I'm tired of the right wing war whore lovers who think this war is a videogame. The honored dead are meaningless to them.

They can't wrap their chickenhawk wings around the idea that each of these deaths is about the worst thing that will ever happen to these soldiers' families and friends.

Help Wanted!

If you are an American citizen with skills and expertise in any field relevant to the operation of the legislative, judicial or executive branches of the American government Uncle Sam wants you.

The People are currently seeking men and women with talent and competence in any area who are willing to work forty eight weeks a year at the People's business, keep their hands out of the cookie jar and themselves out of the beds of those who would corrupt the government to serve their own interests.

This is less strategic and more tactical than Tom Ball's diaries. Consider his diaries for the generals and this diary for the foot soldiers.

How do we reach those willing to blind their own eyes to avoid seeing the truth?

I have found that educating people and informing them about what Democrats are doing and have stood for and who supports them are powerful ways to reach them.

So that means getting out of our comfortable zone here on the blogs and getting out on the streets this summer and taking it face-to-face.

So my plan for a Democratic victory:

1. Be informed about your candidate's positions.
2. Buy comfortable shoes to canvass in.
3. If you are not physically capable of walking, volunteer to work the phone bank.
4. Listen. Listen. Listen. By listening, I found people worried candidate John Kerry being weak on national defense. By being informed I was able to tell them more retired generals and admirals were supporting Kerry's candidacy than George Bush's. By canvassing, I found those people to persuade.

Did we win my county in 2004? No. But we increased the Democratic presidential votes by nearly 40 percent in 2004 over 2000. If that can be done in a Republican stronghold of the state, think what can be done in other areas.

While we have soldiers fighting far from home this Memorial Day, it's time to honor their service and that of all servicemen and women in our armed forces who came before them.

I served two combat tours of duty in Vietnam commanding an infantry platoon in the 101st Airborne. Having received the Bronze Star with V Device for Valor, I know that lip service doesn't cut it.

Every day our young men and women in uniform make incredible sacrifices for all of us.

We owe them our allegiance and our respect.

They uphold the principles and beliefs this nation was founded on, principles we too easily forget.

And we do easily forget...

Each of us knows that we have lost almost 2,500 of our nation's finest soldiers in the Iraq war already, but that number doesn't tell us the whole story.

Over 17,000 of our troops have been wounded in action. The good news, if there is any, is many more survive today than in past wars. The bad news is they end up living with sometimes unspeakable injuries. In fact, the number of our soldiers who come home with brain injuries is staggering.

"Brian Keeler is one of the most intelligent and dedicated people in internet politics, and his devotion to making people's lives better, every day and in every way, cannot be too highly praised."

--Sterling Newberry

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Click image for link to www.keeler2006.com

After clacking away at the keyboard for ePluribus Media, Political Cortex, Dailykos, My Left Wing and Booman Tribune, I was inspired by Markos and Jerome to push it aside and Crash a Gate or two myself and run for the New York State Senate. This Thursday, I'm announcing my candidacy at Waryas Park along the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie, New York.

The New York state government is, like so many others around the county, a total mess and completely inaccessible. Decisions are made behind locked, back rooms doors of Albany, and the only people who are allowed in to play are those who pay. The result? We end up with the best government their money can buy. It's totally alienating to the citizens of the state. We have no say in the important issues that concern our daily lives...Health Care, Property Taxes, Education and the Environment. Literally, a sad State of affairs.

I've been waiting for someone here to stand up to my 16-year Republican incumbent and challenge him to do more for the people of New York, not just the special interests who line his campaign pockets...but I'm not the kind who would ask someone to do something I wasn't willing to do myself. So last month, I stood up and and said, "No more!"

Republican Rep. Chris Shays (Connecticut) "is convinced that come Election Day, his embattled party will lose its majority in the U.S. House and for good reason: It hasn't earned the right to keep it, he says." Shays "has the fight of his political life." His Democratic opponent, Diane Farrell is "getting big support from national strategists who have a bull's-eye on Shays and other moderate northeastern Republicans, including two others from the state, Nancy Johnson and Rob Simmons."

And he's not alone. Wapo reports that

GOP strategists "see signs of weakness" among House incumbents "where they least expected it -- including a conservative, military-dominated suburb such as Virginia Beach -- and fear that their problems could grow worse unless the national mood brightens."

Analyst Stuart Rothenberg "now has 42 Republican districts, including" Rep. Thelma Drake's 2nd CD in Virginia "on his list of competitive races. Last September, he had 26 competitive GOP districts, and Drake's wasn't on the list." Among House incumbents "added to some GOP watch lists in recent months are veteran Reps. Nancy L. Johnson (Conn.), Deborah Pryce (Ohio), Charles Bass (N.H.), J.D. Hayworth (Ariz.) and Richard W. Pombo (Calif.)."

And...

President George W. Bush is expected to announce this evening that he will deploy National Guard troops to the Mexican border to try to stop illegal immigration.

While it really is intended to provide a photo opportunity for Bush to show he is doing something, the move goes beyond his immediate political goal of trying to save GOP House seats, the real problem is it further increases the militarization of the United States.

And while he'll get the credit, it'll be the governors of the border states that are left holding the responsibility when, not if, an encounter between soldiers results in people crossing the border being harmed.

By special request.

I remember when I first met my dog Ben.

He was a beagle puppy with a pack of other puppies in the bare dirt back yard of my uncle Ben's home.

Ben was my grandfather's brother. My first name came from my grandfather and my middle name from my uncle.

I named the dog after Ben.

He (the puppy, not my uncle) had jumped higher than the others and I liked his enthusiasm.

I was four. You don't put too much thought into picking out a dog when you're four years old.

At first, Ben (the pup again although also true of my uncle) had the run of our farm chasing rabbits and jumping back from the big yellow tom farm cat. Tom (the cat, not my neighbor who also was a dear curmudgeon) terrified my dog Ben, but little else did, including the skunk that sprayed him and left him smelling awful even after we bathed him several times.

Ben (the dog although also true of my uncle) was rather lazy. He loved nothing more than sitting under the old apple tree. He wasn't particular (also true of my uncle) and he would travel from house to house for meals (again, true of my uncle, a World War II veteran who fought in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and France before returning home not quite right in the head. His wife, a particular woman, divorced him after he came home late -- or early in the morning depending on your point of view -- pissing in her flowers planted in front of the house one too many times.)

CLICK TO ENLARGE In a bad omen, Greedar, the Republican Party mascot bolts and runs from President Bush


Washington, DC (APE) - A recent Harris telephone survey of 1000 Americans has netted President Bush some of the worst approval ratings in the history of presidential polling. Only 29% of Americans polled felt that the president was doing a good job overall. With a potential indictment looming over presidential advisor Karl Rove, and the recent revelation of more extensive domestic spying along with the Department of Justice's abandonment of its investigation into it, the White House is struggling to rally Republicans from sure defeat in the 2006 midterm elections.

CLICK TO ENLARGE Bush and Rep. Katherine Harris share intimate feelings in regards to her run for US Senate

Tampa, FL (APE) - As President Bush descended from Air Force One yesterday in Tampa Florida, he was immediately greeted by Rep. Katherine Harris, R-FL, much to the chagrin of the president's brother Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Harris latched on to the president for several minutes and was observed to speak animatedly with him as they both felt each other out over her controversial decision to attempt to unseat Democratic Senator Bill Nelson in the upcoming election. Governor Jeb Bush has gone repeatedly on record stating that he believes Harris should not seek the position because he feels she cannot win.

That's right. Years ago the struggle was all about the resources of black gold now it's about getting it around and about to use and sell it. Many have wondered why Bush Junior was obsessive about Iraq and what the real American interest has been behind toppling Hussein.

The answer can simply be put in two words: Check Mate! The current Middle East Crisis is a text book example of traditional power play.

Anyone who believes Afghanistan, Iraq or Iran is about democracy, terrorism or nuclear energy is a dreamer or lacks the ability to look further than media mainstream news. The chess game that is played in the Middle East can be easily understood by looking at a map and reading up developments of oil fields and pipelines. Something that has not been brought to the public attention is the fact, that Iran is the ONLY country in the region that has access to the biggest two oil resources on the planet.

VOTE OR DIE

So street. So angry.  So prominent.  So what?

I don't know what name he's rolling with today, but it's clear that Puff or P or whatever his nom de jour is, has as much commitment to consistent political activism as he does to consistent brand identity.

The punk pimping the label "Vote or Die" has apparently voted to take the money and run.

Bush redefining "The American Dream" for a group of conservative Irvine businessmen and women

Irvine, CA (APE) - President Bush on Monday spoke to a largely conservative Republican group of 450 members of the Orange County business Council and in a "lemonade out of lemons" fashion seemed to back away from the hard stances on immigration put forth by some in his own party and link immigration to "The American Dream". He urged Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration bill that would put illegal immigrants "in the back of the bus" as they worked through a daunting process to become a citizen of the United States.

There are a lot of people who say "I support the troops," put a yellow ribbon on their car, or hang a star in their window.  The owners and staff of Fran O'Brien's Steak House have gone WAY beyond the call when it comes to showing their support.

Since October of 2003 Marty O'Brien and Hal Koster have been providing a free "Friday Night out on the Town" at Fran O'Briens Stadium Steak House for thousands of severely injured soldiers and marines who are recuperating at nearby Walter Reed Army Hospital and Bethesda Naval Medical Center.  Hal, a Vietnam vet, and his partner Marty, have made it a policy that they will continue to do this ... UNTIL THE LAST SOLDIER WOUNDED IN THIS CONFLICT HAS GONE HOME FROM WALTER REED AND BETHESDA.

The only generals who support the Bush Doctrine:
General Electric and General Dynamics.

I know there are a few generals making news by voicing their concerns due to all the sabre rattling over Iran.  We need to listen now. People did not listen when a number of generals who opposed invading Iraq made their opinions known. They opposed it because it was strategically, tactically, politically, and legally unjustifiable.  They did not do this quietly. They did it vocally  before we invaded.   I'm talking about these limp wristed, commie sympathizing, terrorist appeasing, treasonous surrender monkeys: