h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A great Huzzah for Veterans for Peace and their new Declaration of Impeachment!

http://www.veteransforpeace.org/impeachment/impeachment.htm

and

http://www.veteransforpeace.org/impeachment/declaration_of_impeachment.pdf

"...in a sign of continuing polarization, more than two-in-five voters (42%) say they would favor impeachment proceedings if it is found the President misled the nation about his reasons for going to war with Iraq"

http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1007

I guess it's really down to Republicans in the House doing what is right rather than being assholes. Or the voters at mid-term elections.

I would like to take a moment to praise President Bush:

'President Bush planned to visit his home state but canceled at the last moment. The White House said he did not want to slow down the storm preparations.

Earlier, Bush said he wanted to observe operations in Texas but not interfere.

"We're now facing another big storm," he said. "Our job is to prepare for and assist state and local people to save lives and help these people get back on their feet." Bush added: "There will be no risk of me getting in the way. What I will do is observe."'

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,170202,00.html

I sincerely praise Mr. Bush for seeing the importance of letting the help be given without the interference of photo ops. This moment gives me hope for Mr. Bush.


And, I would like to praise Sharon Olds:

'For reasons spelled out below, the poet Sharon Olds has declined to attend the National Book Festival in Washington, which, coincidentally or not, takes place September 24, the day of an antiwar mobilization in the capital. Olds, winner of a National Book Critics Circle Award and professor of creative writing at New York University, was invited along with a number of other writers by First Lady Laura Bush to read from their works. Three years ago artist Jules Feiffer declined to attend the festival's White House breakfast as a protest against the Iraq War ("Mr. Feiffer Regrets," November 11, 2002). We suggest that invitees to this year's event consider following their example.'

Read Ms. Olds' letter declining the invitation at: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051010/olds

I would like to join you Anhaga.

Think of the art, and music the US has given the world. I like the concept of freedom of the individual up to a point. I have visited America twice and felt very at home with the general warmth and optimism of people I met there. I certainly feel an emotional attachment to the US. I took flowers from my garden to the US embassy the day after 9/11. I have made some really good American friends here on hootoo.

Without the intercession of the US during World War 2, the Nazis would probably have conquered Europe, including my country, the UK.

Overall I would consider myself to be pro American.

All too often (as well illustrated with the WWW threads in the past) we confuse frustration and anger over policies and governments with how we feel about that which is really the US. Political leaders come and go and we can gnash our teeth and tear out our hair over their actions but the people of the United States of America, it's core values and it's contributions to the world remain. Let's just hope we can survive the current pendulum swing.

Good things about the US? Its universities and the wonderful talents they have produced, as well as the wonderful talents that skipped university and got a stage show instead. And the massive advancements in science that the US is responsible for. Just a cursary glance at the NASA website and wow.

And yeah, I'm sure those involved in WWII appreciated the help. I'm skeptical that the US saved Europe from the Nazis, but they certainly saved half of it from the USSR.

Although Twobit, I find it interesting that you believe the US has the best living standards in the world? Certainly it has one of the highest GDP/capita in the world (), but that doesn't appear to translate to a healthy population (still does well, but near the bottom of the developed nations), and absolute poverty is rather high.

I would like to praise the majority of the Republican U.S. Senators for voting to ban the torturing of detainees by U.S. service people, a legislative revolt which the Bush administration plans to veto:

'The Bush administration pledged yesterday to veto legislation banning the torture of prisoners by US troops after an overwhelming and almost unprecedented revolt by loyalist congressmen.'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/10/07/wus207.xml

to the senators...

The article also mentions a "$440 billion (£247 billion) defence spending bill and if Mr Bush vetoes the amendment, he would have to veto the entire bill."

It will be interesting to see how the shrub manages to weasel this one...

I was noticing that too. It will be interesting to see what all those National Guardsmen serving their third tours in Iraq will think of suddenly not having a paycheque to send home to the families they've not seen in a couple of years.

Perhaps he'll just cut a few more veterans' benefits to cover the shortage?

btw, does anyone else in Canada fail to see how we could have so many *veterans* that it seems like every tenth license plate is a veteran one? Isn't a veteran a survivor of a military conflict? We haven't had that many, especially producing such young veterans!

Perhaps peacekeeping missions count. (They do as far as I'm concerned.)

I think just serving in the armed forces counts

In reply to post 40 from Two Bit

Quote "I'm not sure that the reservation system is heatlhey in the long run. To me it seems that making one class of people different from every other American citizens isn't good. With the exception of the casinos, how has the reservation system been good for the Indians? From all I've heard, the reservations are mostly miserable remote welfare colonies. A classic case of the federal government trying to help someone."

The "Reservation" system was inflicted on Native Americans AFTER the majority were slaughtered - mostly by the US army. If ever there was an example where a Government has to help, then this is it.

and a * for Theodore Roosevelt Heller who asked that mourners at his funeral 'In lieu of flowers, please send acerbic letters to Republicans.'

http://www.legacy.com/chicagotribune/LegacySubPage2.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=15361018






*I've already taken care of enough acerbic letters to Republicans.