Friday, March 26, 2004
Sept. 11, Lies and 'Mistakes' (washingtonpost.com)
Sept. 11, Lies and 'Mistakes' (washingtonpost.com)
Sir, I suggest it is you who are angry. You're between a rock (9/11) and a hard place (Bush's shortcomings with regard to national security-it did happen, afterall-and international relations-When will the Iraq war end? Who is going to help? Where the heck are all the MWDs?)
I'm a former NCO in the Army. I know a little about courage, working under stress and honesty. The president hasn't been what one would call a "courageous" president. You may be inspired, but I suspect you're in a small minority. The entire nation was traumatized by the stress of 9/11, opening an opportunity to unite our country in a common effort to understand why the attacks were made and prevent others. We are today, more at war with ourselves than with the ideas that took the lives of thousands on that terrible day.
But all might have been forgiven had the president, and persons like yourself, at least been honest. We are a forgiving people. Say you screwed up and we'll give you a pass. But when you cover and conceal, and we find out about it, no amount of spinning will let you off the hook.
Sir, you and the president are the angry ones. Evidently, neither of you have the courage to own up to your errors, thus your discomfort.
Best regards,
Peter Roberts
New London, CT
Peter J. Roberts
Editor and Publisher
Newenglandwow.com
Sir, I suggest it is you who are angry. You're between a rock (9/11) and a hard place (Bush's shortcomings with regard to national security-it did happen, afterall-and international relations-When will the Iraq war end? Who is going to help? Where the heck are all the MWDs?)
I'm a former NCO in the Army. I know a little about courage, working under stress and honesty. The president hasn't been what one would call a "courageous" president. You may be inspired, but I suspect you're in a small minority. The entire nation was traumatized by the stress of 9/11, opening an opportunity to unite our country in a common effort to understand why the attacks were made and prevent others. We are today, more at war with ourselves than with the ideas that took the lives of thousands on that terrible day.
But all might have been forgiven had the president, and persons like yourself, at least been honest. We are a forgiving people. Say you screwed up and we'll give you a pass. But when you cover and conceal, and we find out about it, no amount of spinning will let you off the hook.
Sir, you and the president are the angry ones. Evidently, neither of you have the courage to own up to your errors, thus your discomfort.
Best regards,
Peter Roberts
New London, CT
Peter J. Roberts
Editor and Publisher
Newenglandwow.com
Thursday, March 25, 2004
An apology for 9/11
I saw Richard Clarke speak to the commission on 9/11. I'll not pretend to know if what he had to say was accurate or not and there will be continued political spin on what he did, didn't do or had to say. But for the first time we actually heard an apology for what happened on that day. I wish others had his courage.
Peter J. Roberts
pjr@newenglandwow.com
Editor and Publisher
Newenglandwow.com
Peter J. Roberts
pjr@newenglandwow.com
Editor and Publisher
Newenglandwow.com
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Op-Ed Columnist: Al Qaeda�s Wish List
Op-Ed Columnist: Al Qaeda�s Wish List
When will they stop this foolish talk?
The vast majority in Spain, according to what we saw on TV and read in the newspapers, opposed our invasion of Iraq, and they do so today. That does not mean that they support terrorism or appeasement. It means that they opposed our war in Iraq, pure and simple.
We went to war in Iraq because it had the WMDs at the ready to attack us and the UN was not doing its job of removing them from the country. This was the Bush line from the start of going to war. Now we know that there were no WMD in the country and we also know that the supposed links to terrorist groups was also, at best, a misjudgmentand at worse, a lie.
But what was accomplished by the war, aside from killing hundreds of Americans and a few Spanish soldiers and a few thousand others in the country is to provide yet another reason for those who hate us to go after us and our friends.
What the voters in Spain said was, you lied to us and went ahead with this war. Now we are being attacked at home. So we will vote for a man and a party that will tell us the truth and end our involvement with the Americans in Iraq unless the UN and the rest of the world comes in to clean up the mess that Bush started.
When will they stop this foolish talk?
The vast majority in Spain, according to what we saw on TV and read in the newspapers, opposed our invasion of Iraq, and they do so today. That does not mean that they support terrorism or appeasement. It means that they opposed our war in Iraq, pure and simple.
We went to war in Iraq because it had the WMDs at the ready to attack us and the UN was not doing its job of removing them from the country. This was the Bush line from the start of going to war. Now we know that there were no WMD in the country and we also know that the supposed links to terrorist groups was also, at best, a misjudgmentand at worse, a lie.
But what was accomplished by the war, aside from killing hundreds of Americans and a few Spanish soldiers and a few thousand others in the country is to provide yet another reason for those who hate us to go after us and our friends.
What the voters in Spain said was, you lied to us and went ahead with this war. Now we are being attacked at home. So we will vote for a man and a party that will tell us the truth and end our involvement with the Americans in Iraq unless the UN and the rest of the world comes in to clean up the mess that Bush started.
Saturday, March 13, 2004
Easier Internet Wiretaps Sought (TechNews.com)
Easier Internet Wiretaps Sought (TechNews.com)
It seems that the Bush folks want to leave no element of privacy alone. Noted in this report is the speeded up process to the changes in the law. The FBI wants the changes, for security reasons, with little public comment or review.
It wants the government-federal, state and local-to have complete access to everything we do on the Internet, what we read and say on the phone. Nothing will remain beyond their eyes, save for that which we may think, so long as we don't communicate our thoughts to others or write them down.
It seems that the Bush folks want to leave no element of privacy alone. Noted in this report is the speeded up process to the changes in the law. The FBI wants the changes, for security reasons, with little public comment or review.
It wants the government-federal, state and local-to have complete access to everything we do on the Internet, what we read and say on the phone. Nothing will remain beyond their eyes, save for that which we may think, so long as we don't communicate our thoughts to others or write them down.
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
Op-Ed Contributor: The Next Nader Effect
Op-Ed Contributor: The Next Nader Effect
Lord, I think Ralph is a great guy and done some wonderful things, but for God's sake, it he is able to have Bush do another four years, I don't think the country, the world or me...can take it. Ralph, Get Out and don't let the door hit you in the butt.
Lord, I think Ralph is a great guy and done some wonderful things, but for God's sake, it he is able to have Bush do another four years, I don't think the country, the world or me...can take it. Ralph, Get Out and don't let the door hit you in the butt.
Sunday, March 07, 2004
http://newenglandwow.com
http://newenglandwow.com/littlenewlogo.gif
Peter J. Roberts
pjr@newenglandwow.com
Editor and Publisher
Newenglandwow.com
http://newenglandwow.com/littlenewlogo.gif
Peter J. Roberts
pjr@newenglandwow.com
Editor and Publisher
Newenglandwow.com
Outspoken Clothing - Homeland Security Is Monitoring Progressive Clothing Sites
Outspoken Clothing - Homeland Security Is Monitoring Progressive Clothing Sites
I found this site after reading up on the latest news on the presidential campaign. Did search for "Anyone But Bush" and found them. Much of the items, shirts, hats and the like, is OK but then I saw the notice about Homeland Security checking out the site. I've got to wonder what a "Drop Bush, Not Bombs" t-shirt has to do with the homeland security or is it more of an indication of insecurity.
To quote from the page....
For those of you who aren't access log literate, this means that they came to Outspoken Clothing via the search engines AltaVista and Lycos, where they searched on the phrase "progressive clothing." Now, maybe there is just someone working there who wants to buy our Anyone But Bush 2004 or Gay Marriage Now merchandise, but somehow, we doubt it.
It seems that the anti-terrorist division of our government is spending its time (and our tax dollars) doing web searches on people who disagree with their politics and have the audacity to say so on t-shirts. Progressive clothing = potential terrorist? Never mind that we're three pacifists running our business out of an apartment - because we don't like Bush, we might be a threat to national security. We're interested to see what happens the next time one of us tries to get on a plane!
If you run a progressive or liberal small business web site (or blog etc.), we suggest that you check your access logs, and let us know if you are also getting visits from the DOJ or DHS. We'd like to find out how much this is happening, and get the word out.
This is beyond funny. It reminds me of Hoover and Nixon. What the heck are we coming to?
I found this site after reading up on the latest news on the presidential campaign. Did search for "Anyone But Bush" and found them. Much of the items, shirts, hats and the like, is OK but then I saw the notice about Homeland Security checking out the site. I've got to wonder what a "Drop Bush, Not Bombs" t-shirt has to do with the homeland security or is it more of an indication of insecurity.
To quote from the page....
For those of you who aren't access log literate, this means that they came to Outspoken Clothing via the search engines AltaVista and Lycos, where they searched on the phrase "progressive clothing." Now, maybe there is just someone working there who wants to buy our Anyone But Bush 2004 or Gay Marriage Now merchandise, but somehow, we doubt it.
It seems that the anti-terrorist division of our government is spending its time (and our tax dollars) doing web searches on people who disagree with their politics and have the audacity to say so on t-shirts. Progressive clothing = potential terrorist? Never mind that we're three pacifists running our business out of an apartment - because we don't like Bush, we might be a threat to national security. We're interested to see what happens the next time one of us tries to get on a plane!
If you run a progressive or liberal small business web site (or blog etc.), we suggest that you check your access logs, and let us know if you are also getting visits from the DOJ or DHS. We'd like to find out how much this is happening, and get the word out.
This is beyond funny. It reminds me of Hoover and Nixon. What the heck are we coming to?
Thursday, March 04, 2004
New England WOW, the portal to New England
New England WOW, the portal to New EnglandWASHINGTON
March 3
The International Association of Fire Fighters
http://www.iaff.org/
I've not seen the ad, but from what I'm told, the president has latched onto the firefighters and 9/11 for crash political reasons.
The General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters, Harold Schaitberger, issued the following statement today after President Bush unveiled new political ads that use images of fire fighters in September 11, 2001 attacks for political gain:
-- As Bush Trades on Heroism of Fire Fighters, His Homeland Security Funding Cuts Hurt Fire Fighters and Communities --
"I'm disappointed but not surprised that the President would try to trade on the heroism of those fire fighters in the September 11 attacks. The use of 9/11 images are hypocrisy at its worst.
Here's a President that initially opposed the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and now uses its first anniversary as cause to promote his re-election. Here is a President that proposed two budgets with no funding for FIRE Act grants and still plays on the image of America's bravest.
His advertisements are disgraceful.
"Bush is calling on the biggest disaster in our country's history, and indeed in the history of the fire service, to win sympathy for his campaign. Since the attacks, Bush has been using images of himself putting his arm around a retired FDNY fire fighter on the pile of rubble at ground zero. But for two and a half years he has basically shortchanged fire fighters and the safety of our homeland by not providing fire fighters the resources needed to do the job that America deserves.
"The fact is Bush's actions have resulted in fire stations closing in communities around the country. Two-thirds of America's fire departments remain under-staffed because Bush is failing to enforce a new law that was passed with bipartisan support in Congress that would put more fire fighters in our communities.
President Bush's budget proposes to cut Homeland Security Department funding for first responders by $700 million for next year and cuts funding for the FIRE Act, a grant program that helps fire departments fund equipment needs, 33 percent by $250 million. In addition, state and local programs for homeland security purposes were reduced $200 million.
"We're going to be aggressive and vocal in our efforts to ensure that the citizens of this country know about Bush's poor record on protecting their safety and providing for the
needs of the people who are supposed to respond in an emergency."
The International Association of Fire Fighters
http://www.iaff.org/
March 3
The International Association of Fire Fighters
http://www.iaff.org/
I've not seen the ad, but from what I'm told, the president has latched onto the firefighters and 9/11 for crash political reasons.
The General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters, Harold Schaitberger, issued the following statement today after President Bush unveiled new political ads that use images of fire fighters in September 11, 2001 attacks for political gain:
-- As Bush Trades on Heroism of Fire Fighters, His Homeland Security Funding Cuts Hurt Fire Fighters and Communities --
"I'm disappointed but not surprised that the President would try to trade on the heroism of those fire fighters in the September 11 attacks. The use of 9/11 images are hypocrisy at its worst.
Here's a President that initially opposed the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and now uses its first anniversary as cause to promote his re-election. Here is a President that proposed two budgets with no funding for FIRE Act grants and still plays on the image of America's bravest.
His advertisements are disgraceful.
"Bush is calling on the biggest disaster in our country's history, and indeed in the history of the fire service, to win sympathy for his campaign. Since the attacks, Bush has been using images of himself putting his arm around a retired FDNY fire fighter on the pile of rubble at ground zero. But for two and a half years he has basically shortchanged fire fighters and the safety of our homeland by not providing fire fighters the resources needed to do the job that America deserves.
"The fact is Bush's actions have resulted in fire stations closing in communities around the country. Two-thirds of America's fire departments remain under-staffed because Bush is failing to enforce a new law that was passed with bipartisan support in Congress that would put more fire fighters in our communities.
President Bush's budget proposes to cut Homeland Security Department funding for first responders by $700 million for next year and cuts funding for the FIRE Act, a grant program that helps fire departments fund equipment needs, 33 percent by $250 million. In addition, state and local programs for homeland security purposes were reduced $200 million.
"We're going to be aggressive and vocal in our efforts to ensure that the citizens of this country know about Bush's poor record on protecting their safety and providing for the
needs of the people who are supposed to respond in an emergency."
The International Association of Fire Fighters
http://www.iaff.org/
Tuesday, March 02, 2004
Yahoo to Charge for Guaranteeing a Spot on Its Index
Yahoo to Charge for Guaranteeing a Spot on Its Index
There was always an economic interest to the Internet although it must be said that its start it was an mode of communication that was used to share ideas and data among colleges, universities and defense agencies.
Yahoo wants sites to pay to go to the top of the page of a content or interest search and they pretend that users will not notice the difference.
I've always made it a practice to avoid paid results and will continue to do so. A reason so many find there sites listed on Newenglandwow.com and don't even know it. Our goal is to tell people about New England with candor and honesty. We don't take the upfront money so everyone is equal.
We're avoiding what Yahoo and others are doing. It is possible, given their logo, to buy a top posting for one's site for any and all search requests. If I had a few billion sitting around, I could buy a top ranking for our site even if the search request had nothing to do with New England or the services we provide.
That's the problem with Yahoo and others. They're smart people just wanting to make as much money as possible.
There was always an economic interest to the Internet although it must be said that its start it was an mode of communication that was used to share ideas and data among colleges, universities and defense agencies.
Yahoo wants sites to pay to go to the top of the page of a content or interest search and they pretend that users will not notice the difference.
I've always made it a practice to avoid paid results and will continue to do so. A reason so many find there sites listed on Newenglandwow.com and don't even know it. Our goal is to tell people about New England with candor and honesty. We don't take the upfront money so everyone is equal.
We're avoiding what Yahoo and others are doing. It is possible, given their logo, to buy a top posting for one's site for any and all search requests. If I had a few billion sitting around, I could buy a top ranking for our site even if the search request had nothing to do with New England or the services we provide.
That's the problem with Yahoo and others. They're smart people just wanting to make as much money as possible.
