Guess who said this:
Nobody doubts that if you take me on, I will put on knuckle-dusters and catch you in a cul-de-sac … Anybody who decides to take me on needs to put on knuckle-dusters. If you think you can hurt me more than I can hurt you, try. There is no other way you can govern a Chinese society.
The person who can guess correctly wins a small prize.
:)
Monday, August 22, 2005
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Poor Cindy Sheehan.
The bereaved woman, having lost her son in Iraq took a bold and simple step to seek some kind of solace. She just wanted President Dubya, leader of the mightiest nation on earth to come and tell her the real reason her son had to die. This was a man who had his finger on a button that could annihilate the planet many times over. This was a man who could at a whim, send entire nations to their doom. This was a man who if the price was right could send all his nation's boys and girls to die for any cause. All she asked of this man was an answer, the true answer, why her boy had to die. She wanted some accountability.
She got tarred and feathered instead. The Republican propaganda machine worked overtime to haul every dirty little secret about her life, from the fact that she had initially thought the war was justified (based on Bush's lies but they call it "flip-flopping"), to the fact that her husband was seeking a divorce. They tarnished her simple and obdurate steadfastness, they threw everything at her but the kitchen sink.
She hasn't buck under the pressure but trust me, this isn't over by far. They will rip her out to shreds, and leave her carcass out on the town gates, to warn anyone else who dares to take a stand against Bush's junta. Never mind the dropping poll figures, they will steal the elections, never mind the hatred globally, they are not the ones facing the heat. Never mind that the world is unsafe thanks to them; They have filled their pockets. Watch as more and more stupid American lemmings start marching lockstep with the powers that be in denouncing this brave woman's stand, claiming that her stand is "against god, America and the President".
While the right wingnuts like Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity and their ilk were climbing over each other to denounce Sheehan's conduct as treasonous, and unamerican, not ONE Democrat, not ONE stinkin' left winger stood by her. They were ALL too bloody chickenshit to stand up against the revolting right for the cause of this woman. Where was Kerry? Where was Edwards? Where was Gore? Where was CLINTON, that so called leftist liberal?! Right, he was playing golf with Pappa Bush. Had this been a Democrat president, the Repubs in the US Would have had a field day, bashing the hell out of him. They sic'ed the Feds on Clinton for getting blown by a chunky chick, for cryin' out loud! The crimes BushCo committed? Treason, war profiteering, murder, plunder, bribery, you name it. What was he "punished" with? A five week holiday in his ranch while Iraq continued to burn. Where was the Democratic Left? Where was the righteous indignation against this character assasination? Where THE FUCK was the "liberal" media?! Shouldn't they have been stauchly by Cindy's side? Cindy, by refusing to back down has shown to be more a man than all these combined. Fuck Dan Rathers, fuck Clinton and the rest of them. A simple woman could stand up and do what these rich, powerful scumbags couldn't.
This is what is left of civil disobedience these days. Advice to Americans: Shut up. You elected the chimp and RE-ELECTED him, now suffer the consequences. You deserve all this and more. Not only that, by abetting the bashing of a brave woman like Cindy (which you will do) who wanted justice and could start a quiet revolution you show that you don't deserve any better than Bush and his gang. If you want to regain any semblance of respect in the world community, show some of that spirit your "founding fathers" had when they overthrew the Brits from their country by tossing this chimp out on his ass and hanging him in public for high treason. If you want to remain safe in the world, treat other people right, or else you deserve all the 9/11's you get. Don't give me the crap, "Oh we support Cindy! We have candlelight vigils!" Candlelight vigils, right. These guys have "nukuler" weapons and you have a candle. Candlelight vigils, marches are just so much bunk. They're just feel good factors that accomplish NOTHING. It just pushes the envelope to someone else. ("Hey I did my part! I stayed up all night and held a candle!"). Idiots. Get out into the streets, storm the White House or wherever that little shit is hiding and throw him out, along with his cronies.
Death toll of 9/11: 3000+
Death toll of American troops: 1850
Death toll of innocent Iraqi civilians: 20,000-100,000+++
You are at least 5000 souls due. Sooner or later someone is going to cash that cheque. Time's running out.
The bereaved woman, having lost her son in Iraq took a bold and simple step to seek some kind of solace. She just wanted President Dubya, leader of the mightiest nation on earth to come and tell her the real reason her son had to die. This was a man who had his finger on a button that could annihilate the planet many times over. This was a man who could at a whim, send entire nations to their doom. This was a man who if the price was right could send all his nation's boys and girls to die for any cause. All she asked of this man was an answer, the true answer, why her boy had to die. She wanted some accountability.
She got tarred and feathered instead. The Republican propaganda machine worked overtime to haul every dirty little secret about her life, from the fact that she had initially thought the war was justified (based on Bush's lies but they call it "flip-flopping"), to the fact that her husband was seeking a divorce. They tarnished her simple and obdurate steadfastness, they threw everything at her but the kitchen sink.
She hasn't buck under the pressure but trust me, this isn't over by far. They will rip her out to shreds, and leave her carcass out on the town gates, to warn anyone else who dares to take a stand against Bush's junta. Never mind the dropping poll figures, they will steal the elections, never mind the hatred globally, they are not the ones facing the heat. Never mind that the world is unsafe thanks to them; They have filled their pockets. Watch as more and more stupid American lemmings start marching lockstep with the powers that be in denouncing this brave woman's stand, claiming that her stand is "against god, America and the President".
While the right wingnuts like Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity and their ilk were climbing over each other to denounce Sheehan's conduct as treasonous, and unamerican, not ONE Democrat, not ONE stinkin' left winger stood by her. They were ALL too bloody chickenshit to stand up against the revolting right for the cause of this woman. Where was Kerry? Where was Edwards? Where was Gore? Where was CLINTON, that so called leftist liberal?! Right, he was playing golf with Pappa Bush. Had this been a Democrat president, the Repubs in the US Would have had a field day, bashing the hell out of him. They sic'ed the Feds on Clinton for getting blown by a chunky chick, for cryin' out loud! The crimes BushCo committed? Treason, war profiteering, murder, plunder, bribery, you name it. What was he "punished" with? A five week holiday in his ranch while Iraq continued to burn. Where was the Democratic Left? Where was the righteous indignation against this character assasination? Where THE FUCK was the "liberal" media?! Shouldn't they have been stauchly by Cindy's side? Cindy, by refusing to back down has shown to be more a man than all these combined. Fuck Dan Rathers, fuck Clinton and the rest of them. A simple woman could stand up and do what these rich, powerful scumbags couldn't.
This is what is left of civil disobedience these days. Advice to Americans: Shut up. You elected the chimp and RE-ELECTED him, now suffer the consequences. You deserve all this and more. Not only that, by abetting the bashing of a brave woman like Cindy (which you will do) who wanted justice and could start a quiet revolution you show that you don't deserve any better than Bush and his gang. If you want to regain any semblance of respect in the world community, show some of that spirit your "founding fathers" had when they overthrew the Brits from their country by tossing this chimp out on his ass and hanging him in public for high treason. If you want to remain safe in the world, treat other people right, or else you deserve all the 9/11's you get. Don't give me the crap, "Oh we support Cindy! We have candlelight vigils!" Candlelight vigils, right. These guys have "nukuler" weapons and you have a candle. Candlelight vigils, marches are just so much bunk. They're just feel good factors that accomplish NOTHING. It just pushes the envelope to someone else. ("Hey I did my part! I stayed up all night and held a candle!"). Idiots. Get out into the streets, storm the White House or wherever that little shit is hiding and throw him out, along with his cronies.
Death toll of 9/11: 3000+
Death toll of American troops: 1850
Death toll of innocent Iraqi civilians: 20,000-100,000+++
You are at least 5000 souls due. Sooner or later someone is going to cash that cheque. Time's running out.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Two days ago, Mr Robin Cook, MP passed away. Now for those who don't follow politics much, Robin Cook was former Foreign Secretary and later the Leader of The House of Commons of Great Britain(the House of the People, House of Representatives, in your respective countries). Also, fewer people know that Robin Cook resigned from his post as leader of HoC over the Iraq war. Although he was advised to exercise caution over the resignation, he went ahead and quit anyway, a bold, and some at that time considered, a foolhardy decision. As his adviser put it,
"Robin agreed with my assessment (that invading troops would probably unearth some rusting stockpiles of chemical weapons left over from the first Gulf war and that Blair would be able to claim vindication), but dismissed it as a consideration: "This war is wrong and I will oppose it in any case." Those who knew him well will agree that by putting his intellectual reputation on the line he risked losing something far dearer to him than his ministerial limousine. That was the true measure of his courage."
He was a person of strong political courage, willing to put his principles first, his party and politics second. He was a feared opposition member opposing the sale of arms to Saddam Hussein in the 80's by then Prime Minister John Major. Now in 2003 they went to war over those very same weapons. He as his adviser David Clark put it, was willing to take the risk of being "on the wrong side of history", and that elevated him to greatness. Great men are made when they make that gamble, and the ensuing war and quagmire in Iraq vindicated his stand hands down.
People tend to forget that they elect leaders to represent them. It's THEIR voice that their MP carries. MP's exist to serve people NOT the other way round. Robin Cook was one such MP who made that point abundantly clear. It was obvious that the majority of the British opposed the war, and Robin Cook rightly enough, resigned rather than have to be a part of that whole sham that put the people's interests second and the interests of a few corporate bigwigs and a big superpower first. For that alone, in my books he is a great man.
The recent London bombings saw Blair's gang eviscerate more and more rights of the British people in the name of protecting them from terrorism, again one of the voices of dissent was from Robin Cook who in his naivette, thought how could Blair, a trained lawyer, show such disregard for what is proper rule of law? He may have been naive at times, but in politics he provided his people the voice they had elected him to raise on their behalf.
He died suddenly, when jogging at the young age of 59, when he had so much to give to democracy, the principles of parliamentarianism, the often naive notion that "representatives are public servants, not masters", but unfortunately, nature kills off those who want to do good fast. Nature loves chaos, and Robin Cook was one of her enemies.
Men like Cook restored a semblance of integrity in government. They are a dying breed, increasingly as governments all over the world aim to only enrich their cronies' coffers, with little regard to the value of human life or the life of the planet, men like Cook provided a refreshing change, showing us that governments actually exist at the will of the people! By willing to resign rather than go against the will of the people and his own conscience, Robin Cook showed that he was a bigger man than Tony Blair, than the Queen of England and other pigs at the horsetrough. He was human and did make mistakes (supporting the sanctions which an already impoverished Iraq reeled under), but history will vindicate him as the man who stood by what he believed was right, and what his people expected him to do in the hallowed halls of parliament.
One thing I learnt from following politics and government is this: People give government the mandate to govern, not to rule. People give governments the mandate to ensure order, not a licence to fleece them and the planet of every cent, or create brutal police states. People give governments the mandate to manage finances, not stuff it down their pockets. People give governments duties. Governments have no right to "give" people rights. Rights are inalienable. Governments have the duty to do as the people tell them. People do NOT have a duty to kowtow to the government. Robin Cook helped me remember some of these noble ideals which are enshrined in so many constitutions but rarely given a thought otherwise. I hope more people realise the power they have and exercise it.
Goodbye, Robin Cook (1946-2005).
"Robin agreed with my assessment (that invading troops would probably unearth some rusting stockpiles of chemical weapons left over from the first Gulf war and that Blair would be able to claim vindication), but dismissed it as a consideration: "This war is wrong and I will oppose it in any case." Those who knew him well will agree that by putting his intellectual reputation on the line he risked losing something far dearer to him than his ministerial limousine. That was the true measure of his courage."
He was a person of strong political courage, willing to put his principles first, his party and politics second. He was a feared opposition member opposing the sale of arms to Saddam Hussein in the 80's by then Prime Minister John Major. Now in 2003 they went to war over those very same weapons. He as his adviser David Clark put it, was willing to take the risk of being "on the wrong side of history", and that elevated him to greatness. Great men are made when they make that gamble, and the ensuing war and quagmire in Iraq vindicated his stand hands down.
People tend to forget that they elect leaders to represent them. It's THEIR voice that their MP carries. MP's exist to serve people NOT the other way round. Robin Cook was one such MP who made that point abundantly clear. It was obvious that the majority of the British opposed the war, and Robin Cook rightly enough, resigned rather than have to be a part of that whole sham that put the people's interests second and the interests of a few corporate bigwigs and a big superpower first. For that alone, in my books he is a great man.
The recent London bombings saw Blair's gang eviscerate more and more rights of the British people in the name of protecting them from terrorism, again one of the voices of dissent was from Robin Cook who in his naivette, thought how could Blair, a trained lawyer, show such disregard for what is proper rule of law? He may have been naive at times, but in politics he provided his people the voice they had elected him to raise on their behalf.
He died suddenly, when jogging at the young age of 59, when he had so much to give to democracy, the principles of parliamentarianism, the often naive notion that "representatives are public servants, not masters", but unfortunately, nature kills off those who want to do good fast. Nature loves chaos, and Robin Cook was one of her enemies.
Men like Cook restored a semblance of integrity in government. They are a dying breed, increasingly as governments all over the world aim to only enrich their cronies' coffers, with little regard to the value of human life or the life of the planet, men like Cook provided a refreshing change, showing us that governments actually exist at the will of the people! By willing to resign rather than go against the will of the people and his own conscience, Robin Cook showed that he was a bigger man than Tony Blair, than the Queen of England and other pigs at the horsetrough. He was human and did make mistakes (supporting the sanctions which an already impoverished Iraq reeled under), but history will vindicate him as the man who stood by what he believed was right, and what his people expected him to do in the hallowed halls of parliament.
One thing I learnt from following politics and government is this: People give government the mandate to govern, not to rule. People give governments the mandate to ensure order, not a licence to fleece them and the planet of every cent, or create brutal police states. People give governments the mandate to manage finances, not stuff it down their pockets. People give governments duties. Governments have no right to "give" people rights. Rights are inalienable. Governments have the duty to do as the people tell them. People do NOT have a duty to kowtow to the government. Robin Cook helped me remember some of these noble ideals which are enshrined in so many constitutions but rarely given a thought otherwise. I hope more people realise the power they have and exercise it.
Goodbye, Robin Cook (1946-2005).
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