Here in 2004, George W. Bush is running for reelection on a platform of tragedy – the single greatest failure of national defense in our history, the attacks of 9/11 in which 19 men with box cutters put this nation into a tailspin, a failure the details of which the White House fought to keep secret even as it ran the country into hock up to the hubcaps, thanks to generous tax cuts for the well-fixed, hoping to lead us into a box canyon of debt that will render government impotent, even as we engage in a war against a small country that was undertaken for the president’s personal satisfaction but sold to the American public on the basis of brazen misinformation, a war whose purpose is to distract us from an enormous transfer of wealth taking place in this country, flowing upward, and the deception is working beautifully.

The concentration of wealth and power in the hands of the few is the death knell of democracy. No republic in the history of humanity has survived this. The election of 2004 will say something about what happens to ours.

Garrison Keillor: 08-26-2004

Both are tales from long ago and both are related to Vietnam, but the documentary evidence in the two cases is like night and day. In the Swift Boat case, practically every new piece of documentary evidence indicates that Kerry’s accusers are lying. Conversely, in the National Guard case, practically every new piece of documentary evidence provides additional confirmation that the charges against Bush are true.

Kevin Drum: 09-09-2004

In a democracy, the commander in chief works for you. You hire him when you elect him. You watch him do the job. If he makes good decisions and serves your interests, you rehire him. If he doesn’t, you fire him by voting for his opponent in the next election.

Not every country works this way. In some countries, the commander in chief builds a propaganda apparatus that equates him with the military and the nation. If you object that he’s making bad decisions and disserving the national interest, you’re accused of weakening the nation, undermining its security, sabotaging the commander in chief, and serving a foreign power?the very charges Miller leveled tonight against Bush’s critics.

Are you prepared to become one of those countries?

Slate: 09-02-2004

…the danger is that we’ll get hit again — that we’ll be hit in a way that will be devastating from the standpoint of the United States.

Cheney on Kerry win: 09-07-2004

Most of the troops – 85 percent – died after President Bush declared major combat operations over on May 1, 2003. Nearly 15 percent died after the United States turned over sovereignty to Iraq’s new leaders this June. The deadliest month was this April, as insurgents stepped up their attacks. Nearly as many American troops died that month as had in the initial invasion.

NYTimes: 09-09-2004

The Wildlife Action Fund is posting a cartoon series at defenderbear.org to defeat George W. Bush and to elect John Kerry. It’s fun and good stuff. Check it out.

I was stunned when I heard the news. Me and my family wish the Clinton family for a quick recovery.

Over 300 total dead. My prayers go out to the families who’ve been hurt by the terror attack on Russian school.