with a sign that read "Say No to War - Unless a Democrat is President."

Many Bush supporters only saw the top of the sign and believed the men were war protesters, so they began shouting and chasing the pair out. One man tore up their signs. When Will Marean of Minneapolis kept repeating that he was on the Bush side and tried to explain Protest Warrior's mission, one Bush supporter shook his hand and apologized.

Bush: Leaving Iraq Would Be a Bad Signal

The plan
The delegation, which Morgan said is being funded by individual radio stations and the hosts themselves, will be leaving on Friday for about a week.

They will be broadcasting from U.S Central Command headquarters in Baghdad's Green Zone and will be traveling with the troops daily.

The group will kick off the trip with a "Thank You BBQ" for the troops at Centcom headquarters in Tampa, Fla., before traveling to Kuwait to visit with soldiers. They will be flown from there to Iraq via military transport and will be sleeping in tents inside the secured Green Zone.
According to retired Col. Buzz Patterson, host of "The Buzz Cut" on Rightalk, the delegation of seven to 10 conservatives will also include two writers from the Web site FrontPage Magazine, which is published by David Horowitz and the Center for the Study of Popular Culture.