by Dave Mindeman

Somebody please tell me why Karl Rove is still walking the halls of the White House? This President that stands by his word (at least that's what he tells us), told the American people that he would get to the bottom of this "security leak" that jeopardized the life and career of Valerie Plame. Well, the "bottom" turns out to be Karl Rove. Suddenly the White House is mum.

Time after time this administration has stretched the boundaries of legality and truth. Yet, no one is ever held accountable. People are forced out for not participating in this "pack of lies", but the perpetrators of the lies and smears are protected by this shroud of murky rhetoric.

Condoleeza Rice and her lies on WMD. Dick Cheney and his PR campaign on Iraq. Donald Rumsfeld and his condescending wave of the hand at any probing question. The manipulation of data at the FDA and EPA. The fabricated projections on the Medicare Bill. The use of government payments to "buy" favorable commentary in the media. On and on and on it goes.

One person has always been at Bush's side, watching over this charade. The political "genius" that believes destroying your opponent is always preferable to a positive portrayal of yourself. The man who believes vendettas are necessary to maintain the right "order" of things. The guy who does Bush's "thinking". Karl Rove.

Did Karl Rove go too far in his attempt to destroy Ambassador Joe Wilson? I don't think there is much question of that, but will he ever be brought to justice? No, there is no justice in the legal sense with this band of cowboys.

The legal questions aren't slam dunks against the Bush mastermind, but the fact that he intended to harm is self-evident. The promises that Bush made regarding this case now slip into the Washington parlance of "what I really meant was..."

In Bush's mind, loyalty takes precedence over everything else -- including criminal intent. You tow the line, the "wise guys" will take care of ya....fuhgedaboutit.

Will Patrick Fitzgerald proceed with this case as a true independent prosecutor would? or will he bow to the bidding of the people who appointed him in the manner of Kenneth Starr. Just once, I would like the American people to see facts outlined accurately in a true inquiry, rather than having everything centrifuged through the "spin machines".

If real justice exists, Karl Rove will soon be writing his memoirs..... in a prison cell.

Category: World Politics

by Dave Mindeman

You have to admire the Brits. They have endured the Nazi blitz, the Irish Republican Army, and now an Al-Qaeda threat begins. They get angry, but keep on with their daily life. They have a world of experience that Americans have only recently begun to confront.

They also understand that there is a difference between the War on Terror and the Iraq War. They (the people of Britain) have understood that from the beginning. Tony Blair joined Bush in his Iraq quest but it was never with true support of the British populace. They have been skeptical and less inclined to give Blair the benefit of the doubt. They will stand behind him regarding this new Al-Qaeda event, but they will still have that skepticism about Iraq. They understand the complications and the dangers. Cowboy America is more easily deceived.

The English expected this attack. More than once you hear the quote, "it was just a matter of time". They don't believe that we are fighting "over there", so we don't have to fight them "here". They know that's a lot of (excuse the expression) "blarney". Europe is now paying a price -- Istanbul, Madrid, and now London. There will be more. That doesn't mean there wouldn't have been more anyway, even without the Iraq War, but all the money spent on Iraq will mean less money spent on protecting themselves.

Italy will still withdraw their troops. France and Germany will stand firm against Al-Qaeda but marginally on Iraq. Russia will look out for Russia. And the anger in the Arab world will continue and it will grow. There won't be as much sympathy for England in Cairo or Amman, the words will be there but their hearts will not.

Bush has mishandled this Terror War and it keeps getting worse. Taking resources away from the Terror War and utilizing enormous manpower and monetary expenditures in Iraq are going to be a constant drain for years. In the meantime, Afghanistan begins to spin out of control. Terror networks splinter off and plan unknown future atrocities. Guantanamo continues to grow as the image of America. And the "coalition of the willing" is growing weary of a process that accomplishes nothing.

Tony Blair said we need to address the underlying causes of the extremist Islamic terror machine.... the extreme poverty and hopelessness that has to blame someone and the West is the most convenient target. George Bush never talks about that -- no, his concern is keeping the oil flowing, business happy, and the environment exploited.

When we were attacked on 9/11, we were angry and wanted something done. But there is no tangible answer to a war that is a series of catastrophic crimes. George Bush wanted to give America something to quickly identify with... something that could clearly show progress against a shadowy enemy. The obvious and correct choice was Afghanistan, but the conventional military victory was too quick and it only eliminated a haven, not the real foe. To keep progress visible, he moved on to Iraq. Nobody would come to Saddam's defense and his military was another easy target for the world's only super power. So what if we had to lie about our reasons for intervention. It would still be tangible; something everyone could see. We were fighting the war and we were "winning". But the aftermath planning was horrible and the country is now, in near chaos. We have created another problem rather than adding to the solution.

Al-Qaeda continues in the shadows. Lurking and observing...waiting for that next soft spot. They don't have to fight a conventional war. No, they can stay in the darkness while we chase after shadows and ghosts. We need a massive investment in covert operations; instead we are just wasting bullets and valuable time on fighting someone else's civil war.

Category: Minnesota Politics

by Dave Mindeman


Coleen Rowley announced her candidacy for Congress today. Watch out Mr. Kline!

I would guess that we are about to hear a lot about ethical decision making. Coleen Rowley understands it... John Kline and Tom Delay are still looking for definitions.

Ethics is a commodity in short supply these days. We have oil and gas companies writing energy bills and drug companies dictating terms for Medicare. We have a President withholding the facts on reasons for war and we have Senate majority leadership changing rules that hinder their agenda.

I wonder if ethics really could change things? What if we decided who the next Supreme Court justice would be, based on ethical decision making rather than ideology? What if the House Ethics Committee was made up of impartial non-Congressional lay persons really concerned about true ethical conduct? And what if our Minnesota legislature was concerned about ethics in their decision making rather than special interest demands?

It is worth a discussion.... it is worth a debate.

I am sure it is a lot to ask of one Congressional candidate to change the way Washington is run, but it could be a beginning....