The Inconvenient Truth

<Insert One Big Gigantic Boisterous Exhale Here>

Warning
This one may be too harsh for some to tolerate, but I’m not holding any punches on this one. So if you have a soft spot for injustice, fraud, lies, liars and crime, then this is not the post for you.

Now this is my warning, so don’t get mad at me for use of strong language. Don’t get upset with me if you find yourself within one of the groups I’m speaking about. I clearly understand that not all who may have identified themselves with the acceptable ideology of the culprits that I will soon mention are guilty.

I will not do what many that accuse the individuals on my side of doing. You’re not guilty by your association, but you are guilty if you continue to associate with the knowledge of a deed that has been proven was supported, acknowledge and approved of by the people you soon will know by name.

The Inconvenient Truth
The Inconvenient Truth – Now I’m not referring to Former Vice-President Al Gore’s Book & Movie, “Inconvenient Truth”, but on this Earth Day 2009 it seems like that’s what’s happening to the Bush/Cheney Legacy and those who supported them.

Inconvenient truths are being revealed in terms of some previously classified documents regarding the acknowledgment and approval of torture from top Bush/Cheney officials. The finger of truth that was water-boarded, repeatedly slapped, beaten and locked away, detained or should I say classified to never see the light of day again. But it seems the beaten and battered hand of truth is pointing in the direction of the two whose name in which the administration was named after.

How inconvenient is the truth for some and satisfying or vindicating it is for others. The truth always prevails regardless of how effective its opposition justifies or argues their actions.

To the purveyors of war whose only zeal of life seems to seek confusion of the facts, distort public perception and offer alternative reasoning, what many refer to as lying I say to you to not seek to polarize this into a political issue. You already achieve that when you were in power and decided to coop the Justice Department for your own purposed like you did FOX News. Now is your opportunity to get your story straight and tell the truth. Whether you want to admit it or not, judgment day is approaching and we will wait to see if you will accept the ideology of responsibility and accountability for your actions or continue to be defiant. Do the honorable thing and stop pulling the Republican Party fully into the political abyss. The stress and truth continues to mount.

How can ANYONE who proclaims to uphold the values of the Republican Party remain silent? Is torture and lying about it the value you really want to uphold? And you wonder why you’re having troubles recruiting a diverse group of Americans to the party.

Waterboarding
On the issue of whether waterboarding is torture or not. I can’t believe the audacity of some FOX News hosts assertions that water boarding isn’t torture. Glenn Beck leading his three blind sheep to follow his belief that waterboarding isn’t torture. Sean Hannity said he’s willing to be waterboarded to prove that it isn’t torture. Well I say let’s find out by allowing me to water board you. I will do it for at no charge, but I need you to sign this waiver of immunity in the case ‘something tragic was to happen to you and you actually died’. I’m willing to add Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly add no cost.

The former Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Court of International Trade, Hon. Evan Wallach is quoted in the Washington Post as saying, “The media usually characterize the practice as ‘simulated drowning’. That’s incorrect. To be effective, waterboarding is usually real drowning that simulates death.”

I know how FOX and their followers so love the military, but will not offer their own sons and daughters would believe top ranked officers in the military.

Major General Scott Black; U.S. Army Judge Advocate General, Major General Jack Rives; U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General, Rear Admiral Bruce MacDonald; U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General and Brigadier General Kevin Sandkuhler and John Fugh Marine staff Judge Advocate said that, “The use of a wet towel and dripping water to induce the misperception of drowning is unanimously and unambiguously agreed that such conduct is inhumane and illegal and would constitute a violation of international law, to include Common Article 3 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions.” Whew.

The argument of it’s just a difference in politics is ridiculous. You’re either for torture or against it. So to borrow and remix a line from George W. Bush, in regards to torture if you’re not with us then you’re against us. Obviously judging by the recent and upcoming developments many in the Bush Administration was against us.

Listen, if you want to accept the absurd and paranoid argument offered by Dick Cheney, Karl Rove and those who continue to fall in line, then you will need to come up with a justifiable case for torture. Essentially, that’s what the Bush Administration has tried to do and you see where this is leading them.

How do you reconcile your conscience knowing the truth? Do you continue to deny the truth? Do you find another area or person to place blame? No you hold yourself accountable and admit what is true, if you’re an honorable person.

How inconvenient it is to embrace truth? Obviously very inconvenient for some.

One Question
After all of this proof that smacks you in your face I am left with one question. One question for those who boldly supported the Bush Administration; one question for all of those who bought into the oxymoronic empty campaign motto compassionate conservative propaganda back in 2000; one question for the single-issue voters who demonstrate more concern for the unborn than the living. Listen I support pro-life, but in ever instance. You can’t be pro-life for one and pro-death for another, that’s essential makes you pro-choice, because you’re picking and choosing who you want to live.

I have one question for those concerned about higher taxes, but had NOTHING to say about their taxes going up under George Walker Bush. Can you be honest enough to admit you’re your aversion to President Obama has nothing to do with taxes or even policy? I bet the policy you protest in public doesn’t match up to the ones you profess in private. These are the same people who openly embrace the propaganda of fear. One question for the Christian Right who allowed themselves to be pimped by Karl Rove, George Bush and the GOP to be its Main Girl for political gain. Well it’s the morning after how do you feel now?

The fear of defeat should not control your ability to reason and to embrace truth. Where’s the accountability? If you are going to hold President Obama to a higher standard, why didn’t you apply that same standard to the guy you supported for eight years? What’s the difference?

The hypocrisy of those who refuse to accept reality will be forced to acknowledge the inconvenient truth it presents. What do you have to say for yourself?

How do you justify it not being torture when a person was waterboarded  over 180 times in a single month? The United States doesn’t endorse torture, but the Bush Administration obviously sponsored it.

References & Inspirations

U.S. Senate Armed Service Committee – 04/22/09 “Senate Armed Services Committee Inquiry Into The Treatment of Detainees in U.S. Custody”

NY Hospital-Cornell Medical Center – 09/1957 “The Methods of Interrogation and Indoctrination Used By The Communist State Police”

U.S. Senate Select Intelligence Committee – 09/25/07 “Interrogation Policy & Executive Order 13440”

CNN – 09/21/01 “Transcript of President Bush’s Address”

American Civil Liberties Union – 04/16/09 “Bush Administration Torture Memos: Bradbury & Bybee Memo”

Frm. Brig. General Janis Karpinski “One Woman’s Army”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – 04/04/67 “Why I Oppose the War In Vietnam”

War Made Easy – The Movie “Transcript: How Presidents & Pundits Keep Spinning Us To Death”

Jon Stewart Show – 04/21/09 “Jon Stewart Takes on Torture’s Supporters”

What has Sen. Grassley been Smoking?

MAN! Sen. Chuck Grassley is gangsta. WOW! I don’t like what went on, but kill themselves?
But he wasn’t finished, because he had one more tidbit or should I say ‘tit bit’. I absolutely love this little misquote from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA). I wonder what he was thinking about?

The Audacity of an Insurance Giant

AIG Hypocrisy Alert Edition

While everyone including myself are outraged at the complete disrespectful regards to the American Taxpayers who have saved AIG from going under many ask a simple question, how could this happen? While some are taking the opportunity to gain political points and blames the Obama Administration for this oversight. Well let’s take a closer look before we start pointing fingers.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) is a member of the Senate Finance Committee. Last month he and Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-MA) added an amendment to the stimulus bill that would have prevented companies, such as AIG the ability to distribute bonuses. But that amendment along with others was taken out of the bill. Hmmm… I wonder why and who pounded their fists in hypocritical outrage in regards to ‘earmarks’ and who helped hinder regulation that helped eliminate this amendment?

By-the-way, isn’t Sen. Snowe one of the three Republicans that voted for the stimulus package? (Reference Source) I believe she was, so she, the other two Republican Senators and the Democrat Senators are not to blame since they originally had this amendment. Perhaps they should have fought against the Republicans that didn’t oppose this a little harder. I guess that’s the only honest area of blame.

If I remember correctly Sen. Snowe is one of the Republican Senators the GOP was upset with? I believe Chairman Michael Steele even suggested something about withholding campaign money from the RNC and supporting their challengers because of this. (Reference Source)

So I suggest that we first investigating before we start pointing fingers, pounding on podiums with righteous indignation towards each other and getting on any form of media in efforts to promote what is essentially what I call a Scampaign against the truth in order to gain a measure of support. There’s plenty of blame to throw around, but I believe this one should be firmly directed at the crooks at AIG and not politicians of either party who are honestly working together to fix it.

You may argue with me, but I believe this is fair.

Now, in regards to the AIG $160 Million of ‘retention bonus’ money here’s the results of New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s investigation of how those bonuses are being distributed.

• One person who is no longer employed with the company is getting a ‘Retention Bonus’ of $6.4 Million U.S. Dollars.
• The top 7 bonus earners received $4 Million U.S. Dollars each.
• The top 10 bonus earners received a combined $42 Million U.S. Dollars.
• There were 22 other bonus earners who got $2 Million U.S. Dollars each.
• And wait for this one… 73 additional people at AIG got $1 Million each.

Now I feel really cheated now, because I’ve created some useful stuff at previous employers and the few times I did get a bonus it was absolutely no where in the vicinity of what the people who basically destroyed AIG is getting. Maybe it’s different at your job, or perhaps I’m in the wrong industry.

Of course the Democrats are suggesting the bonuses and/or any firm that the government holds 79% or more stakes to have a hefty tax imposed and bonuses capped.

Republicans, well at least the only one we’ve heard of that has a plan, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) seem to have a different method of getting back the funds from the bonuses… “The first thing that would make me feel a little bit better towards them, if they had followed the Japanese example and come before the American people and take that deep bow and say, “I’m sorry,” and then either do one of two things, resign or go commit suicide.” Yahoo News – 03/17/09 “Senator Suggests AIG Execs Should Kill Themselves”

U.S. Treasury Secretary is recouping the funds from AIG $30 Billion bailout. Since AIG got this in writing I think this is a logical and equally legal move by the Secretary.

Personally, I would be just as iron fisted as AIG and many others on Wall Street and just take the money. Once they’ve threaten to take me to court I would simply tell them to sue me, before I completely take over the company. Once I’ve taken over I would simply carve out this division that caused this mess into its own individual entity and allow it to fail. I would get quite a few people upset with me on many sides, but to deal with a gangster you do what they do, but only legally.

Tell me what you think about this AIG hypocrisy and what you would do?

References & Inspirations

Media Matters – 02/26/09 “AP Ignored Democrats’ Response to Earmark Criticism: 40% are from Republicans”

The Junior Senator from Illinois

In regards to Rod Blagovejech’s appointment of Roland Burris and Rep. Bobby Rush’s comments injecting race into this situation I give this statement.

First, I want to say that I actually like and respect Rep. Bobby Rush. But no one is trying to politically lynch this appointment because Roland Burris is Black. The disagreement or validity with the appointment isn’t because of the appointee, but the appointer. Rod Blagovejech’s intentions are derived out of his own political selfishness and benefit.

The U.S. Senate Democrats are not trying to prevent Mr. Burris from becoming the next “Junior Senator from Illinois” because he’s Black. This time race is not the issue and is the wrong fight to wage. Rod Blagovejech is a shrewd man, because he’s playing “The Race Card” and hoping enough Black people who are not paying attention to the details will buy into this argument. It appears that some already have.

If we want equality, freedom and justice for all it has to be mutual. I want a Black man to replace a Black man. You don’t want to be the token Black, so why should you push for the U.S. Senate to be for tokenism.

Yes, there is racism, even in politics and the U.S. Senate and Democratic Party is not immune to it. In this case the U.S. Senate and the Democratic Party is not denying Mr. Burris based on the content of his character, nor are they denying Mr. Burris based on the color of his skin. They are opposing this appointment, because is suspicious.

Yes, Blagovejech still legal has the right to appoint whomever to the vacant Senate seat, but given his dishonesty surrounding the appointment why would anyone accept an appointment from him. Why would you want a job where you’re looked at with suspicion? A great example is the selection of George W. Bush in 2000. There are many people who still look at him with suspicion.

I look at George W. Bush with great suspicion, but that’s a different story.

A few days ago I referenced a mythical character called “The Magic Negro”. What still amazes me is to see not the benefit of a “Magic Negro”, but the Negroes themselves who blindly, but faithfully continue to come to aid of the one in trouble who means him no good.

As a Black man I can say it’s good to see someone who looks like me in a position of power, because it’s rare and often difficult to obtain. But power demands respect, the respect comes from how they obtain that power. That’s the content of their character Dr. Martin Luther King referenced in his speech commonly known as “I Have a Dream”. Regardless of you race, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation your nobility is measured not by how far or high you may go in life, but how you get there.

With all due respect to Mr. Roland Burris, Rep. Bobby Rush and those who support this appointment, I must disagree.

References & Inspiration:

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – 08/28/1963 “I Have a Dream”

USA Today – 01/06/09 “Half Say Burris should be blocked from Sen. Seat”

Chicago Tribune – 01/06/09 “Roland Burris is turned away at Senate”

ABC News – 12/30/08 “Outrage Greets Blagojevich Power Play”

Associated Press – 01/06/09 “Burris Refused Seat in US Senate”

I Got Five On It: Gov. Rod Blagojevich Edition

Straight from the What in the Hell were you thinking file: Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-IL) was arrested on World Anti-Corruption Day.

It’s a bizarre development for someone who was originally seen as a reformer.

Rod Blagojevich was a little-known member of Congress, was elected in 2002 by promising to shake up Springfield after George Ryan’s corrupt term and years of Republican control.

During his first year in office, Blagojevich helped pass ethics legislation adding new inspectors to investigate corruption, restricting gifts from lobbyists and limiting taxpayer-funded public service announcements that feature politicians.

OK, Here’s my question for the Governor. Isn’t it apart of your job as governor to appoint a replacement if a senator vacates the office? So why should you expect any more money than what you’re already getting paid. You’re the state’s executive-in-chief, not auctioneer-in-chief.

Then your language towards the man who’s previous position you are required to fill is uncalled for. Yes Mr. Governor the President-Elect doesn’t owe you anything. Let me say it once again, “IT’S YOUR JOB DUDE”. That’s like a firefighter asking for money to put out the fire at your house.

Is there something in the water that some of these governors are desperate for attention, money or booty. In the past few years we’ve seen the Governor of NJ exposed his relationship with another man. Who can forget the Governor of NY, he just wanted some… at least he used his own money. I want even start with Governor of Alaska and now we have Illinois.

We elected you and pay you to conduct state business, not your own shady one at our expense. I’ve never heard of someone wanting go get paid in addition to their salary for something they are required to do in the first place. If getting to the Senate was as easy as paying for it, then I got five on it.

Additional References:

LA Times – 12/09/08 “More Political Corruption Cases in History“

Chicago Tribune – 12/09/08 “IL Governor: From Reformer to Defendant“

Reuters – 12/09/08 “Obama Seen Untouched by IL Gov. Charges“

CNN – 12/09/08 “Blagojevich made name as Friend to the Common Man“