Makayla on Halloween

Makayla on Halloween

Here's a pic of my niece on Halloween. She is one of the most joyful kids I know (most of the time, anyway ;-)

VOTER FRAUD?

It is now looking quite possible that there was at least some degree of fraud in some of the states. This will be challenging to prove, since many of the electronic voting machines leave no paper audit trail. A number of links (over 20) about various curiosities in different states are posted here. One very interesting article, "Something Looks Very Wrong in Florida", is posted at Daily Kos. Also check these graphs that have to make one ask questions.

I was willing, along with Kerry, to concede last Wednesday (I was very upset, but I've lost contests before). Now I'm having second thoughts. Here in my home county of Hillsborough in Florida, It would be a lot easier to believe the results if Buddy Johnson, the election supervisor, would have allowed a paper trail!

Democracy for America

One of the many lessons to learn from this election is that Democrats need to energize our base. Terry McAuliffe has resigned as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and it is time that we at the grassroots show our support for Howard Dean as the next head of the Democratic National Committee.
If you are a Democrat, your immediate action items are:

1. Sign the online petition supporting Howard Dean to chair the DNC.
2. Get active! Read what Democracy for America is doing, and then link up with your local group - or start one.

The Tampa chapter of Democracy for America had the first post-election meeting on Wednesday, November 3! Yes, the day after the election, the work continued. For some time I have had a link on the left column of this site pointing to Blog for America. That is the blog for Democracy for America, and should be a regular read.
We've had a few days to lick our wounds, now take some action!

Guantanamo Tribunal Lacks Basic Knowledge of Law

This came to my attention via Wayne' post at J2G.
Prisoners at Guantanamo Bay - held for years with no charges
filed, often in solitary confinement, with multiple violations of the
Geneva Convention because this administration has conveniently declared
that the Geneva Convention does not apply - these prisoners are finally beginning to have their cases heard by military tribunal.

Now, there's no denying that many of the prisoners were part of al
Qaeda or were Taliban fighters or were among other groups fighting the
US and Afghan forces, and really do need to be locked up. There is also
no denying that there are some innocent people imprisoned at Guantanamo
Bay. The purpose of the military tribunals is to begin to sift through
all these cases and see that justice is served.

The problem is that the tribunals are being heard by incompetent individuals, who lack a basic understanding of law. Please read the article. The Bush Administration must move quickly to correct this very serious blunder.

Bush apparently won this election based largely on voters'
perception of his 'moral values'. The Commander in Chief is responsible
to correct this disgusting departure from an ethical approach to a
problem. Unfortunately, this president has shown that he has plenty of
time to SAY what folks want to hear, and little interest to actually DO
what is right. He will talk about how he prays every day, looks to God
for strength and guidance, takes positions on issues for moral reasons
- and these words play great to so many voters. Then his administration
declares that the Geneva Convention does not apply at Guantanamo Bay,
and so NO LAW APPLIES except whatever the US decides is convenient. In
fact, the Geneva Convention does apply to at least some of the detainees, regardless of what Rumsfeld and others claim.

Rumsfeld declared that it was a violation of the Geneva Convention
when captured US servicemen were shown on TV (early in the Iraq War),
but then disregarded the Geneva Convention when captured Iraqis were
shown on TV. And now, down in Guantanamo Bay, not only is the Geneva
Convention ignored, but the military tribunals, which determine the
fate of the prisoners, are being run by individuals who lack the proper
training to carry out the job.

I truly hope that Bush will take quick action to correct this situation. It is the moral thing to do.

To those USA voters who did not vote for Bush...

Stop your whining and get behind President Bush! Hear me out...

Our options are:

1. Curl up in a fetal position, rocking and sobbing
2. Become a raging alcoholic
3. Leave the country
4. Get constructive

I choose option 4.

Think about it. Republicans have a reputation of being the party of business people. If you want to take over a corporation, you need to own enough stock - or have enough stockholders supporting your endeavor - to force the board to do your bidding. Well, 4 years ago the Republicans got busy and applied some good business sense and started recruiting folks (stockholders in the 'corporation' of America). Democrats (and Americans in general) tend not to get too involved in things political. We get complacent and lazy and hesitant to take action - or to even stay informed!

OK. It is time to take the energy and momentum that we've built during the past months that we have been active, and we need to stand behind President Bush. And in front of him...and on all sides...with our eyes and ears wide open, watching and really paying attention. We need to turn off the stupid 'reality' television shows and spend a little time following what the public officials are doing as they accept the salaries that we pay them. As Bush or the House and Senate or local entities are taking action or considering options, we need to let our voices be heard. Write, email, and phone call these officials with your opinions. Write letters to the editor of your local newspapers. Post online. Talk to folks. This government is supposed to be of the people, by the people, and for the people. The unwritten part is that you have to participate to be one of the people, and participating does not just mean voting once in a while. You have to exercise a little intellectual rigor and educate yourself. Yes, it takes a little work; God knows the 'news' isn't going to do it for you!

Bush has said he will not activate a military draft. Bush has said he will cut the deficit in half. Bush said he'd be a uniter, not a divider. Bush said he was a compassionate conservative. Bush has said a lot of things over the years and so far the reality is a lot different than the promises. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me! This is no time to sit and whimper and wait and hope that things will be better in 4 years. We need to pay attention, and start complaining LOUDLY when things don't go right (lots of opportunity there!), and get and stay active and fight to save our nation.

As Patrick Henry stated so well all those years ago, "I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death."