A couple of things

Many of us would do very well to -- and, indeed, benefit from -- taking a more detailed look into the Reverend Wright issue. There is a lot of information out here on the 'Net. Don't be content with the msm version: you should be getting wise to them by now. Don't forget that they're happily in bed with a drooling warmonger!
And for God's sake, don't go by Hillary's people, either.
There are indications that it ain't, of course, all it's cracked up to be. I was just reading, for example, one account of the good Reverend by a white member of his mostly-black congregation. This man is much impressed with the Rev and lists a number of civic programs the Rev has instituted that have worked far better than any comparable government program could have.
But more touching is how this white man's life was affected by the Rev. "Between engagement ring and altar," he says, his black bride-to-be suddenly decided that there was simply no way that she could marry a white man. It would be a betrayal of her race.
Fortunately, she was a member of Wright's flock. When he learned of her change of heart, he called her in for a conference in which he highlighted the folly of racial isolationism.
And he presided at the ceremony.
As for putting the blame for 9/11 at America's doorstep . . . well, I got in trouble for that myself, and I'm a true patriot. Telling the truth in George W. Bush's America can get you in trouble.
There is very wise corroboration to the charge that America brought 9/11 upon itself. Read Chalmers Johnson's Blow-Back Trilogy. There is even more proof available, but that excellent work of non-fiction is more than enough.

Speaking of 9/11, I am painfully aware of the bad rep suffered by Truthers and conspiracy nuts; so I have approached that area with great caution. Even so, I have felt the blast-furnace heat of believer revulsion. That can hurt.
Nevertheless, it needs to be said that the contradictions, the miraculous coincidences, the historic firsts and the ever-changing scenarios all point in a certain direction, and that is not towards the truth. You don't have to be a conspiracy nut to know this.

Memories

I remember that day when Robert Byrd of West Virginia took the Senate floor and begged his colleagues and our idiot-boy President to reconsider the brash and ill-conceived rush to war in Iraq. That speech nearly brought tears to my eyes.
Tears of despair.
Tears of rage.
And tears of frustration and disbelief.
I had experienced the disbelief and frustration for many a year -- from the unbelievable spectacle of a b-movie cowboy as President to the present shabby and criminal climax of George W. Bush, his minions, his rancid propaganda machine: the permanent stain he, his father and that imbecilic two-bit actor have left upon this country.
As the images of Shock and Awe glowed that weird green on my TV screen, I mourned the death of America.
From that day until this, to quote Dylan:
If my thought dreams could be seen,
They'd put my head in a guillotine.

4000 dead is part of the price -- a big part; and yet only a part.

I'm getting old. I hope I may live, however, long enough to see justice done. That will be small enough comfort . . .

Happy Birthday, Iraqi Freedom

We got your joyous occasion

Right here, George.

My God, we owe it all to you,

George!

Rivers of blood on a sunny

Afternoon,

Covered up corruption,

Conveniently concealed coffins

By the thousand;

All of it costing at least

An arm and a leg.

But who cares,

George!

It's literally

Raining

Arms and legs!

Thanks to you.

Even more not news

If the choir will resume their seats -- quietly, please -- I will begin the sermon.

Now that things are going better in Iraq . . .
Excuse me?
Let me finish, then you can follow up.
. . . we can turn our attention to the economy. We need to do that.

What part of the war being an integral part of the economy is it that you don't understand?
Oh, and you might want to check with an Iraqi or two about how much better things are going in Iraq.

Not News

A study in national priorities:

Estimated cost of the 9/11 investigation: $14,000,000
(Originally budgetted: $3,000,000)

Estimated cost of the Monica Lewinsky investigation: $41.000,000