SIGH!

Those of us who value freedom; those of us who value privacy; those of us who value the checks and balances provided for in our Constitution; those of us who believe that ideology has no place in the court; those of us who believe that the President of the United States in not above the Rule of Law: those of us who are truly the silent majority of this country..................

Today lost a battle which will change the face of America beyond recognition for a period far beyond our life-times.

We have been beaten by those we expected to support anyone George W. Bush put up for the Supreme Court. But more importantly, we have been betrayed by those who should know better. At his age, Senator Byrd will not have to live with the consequences of his betrayal. Unfortunately, most of us will.

It is truly a sad day in America.

A Republican WOLF in Democrat SHEEP clothing?

I got an e-mail recently from the "Friends of Robert C. Byrd" asking for my support of Senator Byrd's re-election especially in view of the fact that the Republican candidate is, according to them, a wealthy man who can spend his own money to get elected.

It is well known that I "lean" Democrat. I'm probably more of an "Independent" but the WV Primary system doesn't lend itself to being without a party. Nevertheless, I find that in most matters, excepting National Defense, the Democratic Party's expressed beliefs and core values come closest to matching mine. I don't quite trust Republicans, even though my parents were of that party, because they seem to favor big business and show little or no concern about the individual, especially the poor one.

Robert C. Byrd proposes himself as a Democrat and, for all of me, he is one. I personally think he should form a "Constitutionalist Party" but that's an issue for another day.

I seldom take the time to write my Senators or my Representative. Since I'm not a wealthy contributor to their campaigns, I have never expected them to pay much attention. But, since the first election of George W. Bush, I have taken the time to email both Senators Byrd and Rockerfeller on at least three occasions.

The first: their vote on the nomination of John Ashcroft as Attorney General. I expressed deep concern over his political record and suggested he was not the right man for the job. I received answers from both Senators: Rockefeller saying he understood my concerns and would take them under consideration when he made his decision; Byrd essentially said that Ashcroft was a former Senator, therefore to be trusted to do the right thing. Rockefeller voted no; Byrd voted Yea.

We all know how well that turned out.

The second: their vote on the nomination of John Roberts as Chief Justice. I expressed concerns about Robert's judicial philosophy and the likely-hood he would take the court back to the 50's. I didn't get written answers from either. Both voted to confirm.

Only time will tell how that one turns out.

The third: Sam Alito for Supreme Court Justice. I've written both Senators. I've heard from neither. The vote is fast approaching. Rockefeller is undecided. Byrd is one of two Democrats to openly support Alito.

We'll have to wait and see.

But the reason behind this rant is that I feel betrayed by the senior Senator from WV. He has been great in steering money to us. He has drawn national attention to important issues such as mine safety. But in my mind, there can be no more important issue than the confirmation of Presidential nominations, especially to the Supreme Court. The President, in his 8 years in office, can influence the direction of this country for many years. Roberts and Alito will almost certainly be around until 2020. The balance of power in this country will be shifted no matter who is elected to Congress or the Presidency.

Vote for Robert C. Byrd for re-election? Not unless I see some satisfactory evidence that he is, truly, a supporter of the things I care about. I've voted for him every time he's run since I could first vote in 1968. I may well not cast a ballot on the Senate race this year.

Show me the money

It has been suggested, as it was during Vietnam Era, that if we don't agree with the policies of our government, we should just move elsewhere. This usually took the form of "America, love it or leave it." During that time, the usual answer was "America, change it or lose it."

Everyone has a right to their opinion, I guess, unless someone in power disagrees with those who do not. At that point, the ones in power tend to suggest it is unpatriotic to oppose them and we should all shut up or just leave.

I deeply resent, as someone who has placed his body and his life "between his loved home and the war's desolation" (from the National Anthem for those unpatriotic enough to not recognize the source) to have people who have never worn their country's uniform or who have been unwilling, even in uniform, to put themselves in harm's way, tell me that if I don't like what my President has done, I should just leave.

Well, it should be obvious to those who have read other posts in this Blog that I strongly disagree with what my President is doing. The invasion of Iraq, based on faulty intelligence and an overwhelming sense of "might makes right", for instance. The constant character assassination of those who question his conduct. The poorly excused invasion of privacy by wiretapping and the now infamous demand for Google's records. And, worst, the blind following of these things by people who can do no better than to parrot the words of some right-wing demi-God.

Maybe the time has come to leave it. But, if you folks are going to suggest I leave so that you can turn my country into something its founders would never recognize, surely YOU should pay for that exodus. Because it isn't that I want to go, it is that YOU want me to go.

OK, fine. You are spending billions on an unnecessary war; surely you can find the money to provide each of us who you want to go with a stake..... say $10 million each..... to pay for transportation and so that we won't become a burden on the place to which we relocate. Remember, it is your idea, not mine, that I should leave.

So, I will. Just as soon as you show me the money. Until then, I am a citizen of this country and have as much right to critisize President Bush and you have to support him... and I don't have to resort to typical Republican character assassination to do it.

Does no one understand?

I wondered how long it would take.

The Washington Post reported today that a "right-wing" website, part of Cybercast News Service, questions the circumstances under which Representative John Murtha (D-PA) won his two Purple Hearts in Vietnam, inferring he did not deserve them. Murtha, as you will recall, is a conservative Democrat who has always supported the Bush administration on the Iraq War (and other military isues) but was turned on by them as being another Michael Moore.

The latest issue shows total ignorance of military regulations and the rules for the award of decorations, including the Purple Heart. The award of the Purple Heart does not specify the severity of the injuries incurred by the receipient... only that the injuries are a result of enemy action. Allegedly, Murtha's wounds were on his face and did not require medical evacuation to the rear. Modest, as most true soldiers are, Mutha reportedly had a conversation in the 1980's with a former member of the House (Don Bailey [D-PA]) who had won the Silver Star and three Bronze Stars. During this conversation, Murtha allegedly said, "Hey, I didn't do anything like you did; I just got a little scratch on the face."

Probably a true report. But, so what? Murtha earned his Purple Hearts and is entitled to wear them with pride and honor.

I came home from Vietnam in 1972 with a Bronze Star for "Meritorious Achievement In Ground Operations Against Hostile Forces." Its still hanging on my wall, signed by Secretary of the Army Stanley Reasor and BG John Hill (Commanding General of the 1st Brigade of the 5th Mechanized Infantry). My father asked what I did to earn it and I told him "nothing special." He refused to believe that, but as far as I'm concerned, its true. And, like Representative Murtha, I'm entitled to wear it with pride and honor. And, like Murtha, I have no obligation to explain to anyone the facts behind the awards.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Marine Corps. records show Murtha was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries suffered due to hostile action near Da Nang, Vietnam. According to those records, one of the injuries was on the right cheek and the other above the left eye. He is, by military regulations, entitled to the Purple Heart for each of those wounds.

But, in attacks similar in nature to those by the "Swiftboat Veterans" against John Kerry, the TRUTH of an issue isn't important. What is important is to denigrate the service of anyone who believes differently than they. As I pointed out in a previous post, we have a President of the United States who hid behind an Air National Guard Uniform and who refused to be considered for overseas service; a Vice-President who has never worn his country's uniform; and a Speaker of the House who has never seen the need to serve in our country's military. Those are FACTS. Murtha, who always supported Bush earned his Purple Hearts and his Bronze Star. That is a FACT.

Adolf Hitler once was supposed to have remarked, "if you tell a big enough lie, no one will dare disbelieve you." Apparently, someone in the Bush White House has been reading Mein Kamph and is taking a page from Hitler's ideas. The TRUTH of an issue doesn't matter. Only that you can attack your opponent and distract the public from the issues. And what is truly sad is that many of those who believe Bush can do no wrong will now pick up on this issue and attempt to distract the people from the issues of Iraq.

It is now January, 2006. For the next 10 months, we can expect to hear this type of attack against every Democratic candidate running for office. Its the way things are now being done by the GOP. And it casts a cloud over every honest patriotic person who runs for office under their banner. Because they are letting their party be used this way.

Does no one understand how this Administration works?