*Downloads Canadian Citizenship Application*

Israel Prodding U.S. To Attack Iran
White House Weighs Striking Iran's Nuclear Complex, Which Could Trigger 3rd War In Region

(CBS) Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen leaves Tuesday night on an overseas trip that will take him to Israel, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin. The trip has been scheduled for some time but U.S. officials say it comes just as the Israelis are mounting a full court press to get the Bush administration to strike Iran's nuclear complex.

CBS consultant Michael Oren says Israel doesn't want to wait for a new administration.

"The Israelis have been assured by the Bush administration that the Bush administration will not allow Iran to nuclearize," Oren said. "Israelis are uncertain about what would be the policies of the next administration vis-à-vis Iran."

Israel's message is simple: If you don't, we will. Israel held a dress rehearsal for a strike earlier this month, but military analysts say Israel can not do it alone.

"Keep in mind that Israel does not have strategic bombers," Oren said. "The Israeli Air Force is not the American Air Force. Israel can not eliminate Iran's nuclear program."

The U.S. with its stealth bombers and cruise missiles has a much greater capability. Vice President Cheney is said to favor a strike, but both Mullen and Defense Secretary Gates are opposed to an attack which could touch off a third war in the region.

U.S. intelligence estimates Iran won't be able to build a weapon until sometime early in the next decade. But Israel is operating on a much shorter timetable.

"The Iranians, according to Israeli security sources, will have an operable nuclear weapon by 2009. That's not a very long time," Oren said.

For now, the Bush administration is counting on new economic sanctions which took effect Tuesday to persuade Iran to give up its nuclear program. But nobody's counting on it. (Source)

I guess it doesn't matter that we're already involved in two unsuccessful wars. I guess it also doesn't matter that there are 4.103 confirmed deaths in Iraq. The number of Iraqi casualties eclipses the number of fallen soldiers.

George Dubya Bush should be proud. A truly fine American.[/extreme sarcasm]

Hillary Supporters? You Have My Blessing to Vote for McCain

I stumbled upon this article a few days ago and it left me wondering "Why?"


Obama and the Democrats Owe Hillary Clinton and Her Supporters a Formal Apology for the Campaign's Sexism

by Bonnie Erbe

Sen. Hillary Clinton may have come out full bore for the Barack Obama campaign on Saturday, but many of her supporters are having none of it.

Check out this CNN video on YouTube, which sums up the palpable anger many of her supporters feel. Another must-see Web stop is Ed Hale's site, hcsfjm.com. That is shorthand for Hillary Clinton Supporters for John McCain. Hale claims to have garnered 35,000 supporters within a week of launching the site.

The Democratic National Committee either doesn't get it or refuses to admit it. Nothing short of a lengthy, detailed mea culpa by the DNC and by Obama himself, directed to Clinton supporters for the sexist name-calling and personal, nasty characterizations Clinton was alone forced to endure, will do. Even that may not persuade these voters to consider supporting the party this fall. The DNC, Democratic Party leaders in Congress, and Obama should have been at her side, calling her treatment by the media (and even by some Obama supporters) unacceptable.

(More Stuff...)

I'm sorry but I don't understand how you can suggest that the Obama campaign and the Democratic Party owe Hillary an apology. On what grounds exactly? Your article failed to substantiate any claims of sexism on the part of Barack Obama, his campaign, and the Democratic party.

I also don't understand how sexism is to blame for Hillary's loss. Is Obama completely devoid of merit? Have the American people not spoken? Did Obama not run a better, cleaner campaign with stronger financial backing? Wasn't it Hillary who discredited the value of caucuses? Wasn't it Hillary who wanted to revise the party rules to her liking? Was Hillary not taken by surprise as she felt that she had this presidential bid in the bag due to her false sense of entitlement?

Hillary repeatedly race-baited and was divisive along class lines. Bubba was asked to stop attacking Obama. Hillary is a selfish, horrible liar. Hillary used right-wing, Rovian tactics and still lost. Hillary insulted the American people. For you to make Hillary out to be the victim is very telling of how much attention you paid to the presidential bid on both ends. And I don't believe that she and Chelsea weren't victims of sexism, but to suggest that Obama and the Democrats owe her an apology --- why? The Clintons constantly attacked Obama. Did you miss this gem? She should also apologize to the Kennedy clan while she's added. Perhaps you should direct your apology request to the likes of Chris Matthews.

The Clintons should also apologize to the Black community for taking our support for granted. Many in the community foolishly stood by her husband when the Monica Lewinsky scandal went down. So in return for the support, 1.) Trivialize Obama's South Carolina victories and compare it to that of Jesse Jackson's South Carolina victories in his previous bid, 2.) Trivialize the Civil Rights movement by only recognizing LBJ for signing the Civil Rights Act, and 3.) Align your campaign with Bob "Dirtbag" Johnson of the Blaxploitation Entertainment Network.

Hillary should also apologize to women for taking "testicular fortitude" as anything short of a sexist statement. She owes an even bigger apology to the working class community to whom she is hugely indebted.

If you're looking to support John McCain or stay home, do whatever makes you feel better. Shoot yourself in the foot cuz a vote for McCain is a vote against the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. A vote for McCain is a vote against the economy. A vote for McCain is a vote to prolong the quagmire in Iraq. A vote for McCain is a vote against a woman's reproductive rights.

So just to make sure we've got it all covered, McCain doesn't care about women, the troops, and is ignorant of the economy and he's your plan B out of spite? When you consider the aforementioned, who are you really hurting?

Kucinich Proposes 35-Article Impeachment Against Dubya

I got this in an email from Democrats.com:

Kucinich Introduces 35 Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush!
On Monday, Rep. Dennis Kucinich made history on the floor of the House by reading 35 Articles of Impeachment against President George W. Bush.

At last!!!!!

We've waited years to find one Member of Congress brave enough to stand up for our Constitution, for which generations of Americans have fought and died. We are thrilled and honored that Dennis Kucinich has chosen to be that one genuine patriot.

We congratulate him on his historic leadership, and pledge to do everything in our power to persuade the House to adopt all 35 Articles and put George W. Bush on trial before the Senate of the United States, exactly as the Founding Fathers wanted.

Of course, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA-8), Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD-5), and Democratic Caucus Chair Rahm Emanuel (IL-5) all remain adamantly opposed to impeachment - despite the overwhelming evidence of High Crimes, including the "Phase II" report by the Senate Intellligence Committee and Scott McClellan's new book.

And when Rep. Robert Wexler (FL-19) called for Judiciary Committee hearings on Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Cheney in January, only 17 Democrats joined them: Neil Abercrombie (HI-1), Tammy Baldwin (WI-2), Michael Capuano (MA-8), Yvette Clarke (NY-11), Lacy Clay (MO-1), Steve Cohen (TN-9), Peter DeFazio (OR-4), Keith Ellison (MN-5), Sam Farr (CA-17), Raúl Grijalva (AZ-7), Luis Gutierrez (IL-4), Barbara Lee (CA-9), Gwen Moore (WI-4), Jim Moran (VA-8), Mike Thompson (CA-1), Ed Towns (NY-10), and Lynn Woolsey (CA-6).

So Kucinich's heroic efforts will be in vain unless we inundate Congress with emails and calls (202-224-3121) showing our full support for Rep. Kucinich's 35 Articles of Impeachment:

http://www.democrats.com/35-articles-of-impeachment

And if you have time to do more, please login to Democrats.com, click "Local" and connect with other activists in your Congressional District to organize a Honk-To-Impeach gathering at the District Office of your Representative or a major local intersection:

http://www.democrats.com/honktoimpeach

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your constant support throughout this long and historic struggle.

Bob Fertik

Let's do our part people. Let us not allow Congress to put the brakes on this.

Much props to Dennis Kucinich for being a fine American.

A Sign of Progressiveness [/Extreme Sarcasm]

*Sighs* I took the above pic at Astor Place on the 6 train line in liberal, progressive NYC. Whatever. There are neighborhoods that my Black ass wouldn't be caught dead in. The South isn't anymore racist than the North and I'm sick of the myth suggesting that the South is worse. The South has James Byrd, Jr. and The North has Sean Bell. No need to argue.

I was livid when I read that insult in the above pic. I felt very hurt. I felt insulted. I saw red. Like I haven't been this enraged in my life. The type of rage I had is the kind that you have after watching a marathon of Roots, Eyes on the Prize, and the Rodney King beating video. That's how pissed I was.

Racism always tests my rationale. Acts like this always leave me distrustful of White people. I know it's wrong. I know plenty of good White people. I should know better but. I know. But I can't help the thoughts that run through my mind when I'm angry. Who knows if the vandal is actually White though.

With all of this hatred leveled at Obama, I wonder "Why are White people scared of us?" "What warrants the hatred?" They make up over 75% of the country so what gives? Is there a fear of a revolution amongst Black people? I don't see that happening. A number of us Black folks are content with their byproducts of Americanism (e.g., HD TVs, iPods, auto financing), think racism is becoming a thing of the past, or are riddled with apathy. Then there's the number of us who know the obstacles that we face yet continue to persevere. I'm a member of the aforementioned group but still I wonder how that works. Like how mentally stable are we?

Does racism seem a tad bit overt now since Obama's campaign? How should one deal with racism? What say you?

Young Woman Killed Over a Bruised Ego

Teen shot after rebuffing advances dies
Mildred Beaubrun's family wants to find the man who shot her after she rejected advances.

RIP Mildred.

Susan Jacobson Sentinel Staff Writer
June 4, 2008

Mildred Beaubrun's family celebrated her final birthday, her 19th, with cards and balloons at her bedside Sunday at Orlando Regional Medical Center.

Two days later, the young woman, who was shot after she rebuffed the advances of several men who spotted her at a downtown Orlando gas station last month, was declared brain-dead and removed from life support.

Beaubrun's mother, grandmother and aunt stood beside her, stroking her hair and hands, crying and praying as the machines were turned off. Now, they want the public's help in tracking down her killers.

"I let her know: Thank you -- thank you for being here," said Beaubrun's aunt, Margaret Francis of Marietta, Ga. "It's going to be all right. She's in God's hands."

Beaubrun of west Orange County and two girlfriends were accosted early May 19 after a night of partying at Club Firestone. As they left a 7-Eleven on Colonial Drive after buying gas and something to drink, three or four men in a silver or gray Chevrolet HHR followed their dark-blue Nissan Maxima.

"Hey, baby, what's your phone number?" they called out as the cars headed west.

At John Young Parkway and Princeton Street, a bullet ripped through the door of the Maxima and shrapnel struck Beaubrun, who was sitting in the back seat. She had been fighting for her life ever since, losing part of a lung, beating back pneumonia and suffering potentially paralyzing spinal damage.

In the end, her injuries were too severe. She died about 1 p.m. Tuesday, her family said.

"Every day was a struggle," Francis said. "She was fighting to be here." (More Stuff...)

This breaks my heart. This young girl was killed. And over what? A fucking bruised ego? Who failed those little boys that holla'd her? Who didn't teach them to take rejection like men? Why is it OK to kill over rejection which was terribly misconstrued as disrespect? Why do women have to handle men so delicately as if they're a ticking time bomb?

I used to just shake my head at my friends who would oh so politely turn down an unrelenting guy who wanted their number (read as "ass"). They did so in order to not be called a "bitch." I'm not like them. I hate giving out fake numbers. I hated lying about having a man (now I have one and it's the same unrelenting behavior). They don't let up when you tell them you're involved: "We can be friends." "Well, does he allow you to have friends?" "Are you faithful?" "Is he faithful?" Why can't I reject some sex-thirsty clown that acts like that? You're acting desperately and I'm supposed to want you? Huh?

I've been called a "bitch" and "stuck-up" for refusing the advances of jackasses who would interfere with my personal space, grab my arm, hit me with a host of questions regarding my relationship, or yell out "Ay you, with the tight jeans on!" or "Ay you, with the big ass." That's very attractive. I mean, why wouldn't I wanna give you the goods after that? *Sighs* This is the reason I wear a "'FUCK OUT MY FACE" scowl when I'm at the unofficial singles venue (read as "outside of my home"). My friends act like I'm bugging when I put up a shield but this act of madness and the aforementioned behavior warrant my actions.

I don't know what's in the water these days, but we've got a new brand of jackasses that can't handle rejection. Especially when in the company of their boys. What are women to do about street harrassment? Should we handle these fools delicately? Seems like being insulted is the very least that can be done.


MUST-READ LINKS:

UPDATE: Mildred Beaubrun passes on
Mildred Braeburn: Rest In Peace for Sticking to Your Principles

Barack Obama Becomes the Democratic Nominee; Michelle's "Whitey" Tape

Obama Clinches Nomination, Capping Historic, Bitter Contest:
First African-American To Lead a Major Party Ticket; Clinton Refuses to Concede
By JACKIE CALMES

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Barack Obama captured enough convention delegates Tuesday to make a historic claim to the Democratic presidential nomination, the first African-American to earn a major party's nod.

The first-term Illinois senator defeated what had once been the most powerful machine in the party. His rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton, the former first lady who sought to be history's first female nominee, saluted him. But she did not concede, even as she signaled openness to being considered as his vice presidential running mate.

Sen. Clinton's refusal to drop out immediately came after her surprise win in South Dakota's primary Tuesday. That victory didn't change the dynamics of the race. But it underscored some of Sen. Obama's weaknesses, which were on display over the final month of the long campaign, when he suffered a string of landslide losses to his challenger.

Still, the nomination marked a remarkable accomplishment for the son of a Kenyan immigrant who spent part of his childhood in Hawaii and Indonesia.

"Tonight, I can stand before you and say that I will be the Democratic nominee for president of the United States of America," Sen. Obama told an estimated 32,000 people gathered in St. Paul, Minn., late Tuesday. (More Stuff...)

All I can say right now is that I'm very excited for him. I don't wanna get too excited because I can only imagine what the Republicans have in store for him. So far, there's this alleged tape out there of Michelle Obama sitting on a panel with Louis Farrakhan and tossing around epithets like "Whitey." If this has been around, then why hasn't it come out yet? I guess they're looking to ether Obama's campaign. We'll just wait and see.

Here's Obama's victory speech



UPDATE: Just wanted to add this pic



Now that's looove :-) H/T to Yaowwwwww!!! on that pic.

MUST-READ:
So Will the INFAMOUS Michelle Obama Tape Drop Today???