Republicans Hope to Cash In On Ft. Hood Tragedy

Republicans Trying to Use Ft. Hood Tragedy for Political Gain

A more complete picture of the Ft. Hood shooter has come to light over the past week. Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan appears to have been driven by a sort of perfect storm of motivations for a mass killer. He was the worst kind of ticking time bomb IMO.

It appears that Hasan's actions were driven in part by mental issues as well as by disaffection for his Country and at least some sympathy for an extremist Islamic ideology. A terrorist? Sure, but anyone who commits mass murder is a terrorist to me.

Republicans have seized on this massacre, not because they are concerned with the safety of U.S. troops. Most of these GOP cowards couldn't care less about American soldiers. What they have been concerned about mostly is the word "terrorism". Why? Because officially calling it a terrorist attack would fit the narrative that they have all been waiting for. Once this incident is called a terrorist attack, it gives the GOP the opportunity to attack President Obama, and call this the first terrorist attack since 9/11 (which it isn't by the way). They will be able to feed certain talking points to American voters...like "we told you so"...."we told you this would happen if Obama became President". It falls right into their phony argument that Obama and Democrats are weak on Terror.

Republican Party Spokesmen Blaming Obama (as predicted)

Hear Sean Hannity blame the White House.

Republican leader Rush Limbaugh was even less subtle.



Michael Savage has been the most vile so far. No surprise there... this is the same coward who was banned from the UK for his hate language. He wasted no time trashing the President...

As if that's not enough, Savage stated on his 11/10/09 program that our "soldiers were suicidal maniacs"..... if they support Democrats. He just attacked at least 40% of the U.S. Army. Idiot!

And the attacks have been coming fast and furious since the Ft. Hood massacre...from all corners of Republican Talk radio....and of course the politicians are now taking their marching orders from their Republican media masters (ie. McCain, Conservative Lie-bermann, Graham, etc, etc).

This is one of the most disgusting displays of American politics that I have ever seen...and one of the most disingenuous efforts by Republicans. I mean... are they serious? The fact of the matter is.... Hasan has been in the Army for upwards of 15 years. Most of his strange behavior was observed during his time at Walter Reed, before Obama even became President. Yet, Republicans are hoping to cash in on this tragedy by painting the picture that most of the red flags came only in the last few months during Obama's time in office. Republicans are counting on the short memories of Americans (which is legendary) in order to pull off this slight of hand. Americans would have to forget when Obama became President (less than a year ago); they would also have to forget all of the red flags that were missed over the past several years; they would have to forget the strain and shortages placed on the military that led the Army to hold on to Hasan and who caused that strain on the military; and they would have to be oblivious to how many red flags were ignored particularly by the FBI...and its Bush appointed director.

I mention this not to point fingers....but to show just how disingenuous the Republicans are; especially closet Conservative Joe Lie-bermann. Joe Lie-bermann wants to capitalize on this tragedy as well. His pledge to "investigate" is less about any genuine concern for troops, and more about his desire to show Conservatives that he's tough when it comes to national security, and to show Israeli special interests groups that he's no friend of Muslims and he will push their agenda vis-à-vis the Palestinians, Terrorism, the Middle East, Iran, Lebanon, etc.

Memories of Ft. Hood

This story brought back memories of my time in the Killeen/Ft. Hood Community. I lived there in the early 1990's. The area actually consists of at least 7 or 8 different cities and towns over two Counties.... with the main cities being Killeen, Harker Heights, Copperas Cove, Ft. Hood, Belton and Temple. But Ft. Hood, Copperas Cove and Killeen are the heart of the community.

I graduated H.S. in that community, father took his last breath in that community, worked my first job in that community, learned to drive in that community (I still recall driving on base for the first time w/ my permit and my step-mother...a soldier...in my ear, lol), saw parents go off to war in that community, learned a lot about life in that community....and have a lot of memories there of all sorts of experiences....good and bad (racism too)....although the bad probably stands out more unfortunately. My life there was a mixed bag. But the point is.... Ft. Hood is etched in my brain forever. (learn more about Ft. Hood from this 2007 posting).

For some reason the Ft. Hood area is no stranger to mass killings and soldier suicides. The Luby's massacre was my introduction into crazy land....this new America where mass shootings would become part of the cultural fabric in a twisted sort of way. It showed me just how cold and evil the human spirit could be....although I had already seen and experienced all sorts of unspeakable evil on the streets of St. Louis.

But on the positive side... a place like Ft. Hood always endures. Partly because of all the past tragedies. The strength of the people there and the sense of community make that possible.

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Hear a more detailed discussion about Hasan and the attack from NPR. (unfortunately the guests and the host seemed to miss a few big points. They seemed to concentrate on the combat stress of soldiers, even though this was not really an issue for Hasan, at least not directly, because he had not been in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan... so they completely blew it on that point....but there is still good information and commentary from this discussion).

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A response to this post from The Daily Kos really sums it up:

The unfortunate truth...

is found somewhere between the rightwingers attacks on Obama and the left doing all they can to avoid characterizing this as what it was: a jihadist act of terrorism. That islamist cells exist and mean to perpetrate serious mayhem in this country should be a given. We have seen the attacks, we have broken up some cells and you have to live in fantasyland to not believe that more radical islamic attacks are in our future. This insane political warfare between the wingnuts who see a terrorist behind every tree and naive politically correct leftists who don't believe a problem exists will be the death of us. The fact that a horrendous event like that at Fort Hood does not bring the Nation together for even a day is disconcerting to say the least.

-- by peregrinus on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 08:05:30 PM PST

Life for Mixed Race Americans

New NPR series looks at life for mixed race Americans and issues of racial identity. Hear the first segment of a 3 part series.

Update

Hear Part 2 of the NPR race series.

Fox News Busted - Again

Caught lying again....

First Lady Michelle Obama Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Sesame Street

hat tip -GLH

It's the 40th Anniversary of Sesame Street.
Bit of trivia I heard on the radio - the first ' guest' on Sesame Street was.....
James Earl Jones.
And now, 40 years later, they have the first Black First Lady of the United States.

President Obama Speaking at Fort Hood Memorial

Remarks of President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery
Memorial Service at Fort Hood
November 10, 2009

We come together filled with sorrow for the thirteen Americans that we have lost; with gratitude for the lives that they led; and with a determination to honor them through the work we carry on.

This is a time of war. And yet these Americans did not die on a foreign field of battle. They were killed here, on American soil, in the heart of this great American community. It is this fact that makes the tragedy even more painful and even more incomprehensible.

For those families who have lost a loved one, no words can fill the void that has been left. We knew these men and women as soldiers and caregivers. You knew them as mothers and fathers; sons and daughters; sisters and brothers.

But here is what you must also know: your loved ones endure through the life of our nation. Their memory will be honored in the places they lived and by the people they touched. Their life’s work is our security, and the freedom that we too often take for granted. Every evening that the sun sets on a tranquil town; every dawn that a flag is unfurled; every moment that an American enjoys life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – that is their legacy.

Neither this country – nor the values that we were founded upon – could exist without men and women like these thirteen Americans. And that is why we must pay tribute to their stories.

Chief Warrant Officer Michael Cahill had served in the National Guard and worked as a physician’s assistant for decades. A husband and father of three, he was so committed to his patients that on the day he died, he was back at work just weeks after having a heart attack.

Major Libardo Eduardo Caraveo spoke little English when he came to America as a teenager. But he put himself through college, earned a PhD, and was helping combat units cope with the stress of deployment. He is survived by his wife, sons and step-daughters.

Staff Sergeant Justin DeCrow joined the Army right after high school, married his high school sweetheart, and had served as a light wheeled mechanic and Satellite Communications Operator. He was known as an optimist, a mentor, and a loving husband and father.

After retiring from the Army as a Major, John Gaffaney cared for society’s most vulnerable during two decades as a psychiatric nurse. He spent three years trying to return to active duty in this time of war, and he was preparing to deploy to Iraq as a Captain. He leaves behind a wife and son.

Specialist Frederick Greene was a Tennessean who wanted to join the Army for a long time, and did so in 2008 with the support of his family. As a combat engineer he was a natural leader, and he is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Specialist Jason Hunt was also recently married, with three children to care for. He joined the Army after high school. He did a tour in Iraq, and it was there that he re-enlisted for six more years on his 21st birthday so that he could continue to serve.

Staff Sergeant Amy Krueger was an athlete in high school, joined the Army shortly after 9/11, and had since returned home to speak to students about her experience. When her mother told her she couldn’t take on Osama bin Laden by herself, Amy replied: “Watch me.”

Private First Class Aaron Nemelka was an Eagle Scout who just recently signed up to do one of the most dangerous jobs in the service – diffuse bombs – so that he could help save lives. He was proudly carrying on a tradition of military service that runs deep within his family.

Private First Class Michael Pearson loved his family and loved his music, and his goal was to be a music teacher. He excelled at playing the guitar, and could create songs on the spot and show others how to play. He joined the military a year ago, and was preparing for his first deployment.

Captain Russell Seager worked as a nurse for the VA, helping veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress. He had great respect for the military, and signed up to serve so that he could help soldiers cope with the stress of combat and return to civilian life. He leaves behind a wife and son.

Private Francheska Velez, the daughter of a father from Colombia and a Puerto Rican mother, had recently served in Korea and in Iraq, and was pursuing a career in the Army. When she was killed, she was pregnant with her first child, and was excited about becoming a mother.

Lieutenant Colonel Juanita Warman was the daughter and granddaughter of Army veterans. She was a single mother who put herself through college and graduate school, and served as a nurse practitioner while raising her two daughters. She also left behind a loving husband.

Private First Class Kham Xiong came to America from Thailand as a small child. He was a husband and father who followed his brother into the military because his family had a strong history of service. He was preparing for his first deployment to Afghanistan.

These men and women came from all parts of the country. Some had long careers in the military. Some had signed up to serve in the shadow of 9/11. Some had known intense combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, and some cared for those did. Their lives speak to the strength, the dignity and the decency of those who serve, and that is how they will be remembered.

That same spirit is embodied in the community here at Fort Hood, and in the many wounded who are still recovering. In those terrible minutes during the attack, soldiers made makeshift tourniquets out of their clothes. They braved gunfire to reach the wounded, and ferried them to safety in the backs of cars and a pick-up truck.

One young soldier, Amber Bahr, was so intent on helping others that she did not realize for some time that she, herself, had been shot in the back. Two police officers – Mark Todd and Kim Munley – saved countless lives by risking their own. One medic – Francisco de la Serna – treated both Officer Munley and the gunman who shot her.

It may be hard to comprehend the twisted logic that led to this tragedy. But this much we do know – no faith justifies these murderous and craven acts; no just and loving God looks upon them with favor. And for what he has done, we know that the killer will be met with justice – in this world, and the next.

These are trying times for our country. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, the same extremists who killed nearly 3,000 Americans continue to endanger America, our allies, and innocent Afghans and Pakistanis. In Iraq, we are working to bring a war to a successful end, as there are still those who would deny the Iraqi people the future that Americans and Iraqis have sacrificed so much for.

As we face these challenges, the stories of those at Fort Hood reaffirm the core values that we are fighting for, and the strength that we must draw upon. Theirs are tales of American men and women answering an extraordinary call – the call to serve their comrades, their communities, and their country. In an age of selfishness, they embody responsibility. In an era of division, they call upon us to come together. In a time of cynicism, they remind us of who we are as Americans.

We are a nation that endures because of the courage of those who defend it. We saw that valor in those who braved bullets here at Fort Hood, just as surely as we see it in those who signed up knowing that they would serve in harm’s way.

We are a nation of laws whose commitment to justice is so enduring that we would treat a gunman and give him due process, just as surely as we will see that he pays for his crimes.

We are a nation that guarantees the freedom to worship as one chooses. And instead of claiming God for our side, we remember Lincoln’s words, and always pray to be on the side of God.

We are a nation that is dedicated to the proposition that all men and women are created equal. We live that truth within our military, and see it in the varied backgrounds of those we lay to rest today. We defend that truth at home and abroad, and we know that Americans will always be found on the side of liberty and equality. That is who we are as a people.

Tomorrow is Veterans Day. It is a chance to pause, and to pay tribute – for students to learn of the struggles that preceded them; for families to honor the service of parents and grandparents; for citizens to reflect upon the sacrifices that have been made in pursuit of a more perfect union.

For history is filled with heroes. You may remember the stories of a grandfather who marched across Europe; an uncle who fought in Vietnam; a sister who served in the Gulf. But as we honor the many generations who have served, I think all of us – every single American – must acknowledge that this generation has more than proved itself the equal of those who have come before.

We need not look to the past for greatness, because it is before our very eyes.

This generation of soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen have volunteered in a time of certain danger. They are part of the finest fighting force that the world has ever known. They have served tour after tour of duty in distant, different and difficult places. They have stood watch in blinding deserts and on snowy mountains. They have extended the opportunity of self-government to peoples that have suffered tyranny and war. They are man and woman; white, black, and brown; of all faiths and stations – all Americans, serving together to protect our people, while giving others half a world away the chance to lead a better life.

In today’s wars, there is not always a simple ceremony that signals our troops’ success – no surrender papers to be signed, or capital to be claimed. But the measure of their impact is no less great – in a world of threats that no know borders, it will be marked in the safety of our cities and towns, and the security and opportunity that is extended abroad. And it will serve as testimony to the character of those who serve, and the example that you set for America and for the world.

Here, at Fort Hood, we pay tribute to thirteen men and women who were not able to escape the horror of war, even in the comfort of home. Later today, at Fort Lewis, one community will gather to remember so many in one Stryker Brigade who have fallen in Afghanistan.

Long after they are laid to rest – when the fighting has finished, and our nation has endured; when today’s servicemen and women are veterans, and their children have grown – it will be said of this generation that they believed under the most trying of tests; that they persevered not just when it was easy, but when it was hard; and that they paid the price and bore the burden to secure this nation, and stood up for the values that live in the hearts of all free peoples.

So we say goodbye to those who now belong to eternity. We press ahead in pursuit of the peace that guided their service. May God bless the memory of those we lost. And may God bless the United States of America.

The Fall of the Berlin Wall

I feel so old. This was 20 years ago?

I lived in Germany at the time, and remember this like it was just a few years ago.
But it didn't really end the Cold War, unfortunately. We have Bill Clinton and George W. Bush to thank for that.

House of Representatives Passes Healthcare Reform Bill

the watered down bill passed with 220 votes. 39 Dems voted no.
Republican House member Cao of Louisiana [ he replaced 'Dollar Bill' Jefferson] voted “yes.”

The President and First Lady Host a Classical Music Night

Here's a sample:


Cellist Sujari Britt, 8, completes her performance at the classical music series workshop in the East Room of the White House. November 4, 2009.
---------Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton







President Barack Obama greets young musicians Sujari Britt, 8, and Josh Yoder,16, following a concert celebrating classical music in the East Room of the White House. November 4, 2009.
------Official White House Photo by Pete Souza





Entire program can be found HERE.

President Obama's Weekly Address