Where did the vitriol start and who started it? UPDATE

On this day of remembrance of all those who lost their lives unnecessarily in the attack on our nation at the World Trade Center, I gave thought to that time and how we were as a people. After the attack we came together as a nation, even though before 9/11 we were divided politically by the election of George W. Bush by the Supreme Court decision over Al Gore. It was a bitter pill for Democrats and some Independents to swallow and it lasted right up to 9/11. But then everything changed. We were all saddened by the loss of life and angry that we were attacked by terrorists. But there was now our President on the pile of debris from the fallen Towers telling the world we are going to get through this because we are Americans and we are a strong people and that we would find the people who did this and bring them to justice. It was a solemn moment in our history and we were all united as Americans right after that, maybe for the first time for many Americans, but I had seen it before. When President John Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, TX, we were together then too. The best of the American spirit was shown then too and the outpouring of sadness we all felt and a tribute to the loss of our President and the fact we all knew then the world had changed for us. There were no Republicans and Democrats then. We were all Americans and we were a strong people and that we would find the people who did this and bring them to justice.

Here we are on the Anniversary of 9/11, a very solemn day, and what's on many American's hearts today. I'll tell you, it's idiocy about whether a pastor in Florida will burn the Holy Book of Muslims or not. And, whether the Imam in NY will move his plans for building a Community center, which will contain a mosque, 2 blocks away from the site of the Twin Towers. The Republicans have been connecting the two separate issues even though the Pastor in Fl had not. But then, he finally got there message that there is a connection as Palin, Boehner, and Gingrich have been trying to connect those dots for the weak minded among us for the past week. It's a disgrace. First there is no comparison. Burning anyone's Holy Book is weak minded and not something a so called minister of God would do. But again, he had not connected these dots until these Republican leaders pointed it out to him.

Where do these nut jobs come from? They come from the shadows, where evil lurks all the time but is usually in check when there is balance of spirit and mind between people. But that spirit has been missing for a while now. I was trying to think when did it all change recently? I figured it out. It was when John McCain picked Sarah Palin, as his Vice Presidential candidate. She was not ready for prime time, or any time in my view, but here we are with her leading the whack jobs of the fringe of the Republican party and getting support from the other whack jobs of Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck and driving our country into madness. And the fools who listen to them get hyped up and do their bidding and think in the shadows about "coming out". And every once in a while one comes out ie. the Pastor in Florida.

But this vitriol started during the campaign for President and by the selection of Sarah Palin, by John McCain. John McCain, the same leader who said "Country first!" and has abandoned about everything he has stood for over his career as a Senator. The same John McCain who said he was a maverick and now said he wasn't a maverick. Make up your mind please, John. Now it was the perfect storm because opposing John McCain was Barack Obama. That helped bring out the racists among us. But you see Barack Obama, in my humble opinion, has done nothing to fuel this divisiveness. He was born from a white mother and a black father. So what? What's the big deal. Get over it and join the 21st Century. Most kids have. Many don't see color distinction, as their older parents do.

I am afraid we have lost that special moment when we were all together as Americans. But when I think about the meaning to me of 9/11, I wish we could go back to that moment in our hearts and stop this divisiveness. It is killing our country now. How you can help? Change your mindset. If you are still embracing the notion that our country is special and what it means to be an American. then you should think that if someone owns a piece of property and wants to develop it and build anything they want they should be allowed to as long as it follows local ordinances and laws. They have a right to build the Community Center and include a mosque in it if they so choose. We should be pleased we live in a country where we can express our religious freedoms in whatever way we want to as long as it doesn't do physical harm to others. By the way, people have been praying in the existing mosque there since 2009, just to set the record straight.

As for the whack job Pastor in Fl., it is a very difficult situation for sure. In this 24/7 news cycle with Social Networks bringing pictures and videos all around the world. One could make the case that he is endangering others and it is illegal, just like yelling Fire in a crowded theater. The world won't end if he does this and some may die too as General Petraeus has warned. But that will be on the Pastors head before God as well as those Republicans who have not condemned the possible act, Palin, Boehner and Gingrich. May God have mercy on their souls.

UPDATE: 10:20am PST

I don't know what has happened by the Florida Pastor has decided that God has spoken to him and that he will not burn any Holy Books now or ever. Hallelujah! He has seen the light. One must be grateful for little steps of progress when they come. Amen! Now if the political leaders of Palin, Boehner and Gingrich can see the light, maybe this will be a memorable 9/11 where something good comes out of it.

More on Gen. Petraeus testimony

General Petraeus used the argument today that it is in the U.S. interest to prevent Al Qaeda from having a safe haven in Iraq and that the U.S. couldn't allow for Iraq to become a failed State. I raise several points relative to the General's comments. First, it wasn't until we went into Iraq that Al Qaeda ventured into Iraq. Secondly, much has been made that the cost of this war in blood and treasure has been worth it, because we eliminated the tyrant Saddam Hussein who terrorized his own people. Well guess what, we replaced Saddam and in his place brought instability and a Civil war. Thirdly, we don't want to have a safe haven in Iraq but we have allowed for 5 years a safe haven in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan and we continue to underfund this effort and don't have the troops to go after them there because they are tied up in Iraq. Why you ask? Because there is Oil in Iraq and it always has been about the Oil.

One last comment. Many say we will lose all we have gained in Iraq. Let me be perfectly clear. We have gained NOTHING in Iraq. Anyone that tells you otherwise, Republican or Democrat, is smoking something. Ask any American if we have gained anything in this misguided venture into Iraq and see what they say to you.

Any other questions?

U.S. Fatalities for Dec. 2007 at a low for 2007, 2006 and 2005

This indeed is great news for the families and friends of those serving. Hats need to be removed in honor of all those that perished in 2007 and the previous years of this war. War is senseless and this war particularly was not needed.

December 2007 U.S Fatalities totalled 23. This is the lowest month of fatalities for our soldiers since March 2004 which had 20. My hat is off to General Petreaus and the soldiers, who tirelessly faced and pursued the bad guys. I was a skeptic that the surge would work, but coupled with a cease fire annunced by the Sadr Militia and the Cleric Sadr himself having asked his Militia to stand down for 6 months, we have experienced a calming in Iraq. The six months comes to an end at the end of March. Hopefully the cease fire will continue.

Something good is happening in Iraq!

Something good is happening in Iraq and no one is noticing, except those who are there. Dare I say it, but U.S. Fatalities ARE COMING DOWN!!! For the first week in October there were 8 fatalities. That's a monthly rate of 32. In October of 2006 we had 106 U.S. Fatlities in Iraq.

One of the reasons why could be that General Petraeus is getting a handle on this with extra troops. It could be that Iraqi's are turning against Al Qaeda or it could be a number of reasons. But one thing is clear, something is going right there and it isn't being covered by the media. It is a bit encouraging. If it proves out over the next few weeks to be true, it could give Sen. John McCain a boost in the polls for sticking it out, stubbornly at times and against what appeared to be all odds.

U.S. Fatalities for the first 2 weeks of September

U.S. Fatalities for the first 2 weeks in September totaled 39. The first week of September had 19. We are at a rate at least equal to last year's data. We may surpass that number and unfortunately could reach as many as 80 this month. The trend is still in the wrong direction and must challenge the picture General Petraeus gave us this past week regarding Iraq.

Sept. 2006 72
Sept. 2005 49

In the photo above, there are actually about 130 graves marked in this Arlington National Cemetery photo. That's a lot of deaths. Compare that to the 3,781 deaths so far from this war and you get a small picture of the price we have paid as a country in Blood. Multiply that 3,781 deaths by at least 2 parents and a minimum of 20 extended family members and you are soon up to impacting directly 83,182 Americans affected. Add the casualties of over 27,000 which multiplied by 22 and that equals about 600,000 affected by this war directly. I could go on and on but you get the picture.

Petraeus report- truth or consequences?

OK, the latest news on General Petraeus's report we have all been waiting for on Iraq, due on Sept. 15th, will be written by the White House. You remember, this is the same White House that wrote the reports on Global Warming where they said the data is misleading and more is needed before Global Warming can be found to be caused by humans. Remember, this White House also told the expert James Hansen, Goddard Institute for Space Science, a bureau of NASA on Global Warming, that he could not deliver any speeches unless reviewed and approved by this incompetent Administration before Hassen’s presentation of the report.

Can't wait to see what they do to the General's report to Congress. If it wasn't so infuriating, it would be funny.

Iraq War assessment: Waiting for Sept? Try November!

News this morning that states don't wait for September for the assessment as to whether the surge is working, try November! That was reported in comments by Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno. To quote the article, "In order to do a good assessment I need at least until November," said Odierno, a deputy to Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. military commander in Iraq."

This Administration will push to extend the date as long as possible so that we remain in Iraq until the end of President Bush's term at the end of 2008. There is no other explanation. He would love to hand it off to Democrats or anyone else so that he can say, "they lost his war." This is the most disgraceful President in U.S. history. His father must hang his head in shame as when he tried to bail him out with the idea of the Iraq Study Group, his son even didn't catch the safety line thrown to him.

To read the entire article above, click here.