3000 Americans Now Dead in Iraq

Visit the Iraq Coalition Casualties website once in a while to see how many of our soldiers have been lost or injured, thanks to this president's idiotic war. The number of deaths reached 3000 today and continues to rise daily.
The site welcomes small (or large) donations to keep it going.

At Last! Republican Demands Plan

Senator Richard Lugar (R-Indiana) believes that the president should consult Congress before increasing troops in Iraq. He also befieves that we should have a 'clear policy' on what is those troops are expected to do.
Lugar, outgoing chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that the committee, under the under the new leadership of Senator Joe Biden (D-Delaware) will hold a 'retreat' to discuss the Iraq 'situation'.
"He said if Bush reaches out to Congress about his plans, hearings before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee could become 'well-informed, sophisticated situations' rather than a 'lynching party'."
That doesn't sound likely, but let's give the guy a chance. After all, he's only had six years to prove that looking like a chimp doesn't mean he is one.

A Grim Top Ten List of 2006

Click here.

Creationists and the Grand Canyon...geez....

This email was sent by a friend. The author was so eloquent I will just post it in its entirety:

HOW OLD IS THE GRAND CANYON? PARK SERVICE WON’T SAY — Orders to Cater to Creationists Makes National Park Agnostic on Geology

Washington, DC — Grand Canyon National Park is not permitted to give an official estimate of the geologic age of its principal feature, due to pressure from Bush administration appointees. Despite promising a prompt review of its approval for a book claiming the Grand Canyon was created by Noah's flood rather than by geologic forces, more than three years later no review has ever been done and the book remains on sale at the park, according to documents released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).

"In order to avoid offending religious fundamentalists, our National Park Service is under orders to suspend its belief in geology," stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch. "It is disconcerting that the official position of a 'national park as to the geologic age of the Grand Canyon is ‘no comment.’"

Is it true what Mrs. Hoover taught me in 8th grade Earth science about the formation of canyons?

National Park Service: No Comment.

Wow.

Ironically, in 2005, two years after the Grand Canyon creationist controversy erupted, NPS approved a new directive on "Interpretation and Education (Director’s Order #6) which reinforces the posture that materials on the "history of the Earth must be based on the best scientific evidence available, as found in scholarly sources that have stood the test of scientific peer review and criticism [and] Interpretive and educational programs must refrain from appearing to endorse religious beliefs explaining natural processes."

"As one park geologist said, this is equivalent of Yellowstone National Park selling a book entitled Geysers of Old Faithful: Nostrils of Satan," Ruch added, pointing to the fact that previous NPS leadership ignored strong protests from both its own scientists and leading geological societies against the agency approval of the creationist book. "We sincerely hope that the new Director of the Park Service now has the autonomy to do her job."

Oh let's hope so, let's hope the new Director is allowed to follow basic facts, or let's all agree the Flying Spaghetti Monster created the geysers of Old Faithful by farting in the cosmic bathtub.

Seriously, I am a devout Lutheran, but even I know where to draw the line between science and pure fantasy. And trust me, Noah will not take it a slight that his flood did not create the Grand Canyon, and that he did not forget to pack the Unicorns on the ark.

Stop the madness now.

For those of you who don't know about the flying spaghetti monster go here. Pastafarians rule!

Kucinich runs again, and other thoughts

From The Nation: Dennis Kucinich is running for President again, and yes, the passionately antiwar Congressman from Cleveland would love to cure what ails the United States. But first, he wants to cure what ails his own Democratic Party.

The Democratic disease, as diagnosed by Kucinich, is caution at the party's leadership level about moving to end US involvement in Iraq. "Democrats were swept into power on November 7 because of widespread voter discontent with the war in Iraq," says Kucinich. "Instead of heeding those concerns and responding with a strong and immediate change in policies and direction, the Democratic Congressional leadership seems inclined to continue funding the perpetuation of the war."

That is not the typical opening salvo for a presidential bid. But Kucinich is not a typical candidate. When he ran for the nomination in 2004, he said a lot of things that grassroots Democrats were thinking. But he didn't say them in a way that won him many delegate votes--only around 70 of the 2,162 needed to secure the nod. link

I happen to like Dennis Kucinich. I like what he stands for. Like Howard Dean, who I campaigned for, Dennis speaks his mind. Sadly, both candidates were jettisoned by the "inside the beltway" Democratic leadership that is sadly out of touch with the rest of us. We don't want their same old same old crap. Period. I was amazed when I returned from Iowa after the last Presidential primaries when I found out that the media (and our DLC leaders and the unions) jettisoned Dean in favor of Kerry, and the media used the so-called Dean scream (that wasn't) to discredit him. It was the first time I was actually at an event and saw that my experience was manipulated by the press. That is when I knew that our country was in trouble. That is when I knew that we, the people, were being manipulated by the "powers that be" so they could promote their agenda.

Hopefully, in this next election cycle, we the voters will wake up and see beyond the crap fed to us by the media and vote using critical thinking skills. Of course, critical thinking skills are in short supply in this country. I hope and pray that the American people will wake up and do what is good for the country and tell the Republicans and the Democratic leadership that we have had ENOUGH! Maybe?

Martin Luther King March

The MLK March is Jan. 15th. For more information click on the link

It's the largest march in the nation, and there are always a lot of activities that make it just wonderful. Consider spending the morning (or longer) at the MLK march. You can get there using park and ride, which is very easy to do. Typically, we park at Crossroads and take the bus at around 8 a.m. That gives us plenty of time to hear some good old gospel music and get ready to march.

Come join us!

This Week on the Daily Show

Tuesday 1/2 -- Bill Kristol -- editor, The Weekly Standard

Wednesday 1/3 -- Ben Stiller -- actor, Night at the Museum

Thursday 1/4 -- Rajiv Chandrasekaran -- author, "Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq's Green Zone"

The Daily Show will be pre-empted for the last week of December 2006.

This Week on the Colbert Report

TUESDAY 12/27 -- Deepak Chopra -- author, "Life After Death"

WEDNESDAY 12/28 -- Howard Zinn -- author, "A Power Governments Cannot Suppress"

THURSDAY 12/29 -- Daniel Pinchbeck -- psychedelic drug advocate, author of "2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl"

The Colbert Report will be pre-empted for the last week of December.

Woozing....

link

SMU doesn't want the Presidential Library

Can you blame them? Of course, it shouldn't take up too much space!

Most Notable Political Moments of 2006

According to MSNBC.

Handing out phone cards at Audie Murphy VA in San Antonio

Today, I met these wonderful women, who had signed up at Volunteer for Change, sponsored by Working Assets, to deliver 120-125 minute phone cards to veterans at Audie Murphy VA Hospital. We came from all over San Antonio and outlying counties to thank our veterans for their service, and help them out with phone cards. We delivered 135 cards.
Many veterans were astounded at the generousity of our donors, 120 minutes was like gold to them. Many a tear were shed, by veterans and volunteers alike. These men and women gave service to their country that can never be fully repaid. So, this is just a little drop in the bucket of the thanks they deserve.
What I noted (as a former VA nurse) is that the veterans are younger, and younger. They will need our help for a lifetime. We, as a nation, need to be prepared to offer them that reward for their service.
Check out Act for Change. Part of their mission statement: Founded on the belief that building a business and a better world aren't mutually exclusive, Working Assets has been helping busy people make a difference since 1985. It's a belief that's generated over $50 million in donations to nonprofits working for peace, equality, human rights, education and a cleaner environment. And the process is simple. You just sign up for our long distance, credit card or wireless services and we donate a portion of your monthly charges to the causes you help select - at no extra cost to you. So why not change to Working Assets? You can rest assured it will be a change for the better. Sign up and volunteer, it will do your heart good.

This Week on the Daily Show

MONDAY 12/18 -- Tom Vilsack -- Iowa Governor, 2008 presidential candidate

TUESDAY 12/19 -- Bill Kristol -- editor, The Weekly Standard

WEDNESDAY 12/20 -- Ben Stiller -- actor, "Night at the Museum"

THURSDAY 12/21 -- Ed Viesturs -- high altitude mountaineer, author of "No Shortcuts to the Top" (Repeat episode)

This Week on the Colbert Report

MONDAY 12/18 -- Jack Welch -- author, "Winning: The Answers: Confronting 74 of the Toughest Questions in Business Today"

TUESDAY 12/19 -- Deepak Chopra -- author, "Life After Death"

WEDNESDAY 12/20 -- Howard Zinn -- author, "A Power Governments Cannot Suppress"

THURSDAY 12/21 -- Dr. Francis S. Collins -- author, "The Language of God" (Repeat episode)

Rosemarie Jackowski: alias 'Mom'

A sixty-nine year old woman in Vermont has refused to plead guilty for protesting the Iraq war. She was one of a dozen protesters arrested at a March 20, 2003 protest. Rosemarie Jackowski was the only one who refused to plead guilty and now the Bennington, Vermont State's Attorney is threatening to take her to court.
Bravo, Rosemarie Jackowski

Family values my ass! We slave for corporate profits,

In the United States there is no legal minimum number of vacation days for workers. I guess we're all supposed to be thankful to the rich for "giving us jobs."

The rest of the world? Different. (As you read this, remember that 20 days means minimum four weeks vacation by law, not three.)


Here are a few examples:

Austria: 5 weeks, for elderly employees 6 weeks
Belgium: 20 days, premium pay
Brazil: 30 consecutive days, of which 10 can be sold back to the employer
Bulgaria: 20 business days
Croatia: 18 working days
European Union: 4 weeks, more in some countries
France: 7 weeks
Tunisia: 30 work days
Saudi Arabia: 15 days
Who else gets none? China...

What us our economy FOR anyway? Source: Huffington Post

Military Appeal for Redress, protesting the war

For this first time since the Vietnam era, a robust movement of organized active-duty U.S. military has surfaced to oppose a war while still in course.

Hundreds of U.S. soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen -- many of them currently serving on the front lines in Iraq-- are formally petitioning Congress to end the war in Iraq and bring the troops home.

After the so-called Appeal For Redress materialized just a handful of weeks ago, almost 1,000 active-duty personnel have signed on, including dozens of officers. The voice of hundreds of active-duty soldiers joining the anti-war movement brings enormous moral clout to the effort to get the troops home.Link

Operation Wagonwheel, immigration raids

From a new blog, authored in part by Christy Harvey,a project of a project of the Center for American Progress Action Fund. I find it very interesting that in these raids what they have done is indiscriminate arrests, looking for "brown" people without regard to their citizenship. Driving while black is often enough to get a black person arrested, now evidently working while brown is also enough to get you imprisoned. These are police state tactics, not good police work or investigative work. Even the name of the operation, "wagonwheel" is strange. The last time we circled wagons, we committed genocide against Native Americans. Where are we going with this?

Here's the rundown from MikeCheckradio:

Massive Immigration Raids
Crackdown! The Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration division has arrested 1,282 people, most of them undocumented workers, as part of a massive raid on meatpacking plants in six states. The raid is the largest federal immigration raid in U.S. history. [TPM Muckraker]
The DHS insists that the plants, owned by the Swift meatpacking company, are the sites of widespread immigration violations and identity theft schemes.
But the raids have shocked the small communities where these plants were, with hundreds of citizens disappearing overnight. Federal raids on the plants are not an uncommon occurance, but in Worthington, Minnesota, “Never before had so many workers — 230 — been detained or arrested. Never before had the fallout of the raid created so much fear and distrust among so many.” [Minneapolis Star Tribune]
According to Jill Cashen of the United Food and Commercian Union,"Stormtroopers came in with machine guns, rounded [the workers] into the cafeterias, separated identified citizens from non-citizens, and then they took away all green cards and put non-citizens onto buses.”
The arrested workers have been barred from seeing lawyers or members of their family. Many of them had kids who were at school or daycare, and the children were left without any way to get home. At CanyonElementary School in Utah, 100 kids had parents or family members taken by the raids (about a quarter of the students). [KSL] via [TPM Muckraker]
The raids also allegedly used crass racial profiling: One worker described the agents separating non-latinos and people with light skin, while forcing everyone with dark skin to submit to careful scrutiny. “I was in line because of the color of my skin,” one employee said. “They’re discriminating against me. I’m from the United States…” [Salt Lake City Tribune]
Officials in Washington are bewildered by the timing of the raid, saying there is neither a relevant political motive, nor any real need for the sudden and harsh crackdown.Link

America: The Torture Experts

Remember Jose Padilla of the dirty bomb fame? He has been held in almost total sensory deprivation for more than three years. George Monbiot in the Guardian has an excellent column exposing the abuse and torture of thousands of prisoners, including Mr Padilla. According the the New York Times, some were made to stand for days, naked, with their hands chained to the ceiling, unable to sleep.
As Mr Monbiot says, this has nothing to do with extracting information, information that is questionable at best. It's all about power. It sounds to me like we are creating a whole new army of terrorists.
I can only feel shame when I read about this behavior. This is not my America!

Obama's Important Announcement on Monday

I just thought this was so cool! I'm really starting to like this guy, and plus, his comic timing is much better than Kerry's!

Taking the Hill on Discovery Times

Did anyone watch it? It was a great documentary on the various members of the Band of Brothers that campaigned in the recent elections. They included Fitzgerald, Massa, Bolanos and Duckworth. It was bittersweet. Fitzgerald in PA won, the others did not. It was a great film of the journey to election. And....if you looked closely you could see me! I was outside the VA in Kerrville, holding a sign that said stop VA cuts. If you did not see it tonight, look for it again. I will be ordering the DVD.
Many frineds are in this documentary, it's a snap shot of the past year or so.

Bonilla Loses!

Whoo-hoo! I can't believe it. It's a Christmas miracle! Bonilla has lost.

This Week on the Daily Show

MONDAY 12/11 -- Lincoln Chafee -- U.S. Senator, R-RI

TUESDAY 12/12 -- Fareed Zakaria -- editor, Newsweek International

WEDNESDAY 12/13 -- Ricky Gervais -- comedian, actor, "Night at the Museum"

THURSDAY 12/14 -- Rajiv Chandrasekaran -- author, "Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq?s Green Zone"

This Week on the Colbert Report

MONDAY 12/11 -- Dr. Peter Singer -- author, "The Way We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter"

TUESDAY 12/12 -- Dan Savage -- author, "The Kid: What Happened After My Boyfriend And I Decided To Get Pregnant"

WEDNESDAY 12/13 -- Doris Kearns Goodwin -- author, "Team Of Rivals"

THURSDAY 12/14 -- Daniel Pinchbeck -- advocate for the use of psychedelic drugs

President Clinton came to San Antonio today

Saturday we drove to South San Antonio and signed up to volunteer in Ciro Rodriguez's campaign in District 23. We will be making phone calls to get out the vote, but we also got to help with crowd control for the rally on Sunday.

Best of all, we got to see President Bill Clinton speak! We were both excited to see him live and in person. Several friends drove down from Austin to see him speak as well. Rousing speeches were offered by Henry Cisneros, Congressman Charlie Gonzalez, and the candidate, Ciro Rodriguez.

President Clinton had many points in his speech, but one thing he said stood out (paraphrased): You need to vote in your own best interests. You have parents and grandparents to take care of and you want them to get the social security, medicare and prescription drug help that they deserve so that they don't have to chose between their health, and whether they can eat or not. You need to vote in your own best interest, so that you can elect someone who will take care of our military veterans and get them the equipment, training and raises they deserve. He also noted that we are a debtor nation to Mexico, which was a very interesting fact. Mexico is paying for stuff in our country, while we diss them. Interesting.

Of course, he also referred to his favorite San Antonio food, the mango ice cream at the Menger Hotel, and Mi Tierra restaurant. Yummy!

To give you an idea of the atmosphere.....The music was awesome, the band was the best I have heard in ages, with at least one member of La Tropa F (a very popular band here) and from The Maniacs. So, it was a blend of Tejano and Rock and Roll. You could cumbia, polka, waltz or jam out, depending. Something for everyone. The MC, Maclovio Perez (my favorite weatherman) was great, and he sure looked like he was having a great time. Announcements were in Spanish and English (and what I did not understand, my husband translated...I only speak fairly pidgeon Spanish, sadly). However, I am an honorary Mexican as nominated by my friends Mari and Placido. It was really hot and humid in the gym at Palo Alto College, but the crowd keep their good spirits up. The crowd included many veterans, including my friend Placido, who was awarded a bronze star in Vietnam, and my friend Larry Romo, President of Texas Democratic Veterans ( I am a member of that group). There were Korean war era veterans, and families of those currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. There were moms, dads, grandmas, kids of all ages, young mariachi, beautiful folkloric dancers and all the fun of the Secret Service in yellow ties watching the crowd, with other guys as well (?FBI?) with matching lapel pins.



All I can say, is GO CIRO! Good luck on Tuesday, the feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Wonder why the powers that be decided to have the election on that day? Obviously, they thought that too many Mexican-Americans would not go to the polls on a day when they should be worshiping. Henry Cisneros and Ciro Rodriguez noted that one way to honor the Virgin of Guadalupe was to get out and vote on Tuesday. Let's hope!

Thanks SAAPAC!


All in all, a great time was had by all.

I apologize for the quality of the pictures. I realized that people were getting better quality pictures with their cell phones than I got with my ancient camera, so it was frustrating that I could not improve my picture of President Clinton any more than this. I think I need to replace my ancient digital camera with new technology.

"Truthiness" is word of the year

Stephen Colbert is too hip for words--except truthiness of course!

Who will be the last to die?

Read this posting from DailyKos. It's a heartbreaker.

The Coolest Kid on the Web

She's foul mouthed and cute as a button.
You gotta see this bitch slappin' of O'Reilly!

The Poverty Tour

Take the tour and then spend a few moments thinking about your answers.

Think Progress � Bush Asked Whether He’s ‘Still In Denial,’ Responds ‘It’s Bad In Iraq. That Help?’

Think Progress � Bush Asked Whether He’s ‘Still In Denial,’ Responds ‘It’s Bad In Iraq. That Help?’:

"Bush Asked Whether He’s ‘Still In Denial,’ Responds ‘It’s Bad In Iraq. That Help?’

At a press conference this morning with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, a reporter asked President Bush whether his use of the word “unsettling” to describe the violence in Iraq would “convince many people that you’re still in denial about how bad things are in Iraq.”

Bush responded curtly, “It’s bad in Iraq. That help?” and then chuckled."

Watch the video via the link provided. I can't believe this man is so crass, and uncaring. 11 military personnel have died this month so far in Iraq, and he chuckles???? What an ass.

The Conservative Nanny State

The Conservative Nanny State: "The Government vs. the Market
A Useful Political Parable for Conservatives

Political debates in the United States are routinely framed as a battle between conservatives who favor market outcomes, whatever they may be, against liberals who prefer government intervention to ensure that families have decent standards-of-living. This description of the two poles is inaccurate; both conservatives and liberals want government intervention. The difference between them is the goal of government intervention, and the fact that conservatives are smart enough to conceal their dependence on the government."
The book is available free online for reading link

Pentagon boosts 'media war' unit

BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Pentagon boosts 'media war' unit: "Pentagon boosts 'media war' unit
US troops in Iraq
US officials believe bad news from Iraq gets undue coverage
The US defence department has set up a new unit to better promote its message across 24-hour rolling news outlets, and particularly on the internet.

The Pentagon said the move would boost its ability to counter 'inaccurate' news stories and exploit new media.

Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said earlier this year the US was losing the propaganda war to its enemies."

"Correct" the news? Sounds like a giant propaganda machine to me. Indoctrinate the American people, hide reality, and then lead them like the sheeple that they are. Haven't they noticed that some Americans woke up and voted in numbers too large for them to change the election outcomes easily? Hopefully, the general population will "smarten up" some more.

This Week on the Daily Show

Monday 12/4 -- Nathan Lane -- actor, "Butley"

Tuesday 12/5 -- John Danforth -- former U.S. Senator, author of "Faith and Politics"

Wednesday 12/6 -- Eve Herold -- author, "Stem Cell Wars"

Thursday 12/7 -- Ed Viesturs -- high altitude mountaineer, author of "No Shortcuts to the Top"

This Week on the Colbert Report

Monday, 12/4 -- Will Wright -- video game designer

Tuesday, 12/5 -- Steven D. Levitt -- actor, author, "Freakonomics"

Wednesday, 12/6 -- John Sexton -- president of NYU

Thursday, 12/7 -- Dr. Francis S. Collins -- author, "The Language of God"

apologies for double post

For some reason, blogger won't let me delete it.

The dollar melts as Iraq burns

Comment is free: The dollar melts as Iraq burns [James Galbraith] : "So here's the big question: is the age of the dollar economy lurching toward an end? Are China, Japan, Saudi Arabia and other big holders of T-bonds about to start a rush, or even a stately promenade, toward the exits? Let's hope not, because the world is unprepared to replace the dollar with anything else. The euro is not suited for the job, and a joint dollar-euro system would need better central bankers than either America or Europe has got. An end to the dollar system would therefore be chaotic, inflationary, and very tough on world trade. The best argument for the dollar has always been: it's not in anyone's interest to bring it down.

Could it happen, though? Yes, it could. And it could be connected to that other unfolding disaster. As the 'Pax Americana' goes to hell in Iraq - producing a nervous breakdown among the pro-war elites - let's remember that security and finance are linked. Typically, the country that provides global economic security enjoys the use of its financial assets in world trade. And when the security situation changes, that privilege can be revoked. The consequences are unpleasant. Ask the British: after the sterling area folded, it took a generation for the UK to come all the way back.

That is partly why Economists for Peace and Security - a group I chair - opposed the Iraq war from the beginning. As far back as 2002, we understood - as the economically illiterate neo-imperialists did not - that a world system very favourable to America was on the line. And it was not, as they seemed to think, just a matter of military might. We knew that if the war undermined confidence in the power, good faith and common sense of the United States, that could lead toward disastrous changes on the financial front.

Four years in and with no end in sight, that risk may finally be catching up to the almighty dollar."

Something we have been talking about for a long time here at home. Wonder why our "fearless leader" can't wrap his head around this one?

The dollar melts as Iraq burns

Comment is free: The dollar melts as Iraq burns: "So here's the big question: is the age of the dollar economy lurching toward an end? Are China, Japan, Saudi Arabia and other big holders of T-bonds about to start a rush, or even a stately promenade, toward the exits? Let's hope not, because the world is unprepared to replace the dollar with anything else. The euro is not suited for the job, and a joint dollar-euro system would need better central bankers than either America or Europe has got. An end to the dollar system would therefore be chaotic, inflationary, and very tough on world trade. The best argument for the dollar has always been: it's not in anyone's interest to bring it down.

Could it happen, though? Yes, it could. And it could be connected to that other unfolding disaster. As the 'Pax Americana' goes to hell in Iraq - producing a nervous breakdown among the pro-war elites - let's remember that security and finance are linked. Typically, the country that provides global economic security enjoys the use of its financial assets in world trade. And when the security situation changes, that privilege can be revoked. The consequences are unpleasant. Ask the British: after the sterling area folded, it took a generation for the UK to come all the way back.

That is partly why

Cat Stevens is back

Yusuf Islam - Peace Train (New Version)


Cat Stevens now known as Yusuf Islam, is back making music. After 20 years, he picked up his son's guitar and even has a new album out.

Olbermann's special comment - Newts twisted free speech idea


Olbermann, always eloquent and always right on target.

Print Story: Phoenix airport to test X-ray screening on Yahoo! News

link to story: "Phoenix airport to test X-ray screening

Fri Dec 1, 7:02 AM ET

Sky Harbor International Airport here will test a new federal screening system that takes X-rays of passenger's bodies to detect concealed explosives and other weapons.

The technology, called backscatter, has been around for several years but has not been widely used in the U.S. as an anti-terrorism tool because of privacy concerns.

The Transportation Security Administration said it has found a way to refine the machine's images so that the normally graphic pictures can be blurred in certain areas while still being effective in detecting bombs and other threats.

The agency is expected to provide more information about the technology later this month but said one machine will be up and running at Sky Harbor's Terminal 4 by Christmas.

The security agency's Web site indicates that the technology will be used initially as a secondary screening measure, meaning that only those passengers who first fail the standard screening process will be directed to the X-ray area.

Even then, passengers will have the option of choosing the backscatter or a traditional pat-down search.

A handful of other U.S. airports will have the X-rays machines in place by early 2007 as part of a nationwide pilot program, TSA officials said."

Why don't we just go to the airport nude? This is a really big invasion of privacy! What if you have a colostomy, or a penile implant, do you want some smarmy TSA screener to know, and worse, do you want your naked photo in a federal data base? When will Americans rise up and say ENOUGH ALREADY! How many liberties do we think we should give up?

As I see it, I'll just volunteer to strip at the TSA counter like I did at the Senate office building in DC when they told me I had to remove all my protest buttons in order to go through the x-ray machine. The guards were alarmed. Scared of a 55 year old women stripping to her bra? Oh sad too bad.

Let's all strip in protest! Particularly all of you who have said you having nothing to hide where wire tapping is concerned. Are you ready to get naked at the airport?

Let's let our legislators to go first, and see just how brave they are.