Democratic whining

I think that the typical establishment liberal argument against voting for the Green Party ("they won't be able to do anything even if they do get a few seats") is slightly undermined by the fact that the Dems are sniveling about GOP obstructionism even though they control the presidency and 59% majorities in both houses of Congress. Do the numbers really ever get any more favorable than this? Stop whining and start governing. Or get out of the way.

GOP intellectual bankruptcy

I heard a great example of the intellectual bankruptcy of the modern Republican Party this morning. In an NPR report on stalled efforts to extend unemployment insurance, Democratic majority leader Harry Reid blamed Republican attempts to load the bill down with amendments with partisan amendments on completely unrelated issues.

One GOP senator dismissed Reid's criticisms by pointing out that because the Democrats have 60 seats, they can do whatever they want, including shoving things through against Republican objections.

Then another Republican, Texas Sen. Jon Cornyn, whined that the meanie Democrats were now being partisan by trying to clamp down on those unrelated GOP amendments.

So if Democrats actually try to get things done, they're being "partisan." But if they try to work with obstinate Republicans, it's their own fault for not steamrolling them.

An incoherent endorsement

See if you can make heads or tails out of this endorsement by The Post-Star.

The paper gave its nod for the 5th Ward Glens Falls Common Council seat to Republican challenger Heath Morris over Democratic incumbent Ben Driscoll.

The daily described Driscoll as quiet and deliberate, calmly discussing the infrastructure issues in his ward and checking off programs that could be pared to shave the city budget... He also is careful about moving full-steam-ahead with a revaluation in the city, fearful of what impact it might have on struggling homeowners, and about ripping up South Street without finding a place for the citizens they displace. He's very visible in his ward and keeps in touch with his constituents.

What a monster!

According to the paper, the incumbent seems to be doing a good job, yet the Council needs new blood.

Morris swore on his mother's grave that he wouldn't raise taxes. Amazingly, the paper admits that it's not sure how he plans to pull that off but went gaga over the vague rhetoric anyway.

Who writes this stuff?!

Oh wait, a Pulitzer Prize winner.

I'm not sure if that cheap pandering was the reason Morris got the paper's endorsement or because Driscoll doesn't shamelessly grandstand, in contrast to the late Rep. Jerry Solomon (Morris' former mentor) or another Post-Star endorsee, Queensbury town supervisor Dan Stec.

I know Ben Driscoll and I endorse him for the Council. I urge you to vote for him... unless you agree with the Post-Star that being "quiet," "deliberative" and keeping in touch with constituents are heinous liabilities.

Right-wing chicken gives finger to voters

Whoever's advising Doug Hoffman, Conservative "party" candidate for New York's 23rd Congressional district, really ought to turn in their resignations. The campaign thought it would be a brilliant idea to skip the first of only two debates scheduled for the race in order to hobnob with Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity.

Apparently, the right-wing candidate figured the yap show hosts would provide more sympathetic company than meanie-faced journalists asking meanie-faced questions.

Hoffman seems completely contemptuous of the idea of having to answer to the residents of the 23rd. Let's hope the voters grant him his wish.

The right-winger seems more interested in building his national name recognition for a higher profile race than actually winning this one. After recent polls were released, I thought Hoffman might've had a chance to win, but the giant middle finger he's giving to the voters should sabotage that chance.

The Conservative "party" candidate has also so far refused to commit to participating in the race's other scheduled debate.

Much like former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin who endorsed him, Hoffman seems more interested in chit-chatting with friendly right-wing media elites than having to demonstrate his knowledge of issues in the area he hopes to represent. I'm not endorsing either of the other two candidates in the race. But if Hoffman won't answer your questions, he doesn't deserve your vote.

Right-wing candidate ducks real debate

North County Public Radio's Brian Mann encouraged 23rd Congressional district candidate Doug Hoffman to attend the only public debate held in the district. Hoffman, a Republican running on the Conservative "Party" line, has become the darling of hard right social conservatives angry with the moderate stances on social issues held by Republican designee Dede Scozzafava.

Hoffman received the endorsement of former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. While that will shore up his support with the ideologues and doubtlessly help with puffing up his war chest with money from outside the district, it remains to be seen if that will be a blessing or an albatross in his attempt to win moderate voters.

Hoffman has so far ducked repeated requests to appear at the debate. He's also come scrutinty for focusing on generic national rhetoric and not having much of a clue on the important local issues that affect the district. Perhaps that's why he was comfortable engaging in sycophantic chit-chat with national yap show host Glenn Beck but is wary of having to answer questions from real human beings who live in the district he wants to represent.

Climate change awareness march in Saratoga on Saturday.

Sat. Oct. 25th at 11:00 am

The Saratoga Greens and Saratoga Healthy Transportation Network are sponsoring this action at High Rock Park in Saratoga Springs. There will be a speaker or two, then a brief march down Broadway to Congress Park where a photo will be taken to help 350.org catalog our collective actions to help our congressional representatives understand that global warming is a serious problem that cannot just be debated or ignored any longer.

For more information, contact Barb Tryptaluk @ (518) 583-4487

Ethnic cleansing in Guinea?

This essay is part of an occasional feature on this blog that presents compelling stories from elsewhere in the world, particularly Africa, that are little reported in the American media. It's part of my campaign to get people to realize there is a lot going on in the world outside the US, IsraelStine and the Trumped Up Enemy of the Month. A list of all pieces in this series can be found found here..

I received this from a contact of mine who's married to a Guinean. The account is reprinted with her permission. The name of her husband has been omitted for his safety.

Earlier this evening [last week], I spoke with my [husband] in Guinea. A week ago today, the Guinean armed forces opened fire on a peaceful pro-democracy demonstration, killing at least 157, injuring over 1200 more, and reportedly raping over 150 women, in addition to using tear gas and stabbing people with bayonets. Although the UN, the EU, the AU, France, the US, and many others have issued strong statements of condemnation against the violence, no one has yet been willing to commit to a more active course of intervention. There has been minimal news coverage, especially as compared to the recent crisis in Iran, for example. Reporters have been threatened, detained, and had their equipment smashed; there has been some additional coverage of events via Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Doctors Without Borders.

Moussa Dadis Camara, the current dictator, has denied all responsibility for the shootings, citing 'out of control elements' in the military. Because one of the most outspoken opposition leaders is from the Peule ethnic group, there has been a great deal of open hostility toward this specific group. They are one of the three dominant ethnic groups in the country.

[Husband] lives in a predominantly Peule neighborhood, and he told me that for the past two nights especially, there has been increased gunfire and violence as the militia have been going through the neighborhood, randomly arresting people and taking them away. Last night, his next-door neighbors from BOTH SIDES were taken, but they left [husband] alone... He said to me that he knew it was the protection and energy work (being done by myself and my colleagues) that kept him safe, and to please continue as things are looking pretty unstable at the moment!

A couple of days ago, the military shot & killed a 10-year old boy from just down the street, and there have been numerous other shootings, lootings and rapes in the past week. I haven't seen any media reports on any of these additional crimes, and the coup government continues to maintain there were only 56 fatalities, and that most of those were from being 'crushed or asphyxiated in the crowds'. Text messaging has been suspended, the media has been throttled, and public gatherings have been banned.

At the memorial services held last Friday, THOUSANDS of people turned out looking for missing friends & relatives. This makes me question whether the military in fact started 'disappearing' people some time ago. Given what [husband] has been through in the past few months, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if this turns out to be the case.

Meanwhile, in the past couple of months, the military has inducted over 2000 new militia from the Guerze ethnic group in a targeted recruitment. The Guerze are a minority group in southern Guinea who also inhabit both Liberia and Sierra Leone. The reigning dictator, Moussa Dadis Camara, is also Guerze - this is the first time a member of this group has held power (over) in Guinea, and apparently he is unwilling to let go of it. The Guerze people were reportedly heavily involved in both the recent conflicts in the neighboring countries.

[Husband] spent today in the garage, working on getting the car ready to drive across country to Mali - about a 20-hour drive if road conditions are good. He will have to find & bribe someone in the military to get him past the checkpoints, but once he is out of Conakry, he should be OK. (I hope)

The majority of the military & police forces have succumbed to brutality and violence, and continue to carry out atrocities daily, with seeming impunity. My husband is terrified that he will not live to see me again. Because of the recurrent gunfire at night, he has been unable to sleep properly for several days now; his health has taken some pretty big hits this year, and he's very aware of being pushed to his physical limits. There have also been rumors that the water supply had been deliberately contaminated, which could set up conditions for a pandemic. Business has mostly remained closed since last week, and food supplies are becoming scarce.

If Guinea destabilizes into an ethnic war, both Sierra Leone and Liberia are likely to be drawn into the conflict. Both of those countries have only very recently recovered from their own civil wars (if you haven't seen the film Blood Diamond, it gives a relatively accurate depiction of how bad it could get).

Personally I'm praying for divine intervention - perhaps in the form of international peacekeeping forces conducting an aggressive investigation into accountability and command structure of the military forces in Guinea. Whatever it takes. One wonders if this is merely going to be the latest in a long string of tragedies that could have been averted if only the international community could find the political will and sanity to mount an intervention free of any regional agenda. Rwanda, Darfur, Somalia... how many Africans have to be killed before the world cares?


Note: NPR had a pair of stories this week (here and here) on the reported widespread sexual violence against women by the forces of disorder.

Being in the military is not about individual rights

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Apparently, the question of gays in the military is again a topic for discussion. The solution is a no brainer: sexual orientation should not be a factor in determining a serviceman's (or woman's) ability to do his job. "Don't ask, don't tell" is a fraud and a failure.

Being a soldier is not about the culture wars. It's about putting your own personal biases aside and work for the benefit of the nation and the unit. To exclude competent and talented soldiers just because their sexual orientation makes small-minded colleagues uncomfortable is not in the best interest of the collective good.

The military has a shortage of Arabic speakers but is expelling Arabic-speaking service personnel who happen to be gay. How this advances national interests is incomprehensible. It's not just that they should have the right to serve, to be judged solely on their competence, it's that we need them to serve.

Soldiers need to put aside their personal prejudices, be it against gays, blacks, Latinos, women, intellectuals, left-handers or whomever, and focus on the success of the mission. Soldiers may have the right to not like gays, but they shouldn't have the right to expel them. Dealing with unpleasant people and situations is an inherent part of the job. It's not a profession for pansies.

It boggles my mind that soldiers are expected to be mentally tough enough to face enemy snipers and IEDs trying to blow them to bits but are "uncomfortable" taking a shower near colleague who happens to be gay. These macho tough guy Heroes are single-handedly responsible for our freedom, so we're told, but are afraid of a few fairies? And the military's pandering to their bigotry at the expense of national security? Give me a break.

Can you imagine the military catering to a soldier who refused to serve in Iraq because he found the heat "uncomfortable"? The idea is ludicrous. Yet they ban talented soldiers to cater to the personal preferences of bigots.

If servicemen can't handle serving with talented comrades who happen to be gay, it's the homophobes who need to put aside their biases and adapt or quit.