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Josh Marshall, from inside the beltway, consistently describes the "discernible reality" of our governmental working. Today's article and links were particularly telling about the Bush regime.

It's scary stuff .

October 17th, 2004 - Josh Marshall (www.talkingpointsmemo.com)

"In the summer of 2002, after I had written an article in Esquire that the White House didn't like about Bush's former communications director, Karen Hughes, I had a meeting with a senior adviser to Bush. He expressed the White House's displeasure,and then he told me something that at the time I didn't fully comprehend -- but which I now believe gets to the very heart of the Bush presidency.

The aide said that guys like me were 'in what we call the reality-based community,' which he defined as people who 'believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality.' I nodded and murmured something about enlightenment principles and empiricism. He cut me off. 'That's not the way the world really works anymore,' he continued. 'We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality -- judiciously, as you will -- we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.'

''In meetings, I'd ask if there were any facts to support our case. And for that, I was accused of disloyalty!'' Christie Whitman, as quoted by Ron Suskind in the New York Times Magazine. (Ron Suskind, "Without a Doubt", New York Times)"

Bush regime on woman's rights:

From Associated Press October 14, 2004

UNITED NATIONS — The United States has refused to join 85 heads of state and government in signing a statement that endorsed a 10-year-old U.N. plan to ensure every woman's right to education, healthcare and choice about having children.

The Bush administration said it withheld its signature because the statement included a reference to "sexual rights."

Kelly Ryan, deputy assistant secretary of State, wrote to backers of the plan that the United States was committed "to the empowerment of women and the need to promote women's fullest enjoyment of universal human rights."

"The United States is unable, however, to endorse the world leaders' statement," Ryan said, because it "includes the concept of 'sexual rights,' a term that has no agreed definition in the international community."

Ryan did not elaborate. At previous U.N. meetings, U.S. representatives have spoken out against abortion, gay rights and what they see as the promotion of promiscuity by distributing condoms to prevent AIDS.

The statement was signed by leaders of 85 nations, including those in the European Union, China, Japan, Indonesia, Pakistan and more than a dozen African countries, as well as 22 former world leaders.

Yesterday's report about WMD was again a clear indication the the invasion of Iraq was WRONG. What amazed me is how many people believe the Bush/Cheney lies over reports from so MANY groups with no political agenda.

Good editorial be NYTimes:
"Since any objective observer should by now have digested the idea that Iraq posed no imminent threat to anyone, let alone the United States, it was disturbing to hear President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney continue to try to justify the invasion this week on the grounds that after Sept. 11, 2001, Iraq was clearly the most likely place for terrorists to get illicit weapons. Even if Mr. Hussein had wanted to arm groups he could not control - a very dubious notion- he had nothing to give them."

Last night a friend of mine and I watched the VP debate in the critical care unit of the hospital where she has been daily after her husbands VERY bad motorcycle crash last week. I was very aware of the importance of life and the need to be connected. During the whole debate a lady in her mid 40s spent the time gossiping LOUDLY on her cell phone. The main topic of conversation was "Sports". Which team would win what game, what were the odds, etc. It seemed to me that she was the key to "What's wrong with America Today". Not only had she absolutely no concern about the state of the world, but had not empathy, politeness or compassion, but was self absorbed in her banal conversation.

Senator Byrd WV knows how to give a good irate speech:

"Two weeks ago, the Republican National Committee sent a mass mailing to West Virginians suggesting that liberals – in other words, everyone but Republicans -- are out to ban the Bible. Can you imagine? Ban the Bible? What a ridiculous claim. It is a flat-out, no-doubt-about-it, silly, sophomoric charge. The Republican National Committee is spreading this tripe to smear Democrats, and the President ought to demand that the Republican National Committee apologize to the people of West Virginia."
Senator Byrd delivered the remarks above in the Senate, highly critical of a flyer paid for by the Republican National Committee that suggests that Democratic officials want to ban the Bible.