by John Darling [courtesy of Blog for America]

By now, four years into Bush’s “war” in Iraq, it should be abundantly clear to everyone, even his minority hardcore base, that every reason Bush gave publicly for invading Iraq was a lie.

Saddam Hussein had no “WMD”, no ties with 9/11, no plans to get his hands on yellowcake uranium (remember those 16 words?), nothing, nothing at all.

One by one all of Bush’s assertions about Iraq’s threat to American have been proven to be lies.

So why did he do it?

Why did he knowingly send our troops out to be killed, mortgaged the future of our children and grandchildren to pay for his “war”, and in doing so jeopardize the entire American economy. What is it that Hussein had that made Bush disregard the future of America? What? The answer is one that seems so obvious now in retrospect that everyone should know it: All Bush ever wanted was Hussein’s oil.

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Working Californians blogs]

It was just last week that there were rumors floating around that the Democrats were going to strip a roll-back on a tax break for oil companies. Bush is threatening to veto, but they are moving forward with it anyways. SFChron:

Democratic leaders circulated a summary of the legislation that includes the new taxes as well as a requirement for a 40 percent increase in automobile fuel efficiency, a huge increase in the use of ethanol as a motor fuel, and a mandate for utilities to use renewable fuels.

Republicans earlier this year blocked Senate attempts to pass new energy taxes, contending they would hinder domestic oil and gas production. Democratic supporters of the taxes said that with oil hovering near $90 a barrel and the industry making large profits, the tax breaks aren't needed.

The White House has said repeatedly that if the energy legislation singles out the oil companies for new taxes, advisers would recommend that President Bush veto the bill.

Of course restoring an old tax is an increase in the world of Bush. The Democrats are just seeking to repeal the tax breaks given to the major oil companies by the Republicans.

by WarmingLaw [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

(Cross-posted from Warming Law)  

It's a shame that Roll Call operates behind a subscription wall, because Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), who chairs the House's special committee on global warming, has a great op-ed there today summarizing where things stand moving forward from the solid energy bill framework that congressional Democrats hope to pass, "Global Warming At the Starting Gate." One key highlight:

Seventeen states (representing over 46 percent of Americans) have adopted or will soon adopt global warming emissions standards for vehicles. The federal district court in Vermont recently held that federal law does not prohibit such measures. What remains to be seen this year is whether the Bush EPA will grant these states the waiver they need to enforce these tailpipe standards, or spurn their ambitious action.

read more »

by Michael Kuykendall [courtesy of Blog for America]

Anti-Kremlin forces cry foul as Vladimir Putin's United Russia party cruises to victory. Could Bush's soul-searching "eye" have been way off the mark?

Vladimir Putin proves Bush's soul searching judgment may very well have been inaccurate; his United Russia party is poised to win in a landslide amidst cries of vote rigging by the Kremlin;

by Michael Kuykendall [courtesy of Blog for America]

Staunch Bush ally and soon-to-be former Australian Prime Minister John Howard loses to Labor leader Kevin Rudd.

 Australian PM and zealous Bush ally John Howard has conceded to Labor leader Kevin Rudd- from the BBC;

by Janie Lee, M.Ed. [courtesy of Blog for America]

I am registered a Democrat, but I am actually an independent. 

 What bothers me is that our parties do not stand for what they say their real party platforms are.  I don't want government or health care pushed on me or anyone else either, what I want is a free government where we have the right to work together to build a better community where we can all live together and get our real needs met and no one has to go without or be worked to death.

Kentucky is one of the changingest places that I know of, there is room for growth and people know it.  Change can often be good if it is the right kinds of change.  It can also serve to be bad if it isn't. 

I honestly think that what our country needs is some stability for a while, no major changesk, but some time to look back and reconsider where we are going now that Bush has been in office for two terms.  I finally see him doing some things that I like at the end of his term, but I didn't vote for him I voted for Gore. 

by Michael Kuykendall [courtesy of Blog for America]

The White House ups the ante in its Iraq War funding fight with Congress by notifying 100,000 civilian employees of a possible furlough just in time for Christmas.