Source: sftt.org "Why We Cannot Win": Sgt. Al Lorentz [Good news for you “Patriots”: He now faces disciplinary action.] Before I begin, let me state that I am a soldier currently deployed in Iraq, I am not an armchair quarterback. Nor am I some politically idealistic and naïve young soldier, I am an old and seasoned Non-Commissioned Officer with nearly 20 years under my belt. Additionally, I am not just a soldier with a muds-eye view of the war, I am in Civil Affairs and as ...

As much as the Presidential Debate has value in that the challenger finally gets nationwide attention and the incumbent an opportunity to defend his record and beyond, it is far from enough when the format relies solely on a single moderator. Americans are being denied the reality show of penetrating, sometimes hostile questioning from a corps of respected print, TV reporters, and, yes, notable bloggers to test the candidates’ true qualities. No moderator should accept the tiresome campaign jar...

Apparently many conservatives rush to the defense of corporate bodies they lionize as gods of Olympus endowed with divine wisdom. Or is it simply more out of hatred for anything smelling governmental? Criticism of multinationals and corporations does not necessarily infer dictatorial government action. Then again, if indeed there is such love for corporations that deliver the goodies of this affluent nation, then why criticism at all? — surely the gods are our deliverance. We should accept the...

Since the native American was not prepared to accept the early American way of life, George Washington wisely set up enclaves for them as sovereign nations, rather than states subject to the white man’s laws. Washington hoped that in the distant future the natives would gradually assimilate to the new way of living. However, in the throes of the Manifest Destiny their sovereignty was violated, causing bitter, lasting resentment, even though Washington’s vision is finally beginning ever so slowl...

The bleached out blue collar began with the hard hats against the anti-war protestors in the late ‘60s. The blue collar then with their relatively high pay displaced the issue of the economy and turned to cultural issues which at the time were the effeminate flower children and draft dodgers, together with Vietnam veterans such as Kerry who was judged as disrupting Nixon’s “secret plan” to end the war. Though many of these hard hats were union, they were willing to cut off their nose to spite...

George will has targeted two democratic groups that have contributed to the impediment of the Republican ideology: trial lawyers and unions. Trial lawyers are the scapegoats for runaway health costs, though it affects less than one percent of the spiraling escalation. Unions, though on the decline in general, are substantially healthy in the governmental sector. Will’s contention is that most of the work done by government — federal, state and local — could be performed by private contra...

Congratulations go to the Bush administration and the unheralded US troops in Afghanistan for making the elections there relatively trouble free. Credit also goes to the dedication of the European-Union and UN for a successful oversight of ballot integrity. Not least are the substantial numbers of loyal of allied troops that also contributed in maintaining the peace. And surely, accolades go to the extraordinary courage of the women in Afghanistan in turning out to give voice ...

According to Factcheck, A Progress for America Voter Fund ad claims Kerry has "a 30-year record of supporting cuts in defense and intelligence," misleading charges that we've de-bunked before. It also accuses Kerry of "endlessly changing positions on Iraq," a claim that is without factual basis. Kerry responded with his own ad, quoting a New York Times editorial calling the Bush campaign's recent statements about Kerry and terrorism "despicable." “The ad is more ...

Again, according to Factcheck: The charge that Kerry is "endlessly changing positions on Iraq" is without factual support. In fact, Kerry has never wavered from his support for giving Bush authority to use force in Iraq, nor has he changed his position that Bush should not have gone to war without greater international support, and without making greater efforts at diplomacy backed by the threat of force. Here's what Kerry said on the Senate floor before voting to give Bush the aut...

Christopher Reeve was indeed a superman in his courageous battle against horrific disease and paralysis from his accident. May you, Christopher, find your strength in Crypton's heaven.

With the exception of enthusiasts for reality shows, or odd balls like Picasso, rappers and heavy metal “artists,” Americans have always believed with Keats’ “beauty is truth, truth beauty,” even though we like to add the conditional clause, of course, that beauty is in the eye of the beholder to allow for different tastes. Still, to be honest a fat man is beautiful only if he dons a Santa Claus suit, or fat woman sings the blues. A pot-bellied defensive lineman is unbecoming no matter how go...

Just as there are limitations on how much can be done to democratize the Muslim world, so it is with domestic issues but for the argument as to which is more important. One would argue that it is more important to have a safer, less threatening international scene than to worry about the economic security of the nation. Repetitive cries fall back on the Chamberlain appeasement syndrome, as it were, to justify declaring war on pockets of Muslim antagonism generating terror. There is no c...

If Bush is such a damnably nice guy, how is it the adage “nice guys finish last” does not apply to him — or will it? For a superpower to unite a world it must first unite its country. To be a conservative one must first believe in his own superiority. The volunteer armed services are now considered sacrosanct to those against conscription. Virtue is a continuing process of the mind, don’t presume its handed to you by God. One who states that the Patriot Act “needs fix...

Bush claims that North Korea has not been ignored while the US expended its energy on Iraq. Kerry claims that North Korea’s proliferation of nuclear weapons was due to abysmal diplomacy. Even before 9/11 and Iraq, Bush reneged on a consortium of South Korea, Japan and the US to supply North Korea fuel temporarily until light water reactors could be built. As a result South Korea and Japan lost over a billion in investments. South Korea’s “sunshine policy” requiring relations with the north, w...

In a personal anecdote in The Boston Globe , Ellen Goodman related: “When I was a kid I just assumed the separation of church and hospital. It’s not that I didn’t believe in the power of prayer, but when my appendix burst I wanted a guy in a white coat, not a white collar.” “Welcome to Faith-based Medicine” What prompted this is her discovery that the administration announced that federal employees will now be offered a Catholic health plan. Fortunately it is an option but o...