Captain Maria Ortiz was buried at Arlington National Cemetery yesterday afternoon. If you were in Washington DC then, now you know why the city was drenched with the tears of angels.
Last month, noweasels covered the death of Capt. Maria Ortiz in a beautiful IGTNT piece, "She Was The Jewel". There is little I can add to the story of her life. Instead, I want to take this opportunity to thank Governor Corzine for his executive order to fly the flags in his state at half-staff in her honor because her family now lives in New Jersey.
I think all flags should be flown at half-staff every day a soldier dies in Iraq to honor their sacrifice and also to serve as a protest against an administration that refuses to recognize their sacrifice except as an excuse to throw more bodies into the meatgrinder.
Today, we remember Maria Ortiz the way she will be remembered by her colleagues:
Her work wasn't finished until everybody was cared for.
The United States has more troops in Iraq now than at any previous time in the war, with around 162,000 members of the military in the country, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.
This is being reported domestically with misleading claims that civilian deaths have decreased. However, Reuters also reports:
Iraqi government figures released on Wednesday showed 1,653 civilians killed in July, a sharp rise from June.
This should not surprise anyone. A lot of fresh graves will be dug in the next few weeks. How many? No one knows for sure, but I am predicting at least 105 US troops will be killed in Iraq this August, despite the misleading claims of a "downward trend." Think I'm off the mark? Let's take a look at the brutal calculus of poorly planned actions.
I confess. I was unhappy when they said, "impeachment is off the table," but I dismissed it as a tactical dispute. At least we knew there were "no more blank checks" and Congress would starve the beast by exercising the power of the purse. When they capitulated, I was vexed.
When the AG told Congress he didn't recall any Constitutional guarantee of habeas corpus, I was stunned. I didn't realize Art. I, Sec. 9 of the Constitution was a figment of my imagination. At least that explains why no one uses it anymore.
This week really surprised me, though. I hear Congress just granted more unchecked powers to Gonzales. I can't understand how that happened. It's like no one recalls his testimony. It was awhile before I figured out the problem: we haven't been supportive enough.
Instead of calling them Vichy Democrats who cower in front of glass-jawed bullies, we should be supporting them. We've done it before. We can do it again. In 2006 we gave them a mandate. You and I know the majority of America was behind them. The problem was they didn't feel it. That's our fault. We need to show them we're behind them.
She is nine years old. She is beautiful, brilliant, strong, confident and fearless. She is the woman her mother wants to become. And her mother is a very powerful woman in a world dominated by powerful men. Her parents -- well aware of what they have wrought -- make sure this angel of light is constantly trained to use her powers only for good, never for evil.
One day, the angel was writing an important letter she wanted to deliver free from prying eyes. She asked her father how much stamps cost. "Who are you mailing the letter to?" he asked. "It's a secret," she replied clutching the letter to her chest. "I don't need to know the contents, just who you are writing to," he said. "Otherwise, I can't help you with postage." She relented and told him. It was for her friend down the street. "Why don't you just call her?" he asked. "Because I want to keep it private," she said. "Use the upstairs phone," he suggested.
She looked at him as if he were a fool. "I'm not worried about you, Daddy. It's the government. They listen to everything." She pointed to the newspaper and sneered, "They admitted it."
Her father gazed into her eyes, horrified to see the handiwork of monsters staring back...
Everyone knows Gonzales is lying.
Everyone knows Comey is a boy scout.
Mueller is now confirming Comey's testimony.
Of course, Mueller may just be trying to save his own hide.
But wait! There is someone with no ax to grind, no reason to lie. Why is she never mentioned by the media? Why is no one interested in publicly questioning her?
I'm talking about the person who set this whole drama in motion -- the woman who called Comey. This is a woman with impeccable conservative credentials. She is a devoted wife and mother. She is a seasoned lawyer in good standing. She is a respected member of her church. She is also a material witness with evidence that could crucify George Bush.
We're not talking about personally embarrassing questions. Actually, she just has to answer one question. It's about a phone call she received from the White House.
"Mrs. Ashcroft, did the President of the United States call you on the night in question?"
I think we'd all like to hear her answer that and related questions.
It's ironic Bush is recommending his staff read Bill Kristol's latest drivel, "Why Bush Will Be A Winner." Fortunately for Bush, he doesn't read. Otherwise he would know Kristol recently wrote this hate-filled screed:
For President Bush, loyalty is apparently a one-way street; decency is something he's for as long as he doesn't have to take any risks in its behalf; and courage--well, that's nowhere to be seen. Many of us used to respect President Bush.
Unfortunately for Bush, lots of adults do read. That is why old chickenhawks like Kristol lack credibility with the rest of us. It also explains why the purveyors of perpetual war are busy grooming a new crop of spokesmen in a futile effort to continue fooling the masses.
Like old wine in new bottles, these "fresh conservative voices" are being used to con people into swallowing the same War Party swill everyone rejected in 2006. It's an old trick that shows how desperate they are to push a poor product.
Here's the good news: We just found their Achilles Heel...
Bruce Fein, a constitutional lawyer with unimpeachable conservative credentials was on Bill Moyers Journal saying things that used to be considered "porn" on Daily Kos. He is saying things many people still have to be convinced make sense. He's calling for the impeachment of Bush AND Cheney. Immediately!
(h/t to Ferrofluid for video clip)
Fein was there at Watergate. Fein helped draft the articles of impeachment for Clinton. This is stunning. Someone needs to send it to Nancy, tape her eyelids open and make her watch it. This is historic.
HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE TAKE HOME TALKING POINTS:
1) Impeachment is not a constitutional crisis. It is the CURE for constitutional crisis. (Nichols)
2) Let unchallenged, these powers will be lying around like loaded weapons for future presidents. (Fein)
More pyrotechnics below the fold as Fein defends "The Fighting Constitution"...
Caught your exclusive packetsniff of Bush's Blog. First off, I was stunned to find out the guy knows the secret liberal "high sign" and even knows the challenge question. But only the true Blue know the answer of the day (that would be Tuesday).
Anyway, I figured any site that could convince "He Who Is Afraid of Email and Horses" to actually hook up and do a cam session had to be a happening place.
STATE BLOGS
Last month, 
But wait! There is someone with no ax to grind, no reason to lie. Why is she never mentioned by the media? Why is no one interested in publicly questioning her?