A. Alexander, July 23rd, 2006

The Progressive Daily Beacon

It is no secret that the Bush administration and Republicans are completely disconnected from the American people, but what is becoming increasingly obvious is that they've become disconnected from reality. A new Harris Poll shows Bush's rating stuck at a pathetic 34 percent, and the Democrats' lead over Republicans, widening. What is more, 50 percent of ''moderates'' and 32 percent of Conservatives intend to vote Democrat in November. Stunning and shocking numbers to be sure, but there is good reason for this new American political reality and, perhaps, Charles Barkley said it best, ''I was a Republican - until they lost their minds.''

Indeed, Republicans have lost their minds. The entire GOP has become controlled by a crazy band of ideologically-driven extremist Christians (not to be confused with those who actually practice Christ's teachings) of which Bush, Frist and scores of Republicans including Rick Santorum belong. This small cult within the American experience is the only group today's Republicans seek to satisfy. Whether it is Terry Schiavo, the war in Iraq, school vouchers, flag-burning, gay marriage amendment, the pledge of allegiance, or stem cell research Republicans move from one crazy wedge issue to another. Indeed, they are going from crazy to crazier.

Republicans Gone Crazy

You just need to be a flea against injustice. Enough committed fleas biting strategically can make even the biggest dog uncomfortable and transform even the biggest nation. ~~ Marian Wright Edelman

 

The Times August 04, 2006
ISRAEL’s military campaign in southern Lebanon is still being backed by most American voters, according to a survey published yesterday that shows public opinion in the US once again sharply at odds with views in Europe.

The Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll found that 59 per cent believed that Israel’s actions were “justified”, although a quarter of this group stated that the military had behaved in an “excessively harsh” fashion.

In contrast, a recent YouGov/Telegraph poll in Britain showed that only 17 per cent of those surveyed believed that Israel had made an “appropriate and proportional” response to the kidnapping of its soldiers. A Forsa/Stern poll has indicated that 75 per cent of Germans believe that Israel’s actions are “disproportionate” and only 12 per cent approved of the attacks on Palestinian or Lebanese settlements. Such a division across the Atlantic in Western public opinion is similar to that which opened up over whether there should be an invasion of Iraq.

This is, in part, a reflection of the more aggressive stance adopted by American voters after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. John McCain, the Republican senator, spoke for many this week when he suggested that America would respond in a similar fashion to Israel if it faced missile attacks from the other side of the Mexican border.

Read the rest at:

 

Bombing is backed by most American voters

 

Flea: on the plus side, in the same poll 74% of Americans said that global warming is "somewhat" or "very" serious. <sigh>

You just need to be a flea against injustice. Enough committed fleas biting strategically can make even the biggest dog uncomfortable and transform even the biggest nation. ~~ Marian Wright Edelman

Apparently, according to some reports on the Israel war on Lebanon, La Rice spurted something like: "we cannot allow any political party [referring to Hezbollah] to have its own militia..."

Er... Hum... But this is exactly what the US did allow in Iraq...

The US did not have any choice but to accept that fact, otherwise they would have had a revolution on their hands and despite their present covert attempt to wage militia against militia by taking side, it is most likely that sooner or later, in the slide towards (un)civil war, the Iraqi people will wake up to the invaders' strange game... deliberate or not.

The slide to civil war in Iraq may be a cover to oust the Yanks...?

From Al Jazeera

Beirut dismisses UN draft resolution

Sunday 06 August 2006, 2:07 Makka Time, 23:07 GMT

Lebanon has rejected a draft UN resolution proposed by the US and France that calls for "full cessation of hostilities" between Israel and Hezbollah.
Nouhad Mahmoud, a Lebanese foreign ministry official, said on Sunday that the government "would have liked to see our concerns more reflected in the text" of the draft resolution.
"Unfortunately, it lacked, for instance, a call for the withdrawal of Israeli forces which are now in Lebanon. That is a recipe for more confrontation."
He said the government was also [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/5AEA516B-5199-4477-907B-5E2A4B481A49.htm|unhappy] that the resolution does not call for the Shebaa Farms area to be put under UN control, as Lebanon has asked, while its future status is figured out.
The strip of Israeli-occupied land was deemed by the United Nations to be part of Syria unless Lebanon, which claims the territory, demarcated new borders with Syria, which has not happened.
The UN draft resolution was released on Saturday after Washington and Paris reached an agreement on the document's details.
Mahmoud said Lebanon had proposed some amendments to make the draft more acceptable to Beirut

From the BBC, a few hours beffore that...
The US and France have agreed the wording of a UN resolution to end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. It calls for a "full cessation of hostilities", demanding that Hezbollah halt all attacks and Israel stop all offensive military operations.
A BBC correspondent at the UN says the wording would allow Israel some freedom if it argues it needs to defend itself.
The UN Security Council has held initial consultations on the draft. Israel has so far reacted cautiously.
US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton said the Security Council meeting on Saturday was "very productive".

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Gus: John Bolton: nil, Nouhad Mahmoud, 3...