Let's see, a little knowledge of history can be.. humorous

Let's see, a little knowledge of history can be.. humorous

I got a real kick out of the Letter Writer's comment, that science has been wrong before.

The beauty of science as opposed to "revealed" knowledge is that science is self-correcting. The scientific method allows that knowledge is perfectable. Each scientist can build on the facts and research of previous scientists.

Knowledge can be built on, and leads to better lives and a fuller understanding of the world. Remember, vaccines, electric lights, medicine, surgery, antiseptics?

I find it a sad commentary on how slow the wisdom does accumulate, when some people still insist that ignorance is better for young people. Do they really believe that people unaware of the facts of human biology, are better off than those who know how babies are conceived. Do they actually believe that pregnancies are increased, because of sexual knowledge. The consequences of normal human sexuality have not not changed in hundreds of thousands of years.

Do you really think that knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases should be kept hidden from young sexually aware young people? I have as a parent made sure, my children, understood human sexual facts, and the consequences that can be wonderful, miraculous or dangerous.

STDs and Immune Difficiency diseases will not be reduced by ignorance.

One last comment about science, those who would dispense with it's self correcting progress. I assume, then that in your hut, you use, oil lamps, after a long "bright" doing subsistence hunting and gathering. I'm sure you avoid the printed word, a technology from the late fifteen hundreds.

I'm sure you also have banished TV, RADIO, CARS, COMPUTERS and Medicine. Likewise I'm sure clearly you also avoid even animal husbandry as it must certainly be another of the many mistakes of science.

That you know someone literate and computer savvy enough to draft a letter to the editor, I suppose is a tribute to your open-mindedness, or more likely, just more of the blindspots in your world view.

See you after the great bird eats the shiny-disk in the sky.

A Working Scientist
Rick Spisak

Reject the Mukasey Nomination for AG

While I agree that America's Justice Department has been damaged, even dismantled under the leadership of the BUSH ADMINISTRATION. From the politicization of appointed offices, the casual use of inexperienced political operatives to restructure the department for political prosecutions, to the stonewalling and contrived amnesia of disgraced "Judge" Gonzalez as Attorney General.

America does need fresh leadership that understands that the President is not above the law, that signing statements do not supersede the laws passed by the legislative branch and that International Laws preclude the use of the tools of the Inquisition to protect this nations stature as leader of the free world.

There is no briefing that can change the impact and reality of torture, from water boarding to the whole panoply of heinous bloodstained techniques of Torquemada and the Spanish Inquisition.

If Judge Mukasey doesn't understand that the tools of the Spanish Inquisition and the Bush Administration are an affront to the civilized world. There is no briefing that can explain it to him.

No Justice Department would be better lead, by a man with such a blind spot. Mouthing platitudes, about the President not being above the law, in the Bushian Age of "Signing Statements" that allow, what the law explicitly forbids, is unworthy of the Nation founded by Jefferson, Mason, and the great military leader George Washington.

Who if you recall, insisted on humane treatment for captured Hessian Mercenaries, before this country had a history. He knew how the army of a civilized nation behaved.

Richard W. Spisak Jr.

UN-Conventional Convention Part II

Ferne

I still think Edwards the best of the VIABLE candidates. I think unfortunately the Edwards campaign hasn't taken advantage of the deep support out there. I conducted my own straw poll of about 30 dems on the bus from the parkinglot, and the Edwards vote was the clear winner clocking 16 votes out of a possible 30. I placed no limit of how many times a person could vote. Next closest was Kucinich but only about 8 for him Clinton, Biden Dodd and Richardson.


Linda and I and about 12 other folks got EDWARDS signs Saturday evening, of the FRI-SAT-SUNDAY Florida Democratic Convention. It was a convention with out nearly any of the National Candidates. Kucinich was rumored to be attending, but only Senator Gravel, came and spoke informally to the Progressive Caucus.


They've all been forbidden to appear in public in Florida, due to squabbling between the State and National Democratic Party.


They have all been banned from appearing in FL, except at BIG TICKET PRIVATE MEETINGS. There were signs from the Clinton Campaign and the Obama campaign, on parade the very first morning, but no one else had signs, until Saturday evening when some Edwards signs showed up. We begged a pair, and this group of self selected Edwards supporters paraded around the convention hall, for forty five minutes signs held high.


And all this DEMOCRATIC CONFUSION, was set in motion by shenanigans in the REPULISICAN RUN Florida legislature, and it has now impacted party unity and STATE / NATIONAL cooperation to the extent that some State Party Leaders are - get this IN COURT SUING the National Dems. Hmm dems suing Dems, why? Because the National Party has ruled that NOT ONLY are the candidates banned from appearing before the PUBLIC - but the National Dems say they won't count our January primary, and no Florida Dems will be seated at the National Convention in August in Denver.


HOLY SMOKES - lets see WHO benefits... WHO ????????
Dems Suing DEMS, are they CRAZY or just MOLES???


Add to that, the news that our party chairperson, Ms Karen Thurman is working as a Consultant for a lobbying firm owned by Al Cardenas the Chair of the FLORIDA Republican Party?????? Cozy eh?


Well when this was disclosed in a Herald article - It has been said, that she's only working on a project at the Port of Miami . And the second widely used excuse is, hey - she's taking republican money - so how's that bad ?


Well you could call it the spirit of nascent bipartisan-ship if the republicans hadn't been using every dirty trick to screw florida voters, or if they could say, because she works with them, they didn't do this, or we got them to do that - it that might be different...


So it just keeps getting curiouser, and curiouser


This side of the looking glass
Rick Spisak

Part 1 The Unconventional Party Convention

Gerald

I spoke with Edwards HQ about a possible speaker.

And they said whilst we rest gently, if unrequited, under the bans,
I asked when? ... They said ... Until we meet again?

Somehow... until the National and State Party's can "kiss and make up"...
after all it's only a National Natural $Election or maybe the Constitution
at ri$k.

Is it possible that this issue might be Mediated? Rather than Litigated???
Are there no bigger children in the sandbox????

Well we can easily afford to alienate party workers and cool state & federal relations, divide them while undeserving the actual electors.
And preparing for simultaneous national, state and regional elections. Timing!

$ure is Lucky... BIG MONEY EVENT$ CAN $TILL TAKE PLACE
lucky for them,
hopefully at least, the well-heeled will be attended to.

When I get better news, I will share it.

Rick Spisak
Progressive Democrat
ACLU - TCC
MoveOn
BORDC

RE Florida Democratic Convention in Orlando

Like many who must support any hope of a choice beyond hard core, blood curdling proto monarchists, like Guliani and Mitt (both of who are fully vested with TERROR & TORTURE INC.) And their corporate kissin cousins, like lil sister hillary-the-enabler, and brother Obama.

I have decided to attend the convention, while my heart will be with my brothers and sisters, and true friends in the streets at Eola Park and across my endangered country.

I must say, I am disappointed to see the dem-party suing itself? Abandoning candidates, and delegates, $1000 a plate this, and $150 a plate that.
The Repulsican Lizards must be enjoying the turmoil -
You think it serves their interests to see DEMS suiing DEMS???????

While I cannot afford to purchase the Senator of my choice, I have trouble with Sen. Nelson who does occasionally speaks, like he's heard of the Constitution.
I have yet to hear his voice opposing Guantanamo, or SPYING, or TORTURE-the-American-Way.

I asked with no small irony at a local dem mtg?
"Is there a place for progressives, in the Democratic Party?"

Hillary and Obama, can't see us abandoning occupation of OUR IRAQ,
even by the end of a potential second term?

Is there no one in the party leadership offended at the spying and surveillance that even, Attorney General Ashcroft, Acting AG Comey, and FBI Director Mueller, and Solicitor General Olsen couldn't stomach, but was DONE ANYWAY, by the Current Junta?

Hold the TELCOM co-conspirators harmless on BUSHCO Spying -
Sure, No Problem, says dem leadership? This is OPPOSITION?

If no one in the Democratic Leadership has a stomach to oppose torture, or the loss or privacy, or the complete dismantlement of the Constitution.

Then the democratic party only serves its leash - holding corporate masters.
Has the party of Wilson, and Roosevelt become DEMOCRAT CO?

If so, it is no longer a party that serves the needs of american citizens,
who still care for the Constitution and the American Experiment in Liberty and Self-Governance.

We must impeach these abusers of their offices. We must oppose those who have broken treaty after treaty and left our soldiers vulnerable again, and again, and again, to the worst sort of TIT for TAT treatment.

The RIGHT trumpets the lie, that progressives, don't care for the human beings who are soldiers. While they abandon Geneva Conventions?
I would laugh, but my tears cannot permit it.

A bayonet is a tool with a worker on both ends

Solidarity and Peace

Rick Spisak
Progressive - Like the Magna Carta Proponents
Liberal - like those who opposed children in factories
Radical - like those who urged granting women, negroes and even indians human rights
Incindiery - like those who dared opposed the Greatest Empire on earth, from its break away colonies

NOT QUALIFIED TO SPEAK

by RW Spisak Jr.


Well, the press seems to have picked up another attack meme, which requires no thought investment
needs no expiation, and is an unanswerable attack

ROVE PLAYBOOK 101 - Attack their strength then they have no where else to go.
That's the way the attack thesis goes.

Here's the MEME (Close-Up) :
A presidential candidate, a senator, is too wealthy
to really really know anything about the poor.
CASE CLOSED.

Wait just a minute, like the new, 9 out of 10 doctors agree. This may actually contain more swamp gas than anything else. We may need to pause and think, before we press the remote of our attention span.

LET'S JUST TAKE A FULL MINUTE, and consider the import of such slander as
"he's too rich to understand the problems of the poor."

Consider these 6 points after you hear the Marketing Slogan "HAIR CUT" and laugh.

1. Have you looked at his ideas - Do they accurately describe what we all see in front of our eyes?

2. Have you looked at his suggestions, do they make sense.

3. Who else is championing the cause of the WORKING POOR and the UN-Insured.?

4. Since the current LIMBO BAR of CASH is $20 Million for a "presidential" campaign*
How many guys, fishing off the pier, or ladies from the laundromat you figure can
scare up 20 Million for a presidential glory run?

5. Since the presidency is a millionaire club now, if one of them remembers where he grew up
and has a plan to help the working poor? Shouldn't we listen to the someone who CARES?

6. Which of the other millionaires running for office have created a program to address the working poor
universal healthcare and access to higher education ?

Unless you remain in behind your walled estates, and private enclave, you can see the poor. Maybe you work among us.Maybe you are also counting on a paycheck next week. Maybe you know people to whom the phrase working paycheck to paycheck, doesn't quite color it in. Last time you saw someone pan-handling or sleeping in a cardboard house, did you want to do anything about it?

Senator Edwards does.

I heard, once even Karl Rove noticed them, but only to invite them to a "booze and broads" pizza party at his opponents campaign headquarters, on a crucial campaign night.





* LINK

The Federal Election Campaign Act Amendments of 1974 provides for a number of considerations which have a significant bearing on the conduct of fundraising efforts for 1976. Three major considerations are as follows:
1. No more than $1,000 may be legally contributed by an individual to the President's campaign from January 1, 1975 until the conclusion of the Republican National Convention. An additional $1,000 may be given by the afore-mentioned donor upon the adjournment of the Convention.

2. No more than $10 million may be spent by the President's campaign committee for his primary campaign (including all campaign-related Convention expenses) and no more than $20 million may be spent on the general election..)

RE: Tom Delay's Appearance on Charlie Rose

Charlie Rose's audience might not be quite as GULLIBLE as the average CAGE WRESTLING FAN who graces FAUX NUDES with (his/her) presence.

Since Charlie is both a gentleman as well as a COMMERCIALLY SUCCESSFUL talking head, he does have to genuflect toward the Alternate Reality Construct that these guys live in, and I suspect, that Ye Olde Pesticide Peddler, "the hammer" only agreed to join Chuck, if certain areas of conversation, like say GERRYMANDERING TEXAS and manipulating Homeland Security to chase Texas Dems for that famous Quorum that wasn't ... were (my guess) Not to be Discussed.

Did they discuss the Hypocrisy Hounds who were savaging their own sacred vows while drilling away at President Clinton peccadillos? I suspect not. hmmm, Newt, Henry "Jeckel-Jackel" Hyde, and the high-moral arbiter Bill "the gambler" Bennett, they're safe for now. Maybe they can hire Rev. (hurricane explainer) Roberts to prey for them.

Did they discuss Big Tobacco check$ drifting around the $enate Floor, during the grace
period when the Repulsicans gasp, controlled both Houses?

I admit I have a jaundiced palate but - I sure would have liked to craft some questions, for that tete a' tete.

RE Sanity, Always Remember:
(TRUTH IS LIES, WAR IS PEACE, YESTERDAYS ALLY IS TODAY'S ENEMY)

I just wonder, if Rummy's back to his old tricks and filling his time, trading Missile parts with Iran, I mean, they are terrorists and all? There is common ground

solidarity & peace
Rick