Bush, Obama alumni ask Biden administration to ease up on Cuba before Trump takes office

A group of former diplomatic and national security officials is calling on the Biden administration to loosen some restrictions on Cuba before handing over the reins of U.S. diplomacy to President-elect Trump. more

"Safe?" - Jeb Bush Can't Rewrite History

MaryJo Pezzi: An election rigged for Bush by Jeb Bush

The government of Florida tossed out thousands of African American Voters from the Registry in 2000 and also turned away thousands of African Americans from polling places. At the heart of this American political scandal was Gov. Jeb Bush and his Secretary of State in charge of counting the votes, who was also President of the George W. Bush for President campaign.

In fact, in ‪#‎Florida‬ a black person is 1000% more likely than a white person to have their vote thrown out.

Going into the 2016 elections, it is important to remember what happened in 2000 because Jeb Bush is now a candidate for President of the United States. here

Bush 2016- Four More Years

Jeb's rejected new logo

here

The Bush's Patriot Act

Jeb calls for the reauthorization of the Patriot Act enacted under the presidency of his brother George W. Bush. here

“What I admire most about my brother was he kept us (911) safe,”

Jeb Bush’s Biggest Problem

W. a president who turned a record surplus into a record deficit, lost two wars, and left America on the brink of an even 

Greater Depression. here

Jeb Bush Funneled $2 Billion to George W Bush's Big Donors

Dreaming Of The Hague

Senate Report: US Torture

The Justice Department announce that it will 

not prosecute any US officials implicated.

"The interrogations were "absolutely, totally justified." Dick Cheney

Republican Senator John McCain, a former prisoner of war who was tortured in Vietnam, praised the report's release and said harsh interrogations did little to make Americans safer.

"Those of us who want to see a safer, more secure world want to see extremism defeated. We won't succeed if we lose our moral authority." British Prime Minister David Cameron

here

Check this cool place in the Netherlands, The International Criminal Court. It has the jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes and it may one day be able to exercise jurisdiction over the crime of aggression. here

Jeb's legacy is taking a huge hit

One of Bush's finest moments came in 2002, when he and President George W. Bush pledged a 50-50 state-federal partnership to clean up the Everglades. Gov. Bush did secure state funding. Federal funding, however, lagged. Republican deficit hawks played a part in that. And Gov. Bush significantly undermined his own work when he agreed to delay clean-water standards for a decade. here

The Sun Sentinel reported last week, oil companies are taking advantage of Florida's chronically lax environmental laws to begin a form of fracking — fracturing of underground rock to release oil — in sensitive areas close to the Everglades. Republicans who dominated the Legislature since Jeb's tenure have failed to approve rules to protect the Everglades from fracking 

Miami rallies against U.S. intervention in Iraq

Over two dozen activists still care 

and gathered at the Torch of Friendship in Miami, 

June 21, to rally against U.S. intervention in Iraq. here

Cars honked to show support and passersby joined to listen to the speeches and chant “No justice! No peace! U.S. out of the Middle East!” and “Money for jobs and education, not for wars and occupation!” The banner that read “U.S. hands off Iraq” waved alongside signs that said “Not then, not now! U.S. out of Iraq!” and “First Bush, then Obama, different party, same drama!”

Pre-Iraq War Views Of Florida Legend Bob Graham

"On Oct. 9, 2002, Graham — the guy everyone thought of as quiet, mild-mannered, deliberate, conflict-averse — let loose on his Senate colleagues for going along with President 
Bush's war against Iraq.

"We are locking down on the principle that we have one evil, Saddam Hussein. He is an enormous, gargantuan force, and that's who we're going to go after," Graham said on the floor. "That, frankly, is an erroneous reading of the world. There are many evils out there, a number of which are substantially more competent, particularly in their ability to attack Americans here at home, than Iraq is likely to be in the foreseeable future."

He told his fellow senators that if they didn't recognize that going to war with Iraq without first taking out the actual terrorists would endanger Americans, "then, frankly, my friends — to use a blunt term — 
the blood's going to be on your hands." here

GOP BS: 12 Attacks On U.S. Embassies Happened On George W. Bush’s Watch

1. Calcutta, India; January 22, 2002 – Five killed at the U.S. Consulate.
2. Karachi, Pakistan; June 14, 2002 – 12 killed, 51 injured at U.S. Consulate.
3. Islamabad, Pakistan; February 28, 2003 – Two killed at the U.S. Embassy.
4. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; May 12, 2003 – 36 killed, nine of them Americans, at the U.S. diplomatic compound.
5. Tashkent, Uzbekistan; July 30, 2004 – Two killed at the U.S. Embassy.
6. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; December 6, 2004 – Nine killed at the U.S. Consulate.
7. Karachi, Pakistan; March 2, 2006 – Four killed, including U.S. diplomat David Foy, at the U.S. Consulate. (Note that this is the second fatal attack on the Consulate in 4 years. Where was the extra security? Oh, right. There was none. Mr. Foy was directly targeted in this attack but we never heard a peep from anyone on the right about it.)
8. Damascus, Syria; September 12, 2006 – Four killed, 13 wounded at U.S. Embassy.
9. Athens, Greece; January 12, 2007 – Thankfully empty U.S. Embassy targeted with an anti-tank grenade (which landed in the Ambassador’s office).
10. Sana’a, Yemen; March 18, 2008 – 13 schoolchildren are injured when a mortar misses the U.S. Embassy and hits a nearby school. (Brown children are just collateral damage to the right).
11. Istanbul, Turkey; July 9, 2008 – Six killed at the U.S. Consulate.
12. Sana’a, Yemen; September 17, 2008 – Sixteen killed (including a newlywed couple) at the U.S. Embassy. The second attack in 7 months. No cries for extra security here, either.
13. more
14. WHERE WAS THE OUTRAGE?

Allen West: “Obama Is The Biggest War Criminal In The U.S.A”

Florida Tea Party Allen West, 

is currently on a book media tour.
 While in Boynton Beach
he told Javier Manjarres of the Florida right wing blog Shark Tank

 

The biggest war criminal in the United States of America sits at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave…If the left wants to stand besides a person who abandoned Americans to die under a terrorist attack, then that shows how beareth of any code of honor that they have, any sense of integrity, any character whatsoever.-Allen West

more

Ralph Nader's Letter To George W. Bush

At this time of the year, it is not unusual to receive various mailings from nonprofit organizations looking for crucial end-of-the-year donations. You can imagine my surprise when I received a request from a certain notorious former President of the United States asking for my financial support in his public policy center's efforts to address the "challenges facing our world." My response to this solicitation.

Dear Mr. Bush

Florida Right Wingers Slam Obama For Castro Handshake

The Hug

"Sometimes a handshake is just a handshake, but when the leader of the free world shakes the bloody hand of a ruthless dictator like Raul Castro, it becomes a propaganda coup for the tyrant,"...Rep. Ilean Ros-Lehtinen

 Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez has noted that the handshake was not shown on Cuban television. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen also seems to forget that a big part of Cuban propaganda is getting Cubans to think that its the imperialist hand of any U.S. President that is actually bloodied. We doubt the Castro regime wants to make more of the handshake then what it was.

more 

Pic: Ilean Ros-Lehtinen with George W. Bush
Speaking of bloody hands
Iraq Military Fatalities 4,486, Cost $3.4 trillion

Bush Presidential Library and Museum

Pics Left Out
more

Happy Wedding Anniversary

Beyonce and Jay-Z tour Old Havana to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary.
The Miami Cuban Mafia was enraged over the trip and sent a letter to the Treasury Department official responsible for policing the embargo to demand to be told who approved the travel and for what purpose.
more

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (La Señora) raised the issue of the Carters' visit with the Obama administration, denouncing it as having provided sustenance to the "murderous" Castro regime.

Tampa Bay's Iraq War Dead

46 service members from this region have perished in the war as of March 19, 2013:

• Army Capt. James Adamouski, 29, Tampa. Iraq, April 2, 2003.

• Marine Lance Cpl. Andrew J. Aviles, 18, Tampa. Iraq, April 7, 2003.

• Army Pfc. Roberto C. Baez, 19, Tampa. Iraq, Oct. 3, 2005.

• Army Pfc. Brandon K. Bobb, 20, Riverview. Iraq, July 17, 2007.

• Army Sgt. Dennis J. Boles, 46, Homosassa. Kuwait (Iraq War), Oct. 24, 2004.

• Marine Lance Cpl. Brian Rory Buesing, 20, Cedar Key Iraq, March 23, 2003.

• Army Spc. David A. Croft Jr., 22, Plant City. Iraq, Jan. 5, 2010.

• Army Staff Sgt. Wilbert Davis, 40, Tampa. Iraq, April 3, 2003.

• Army Pfc. Marc A. Delgado, 21, Lithia. Iraq, Nov. 24, 2005.

• Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua W. Dickinson, 25, New Port Richey. Iraq, Dec. 12, 2004.

• Army Sgt. Dennis J. Flanagan, 22, Inverness. Iraq, Jan. 20, 2006.

• Army Sgt. Denis J. Gallardo, 22, St. Petersburg. Iraq, Nov. 22, 2005.

• Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Ronald A. Ginther, 37, Auburndale. Iraq, May 2, 2004.

• Army Spc. Cody C. Grater, 20, Spring Hill. Iraq, July 29, 2007.

• Army Staff Sgt. John L. Hartman Jr., 39, Tampa. Iraq, Nov. 30, 2006.

• Air Force 1st Lt. Joseph D. Helton, 24, Tampa. Iraq, Sept. 8, 2009.

• Army Sgt. 1st Class David A. Heringes, 36, Tampa. Iraq, Aug. 24, 2007.

• Army Sgt. William R. Howdeshell, 37, St. Petersburg. Iraq, July 26, 2007.

• Army Spc. Arturo Huerta-Cruz, 23, Clearwater. Iraq, April 14, 2008.

• Army Sgt. Bryan Luckey, 25, Tampa. Iraq, June 29, 2006. Army

•Sgt. Marcus C. Mathes, 26, Zephyrhills. Iraq, April 28, 2008.

•Army Sgt. Benjamin E. Mejia, 25, Tampa. Iraq, May 31, 2006.

• Army Pfc. Patrick J. Miller, 23, New Port Richey. Iraq, March 29, 2008.

• Marine Sgt. Lea Robert Mills, 21, Masaryktown. Iraq, April 28, 2006.

• Army Pfc. Jody W. Missildine, 19, Plant City. Iraq, April 8, 2006.

• Army Pfc. Louis Niedermeier, 20, Largo. Iraq, June 1, 2005.

• Army Pfc. Cody J. Orr, 21, Ruskin. Iraq, Jan. 17, 2004.

• Marine Lance Cpl. James R. Phillips, 21, Plant City. Iraq, Dec. 23, 2004.

• Army Staff Sgt. Michael B. Quinn, 37, Tampa. Iraq, May 27, 2003.

• Army Cpl. John T. Rivero, 23, Tampa. Kuwait (Iraq War), April 17, 2003.

• Army Spc. Alexis Roman-Cruz, 33, Brandon. Iraq, Nov. 16, 2005.

• Army Pfc. Jonathan M. Rossi, 20, Safety Harbor. Iraq, July 1, 2007.

• Army Sgt. Michael D. Rowe, 23, New Port Richey. Iraq, March 28, 2006.

• Army 2nd Lt. Charles R. Rubado, 23, Clearwater. Iraq, Aug. 29, 2005.

• Army Spc. Raymond A. Salerno, 27, Land O'Lakes. Iraq, July 16, 2006.

• Army Staff Sgt. Wentz J. H. Shanaberger III, 33, Zephyrhills. Iraq, March 24, 2004.

• Army 1st Lt. Kevin J. Smith, 28, Brandon. Iraq, Dec. 8, 2005.

• Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, 33, Tampa. Iraq, April 4, 2003.

• Army Sgt. James D. Stewart, 29, St. Petersburg. Iraq, June 21, 2005.

• Army Sgt. Robert Surber, 24, Inverness. Iraq, June 3, 2007.

• Army Maj. David G. Taylor Jr., 37, Tampa. Iraq, Oct. 22, 2006.

• Army Sgt. Antwan L. Walker, 22, Tampa. Iraq, May 18, 2005.

• Marine Lance Cpl. Kevin G. Waruinge, 22, Tampa. Iraq, Aug. 3, 2005.

• Army Chief Warrant Officer Aaron A. Weaver, 32, Floral City. Iraq, Jan. 8, 2004.

• Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas Wilt, 23, Tampa. Iraq, Sept. 3, 2004.

• Army Lt. Col. Peter E. Winston, 56, Plant City. Iraq, Nov. 13, 2006.

Compiled from Times files, Associated Press casualty databases.

Crimes Against Humanity

It seems that my memory has been on  steroids these last few days. On this the 10th  Anniversary of the Iraq war there are so many things to remember. Not only the birth of this blog but how hard i tried to show my family and friends the huge mistake we were about to make. I remember Michael Moore and the way he was maligned and ridicule, i remember the Dixie chicks and the way they were treated. I remember the millions of protesters all over the world. I remember the ban on photos of soldiers' coffins as they returned.  I remember Free speech zones (also known as First Amendment Zones) or Free speech cages, I remember our  brave politicians who spoke up people like Florida's Robert Graham, Howard Dean, Lincoln Chafee, Barrack Obama, Carl Levin, Nancy Pelosi, The late Paul Wellstone, Daniel Akaka, Barbara Boxer, Robert Byrd,Ron Paul, Jon Corzine, Richard Durbin,Russell Feingold, Daniel Inouye James Jeffords, The late Edward Kennedy and many more. But most of all i think of this wonderful place called  The Hague in the Netherlands, a place where they take war criminals and people who have committed crimes against humanity. The sad part is there are people that belong there
 that never make it.

Democrats Share the Blame for Tragedy of Iraq War

Not Howard Dean
The Democrats who voted to support the war and rationalized that vote by making false claims about Iraq's WMD programs - a minority of Democrats, but much over-represented in Democratic leadership councils - were responsible for allowing the Bush administration to get away with lying about
Iraq's alleged threat.
Here on the tenth anniversary of the Iraq War, it is important to remember that it was not just those in the Bush White House who were responsible for the tragedy, but leading members of Congress as well, some of whom are now in senior positions in the Obama administration.
more
Read what Mr. Dean had to say back on April 17, 2003.