The Purpose Of Life Is A Life Of Purpose.

Execution date: Dec. 13 Conviction: Stanley Tookie Williams 51, a co-founder of the Crips gang in Los Angeles, was found guilty in 1981 and sentenced to death for murdering a convenience store clerk, Albert Owens, in Whittier (Los Angeles County) and two motel owners, Yen-I Yang, Tsai-Shai Yang and their daughter Yee-Chen Lin during two separate robberies in 1979. His final appeal, to the U.S. Supreme Court, was denied in October. Williams' claims innocence and his petition for clemency briefly alleges that evidence against him was circumstantial and as well as racial bias in the convening of an all-white jury (Williams is black). With court appeals nearly exhausted, Williams has pointed to the children's books and gang-peace initiatives he has produced from behind prison walls as proof he is a reformed man and worthy of clemency. Williams has never admitted guilt for any of the murders he was convicted of. Williams, 51, the co-founder of the Crips gang and the four-time convic...

In yet another bit of bad news for the Republicans, Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham resigned his office today after pleading guilty to fraud, conspiracy to commit bribery and tax evasion in a political corruption case. While it’s my first reaction to chalk another one up on the board, it just struck me that the opposition probably has just a many bad eggs as the GOP does. It’s just they haven’t been caught....yet. I mean we had a Rhodes Scholar in office the last time a Democrat was in the White House and he couldn’t seem to keep himself out of trouble, so who’s to say what troubles are a brewing if and when the DNC takes over again. Most troubling and the bigger question is: What happens to a man like Duke Cunningham, with his Happy Days Americana name? The Duke was pretty blatant about his dealings and didn’t seem to trouble to cover it up much, at first. I mean com’on, you’re there because you took an oath to faithfully defend and protect the constitution of the United States...

By Presidential Proclamation on October 3 1863, a national day of Thanksgiving has been observed annually in the United States. This was the the middle of the Civil War, and, in response to a series of editorials written by Sarah Josepha Hale (the last of which appeared in the September 1863) President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day, to be celebrated on the final Thursday in November 1863. Or current state of affairs as a society, a culture, politically and economically; made me think of President Lincoln's proclamation. As you read this, keep in your mind the humble beginnings of this son of uneducated farmer pioneers. The eloquence and prose leap off the page. Almost a prayer, this Presidential Proclamation hits at the very heart of a spirit that seems to be dissapearing with increasing speed, that used to typify, to quote Linclon again, "the better angels of our nature." A man whose life and career typifies our dreams of what is possible. As w...

Vice President Dick Cheney is out there now throwing words around like "Dishonest and reprehensible" and "corrupt and shameless" in such a condescending tone (cuz ya know he wants to cus and kick something right now) at anyReprehensible one who dares suggest that President Bush or anyone else in the administration had exaggerated or twisted pre-war intelligence to build the case for invading Iraq is now, with no shame, attending a campaign fundraiser for embattled Rep. Tom DeLay as the headliner. Reprehensible EXPLAINER: Tom DeLay is the Texas Republican Congressman who was indicted earlier this year on campaign finance-related charges, an action that forced him to step down at least temporarily as House majority leader. This from the same Dick Cheney who said once, “"When I was Secretary of Defense, my biggest problem was with the Congress of the United States”. How quickly we're delirious with power and fotune and the bucks are rolling in for me and my fr...

I got an interesting email from someone I never heard of asking that I re post this old entry. I didn't know anyone but me read this. Thanks! Enjoy! In American democracy, speech is free but communicating is gonna cost ya! – especially if you’re trying to run for office. This is the #1 reason we have the “leaders” we have. As the cost of getting elected keeps up with the cost of gas, the candidates we end up with are the wealthy and well-financed and they don’t give voters a choice at all. The typical winner outspends the typical loser by nearly three to one during the campaign. 98.5 percent of all incumbents seeking reelection were successful (i.e.: If you can’t write a big check to your local television station to pay for a nightly salvo of punch-ads, you’ll still have your freedom of speech, you just won’t be heard or elected). Elections are supposed to be about when the “OUT’S” clash with the “IN’S” over bettering society, and letting US decide which is best, if either, allowi...

Oh No George...not ANOTHER one....? By PHILIP SHENON Published: November 12, 2005 – The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/12/politics/12lobby.html WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 - House Democratic leaders called on the White House on Friday to release documents showing whether a powerful Republican lobbyist had a role in arranging an Oval Office meeting last year between President Bush and the president of the West African nation of Gabon, whose government had been asked by the lobbyist to pay $9 million to help arrange such a meeting. The White House and the State Department have said that the meeting with President Omar Bongo of Gabon on May 26, 2004, was routine and that there was no evidence of any involvement by Mr. Abramoff. Wow will the Nixon parallels never end for Georgie Porgie? Isn’t this exactly how Watergate came about? Little pieces of the fabric unraveling here and there and a couple of hungry writers sunk their teeth in to it and RRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIP…is was over for Ti...

Supreme Court to Hear Tribunals Challenge By GINA HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 1 minute ago THE NEWS: WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court agreed Monday to consider a challenge to the Bush administration's military tribunals for foreign terror suspects, a major test of the government's wartime powers. Justices will decide whether Osama bin Laden's former, driver, Salim Ahmed Hamdan, can be tried for war crimes before military officers in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. THE ISSUE: Just in case you need some talking points for when you are embattled with neo-patriots created by the fear mongering that the Bush Administration has stirred up; THIS is why a balanced court is ESSENTIAL and why Judge Alito can NOT be allowed to sit on the bench. As the article states, the Supreme is going to hear a challenge to the Bush administration's military tribunals for foreign terror suspects, which is not only a major check of the government's wartime powers, but will put Chief Just...