Friday, June 29, 2007

Democratic Party Continually Pushed the Expansion Of Slavery

The Laguna Beach Independent published a letter-to-the-editor criticizing me for “downright misleading trail of innuendo, mis-infor-mation leading to pretty far-fetched conclusions”. The letter included “Dems brought slavery …to the forefront and real reform”. This is historically inaccurate as the Democratic Party continually and consistently pushed or facilitated the expansion of slavery. This included Democrat President James K. Polk of Tennessee, Democrat President Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire, Democrat President James Buchanan of Pennsylvania, Democrat Chief Justice Roger Taney of Maryland, and Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois among many others.

From Ulysses S. Grant’s “Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant” (New York, 1885), pages 22-24.” see http://www.sewanee.edu/faculty/Willis/Civil_War/documents/Grant.html
“Texas was originally a state belonging to the republic of Mexico. ...An empire in territory, it had but a very sparse population, until settled by Americans who had received authority from Mexico to colonize. These colonists paid very little attention to the supreme government, and introduced slavery into the state almost from the start, though the constitution of Mexico did not, nor does it now, sanction that institution. Soon they set up an independent government of their own, and war existed, between Texas and Mexico, in name from that time until 1836, when active hostilities very nearly ceased upon the capture of Santa Ana, the Mexican President. Before long, however, the same people-who with the permission of Mexico had colonized Texas, and afterwards set up slavery there, and then seceded as soon as they felt strong enough to do so-offered themselves and the State to the United States, and in 1845 their offer was accepted. The occupation, separation and annexation were, from the inception of the movement to its final culmination, a conspiracy to acquire territory out of which slave states might be formed for the American Union.”

Friday, June 22, 2007

Leah Vasquez Likes Gene Felder Letter

Leah Vasquez Likes Gene Felder Letter
Letter-to-the-Editor published June 22, 2007 in the Laguna Beach Independent

Editor:

I like Gene Felder, I really do. Why, in fact, at all those fun-raisers, feel-good fermentations and gad-flying events he hosts or at least jests for, how can one not like such a witty character?

But really now, his personally paid ads are testing the limits of what even mildly conservative humor can’t ignore: the downright misleading trail of innuendo, mis-infor-mation leading to pretty far-fetched conclusions; well, in fact, its sorta like that all too famous political story told down south by a candidate declaring in a clearly derogatory octave, his opponents orientation as “he-ter-o-sex-ual!” That clinched it and the race was lost by the one who seemed to fit that frightening description.

Relying on reaction to tone while pandering to ignorance building on its fear (remember the orange and red alerts?) the GOP’s mot dujour continues to override and disguise truth and meaning in favor of perverted suggestion.

Back to Gene’s trail of fear: that suggestive ad tucked into Page A3 of June 13 – all about Al Gore’s three houses, his support of Kyoto treaty (a good thing) though America abstained and a final snippet used out of context, the quote from Al.

Now remember a few weeks back his last ad? Hostility suggesting the American Democratic party is the party of that “N-----” word. But not so his fine, fine GOP’s, that Grand Old Party at whose helm sat our great past emancipator, none other than Abraham Lincoln and his Republican party, supposedly the only legitimate fighters for human rights, or better put, abolishing legitimized slavery while those, the others’ party, were supporting slavery, the so called Democrats, so called then but now known as Dixie-crats converted their party to what is the modern version of the GOP. Using transmogrification, Felder ads use suggestive slurs aimed at...whom?

The progressives of today’s Democratic party follow in the path once called Republican. But unlike the Reps of today, Dems brought slavery, women’s rights and issue-driven politics to the forefront and real reform. In reality the ole thyme party Dems (called Dixie-crats) emerged in all its far-flung symbolism as the new conservative GOP: G.ene.O (opinion) P-diddler), resistive to environmental safeguards, in favor of profit at almost any cost, creating territorial disharmony to the brink of world hatred, being divisive through audacious lies, violating and reducing American civil liberties by such means as removing The Constitution’s habeas corpus while nullifying at least nine others in doing so, profiteering and politicizing made-up wars, embargoes and calling GOP taxes, incentives.

Just look at GOPeers: Scooter Libby, Rumsfeld and Gonzales, and a trove of unheroes colluding with Halliburton, hiding under Bush (pun intended) as one by one, their truths be revealed, are indicted hoping for the very guarantees of freedom they helped to abolish.

So the next time we read Gene’s (or other’s) not so covert ads barely disguised as mere suggestion, remember who is expecting and relying on our ignorance, and that’s not funny at all.

Leah Vasquez
Laguna Beach

Friday, June 15, 2007

1964 Civil Rights Act and Republicans

The 1964 Civil Rights Act was signed by Lyndon Johnson on July 2, 1964, after a record two-month filibuster by embittered Southern senators. The act’s key provisions banned segregation in any facility offering public services and outlawed discrimination in hiring. President Johnson assured Senate Republican Leader Everett Dirksen that Republicans would receive due recognition and credit for their indispensable votes needed to pass the law.

The filibuster included a 14-hour filibuster speech by current Democratic Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, a former member of the Ku Klux Klan. All those voting against the bill for racial reasons were Democrats including Senator Al Gore, Sr. and the rest of the segregationist Democrats.

Providing the votes to break the filibuster and pass the law was the overwhelming support from Republicans: 82 percent of Republican Senators and 80% of Republican members of the House of Representatives.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Bush Allies in France Win Big

See June 11, 2007 New York Times article Sarkozy’s Party Heads Toward Huge Legislative Majority in France
“PARIS, Monday, June 11 — President Nicolas Sarkozy’s center-right party was on course to win an overwhelming parliamentary majority after the first round of French legislative elections on Sunday, cementing his power to enact changes that he says are needed to rescue France from economic and social malaise.

Mr. Sarkozy’s party, the Union for a Popular Movement won 39.54 percent of the vote, according to a final tally by the Interior Ministry. That could give the party and its allies as many as 501 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly after the second-round vote on June 17, pollsters said.

The main opposition, the Socialist Party, received 24.73 percent, meaning that it could lose more than half of its 149 seats, pollsters projected. The result reinforced the disarray on the left since its presidential candidate, Ségolène Royal, lost to Mr. Sarkozy last month.

Mr. Sarkozy says he plans to cut taxes, tighten punishment for repeat lawbreakers and make it easier for employers to hire and fire workers.”

Germany and France now led by US supporting conservatives. Italy and Spain are led by anti-US socialists.

Saturday, June 09, 2007

Russia Joins G-8 Allies in Threatening More Sanctions for Iran

See Wall Street Journal June 9, 2007 article G-8 Threatens More Sanctions for Iran by Marcus Walker

■ Leaders of the major industrialized countries, including Russia, threatened Iran with further United Nations Security Council sanctions if it doesn't suspend its nuclear fuel program.

■ “German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who chaired the summit, condemned Iran's expansion of its uranium enrichment program and its threats against Israel. A joint statement by the G-8 said they "will support adopting further measures" to existing U.N. sanctions against Iran unless Iran suspends its enrichment activities.”

Last 200 Years Economic Growth Very Good for Human Beings

Technology has been very, very good for mankind.

Read June 9, 2007 COMMENTARY Wall Street Journal A Brief History of Economic Time by Steven Landsburg (subscription required)

■ “Modern humans first emerged about 100,000 years ago. For the next 99,800 years or so, nothing happened. …Almost everyone lived … just above the subsistence level.”

■ “just a couple of hundred years ago…Per capita income, at least in the West, began to grow at the unprecedented rate of about three quarters of a percent per year.”

■ “Then it got even better. By the 20th century, per capita real incomes, that is, incomes adjusted for inflation, were growing at 1.5% per year, on average, and for the past half century they've been growing at about 2.3%. If you're earning a modest middle-class income of $50,000 a year, and if you expect your children, 25 years from now, to occupy that same modest rung on the economic ladder, then with a 2.3% growth rate, they'll be earning the inflation-adjusted equivalent of $89,000 a year. Their children, another 25 years down the line, will earn $158,000 a year.”

■ “One hundred years ago the average American workweek was over 60 hours; today it's under 35. One hundred years ago 6% of manufacturing workers took vacations; today it's over 90%. One hundred years ago the average housekeeper spent 12 hours a day on laundry, cooking, cleaning and sewing; today it's about three hours.”

■ “The source of this wealth -- the engine of prosperity -- is technological progress. And the engine of technological progress is ideas”

Bush is a Shrewd Diplomat on Global Warming

President George W. Bush met with allies at the recent G-8 meetings and was pressured to pusue command and control solutions to address Global Warming and greenhouse gas emissions. How did Bush do?

Read POTOMAC WATCH June 8, 2007 column by Kimberley A. Strassel. She says “Just call him George W. Bush, star international diplomat. Bush 1, Greens 0”.

■ “Bush has pushed hard for more nuclear, with its bountiful energy at zero C02 cost”
■ “Bush's insistence that any ‘global’ program must include big emitters such as China and India (Kyoto doesn't)”

Results from the most recent G-8 meeting? Its declaration:
■ “far from mandatory targets, instead sets a "global goal" of halving emissions by 2050. It invites the "major emerging economies" to join in this endeavor.”
■ “It acknowledges that different approaches across the world can ‘coordinate rather than compete’."
■ “It reports that ‘technology is a key to mastering climate change’ "
■ “It admits that ‘over the next 25 years, fossil fuels will remain the world's dominant source of energy,’ and talks up the ‘peaceful use of nuclear energy’ It even explains that any program ‘must be undertaken in a way that supports growth in developing, emerging and industrialized economies’."

Friday, June 08, 2007

US 20% of World GDP in 1980 Grows to 29%

According to Newsweek Magazine’s cover story:

“In 1980, the U.S. share of global GDP was 20 percent. Today it is 29 percent. We lead the world in technology and research. Our firms have found enormous success in new markets overseas. We continue to generate new products, new brands, new companies and new industries.” Fareed Zakaria Newsweek June 11, 2007 issue

Friday, June 01, 2007

Albert Gore Jr. Owns 3 Homes - Wants Americans to Conserve

Albert Gore Jr. Owns 3 Homes

■ 10,000 sq ft Nashville Tennessee
■ 4,000 sq ft Arlington Virginia
■ Ranch in Carthage, Tennessee

Gore Supports Kyoto Treaty
Americans Should Conserve

Al Gore: "Humanity is sitting on a ticking time bomb" “just 10 years to avert a major catastrophe”

See Gore isn't quite as green as he's led the world to believe
USA Today Dec 27, 2006