The Oath of an Authoritarian Republican

Sara Taylor was Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Political Affairs at the White House, making her one of George W. Bush's top political aides until her resignation. She reported directly to Karl Rove. After the House and Senate Judiciary Committees approved subpoenas for her to testify regarding her involvement in the U.S. Attorney Scandal, she resigned from the Bush administration.

Senator Leahy reminds Sara Taylor what it means to be under oath during her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee last Wednesday.

If the video is not visible below, you can view the video here.



Classic Republican authoritarian behavior. Obviously, her loyalty to the President is more important than her loyalty to the US Constitution, the rule of law, and the people of the United States.

It's obvious who she's protecting.

Former Surgeon General confirms the Republican War on Science is real

Bush's Surgeon General Richard Carmona 2002-2006, has come forward to verify what we all know - the Republican War on Science is real and is detrimental to America. His testimony before the House Oversight Committee:

"Much of the discussion was being driven by theology, ideology, preconceived beliefs that were scientifically incorrect. So I thought this is a perfect example of the Surgeon General being able to step forward, educate the American public as well as elected and appointed officials so that we can have, if you will, informed consent on an issue to the American public to make better decisions. I was blocked at every turn. I was told the decision had already been made. Stand down, don’t talk about it. In speeches where initially that information was put in speeches it was removed from my speeches…The problem with this approach is that in public health, as in a democracy, there is nothing worse than ignoring science, or marginalizing the voice of science for reasons driven by changing political winds. The job of surgeon general is to be the doctor of the nation, not the doctor of a political party"
- Richard Carmona, former Surgeon General of the US

This is the way authoritarians do business. They tell you to shut up and fall in line. Screw science or what's best for America, just carry out the Republican authoritarian agenda.

Senator David B. Vitter - another Republican who received a 100% rating from the Christian Coalition, admits to being with a prostitute

Like his fellow Republican, Ken Calvert, Senator David Vitter received a 100% rating from the Christian Coalition. Also like Calvert, Vitter was a big proponent of impeaching Clinton and is a strong proponent of family values and the Federal Marriage Amendment.

And, like Calvert, Vitter was caught using the services of a prostitute.

Vitter campaigned with a promise of "protecting the sanctity of marriage," and was a co-author of the "Federal Marriage Act" that sought to prohibit courts from interpreting same-sex marriage laws.

"This is a real outrage. The Hollywood left is redefining the most basic institution in human history"
- Sen. David Vitter [R - LA] 0n the sanctity of marriage.

Vitter is the southern regional chair of Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign. You may remember, just a few weeks ago, a Giuliani state campaign chairman, Thomas Ravenel, was indicted on Federal cocaine charges.

More hypocrisy from the "Republican party of family values"

Europe sees America as the most dangerous nation on earth

Another catastrophe of the Bush administration: America is seen as the greatest threat to world peace by our European allies

from Financial Times:

Europeans consistently regard the US as the biggest threat to world stability, a new poll reveals on Monday. A survey carried out in June by Harris Research for the Financial Times shows that 32 per cent of respondents in five European countries regard the US as a bigger threat than any other state.

The level of European concern about the US has remained broadly consistent over the past year. In 11 previous polls dating back to July 2006 the proportion of respondents considering the US a threat to stability has ranged between 28 per cent and 38 per cent.

The latest poll comes in the wake of the “surge” that has increased US forces in Iraq to about 160,000 troops, but which has not been accompanied by political breakthroughs or a dramatic reduction of violence. During President George W. Bush’s second term the administration has also embarked on a more consensual international approach to issues such as Iran’s nuclear programme and North Korea’s nuclear bomb.

But the poll shows that the European public still considers Mr Bush a risk.

“It is evidence of the continued estrangement between the European public and the Bush administration, in spite of a real improvement in official ties,” said Ron Asmus, head of the Brussels office of the German Marshall Fund, which works to bolster transatlantic ties.

“It is proof that the next president will be confronted with the major challenge of improving America’s image abroad, starting with Europe and our main allies.”

Inhabitants of Spain are most concerned about the US, with 46 per cent of respondents naming America as the biggest threat.

European poll respondents – who also come from France, Germany, Italy and the UK – are increasingly concerned about China, which 19 per cent perceive as the biggest threat, up from 12 per cent last July.

Meanwhile, 17 per cent identify Iran as the biggest threat, 11 per cent Iraq and 9 per cent North Korea. Only 5 per cent single out Russia, despite increased tensions between Moscow and the west.

The poll’s data on the US indicate that 25 per cent of Americans see North Korea as the biggest threat, followed by Iran with 23 per cent, China with 20 per cent, and the US itself with 11 per cent.

The poll is consistent with findings last week by the Pew Global Attitudes Project, which found that favourable ratings of the US had declined in 26 of 33 countries over the past five years.

But the Pew poll also contrasted unfavourable ratings of the US with much more positive responses in Israel, Poland, Japan, India and parts of Africa and Latin America.

The survey for the Financial Times was carried out online by Harris Interactive between July 2006 and June 2007. More than 1,000 people were polled in each country each month.

More White House LIES: "The president and the VP are complying with all the rules and regulations regarding the handling of classified material"

"There is evidence that the White House has repeatedly failed to investigate security violations, take corrective action following breaches, and appropriately protect classified information"
-- Rep. Henry Waxman, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

White House Press Secretary Perino lied on Monday, "The president and the vice president are complying with all the rules and regulations regarding the handling of classified material." In fact, White House security violations are likely widespread. From Rep. Waxman's letter to White House counsel Fred Fielding:

• White House security officials have been blocked from inspecting West Wing offices for compliance with procedures for handling classified information.

• The White House regularly ignored security breaches.

• The President’s top political advisor received a renewal of his security clearance despite presidential directives calling for the denial of security clearances for officials who misrepresent their involvement in security leaks.

• The White House has condoned widespread mismanagement at the White House Security Office.

Read the evidence - Rep. Waxman's letter to White House counsel Fred Fielding

Cheney contradicts himself, abuses power, subverts the constitution

Cheney 2007: Vice President's office refuses to comply with an order governing the oversight of classified documents; the order does not apply because the VP is not “an entity within the executive branch.”

Cheney 2001: Cheney asserts that a congressional probe into the workings of his energy task force “would unconstitutionally interfere with the functioning of the executive branch.”

What would you expect from the guy who said two years ago the Iraq insurgency is "in it's last throes" and "we'll be welcomed as liberators"? If there ever was a case for impeachment, this is it.

Senior GOP Senator: "our course in Iraq has lost contact with our vital national security interests"

Senator Lugar gets it.

Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN), the senior Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee said on Monday:

"Our course in Iraq has lost contact with our vital national security interests in the Middle East and beyond... The current surge strategy is not an effective means of protecting these [American] interests. Its prospects for success are too dependent on the actions of others who do not share our agenda. It relies on military power to achieve goals that it cannot achieve ...Our continuing absorption with military activities in Iraq is limiting our diplomatic assertiveness there and elsewhere in the world. The prospects that the current 'surge' strategy will succeed in the way originally envisioned by the President are very limited... Unless we recalibrate our strategy in Iraq to fit our domestic political conditions and the broader needs of U.S. national security, we risk foreign policy failures that could greatly diminish our influence in the region and the world. ... ."

Maybe he can talk some sense into Bush and fellow Republicans. America needs a 'plan B' for Iraq. Bush has offered us nothing but more of the same. Lugar has some good ideas. This extensive speech on Iraq policy can be found here in it's entirety.

Dump the chimp. He's screwed America with his lies and his botched Iraq policy that has weakened the American military, our national security, and our reputation world-wide. America deserves better.

Impeach Bush and Cheney. It's the right thing to do. The American thing to do.

UPDATE: Republican Senators support Lugar's statement on changing course in Iraq.