It seems the best way to wiggle out of responsibility these days is to lie about it. Who knows more about how to lie, than Republicans. The trick is to detect just the right moment to bail out. For example, during a c-span marathon the other day, the Republicans decided the Democrates were the responsible party for the omnipotent “Nuclear Option” phrase.

In 2003 Senator Trent Lott, the former Majority Leader, came up with “nuclear option,” and the term stuck. Rev. Jerry Falwell said on Crossfire on February 16th that if the Democrats persisted in not approving all of President Bush’s nominees “Senator Frist will in fact impose the nuclear option. And there will be a 51-vote necessity only. When that happens, you guys are dead in the water, and you ought to be.”

Why would they do this to something that is such a popular buzz word? Perhaps pollsters have revealed the American People are not in favor of a “nuclear option” that eliminates the filibuster.

Now the lying Republicans are trying to call it the “Constitutional Option”. You know, War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength, and all that 1984 jazz. He has WMD’s…he’s making them in a mobil lab…see the picture of such a lab…yada, yada.

Let’s just hope they don’t destroy the entire Nation in the short time they have the majority.

Michael Leavitt was appointed by Bush to head up the Department of Health and Human Services. His nomination was approved by the Senate in January of 2005. He is now ready to slice and dice Medicare and has made positive steps in that direction of late. But exactly who is this guy?

Michael Leavitt is the former CEO for Leavitt Group Enterprises, still a Leavitt family insurance business. The Leavitt Group writes Medigap policies and underwrights malpractice insurance. Leavitt’s brother, Dane, is now the CEO, and there are other family members on the board. Leavitt still has strong ties to the health insurance industry currently holding investments worth $5 million to $25 million in Leavitt Group Enterprises – the 27th largest insurance broker in the U.S.

As former Govenor in Utah, Leavitt dismantled the state health care system with his “Healthprint” program. Republicans praise him for this accomplishment designed to have the working poor subsidise the insurance companies. He also orchestrated a gubinatorial backroom deal that opened tens of millions of acres of public Utah land, previously under consideration for widerness designation, to oil and gas drilling. His adminstration refused to take action against the Phillips Refinery of Wasatch Front, Utah, when they broke environmental regulations more than 1,000 times between 1994 and 1997, forcing the EPA to step in. Leavitt does not beleive Mercury is a pollutant, saying to the Deseret News in 1999, “in reality it is not pollution”.

At his inauguration speech as Govoner of Utah, Levitt specifically mentioned the LDS church in an inspirational context adding that there was nothing improper in mixing “God and government.”

In recognition for his appauling environmental record in Utah and his support for mixing church and state, Bush appointed him to head up the EPA during his first term. Leavitt followed orders nicely and pushed Bush’s baby, the Clear Skies Innitiave. This harmless-sounding policy allows polluters to dump higher concentratrions of pollutants if they can afford to buy the credits. In particular, Mercury pollution can be increased.

That is convienent for large companies, but there is nothing to protect the a woman who may have child with birth defects because the new “Clear Skies” increased mercury emissions near her trailer. After Leavitt’s second term promotion via Bush to the Health and Human Services Department, let’s say this woman now goes to receive Medicare for special cancer treatments for her child, but Medicare denies the claim. Levitt is making it more difficult for her to appeal this decision.

Under the new policy most hearings will be held with videoconference equipment or by telephone instead of in front of a judge. So far there has been no commitment from Senator Frist if he will render the official diagnosis from his seat on the Senate floor.

If she wants to appear in person before a judge must show that “special or extraordinary circumstances exist,” the rules say. But if she insists on a face-to-face hearing, she will lose the right to receive a decision within 90 days, the deadline set by statute.

The policy change comes as Bush administration officials are predicting an increase in the volume of cases, with the creation of a Medicare drug benefit debacle expected to generate large numbers of claims and appeals.

Let’s sum up: we have blatent comingling of church and state, we have the shifting of financial burdons from Insurance companies to the working poor, we have closed-door deals to open Utah land to oil companies for drilling, we have the relaxation of environmental regulations controlling mercury, we have the exclusion of judges face to face on people appealing Medicare decisions. Yes, Leavitt, you are a Republican Whore.

In a super-secret session last January that exluded house Dems, the Republicans in the house voted to relax the ethics rules that require a majority vote to open an investigation and impose a limit on the time an investigation can last. They did this to protect the known corrupt Tom DeLay.

The House Ethics Committee has been the focus of fierce controversy since it admonished DeLay last fall for other questionable activities. The chairman at the time, Representative Joel Hefley, a Colorado Republican (considered an independent GOP voice) was later removed from his post by House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, Republican of Illinois. The move was derided by Democrats who charged that Hefley was being punished for rebuking DeLay.

Without the support of at least one Democrat, the probe on DeLay cannot begin. The Dems hope to force the Republicans to repeal the unilateral changes that are making the Republicans appear as if they believed they were above the law.

Wonders never cease. George V. Voinovich (R-Oh) said today during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee meeting he “just did not feel comfortable” voting until he had more information about Bolton’s past. This was in response to an attempt by Richard Lugar (R-In), chairman, to rush a vote and secure confimation for Bush.

In this committee, the Dems are outnumbered 10 to 8, but when Voinovich jumped the fence in an unexpected display of logic and reason, the committee agreed the nomination will not be considered again until the week of May 9, after the Senate returns from a recess that will begin April 28 or 29.

Bolton has been plauged with rumors that he continually abused staff members. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) claimed that Bolton had harassed at least three officials who disagreed with the nebulous threats Bolton saw posed by Cuba and other countries.

Boxer called Bolton a “bully”, and said, “I think Mr.Bolton needs anger management at a minimum and does not deserve to be promoted.” But Senate Republicans rallied to his defence. Senator Lugar reponded stating the main issue was giving President Bush the nominee he wants to reform the UN. “Bluntness may not be very good diplomacy, but on occasion it may be required,” Lugar said.

Let’s see what comes out in the next couple of weeks about Mr. Bolton. Will his hot head earn him the honor of representing the US to the rest of the world, or will he change his name to Michael and take up the sax. Stay tuned.

A recent Westhill poll asked the following questions to a group of half Republicans and half Democrates: Since George Bush has beocme president, has he done more to unite the country or divide the country? 60% of Republicans beleived he is a Uniter. 77% of Democrates believe he is a divider. Perhaps the Repugs misunderstood the question and thought they were talking about Republicans only.

In Spite of the fact the Repugs think Bush is the great uniter, the rest of the poll goes on to show that Republicans and Democrates are highly split in thier opinion about how this administration is doing:

Opinion on Bush: 85% Repugs favorable, 78% of Dems unfavorable

Bush handling Iraq: 75% of Repugs approve, 80% of Dems dissaprove

Bush on the Economy: 76% of Repugs approve, 83% of Dems dissaprove

Dose Bush have a clear plan for withdrawing from Iraq? 61% of Repugs said yes, 82% Dems said no. The brainwashing is working.

Considering Bush’s plan for Social Security (just as clear as his Iraq exit strategy), would you vote for Bush again? 81% of Repugs yes, 84% of Dems no.

They both liked AARP, mostly because 70% of the sample was over age 45.

When asked about Tom DeLay, more than half of Repugs and Dems said “Who???”. (You people should really get out more.)

…life rolls on as the catfight continues.

Representative Barney Frank (D-Ma) said DeLay has gone into “auto-demonization mode” in recent weeks with his out-of-control behavior trying to impeach every judge that has ruled in a way that is inconvenient to Delay’s far-right constituents.

DeLay issued a statement asserting that “the time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior.” He later he said he wants to “look at an arrogant, out-of-control, unaccountable judiciary that thumbed their nose at Congress and the president.”

One of his buddies, Senator John Cornyn (R-Tex), said this week that violence against judges might be linked to a perception that they make “political decisions.” This amounts to nothing more than a veiled threat alluding to the tragedy Judge Joan Lefkow just endured.

Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) is charging that the Republican might have broken a federal statute against threatening U.S. judges. “Threats against specific federal judges are not only a serious crime, but also beneath a Member of Congress,” Lautenberg wrote. “Your attempt to intimidate judges in America not only threatens our courts, but our fundamental democracy as well.”

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) said, “I urge President Bush and Senator Frist to call a halt to the reckless Republican rhetoric that is endangering judges’ lives.” Kennedy also said, “Apparently, it’s not enough for Republicans to rule the White House and the Congress. They want power over the independent judiciary, too. The checks and balances so vital to our democracy are for them merely an inconvenience.”

DeLay is either a wacko extremist or brilliantly trying to divert attention from his own evil-doings. Either way, be afraid.

How can we forget the Swift Boat Vet ads targeted at John Kerry? They accused him of such nonsense as taking a Purple Heart for a cut on his that finger healed with a band-aid. Unfortunately the drones of the USA believed the Vet ads. Repeating lies was shown to work (as Goebbels always knew), and thus the Republican Party has adopted this strategy as gospel.

The latest use of this SBV strategy is coming from Arthur Finkelstein, who is now setting up a PAC to defeat Senator Hillary Clinton in 2006. Finkelstein wants to set up an advertising slander campaign targeting Senator Clinton similar to the one launched against John Kerry. Finkelstein is known for running such trashy campaigns when helping Senator Jessie Helms (R-NC) and Gov. George Pataki (R-NY). During the 1996 presidental race, Finkelstein gave Bob Dole the phrase “spend and tax liberal” to use against Bill Clinton.

There is one chink in the armor - Mr. Finkelstein is gay. On April 8, 2005, the Times reported that he had married his male partner in a civil ceremony at his home in Massachusetts.

Wasn’t it the Republican President Bush who wants an ammendment to ban this sort of thing? Then they turn around and worship this Finkelstein for being able to spread lies to further the GOP Family Values agenda. This shows the GOP has always been making deals with the Devil in the back room and shaking hands with God in the Sanctuary.

The far right is mad as hell and their are not going to take it any more. Their former leader, President Bush, unexpectedly hopped on another horse mid-stream when he responded to a reporter’s question about whether the Schiavo case showed that judges were out of control and should be held responsible. He said, “I believe in an independent judiciary. I believe in proper checks and balances.”

Bush even earned an atta-boy from Senator Kennedy for that one, which prompted reports of smoke coming out of DeLay’s ears. (NYC firefighters refused to respond.)

Another righty, Roy Moore of Alabama 10 commandments fame, said of the Shiavo case “Jeb Bush should have issued an executive order and brought her into state custody. He had the authority”.

They are even after Bill Frist(R-Tenn), Senate Majority leader and pioneer of video diagnosis. Frist said last week, “I believe we have a fair and independent judiciary today.” Phyllis Schlafly (founder of the conservative Eagle Forum), responded to this in an interview Thursday by describing Frist as a “nice man,” but warned that “his fate hangs on whether he puts the judges through. If he doesn’t, it’s his last blast.”

Pass the salt, please.

Just when you thought things in the Republican camp could not get any wackier, Tom DeLay (R-Tx) drank the Kool-Aid. DeLay spoke on C-Span yesterday for the extremist group, the Traditional Values Coalition, with their goal to confront what they call is a “Judicial War on Faith”. In their opinion the judicial branch of government refuses to subscribe to the fundamentalist right-winged way of thinking and must be removed.

In a quote from the NY Times, “Judicial independence does not equal judicial supremacy,” DeLay said. Does Congressionl independance equal supremacy? He also called it a society where judiciary has “run amuck”. Has congress run amuck? DeLay called it an era of “constitutional cowardice” and stated judges have “ignored the intent of congress”. Last time I checked there were three branches of power. Judges must be girlie-men.

Along with DeLay (also according to the NY Times), Michael Swartz, chief of staff to Senator Tom Coburn (R-Ok) said “I am in favor of impeachment,” in a panel discussion on abortion, suggesting “mass impeachment” might be needed.

Republicans used to be the party of fiscal responsibility. Now they have become the conduit to God. If you dare this Traditional Values Coilition offers a free video tape on their interpretation of Gay Rights at www.traditionalvalues.org. They do not like that the 10 commandments monument was removed, they do not like “abortion on demand”, they do not like prohibiting school prayer (let them pray to Allah), and, if you are reading this far, they do not like you. You can just get in the gas chamber with the rest of the pagan judges.

According to the New York Times today, a secret Republican memo circulating the senate floor outlining the political advantages of jumping on the Terri Shaivo bandwagon originated from a top aide in the office of Senator Mel Martinez (R-Fla). Martinez, in true Republican fashion, denied knowing anything about it and totally blamed it on Brian Darling, his counsel.

Senator Bill Frist (R-Tenn) quickly denied ever seeing the memo. Frist probably didn’t have to see the memo to know what was in it since he could telepathically diagnose Terry Shiavo without ever seeing her.

Also, according to the New York Times, Martinez said he mistakenly and unknowingly handed the document to Senator Tom Harkin (D-Ia) on the floor of the Senate. Martinez said that he had meant to reach for a different document and that he did not know how it had entered his possession. How do you ackowledge not wanting to give that document to Harkin while saying you never knew you had the document?

He handed it right over to the Dems! Maybe there’s hope - they aren’t so smart after all. Congratulations Mel Martinez, you have eared your stipes as a Republican Whore.