A Progressive on the Prairie

From a broad perspective, it was much easier to think "Happy New Year" a year ago than tonight. Then, there was the hope and optimism of ousting Bush and his cabal. Sure, it would not have undone the war into which this country was misled but it would have been an opportunity to turn the corner.

Instead, the voting public was fed more lies and distractions from the Bushies and the pulpits. As a result, as we look to a new year we face four more years of lies and deceit, a destructive foreign policy, and equally destructive and divisive economic and domestic policies. Sadly, this is not just a four-year bad dream on the horizon. The ramifications are more long-term. My children (and their children) will suffer the consequences of Bush and crew proving once again that you cannot underestimate the gullibility of the American people.

Thus, I hope all of you individually have a happy and prosperous New Year. There is little or no chance of that occurring for our body politic.
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Evidently applying the theory that the best defense is a good offense:

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Six Navy SEAL special operations commandos and the wives of two of them sued The Associated Press and one of its reporters on Tuesday for publishing photos taken from a Web site that appeared to show the SEALs abusing prisoners in Iraq.

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The Indian Ocean disaster and the small row over "stingy" disaster aid has dominated the news. Lost in this and the holidays was a report that Bush is going to ask for another $80 billion for Iraq. That is in addition to the $25 billion already authorized and approved by Congress for the end of fiscal 2004 and beginning of 2005. It would push the cost of the war to more than $200 billion.

Let's see, $200 billion spent because of lies to invade a country that posed less threat to us than many others. This will give you some localized examples of the cost and what could have been done with this money (setting aside the impact on the deficit).
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Although probably swamped with hits in light of the Asian tsunami disaster, the Pacific Tsunami Museum in Hilo, Hawaii, may be worth checking out. The museum, which we visited a couple years ago, is devoted to the history of tsunamis and has some fascinating displays, including oral histories relating to a tsunami that destroyed downtown Hilo in 1960.
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