i work in a photography studio, and for the next 2 weeks the boss will be out of town. which means that me and the other 2 full time employees will have to pick up the slack, and fill in the blanks, when customers call looking for their pictures and wedding albums. We've done this before, it's a little crazy but we manage.

Anyway, before he left, the boss (Mike) left us instructions on how to deal with the many loose ends regarding people's individual orders, this is what Terri's desk looked like this morning.






my desk and Angela's were just as bad or worse, but by the time I thought to take a picture we had cleared some of the debris.

I posted an article on WNY Media about a week ago called "Impeaching the President" . It was a short article that I wrote after I stumbled on a document from the House Judiciary Committee. That Document said that they are creating a panel to “investigate the misconduct of the Bush Administration with regard to the Iraq war and report on possible impeachable offenses.” I thought it was fascinating so I wrote the article to say that the wheels of impeachment are in motion, if we push for it, Bush might not finish his term.

the response to the article was astonishing. within a day it had 550 hits, many articles on WNY Media get 25-40 hits on average, my most popular articles have gotten about 140 hits total. Today the article is up to 754 hits, not quite record breaking but huge.

Also just now I looked at the article and noticed the comments, there are about 50. that is completely un-real. most I've ever seen is 7, and they weren't even talking about the article. check it out there are so many comments. That's why i wrote this, I was totally amazed as I scrolled through what is now a realy long page.

I have to let you guys know, after watching the State of the Union address I was giddy for an entire day. Bush did terribly, and the democrats finally gave a speech that people can actually get behind. it was totally friggen amazing. and it wasn't just me, nobody gave bush good marks, and anyone who saw the democratic response was totally amazed and inspired. (Text of response --- Video )

Below is part one of two, it talks about how bad bush's speech was. part two will cover the democratic response. Part one below is like a normal article, part two will be in the form of a letter to my public officials urging them to adopt the themes of Tim Kane's democratic response as their official 2006 platform.

here's part one:

[size=l]State of the Union: Bush gives his worst[/size]

Bush gave the same speech he always does, using powerful terms but not really saying much of anything. The difference was that this time, nobody believed him. Bush ignored the fact that Americans are not happy with the direction of our country. We want a leader who produces results, if the current plan isn't working we need to change it. But Bush offered no changes, he only sought to justify the current plan with flowery language.

If Bush's goal was to convince the American people to have confidence in his party and their ability to lead our nation, he failed miserably. If the State of the Union is any indication of how the 2006 midterm elections are going to go, the Republicans are in deep trouble.

Bush offered very little with regard to real plans and proposals, instead he relied on rhetoric and repetition to paint a happy face on this past year. Americans are getting restless with republican leadership, and we don't fall for the usual spin about freedom and democracy anymore. America is in trouble, and the terrorists are not the ones creating the problems this time.

We want a president admits and accepts our problems, then comes up with innovative solutions for them. Last night, the president did not meet those expectations. Nobody was fooled by Bush's usual dog and pony show. After the speech the TV news coverage did not bode well for Bush.

The dominant themes from the TV reporters after the speech were, that this speech will not help boost Bush's poll numbers, and that Bush was not at the top of his political game. They also said that Bush offered few changes or new ideas, one reporter noted that it was as if he had cut and pasted lines from his recent speeches into this one, no surprises. They weren't giving Bush any leeway or benefit of the doubt as they usually do.

The next morning I caught a little bit of radio news coverage of the speech. Our republican morning show host Tom Bauerlie was not ashamed to admit that Bush's speech was pretty terrible. Bush preformed badly, conservatives found little inspiration for their cause or their party within Bush's speech. Bush could have done much better, this was not a president in his prime.

Rush Limbaugh on the other hand followed his usual routine and simply lied, repeatedly, insisting that this was a great speech and he can't understand the criticisms of it. Limbaugh spent most of his show citing "evidence" that Bush's speech was great, and that it was making liberals scared. I had the opportunity to hear Rush read about nine paragraphs of a MoveOn.org e-mail word for word.

It really made my day to hear Rush announce the start of MoveOn's new funding drive to raise $250,000 in one day for the 2006 elections (which they have now tripled to $750,000 after getting flooded with donations, thanks for the free advertising Rush). He read the e-mail as "evidence" of liberal fear, because the beginning of the e-mail told recipients "not to be discouraged" by Bush's State of the Union Speech. Grasping wildly to keep his audience safe in their own willful ignorance Rush Limbaugh ended up advertising MoveOn.org.

I've been asking everyone if they listened to the speech, and before offering my opinion I listen to theirs. Nobody thinks that Bush did well, largely because they witness all of the problems in our world, and need a leader with a plan for change. To most, Bush sounded like a bad Charlie Brown teacher, rambling on and on without ever actually saying anything or giving a damn. People fell asleep and lost track of Bush's words because he spoke without any inspiration or emotion.

---

More Bad News for Bush

State of the Union: Zzzzzz


Another Bush Deficit: Ideas


Buff News

We've gone beyond the impeachment demands from activists and progressive groups, and beyond demands from former attorney general Ramsey Clark , now mainstream journalists, and members of the house and senate using the 'I' word,

but Government documents and investigations serve as a nice reinforcement. here's the logical first step.


Congressman John Conyers is the ranking member of the house Judiciary Committee, (that's the committee in which impeachment hearings would begin). his office just completed a report entitled "The Constitution in Crisis: The Downing Street Minutes and Deception, Manipulation, Torture, Retributions and Cover-ups in the Iraq War."



This report finds that:

"In brief, we have found that there is substantial evidence the President, the Vice-President and other high ranking members of the Bush Administration misled Congress and the American people regarding the decision to go to war in Iraq; misstated and manipulated intelligence information regarding the justification for such war; countenanced torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in Iraq; and permitted inappropriate retaliation against critics of their Administration. There is at least a prima facie case that these actions that federal laws have been violated � from false statements to Congress to retaliating against Administration critics."

"In response to the Report, I have already taken several initial steps. First, I have introduced a resolution (H. Res. 635) creating a Select Committee with subpoena authority to investigate the misconduct of the Bush Administration with regard to the Iraq war and report on possible impeachable offenses. In addition, I have introduced Resolutions regarding both President Bush (H. Res. 636) and Vice-President Cheney (H. Res. 637) proposing that they be censured by Congress based on indisputable evidence of unaccounted for misstatements and abuse of power in the public record. There are a number of additional recommendations in the Report that I expect to be taking up in the coming weeks and months."


Check out the intro, it's serious stuff...


If we hope to have any Allies left in this world, we had better impeach the president.

Just got the Rolling Stones new album, and it's actually realy good. then I got to song 13 and now I love the album. ( I swear one of these days I'll post something that's not about politics ) song 13 is called "Sweet Neo Con" here's the lyrics:

---

THE ROLLING STONES - "Sweet Neo Con"

You call yourself a Christian
I think that you're a hypocrite
You say you are a patriot
I think that you're a crock of shit

And listen now, the gasoline
I drink it every day
But it's getting very pricey
And who is going to pay

How come you're so wrong
My sweet neo con.... Yeah

It's liberty for all
'Cause democracy's our style
Unless you are against us
Then it's prison without trial

But one thing that is certain
Life is good at Haliburton
If you're really so astute
You should invest at Brown & Root.... Yeah

How come you're so wrong
My sweet neo con
If you turn out right
I'll eat my hat tonight

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah....

It's getting very scary
Yes, I'm frightened out of my wits
There's bombers in my bedroom
Yeah and it's giving me the shits

We must have lots more bases
To protect us from our foes
Who needs these foolish friendships
We're going it alone

How come you're so wrong
My sweet neo con
Where's the money gone
In the Pentagon

Yeah ha ha ha
Yeah, well, well

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...
Neo con

---

Stones website, nicely done

in case you guys havn't picked up this weeks BEAST here's a great cartoon that they included.

Full Size Version here



You Probibly can't read that..


and if you are wondering, I'm not a Democrat, I'm a member of the Green Party.

since the announcement of the lawsuit against the Senecas on Tuesday there's been a renewed discussion in the press.
if you're interested in the casino topic these articles stuck out to me.

for an overview of the the lawsuit and recent events check out this article from Business First
"Lawsuit filed against Buffalo casino"
Archived here

Don Esmonde wrote a great piece explaining the perspective of people against the casino.
"Casino suit tries to save us from ourselves"
Archived Here

Buffalo Rising has a great article too, with Links
"Obstructionist or Visionary?"



OH and don't forget to check out the pro casino argument and the debate going on at the SpeakupWNY discussion board. "Obstructionists run Amok"


Enjoy

[size=m]Suit readied to halt casino in Buffalo
[/size]
Wendt Foundation is financing effort

By MARK SOMMER
News Staff Reporter
12/30/2005

A team of Buffalo attorneys backed by a prominent foundation will file a lawsuit in federal court Tuesday to stop the proposed Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino.

The lawsuit will charge that the federal government did not properly apply three laws that govern the approval process for gambling activities on Indian lands and its responsibility to consider a casino's impact on the community.

"The casino is not a done thing. It's illegal in the City of Buffalo, and we're prepared to get a judge to rule to that effect," said Robert J. Kresse, a trustee with the Wendt Foundation, which will largely finance the effort that also includes significant contributions from other foundations and individuals.

"I think it will suck all the life out of Buffalo, and it just appalls me," said Diane Bennett, a former managing partner of Hodgson Russ. Bennett is one of a number of prominent Buffalonians backing the lawsuit as a member of the newly formed Citizens for a Better Buffalo. Members met with The Buffalo News' editorial board Thursday.

Several religious leaders are expected to confirm their opposition to the casino at a news conference at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the law offices of Stenger & Finnerty.

The lawsuit will name various federal officials and agencies as defendants, including the U.S. Department of the Interior, Interior Secretary Gail Norton and the U.S. National Indian Gaming Commission.

Plaintiffs in the lawsuit include Citizens Against Casino Gambling in Erie County, Assemblyman Sam Hoyt and preservation organizations.

Joseph M. Finnerty of Stenger & Finnerty said more lawsuits may be filed.

Seneca Nation of Indians officials could not be reached to comment Thursday.

The Senecas had a groundbreaking on their 9-acre downtown site near the Cobblestone District on Dec. 8. Seneca leaders said they wanted to begin construction this spring and open a 100,000-square-foot casino complex on New Year's Eve 2006.

The Senecas claim the Seneca Nation Settlement Act offers legal justification for building a casino in Buffalo. The act was cited by Norton when she allowed the Niagara Falls and Buffalo casinos to go forward.

The lawsuit will argue the act does not apply to Buffalo, and that the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act should have been implemented instead. That act requires an examination of the possible effects of a casino on a community.

Former Rep. John J. LaFalce, a co-sponsor of the Settlement Act, has written Norton claiming it was never intended to be used for purchasing casinos.

The lawsuit will also charge an environmental assessment required by the National Environmental Policy Act, which was conducted in Niagara Falls before the Seneca Niagara Casino opened there, should have been conducted in Buffalo.

And it will claim the federal government failed to follow the Historic Preservation Act, which requires consultation between federal and state preservation officials for properties on or eligible for placement on the National Register of Historic Places.

The site's H-O Oats grain elevator is eligible for inclusion in the historic register, and there are other historic sites in the district that could be affected by the casino.

"Anyone of these [violations], we think, would void the action of [Norton] to allow the casino to be built," said attorney Richard Lippes. "The issues we are raising are very important and solid issues, which I think the court has to consider very seriously."

Finnerty said a lawsuit wasn't filed earlier because of the uncertainty over whether the Senecas would choose land in Buffalo for a casino, and where it would be. He said a restraining order will be sought to prevent construction while the lawsuit winds through the courts.



Check out the No Casino Erie Website if you hate the idea of a Casino in Downtown Buffalo..

[size=m]see my previous posts on the issue:
[/size]

The Casino is Undemocratic [inlink]dcoffee,28[/inlink]

Casino in Buffalo.. Why? [inlink]dcoffee,27[/inlink]

My Article posted at WNY Media

Good WNY Media Video of anti-Casino protest

I'm not the only one talking about impeachment. the excerpt below is from a Barons editorial in their latest issue.

My prediction. 2006 the republicans loose a few seats in the senate and therefore their majority. Since the Republicans would never under any circumstances impeach one of their own that would open the possibility of impeachment.

there are government investigations underway that will undoutably unearth illegal details regarding this administration. Even the American government can finish an investigation within 3 years, so Bush will still be in office when these investigations are complete.

Democratic majority in the Senate
+ Legally proven constitutional offenses from Bush
= Say Bye Bye to the Arrogant Cowboy

Such a situation is no longer far fetched. and in fact, it would be the best possible way to mend American relations with the rest of the world. after "unsigning' treaties about WMD proliferation, Small arms, and the environment, as well as wiping our ass with the Geneva conventions.



From BARRONS:

"The most important presidential responsibility under Article II is that he must "take care that the laws be faithfully executed." That includes following the requirements of laws that limit executive power. There's not much fidelity in an executive who debates and lobbies Congress to shape a law to his liking and then goes beyond its writ.

Willful disregard of a law is potentially an impeachable offense. It is at least as impeachable as having a sexual escapade under the Oval Office desk and lying about it later. The members of the House Judiciary Committee who staged the impeachment of President Clinton ought to be as outraged at this situation. They ought to investigate it, consider it carefully and report either a bill that would change the wiretap laws to suit the president or a bill of impeachment.

It is important to be clear that an impeachment case, if it comes to that, would not be about wiretapping, or about a possible Constitutional right not to be wiretapped. It would be about the power of Congress to set wiretapping rules by law, and it is about the obligation of the president to follow the rules in the Acts that he and his predecessors signed into law. ..."

Read the whole editorial here.

While on vacation in November I took a bunch of pictures on my nice 35mm Film camera, because it's far better than the digital we have, it was realy fun. I work in photography full time so I am always using nice cameras and taking artistic pictures at work, it was nice to finally work with a good camera outside of work. And since I do so much with Digital Photography I got a photo CD with the prints. it's a nice trade off untill I get my new camera. It's my first time trying this and it's prety cool. I just got around to getting them online. here's a few, there's more at















Go to Flickr for about 20 more photos