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After Pat's Birthday

Here is an email I just received from a friend. I think it is important for all to read.

After Pat’s Birthday
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/200601019_after_pats_birthday/
Posted on Oct 19, 2006
By Kevin Tillman

Editor’s note: Kevin Tillman joined the Army with his brother Pat in 2002, and they served together in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pat was killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. Kevin, who was discharged in 2005, has written a powerful, must-read document.

It is Pat’s birthday on November 6, and elections are the day after. It gets me thinking about a conversation I had with Pat before we joined the military. He spoke about the risks with signing the papers. How once we committed, we were at the mercy of the American leadership and the American people. How we could be thrown in a direction not of our volition. How fighting as a soldier would leave us without a voice… until we got out.

Much has happened since we handed over our voice:

Somehow we were sent to invade a nation because it was a direct threat to the American people, or to the world, or harbored terrorists, or was involved in the September 11 attacks, or received weapons-grade uranium from Niger, or had mobile weapons labs, or WMD, or had a need to be liberated, or we needed to establish a democracy, or stop an insurgency, or stop a civil war we created that can’t be called a civil war even though it is. Something like that.

Somehow America has become a country that projects everything that it is not and condemns everything that it is.

Somehow our elected leaders were subverting international law and humanity by setting up secret prisons around the world, secretly kidnapping people, secretly holding them indefinitely, secretly not charging them with anything, secretly torturing them. Somehow that overt policy of torture became the fault of a few “bad apples” in the military.

Somehow back at home, support for the soldiers meant having a five-year-old kindergartener scribble a picture with crayons and send it overseas, or slapping stickers on cars, or lobbying Congress for an extra pad in a helmet. It’s interesting that a soldier on his third or fourth tour should care about a drawing from a five-year-old; or a faded sticker on a car as his friends die around him; or an extra pad in a helmet, as if it will protect him when an IED throws his vehicle 50 feet into the air as his body comes apart and his skin melts to the seat.

Somehow the more soldiers that die, the more legitimate the illegal invasion becomes.

Somehow American leadership, whose only credit is lying to its people and illegally invading a nation, has been allowed to steal the courage, virtue and honor of its soldiers on the ground.

Somehow those afraid to fight an illegal invasion decades ago are allowed to send soldiers to die for an illegal invasion they started.

Somehow faking character, virtue and strength is tolerated.

Somehow profiting from tragedy and horror is tolerated.

Somehow the death of tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people is tolerated.

Somehow subversion of the Bill of Rights and The Constitution is tolerated.

Somehow suspension of Habeas Corpus is supposed to keep this country safe.

Somehow torture is tolerated.

Somehow lying is tolerated.

Somehow reason is being discarded for faith, dogma, and nonsense.

Somehow American leadership managed to create a more dangerous world.

Somehow a narrative is more important than reality.

Somehow America has become a country that projects everything that it is not and condemns everything that it is.

Somehow the most reasonable, trusted and respected country in the world has become one of the most irrational, belligerent, feared, and distrusted countries in the world.

Somehow being politically informed, diligent, and skeptical has been replaced by apathy through active ignorance.

Somehow the same incompetent, narcissistic, virtueless, vacuous, malicious criminals are still in charge of this country.

Somehow this is tolerated.

Somehow nobody is accountable for this.

In a democracy, the policy of the leaders is the policy of the people. So don’t be shocked when our grandkids bury much of this generation as traitors to the nation, to the world and to humanity. Most likely, they will come to know that “somehow” was nurtured by fear, insecurity and indifference, leaving the country vulnerable to unchecked, unchallenged parasites.

Luckily this country is still a democracy. People still have a voice. People still can take action. It can start after Pat’s birthday.

Brother and Friend of Pat Tillman,

Kevin Tillman

Morning News

Local News

Nebraska election turnout predicted at 53 percent!?

From the Lincoln Journal Star:

Secretary of State John Gale predicted Thursday that 53 percent of Nebraska’s registered voters will cast ballots in the general election Tuesday.

It would be the second-lowest turnout in a non-presidential election since statewide voter registration started in 1968.

That is beyond disappointing to hear. I think it does reflect the frustration with our government but people need to act not hide.

Read more about it Here! Also, Vote damn it!

GW to visit GI For Some LOL

Mr. Bush will be making a stop in Grand Island as he bunny hops through the midwest to rally support for local Republican Candidates.

The tight 3rd District House battle between Smith and Democratic nominee Scott Kleeb is the catalyst for Bush’s trip to Nebraska. His stop in Grand Island takes him to the largest city in the western and central Nebraska district.

Anytime a Democrat can get him to come to our red state shows that we have superb candidates that can offer a great deal to our state. Scott Kleeb is a well educated man of integrity and anyone is deserving of your consideration. I'll keep putting this up and you can decide for yourself. Scott Kleeb

Campaign Connection on NET's website has an excellent page devoted to Nelson's and Rickett's stance on a number of issues. Just click the link on the page and you can hear from the candidates themselves on each topic or hear it in its entirety.

They also have a link to the gubernatorial debate. Feel free to check that out and take a closer look at David Hahn. I know he is way behind in the polls but I feel he can offer a great deal to our state so show him your support.

National News

It came out yesterday, literally I guess, that Ted Haggard, a powerful religious leader and president of the 30-million-member National Association of Evangelicals, has had a 3 year affair with a male prostitute which he found through an ad on rentboy-dot-com. Well, it was an allegation and I really didn't want to comment on it b/c it was just that. He did the right thing and stepped down so his church could conduct an investigation. I will also mention that he DENIED all allegations and said it was political payback. However, today, the church’s Acting Senior Pastor, Ross Parsley, tells us that Mr. Haggard admits to some "indiscretions".

Thanks to Think Progress and more at Crooks and Liars.

I think this is should show those who don't "approve" of a GLBT lifestyle that this is truly a part of our society. They are not the boogeymen(women) nor do they "recruit". They are truly our brothers and sisters, neighbors, and leaders. Obviously able to lead of a 30 million person strong church. They deserve as much honor and respect as any one person.

They can be loving partners and parents, supportive members of our community and really fantastic friends. There is no reason to not support them and their rights in our society. The man mentioned above, Mr. Haggard. He felt he had to punish the gays in the community with hate filled rhetoric. He threatened them to an eternity in hell. He then climbed down from his pulpit into the arms of his lover. It's time that people should be able to celebrate who they are and the ones they love, not hide and be ashamed of it.

Voter Issues Keep On Keeping On

Apparently Jefferson County, Texas is having some, oh, minor issues with their voting machines.

Saturday, KFDM spoke to another voter who says it's not just happening with straight ticket voting, he says it's happening on individual races as well, Jerry Stopher told us when he voted for a Democrat, the Republican's name was highlighted.
Stopher said, "There's something in these machines, in this equipment, that's showing Republican votes when you vote for Democrats, and I know Ms. Guidry's a nice lady, and she's working hard, but her theory that my fingernail was somehow over the Republican button is just unrealistic, my fingernail was not. The equipment is not working properly as far as I can tell."

Anyone notice a similarity in all these stories yet? Interesting how it ALWAYS favors the GOP. Hmmm? More can be found Here.

Keith Olbermann’s Special Comment On The Kerry Joke

I love this man more and more everyday. Tonight I offer him an extra special nod. Video and transcript can be found HERE. As always, thanks to one of my favorite sites, Crooks and Liars.

Florida Still Having Voting Issues?

How can the country who brought so much technology to the world, with ATMs on every corner and people in space, muck up election technology. My phone is much more complicated then a voting machine yet it works great.

Florida voters using electronic ballot machines are having persistent problems choosing Democrats in early elections, the Miami Herald reports.

The touch-screen gizmos seem strangely attracted to Republican candidates. One voter needed assistance from an election official, and even then, needed three tries to convince the machine that he wanted to vote for Democrat Jim Davis in the gubernatorial race, not his Republican opponent Charlie Crist.

Read all about IT at The Register.

Family Ties?

CNN is really getting on my nerves. With so much news to cover, how ever did they find the time to ponder: What would Alex P. Keaton do?

I read a great comment on a site that said, "Since Alex P. Keaton was a Reagan Republican, I doubt very much he'd support anyone in the current GOP." That got a laugh out of me.

Fight for a cure. Visit The Michael J Fox Foundation.

Morning News Ho-Down

Local News

Bush coming to Nebraska to campaign for Smith
George W. is planning a visit to our fair state. He is coming out to support Smith in the 3rd District race with Scott Kleeb. This is, of course, after VP Cheney came by previously to do the same. This tells you how close this race is so show your support for Scott Kleeb and change 48 years of red domination. Scott Kleeb Here is another good article from the Journal Star on Scott: Spotlight turns to Kleeb's bid

New Jobs On The Way!
Lincoln Journal Star caught wind that Lincoln could be the new location of a large company. Minimum wage and job creation is one topic I plan to explore here so I was excited to see more employment opportunities coming to Nebraska.

National News

Sen. John Kerry canceling campaigning plans
Here is the article from CNN. A news organization I am disliking more and more everyday. I agree it is a distraction but it is further proof of the GOP power to change the subject and create something from nothing. Kerry is taking a dig at G.W. and misspeaks and he is unpatriotic. On the other hand GW can joke "Those weapons of weapons of mass destruction gotta be somewhere" at a black-tie dinner for Radio and Television Correspondents' Association and its OK. But hey, its all in fun right? Taking us to war to find Waldo, almost 3000 troops dead, countless civilians killed, and the rampant monetary cost for our country. Here is a clip of that hysterical event.

That is disgraceful, that deserves an apology. "Oops, my bad, sorry, just kidding on those WMDS!" Just another example of the GOP twisting facts and screaming, "NO, LOOK OVER HERE!" like a two-bit magician. Now the Democrats got scared and had Kerry back off. They win. We did exactly what they expected. Never admit guilt to something you didn't do. Now they will says, "But why did he apologizes if he didn't mean it?"

Mike Stark v George Allen
Another story that has my socks all twisted. Please note I only use the CNN footage to make a point. Mr. Stark WAS NOT a protester nor was he interrupting any speech. The media keeps referring to him as a protester. He is a blogger and a law student asking a candidate some tough questions as said candidate passed through a hotel lobby on his way to a press conference.

He basically wants to know why his divorce record and 70's arrested record are sealed, a question he has never answered. The media tries to make this out as if Mr. Stark was there to be disruptive but I disagree.
We of course know Mr. Allen from the close political race in Virginia against Democrat Jim Webb. Mr. Allen has gain a lot of attention for his many racist actions. Support Jim Webb!

Morning Ramble

I am not sure how much this is for you as it is a way for me to vent. I am really excited about this election and I hope you all vote. It is our most important responsibility as citizens, in my opinion.

So not too bad, I suppose, for my first attempt at this. My html is beyond rough but give me some time. If anyone happens to read please feel free to comment. I will remove anything vulgar so please keep your comments straight forward and on topic. Thanks!