illumined horizon

In response to calls from the United States to encourage Cuba to become a multi-party democracy, Chavez responded it is the U.S. and not Cuba that needs a democratic transition.

The Republican meme, "We need to fight the terrorists over there so we don't have to fight them here", I think has been thoroughly discredited at this point. The idea is just ridiculous on it's face, I mean the terrorists can walk and chew gum at the same time ok? But the point I want to make (and I don't know that I'm the first to make it, but it should be made and repeated) is that not only are we fighting the terrorists over here while we're ostensibly fighting them 'over there', but in this fight (in Iraq) we're using our troops as sacrificial lambs awaiting an imminent eradication.

Since we know terrorists were not active in Iraq prior to the invasion of the country, we can only say that our troops were and are being used as bait to lure terrorists to Iraq, so the government can 'legitimately' say that they are fighting them. This is an inexusable and unjustifiable use of our troops (not to mention all the dead innocent Iraqi civilians), and this will truly be one of the darkest marks on George W. Bush's historical record when his disastrous, pernicious presidency is entered into official history. Even the one area Bush has trumpeted as the zenith of his presidency, shows itself, after the mildest of scrutiny, to be another one in the seemingly endless line of nadirs.

Israel's slaughter and America's wink and nod to these unforgivable actions, are increasing criticism and negativity felt towards the U.S. in Lebanon.

Now that Lamont has won the primary, and the net roots, the NYT editorial board and some notable African-American leaders are all in jubilation, it remains to be seen what the overall reach of this victory will be. Will this win have reverberations throughout the Democratic Party to make it stand up for progressive beliefs, or will this be an isolated occurrence, a one shot deal? I'm not in the business of making this type of prognostication, but keeping in mind this question will make the weeks and months ahead perhaps some of the most politically interesting since George W. Bush took (by theft) office.

For one thing it's unclear to me just how much of a lefty Lamont actually is, this could be beside the point, however, considering the real achievement here might be that Lamont defeated maybe the party's most conservative non-southern Democrat. And, by that standard anything is better than nothing. Regardless of Lamont's progressive credentials (or lack thereof) this victory has minimally shaken up the center to right of the Democratic Party (as Lamont was clearly the perceived progressive in this race), forcing these folks (hopefully) to search deeply into their consciences, and reassess if their positions, are actually those that will bring electoral victories to the party. I can already see that this theory might only be applicable to the blue states, but even if that is all Lamont and company have achieved, it's more than a pyrrhic victory.

Four hundred human rights activists and intellectuals are asking the U.S. government not to invade Cuba, if Fidel Castro dies from his current medical problems. In the meantime speculation continues about what his exact state of health is.

In my opinion, it always worthwhile to remind ourselves how some mad Christians view the ongoing events in Israel.

It's my assumption Republicans no longer say hey to John Murtha in the halls of congress. Instead they're busy bringing lawsuits against him, calling for his execution, and in general attempting to impugn his credibility. But I guess at the end of the day when all the attempts at intimidation and fear, don't work on a few of the bravest of souls; it's time to roll out the most vicious and scurrilous of the propaganda.

This article appeared in my local paper, and I found it on the net too. It's a very fair portrayal of Cuba, and not the kind of propagandistic drivel, that is normally written in U.S. papers. The neocons may yet be unpleasantly surprised when Fidel once and for all exits the scene.

This article from Rolling Stone focuses a spotlight on the tireless workers against significant alteration of the status quo, David Brooks and the Democratic Leadership Council. It's not too much of a surprise that both see the Lamont campaign and its supporters as a liberal inquisition or 'liberal fundamentalism'.

In the Lieberman/Lamont race, allegations have emerged that Lieberman's camp is sending in a goon squad to disrupt and otherwise turn into chaos, events that Ned Lamont is attending on the campaign trail. I'm not exactly sure what this means for the race, but it's certainly reflects poorly on Lieberman's character (Connecticut Democratic primary voters take note) and commitment to clean campaigning (I thought it was only Republicans that take part in this kind of activity). That so many Democratic Party leaders are standing with Joe as his campaign engages in this type of juvenile subterfuge, is inexcusable; and all, including President Clinton, should demand Joe's campaign renounce this tactic, or face no longer receiving the support that it has been enjoying. To not do this is to tacitly endorse the Karl Rove/Lee Atwater slash and burn politics that have so irreparably harmed this nation's democracy.

Joe Lieberman in his Connecticut primary race with Ned Lamont is straddling the fence as best he can between his DLC roots, and his ostensible support for traditional liberal Democratic values. Here he claims to be one of the earliest and foremost opponents of Bush's social security privatization scheme, and here he says all along he's been against Bush's execution of the war. As the polls continue to sink for old Joe, he grasps more and more to rouse the base he has for so long taken for granted.

Additionally, although this is not a particularly substantive piece, consider it today's positive thought; we shouldn't let fear win, and assume even if Neddy can take this thing Joe will simply ride the independent express to victory. There's a lot that makes me think this author is blinded by fits of hyperbolic optimism (like for example even the GOP is mobilizing for Joe, and who does Ned have on his side only Maxine Waters, the netroots, and Al Sharpton), but nevertheless his heart is in the right place, and his words are inspiring.

House Republicans are allowing fries and toast to be french again.

I'm not sure how dedicated to the cause of aiding the homeless radio personality Beth Monk is, but she should surely be applauded for attempting to expose the wrongheadness of the ordinance she was issued a summons for violating. One wouldn't think this ordinance can hold up for long, the more civil disobedience hopefully the closer its repeal.