Friday October 6, 2006, 11:22 am
I scrolled past this story, then scrolled back and realized the it was upsidedown and read think like a Neocon, LMAO

Friday October 6, 2006, 11:40 am
SORRY, I FIND NOTHING FUNNY ABOUT THIS! It is extremely unfortunate that the elephant is the symbol of the Republican party. As a person who spends many, MANY hours a week, EVERY week trying to get elephants treated with respect and dignity and out of zoos and circuses, I cannot find the humor in your comments or diagrams!

I DO understand your point. I am a Republican from Teddy Roosevelt's era, the party of conservatives and conservation, environmental and animal preservation, less government and less spending. I have no love AT ALL for the fascists that have hi-jacked the GOP and this country, and is tearing America apart with their lies, sleaze, war, crimes and threats.

I just cannot let this item pass without speaking up for ELEPHANTS, that this is NOT FUNNY! I want to tell Jeff that the photo of the kitten in his hand is ADORABLE! How old is the kitten now?

Friday October 6, 2006, 11:44 am
I agree, elephants are much too wonderful to be a symbol for rich republicans who do not care about anyone or anything but themselves.

Friday October 6, 2006, 1:36 pm

Just for the record: As the person who created this, you might care to know that I'm a devoted animal lover and have fostered several litters of abandoned kitties. There's an issue of enormous political importance at stake here - called control of Congress. It is necessary to pervert the GOP's image for this political cartoon to work. If you want wilderness and endangered species to receive protection - then please lend your support to this campaign.

Thanks everyone!

Friday October 6, 2006, 1:44 pm
maybe we should make it a fat cat instead :)

i love this. thanks, jeff!

Friday October 6, 2006, 1:50 pm
Queen B.: With all respect, that post was the most ludicrous thing I have ever read on this site. Do you usually "miss the point" with such breathtaking earnestness? Someone is trying to make a difference here, went to a fantastic amount of trouble to do it, and you take the opportunity to blow them the hell away over your narrow idea of what matters. Save the elephants! My god of course we want to save the elephants! That is NOT even close to the point here. We are trying to save the enire COUNTRY and probably half the PLANET. Get the right people in power and the elephants will be saved by DEFAULT!

This kind of opportunitic finger-smashing makes me so mad I could spit. We're in big sh1t here, people. Dig your HEAD out of your BUTT and use it to THINK before there is not one last shread of nature, law, morality, honor or freedom left to protect. The elephants need you to do this! The elephants do not want you to shoot people down who are trying to make a difference!

OK, got in now? We all on the same page? Do I need to go over any of that again? I sure hope not because next time I'm gonna be PISSED. No more Mr Nice Cat.

Friday October 6, 2006, 2:03 pm
"That is NOT even close to the point here. We are trying to save the enire COUNTRY and most definately the PLANET."

I corrected it for you Cat.

Friday October 6, 2006, 2:13 pm
The association between elephants and the republican party is unfortunate. But republicans have a history of hijacking symbols. Like the elephant symbol, republicans have redefined our country's flag to mean unquestioning support for an immoral war. The flag used to stand for patriotism, a word which itself also didn't have the connotation of unquestioning support that republicans have now given it.

I love how this collection of bumper stickers exposes doublespeak by juxtaposing American symbols with the new meanings that republicans have given them. And the upside-down elephant and stars and stripes theme really brings them together.

My personal favorite is "Freedom (from the truth)." It reminds me of the first of three monkeys on a poster on my high school chemistry teacher's wall covering their eyes and ears and mouth with the caption of "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." The Bush administration seems to be covering its eyes from the injustices of the war in order to do no evil.

I think I'll print that and put it in the back window of my car.

Friday October 6, 2006, 2:21 pm
Way to go, Jeff.

The popularity of these bumper stickers is going to be explosive -- nucular, in fact.

Friday October 6, 2006, 2:27 pm
This article posted 4 hours ago and it already has 40 NOTE ITs ...

way to go, Jeff!

Friday October 6, 2006, 2:29 pm
I'm a gonna get me that bumpa sticka!

Friday October 6, 2006, 2:44 pm
Outstanding idea Jeff. Love it!

Friday October 6, 2006, 2:46 pm
Good news post! The site uses satire to get the word out, which even our own historic leaders have agreed with: **"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." -Teddy Roosevelt**

Friday October 6, 2006, 2:57 pm
Jeff, thanks for all your dedication and hard work! First of all, I am a HUGE supporter of elephants and dedicated in saving them. Please see my profile page. I did not take this as a slam on our precious elephants, but as a symbol of the GOP and a HUGE slam on them. I do know that we have to get them out of office so we can save all our animals, our environment, our country!!!

Thanks,
Tara

Friday October 6, 2006, 3:03 pm
I'm taking this in the spirit in which it was intended, fun and acitvism! We need that! (no one here disrespects the eles) But as a symbol that is an attention grabber, a dead anything is a great statement against the anti-life power cult that took the ele as their symbol!

Friday October 6, 2006, 3:17 pm
I don't hear anybody talking about printing/buying the stickers. Come ON people! Step up to the challenge! You've got exactly ONE life to live, exactly ONE chance to make a difference, exactly ONE voice and you better start using it because there sure are a LOT of beady-eyed sticky-fingered ass-hatted lie-spewing death-dealing plutocrats out there sitting happy on their hairy fat hinders waiting for you to do exactly JACK.

Go go go! Kick some asses! Make them afraid! MAKE THEM **RUN**! This is Care2, not some mutual admiration society for the reality impaired. Fight! Dammit WIN! Dammit NOW!

Friday October 6, 2006, 6:30 pm
Dearest Queen-The purpose of posting news is just for that..to show people whats out there. Just because someone posts a news story it doesnt mean that they agree or do not agree with an article. I for one know that the person who posted this is an advid animal lover and didnt mean this in any sort of bad way! It is just that an article that may be informative or interesting to someone. A posted article is meant to do exactly as it has...to get people talking. So hey thanks for your opinion and thanks for speaking up for the elephants too. Peace and love deb

Friday October 6, 2006, 6:31 pm
PS I AM NOT A FAN OF BUSH-NOR THE REPUBLICAN SYMBOL-LOL

Friday October 6, 2006, 9:05 pm
Unfortunate or not this is the symbol for the republicons. It has been for more years than most of us have been alive and I doubt it will be changed for anything we care about.

Friday October 6, 2006, 10:31 pm
Lets take a vote. How many people think the upside down red, white and blue elephant has anything to do with live elephants, please raise your hand!

All those that think it stands for it being time to make changes in our governement, stand up and bow to Jeff for a great idea!

Bowing and bowing and bow... snap, crackle pop, dang it my back is out again.

Friday October 6, 2006, 10:45 pm
I don't like animal analogies for nasty, evil and/or stupid people!

Friday October 6, 2006, 10:46 pm
...but the stickers are pretty funny (in that sad and pathetic kind of way)...

Saturday October 7, 2006, 3:58 am
Can't we just get rid of the rich republicans and do more for the live elephants,gorillas, chimps . . . and of course, all of the mistreated 'pets' in America? I won't put those stickers on my car, no matter they are free.
RoseMarie Palozola

Saturday October 7, 2006, 8:41 am

I love Care2 with one BIG exception, which the comments of QueenB. above, and now RoseMarie, exemplify. To all my fellow lovers of animals: if you are not emotionally able to distinguish between a symbol depicting an animal, and a living animal, so be it. And if you are uncomfortable with this campaign, everyone will understand if you choose not to participate. But for the love of God and animals, do not sit in your sniper’s nest taking pot-shots at the obviously well-intentioned efforts of your fellow Care2 members! By creating this campaign, Jeff is doing more to protect elephants than any of sniper in an easy chair.

I’ve changed my avatar to an elephant, in honor of all elephants, and in support of this exceptionally creative effort. Let’s start printing bumper-stickers!

Saturday October 7, 2006, 10:24 am
Dear Jeff:
Thank you for this story / post. I in no way think you meant any harm to elephants. The Republican Party chose their symbol. That is out of your / our control. I bet you never thought that some people would take it as they have. I understand how people with different priorities can look at things. I am an avid animal lover, an avid environmentalist, an avid human and civil rights activist, an avid pro-peace / antiwar crusader and an avid government for the people / not the people for the government advocate. I think that elephants are smarter than fascists and neo-cons. They will survive this sticker campaign. Let's hope the nen-cons don't.

Keep up the good work Jeff. Remember that you can't please all of the people all of the time, but you can do what you feel is right. And I don't mean right winged. :-)
Peace, Love and Harmony. Keith.
Earth Force United.

Saturday October 7, 2006, 10:33 am
To Queen B- We call this place earth. Welcome. What planet are you from?

Saturday October 7, 2006, 10:52 am
Now that you all have had your fun ripping me apart, was it because I did not like the dead elephants comment, or because I am republican? I will tell you why I was upset on the dead elephant issue. I have had two notices this week of two different elephant mothers who died with their baby calves next to them trying to make their mother wake up. I was extremely upset and crying, came to Care2 to the Elephant group to commiserate. Then I went to the news items and the first thing I saw was someone making fun of dead elephants! I was offended and said so. I tried to lighten my comments by asking about the kitten.

You folks in C A R E 2 took the opportunity to rip me to shreds instead of being anything but CARING. I certainly hope you all enjoyed yourselves. I happened to receive a couple green stars and many comments from others who agreed with me but did not want to comment on this site and get ripped to shreds from such caring persons as yourselves. I probably haved worked longer and harder for the environment and animal rights than the lot of you combined AND SPENT MORE MONEY FOR THEM. How many of you actually reach in your wallet and give for animal causes?

So take your nasty comments and have them for dinner, I am not sorry for what I wrote, if you can get past your self-righteous acrimony, maybe you would learn to actually be what you profess to be on this site. CARING. BTW, is this site only for Democrats? I feel a distinctive hatred for ALL Repubilcans, no matter how much in line they are with Democratic views.

Saturday October 7, 2006, 12:11 pm
QB, the FIRST NASTY COMMENT was yours ...

Republicans are such sore losers ... and they run the nastiest attack ads in political history

Payback is a beach!

Saturday October 7, 2006, 12:24 pm
In the keeping with a little humor... My last name starts with the letter, 'W' and it is refreshing to see the elephant turned around after seeing the 'W' assualted for so long. I love the elephant and definitely will order a few.
Maybe we could do one with the elephant being hijacked or big ear plugs.

Saturday October 7, 2006, 12:31 pm
Thank you, Carol ... for the humor injection.

Animals with no backbones have the hardest shells.

Saturday October 7, 2006, 12:34 pm
We must all be; jack-asses? teee heee hee hee hee

Sorry, just couldn't help myself.

Saturday October 7, 2006, 12:40 pm
The graphic of the elephant is the symbol for the Republican party. That is something entirely different from a live elephant. This is just a heads up for those who can't grasp that esoteric concept. :)

Saturday October 7, 2006, 12:53 pm
GOSH DARN ME....Just one final thought on this thread....

I never have or will ever vote along party lines. I vote for the issues at stake, and more than just the ones that effect my personally. I get along with most everyone regardless of race, sex, class, religion, etc...

I watched Larry King last night and he had 6 little Republican Pages on.

There lies the problem.

Here is a novel idea;
listen to the things they stand for and look at their record of accomplishments.
Then pick the lesser of two evils.

I am offended anyone would have the audacity to label me;
democratic, republican, liberal, terrorist, or contrary,
because I have the ability to digest, sort, and think for myself.

I look for the bigger picture, (though elephants are large I somehow have never really noticed until today).

Saturday October 7, 2006, 12:58 pm
Carol Ann, why did Larry King had

SIX LITTLE REPUBLICAN PAGES

when he could have had

3 Republican Pages
and
3 Democrat Pages

????

Saturday October 7, 2006, 4:15 pm
Dead elephants are not funny. That is a nasty comment, seriously? Yes, you must all be jackasses. THAT is a nasty comment.

Saturday October 7, 2006, 5:24 pm
I think that an upside down Republican Symbol is really Funny!! It is a Symbol after all, not the real thing. Nor would anyone confuse it with a real Elephant, upside down or otherwise.

Saturday October 7, 2006, 10:05 pm
Yes most people can tell the difference between a printed symbol and a live elephant. No one wishs harm to living elephants. Queen B- you need to get your thoughts together and stop name calling. Try to be a caring person about humans too.

Sunday October 8, 2006, 12:45 am
WOW, like ROCK THE VOTE & I'm Canadian. I wish I saw so much enthusiasm from my fellow CDN'S against them. The stickers are a great selection & to the point, albeit sad & excrutiating topics. As for the elephant I didn't notice until all the comments, that is their symbol hell yes then use it. And isn't it too bad that, yes, we are usually left with voting for the lessor of 2 evils.

Sunday October 8, 2006, 12:27 pm
I love the stickers: it's the slogans that are the point, like "Jesus loves nucular weapons," "Jesus hates science" & "FREEDOM to torture" Thank you, Jeff, this is my kind of humour.

It doesn't have a single fucking thing to do with ELEPHANTS, not liking them, not loving them, not protecting them, not a single fucking thing, to speak plain Engish, IS THAT CLEAR?????

The problem has to do with being accused of "cuddling terrorists" when Americans speak out against injustice and see our freedoms shrinking up. Nobody said anything about not cuddling elephants!

Cat Black's 1st comment to Queen B had me rocking with laughter!
I can't believe how patient you others have all been with QB, but she percieves this as being shredded, ripped apart.

I say just ignore her, she can't see the forest for the elephants!

My brother, by the way, is supposedly a great animal lover and to prove the point, he once said he'd like to shoot down all those awful hunters! Since he has an impressive collection of fire arms, I didn't doubt he had the wherewithall to practice what he preached, but left me with a queasy feeling in my gut.

Sunday October 8, 2006, 1:05 pm
yes we must all print out the stickers and use them. i'm going to print some out at school on monday so that i can stick them on my backpack. screw having to pay $0.10 a page i don't care if it costs me so long as i can show the people where i live what i stand for. i only wish i could get my dad to put one on his car. unfortinately that's not likely to happen anytime soon.

Sunday October 8, 2006, 6:46 pm
Queen B. - Cool down....you are being as hateful as anyone has been to you. The upside down elephant SYMBOL is not DEAD because it was not alive to begin with - so there's no need to be angry. It's meant to be a political analogy - the death of repub dominance in Congress. No real animal will be harmed during this election, but quite a few Repubs will loose their Congressional seats if justice is done and people get out the VOTE - & we get those out of Congress who supported Foley through 10 yrs of hidden Pedeophilia! I will buy this bumper sticker. It's very clever and not at all related to any real elephants, living or dead which DemsI love and respect as much as any Repub. I'm glad I'm not that sensitive - no telling how we might react to what all has been said about Liberals by neo-cons! but about symbols?- it's carrying political correctness a little too far!

Sunday October 8, 2006, 9:37 pm
Fans of the deadelephant campaign, don't forget to join the group!
http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/deadelephant

Jeff is posting the campaign's status updates there.

Monday October 9, 2006, 12:01 am
Jeff....I love the up-side-down dead elephant symbol....Goood Job!!

Monday October 9, 2006, 10:06 am
To all my friends, people who don't like me, elephants, donkeys, trees and the like. Living, dead or never ever having existed... I offer you All this....

"When you're down and out,
When you're on the street,
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you.
I'll take your part.
When darkness comes
And pain is all around,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down."
(With thanks to Simon and Garfunkle.)

Monday October 9, 2006, 12:00 pm
Let's not get distracted by the troll, m'kay? Buy or print the stickers! Paste them all over your stuff! I bought 3 and can't wait for them the show up.

Monday October 9, 2006, 1:20 pm

excellent! yes -- PRINT THE STICKERS ! It takes 2 clicks and you get INSTANT SATISFACTION at NO COST.

These are not your usual bumperstickers, folks. Tape them to your car or window, and if they get rained on, so what? Print 'em again. Get a different message each time to keep things interesting for yourself.

Yesterday a woman parked her car next to mine, popped out and exclaimed "I love your bumper-sticker!" Join the deadelephant group so you can tell us which messages you like best, and which were most commented on. There's tons you can do to help push this thing over the threshold. Go to the group to see the list of things needed:
http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/deadelephant

Monday October 9, 2006, 3:37 pm
yes just noticed u started a group Jeff, hope every American on care2 joins asap & use the stickers and anythign else possible to change the minds of any who think voting for Conservatives is still a good thing.

http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/deadelephant, wish I could make that a working link, here, will learn soon

Monday October 9, 2006, 4:31 pm
ah that would be Republicans in your country = Conservatives in oh Canada

Monday October 9, 2006, 10:02 pm
Sunshine,
They didn't pick these labels – they got stuck with them! Their origin as symbols for the parties is attributed to a political cartoonist, Thomas Nast, who used the donkey and the elephant in cartoons drawn for Harper's Weekly in the 1870's.

The Democrats think of the elephant as bungling, stupid, pompous and conservative -- but the Republicans think it is dignified, strong and intelligent. On the other hand, the Republicans regard the donkey as stubborn, silly and ridiculous -- but the Democrats claim it is humble, homely, smart, courageous and loveable.
Adlai Stevenson provided one of the most clever descriptions of the Republican's symbol when he said, "The elephant has a thick skin, a head full of ivory, and as everyone who has seen a circus parade knows, proceeds best by grasping the tail of its predecessor."

When Andrew Jackson ran for president in 1828, his opponents tried to label him a "jackass" for his populist views and his slogan, "Let the people rule." Jackson, however, picked up on their name calling and turned it to his own advantage by using the donkey on his campaign posters. During his presidency, the donkey was used to represent Jackson's stubbornness when he vetoed re-chartering the National Bank.

Thomas Nast, great American illustrator and caricaturist of the last century, originated the elephant as the symbol of the Republican Party.

Queen B, to say 'Dead Republicans ' would get one locked up as a terrorist with no legal representation.

Please see the full picture and not just a pixel.

Thiis kind of narrow focus is what helped put Bush in office. Everyone who voted for this lunatic only needed and got one reason. No one cared enough pass their own selfish interest; be it religion, abortions, medical malpractice caps, reduce taxes for the wealthy, no bid contracts, and his list went on.

Monday October 9, 2006, 10:17 pm
Carol Ann, Thank You for this bit of History....MM

Tuesday October 10, 2006, 3:23 am
actually i think it's amusing that the republicans are represented by the elephant. for the purposes of this campaign, it also has a symbolic underlying metaphorical quality, from my perspective as a foreigner. there is a saying among my people, 'an elephant's carcass can't be covered up', which means some sins are so huge that it can't possibly be missed (sorry queen b, for the somewhat graphic metaphor). another is 'a germ far away is seen, but an elephant in front of your face is missed' which means, people who see every little thing that is wrong in others, but is oblivious to the huge deficiencies in themselves. which kind of gives added irony and satire to the campaign to me, personally. :D

no elephants were harmed as a result of these proverbs.

Tuesday October 10, 2006, 11:04 pm
Wait just a second... what about the Democrats hijacking the Jackass... Where is PETA when you need them... wait, the liberals are jackasses... nevermind... Good choice.

Wednesday October 11, 2006, 7:42 am
Carol Ann, I just happend to see ur post I am not tracking this. And thank you as always your journalistic history and explanation is almost always an elighented education.

Wednesday October 11, 2006, 9:37 am
Next election;
I m voting for Robin Williams because of his brain and being from my own mitten state.

Lets count what the Bush Administration has accomplished / or not, in this past 6 years.
1.) Showed Kindergartners he could read.
2.) Got all of his friends excellent jobs with great perks.
3.) Stopped all those frivolous law suits the negligent doctors were being barraged with.
4.) Leave No Child Behind; got his youngest brother Neil moving in step with gainful silly employment
5.) Made us safer as in "those twin towers" won't be targeted again anytime in the near future.
6.) Got the majority of Americans to reread our Constitution and Bill of Rights.
7.) Helped Commedy Central combine intelligence with witt.
...........................O.K. anyone else name 7 notable thingsor more; please feel free to contribute:

Wednesday October 11, 2006, 11:41 am
8. Introduced American's to new words like "nucular" and phrases like "I am the decider"
9. Helped us to think of ourselves as a nation that endorses torture.
10. Through real-world policy, gave much meaning to Orwell's classic fiction "1984", and the idea that government has rights that transcend those of individuals.

Wednesday October 11, 2006, 2:33 pm
11) Made sure the Western United States throughly Burned this summer by removing National Guard and Equipment to Iraq.
12) Invented a new and novel use for the overused Punctuation Mark, the Comma. 13) Made certain that all citizens of the USofA understand TUNNELVISION with his "stay the course" rhetoric. 14) Magic Trick: Is able to induce NAUSEA by simply SMIRKING.

Wednesday October 11, 2006, 3:03 pm
A Chinese fighter jet downs a US spy plan causing an international incident. China held the crew for 11 days, until the Bush Administration negotiated their release without admitting responsibility.
President Bush signs tax cut bill reducing Federal Income Tax Rates and sends a refund to millions of Americans (I know you spent yours)
President Bush signs executive order freezing the assets of terrorist organizations
President Bush initiates military action in Afghanistan dismantling the Taliban regime and liberating 25 million people
President Bush signs Military Construction Appropriations Bill to improve quality of housing for military personnel.
President Bush takes action to help restore Everglades
President Bush signs Terrorism Relief Act providing tax relief to families of those killed in the attacks on September the 11th, the anthrax attacks and the Oklahoma City bombing.
President Bush signs Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002
President Bush signs Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act.
President Bush and Russian President Putin Sign Nuclear Arms Treaty
President Bush signs executive order prescribing regulations relating to the safeguarding of vessels, harbors, ports, and waterfront facilities of the United States.
President Bush signs Pledge of Allegiance Bill reaffirming one Nation under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, and "In God we trust" as the National Motto (I love this one)
Operation Iraqi Freedom. President Bush initiates military with Iraq dismantling the Saddam Hussein regime and liberating 22 million people.
President Bush signs Protect Act- Amber Alert Bill expanding nationwide a rapid-response network to help find kidnapped children. (what an evil man... finding kidnapped children)
President Bush signs The United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003. (no compassion)
President Bush signs "Keeping Children Safe Act"(what is it with the kids is he just another GOP pedophile?)
President Bush signs Do Not Call Registry(telemarketers are people too! shame on him)
President Bush Signs Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 (no comment)
President Bush signs Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004(kids again)
President Signs Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004 (rich working families... what about welfare people... no relief for them?)
President Bush signs the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004(taking care of those warmonger Veterans)

I can understand now why so many of you hate him... after all it looks like he is only helping the rich.
Any comments?

Wednesday October 11, 2006, 3:06 pm
that was just the 1st 4 years...
tell me there is not one good thing out of that list above...

Wednesday October 11, 2006, 4:17 pm
I can't tell you nothing is good in the list above. Most things are neither all good nor all bad. And I'll admit that I had not heard of some of these accomplishments until now. But I bet a closer look at some of these items would disappoint me, because you've cast some items as positive that I know are not.

For example, I don't think it's fair to characterize President Bush's work in Afghanistan as "liberating 25 milllion people." I see it more as returning control to a mix of U.S. occupation and the chaos that preceded the Taliban. And I think Operation Iraqi Freedom is really more about control of oil than any humanitarian cause.

I know republicans who are ashamed of Bush's record; republicans are not all alike. Our country is run by a very specific kind of republican, the kind embodied in Jeff's deadelephant.org slogans, and the kind that I would like to fade into history like a bad dream. But that won't happen on its own -- print your sticker and spread the word, I've gotten props about mine from strangers on the way to work.

Wednesday October 11, 2006, 4:49 pm
Nice post Marcel...
good or bad they are accomplishments... the only point I was trying to drive home was that he did something. I know when I was in the military when Carter was commander in chief, our hostages stayed there for over 400 days. it was not until Regan went in until they were released.

you could choose to look at positive things or negative things... it is all your choice. If there was a perfect car manufactured.... there would only be one brand, one model, one size fits all, there would be no choice. but no there are hundreds of models with thousands of options, with probably millions of combinations, there is no perfect car on the road... why not? no perfect computer, no perfect perscription, the one pill that fixes everything. how can you put it on one person in the whole world to be perfect to the masses... that $#!T won't happen.

is it the end of the world as we know it? I doubt it... could it be better? I think it could. is it all one mans fault or one parties fault or one countries fault... I doubt it. could they do better today than what they did yesterday? I bet we can...

Wednesday October 11, 2006, 4:50 pm
so what is bad for example with the "Amber Alert" does it invade the kidnappers privacy? what am I missing here?
(please respond)

Wednesday October 11, 2006, 4:56 pm
PS Marcel

tell me what is wrong with "President Bush signs Protect Act- Amber Alert Bill expanding nationwide a rapid-response network to help find kidnapped children."

I see countless "Glurge" in my inbox for people "have you seen this kid?" stuff.

Is this one of those "Neo-Con" conspiracy things where we are invading the privacy of kidnappers and abductors of children? and now I qute you "But I bet a closer look at some of these items would disappoint me, because you've cast some items as positive that I know are not. "

Any comments?

Wednesday October 11, 2006, 5:19 pm
Quite a LIST of Signatures by President Bush Anton.......Leaves me Wondering Who did all the Actual Work before he put Pen to Paper......

Wednesday October 11, 2006, 6:23 pm
One other detail....ALL the Warm FUZZIES President Bush has signed CANNOT in any way begin to BALANCED all the Death SITUATIONS he has CREATED. Anton I appreciate your comment that he did something..........MM

Wednesday October 11, 2006, 6:57 pm
So Marj,
(BTW that was my G-Ma's name) no matter how much good that man has done... you are still bitter over something and you can NEVER forgive him.

I hope you keep copies of this, and 20 years from now, I bet you will think he was a saint compared to whoever is in office then. (I pray I am alive 20 years from now)

Peace! Tony :)

Wednesday October 11, 2006, 6:59 pm
BTW
I was only going off of Carol's top 7 list. Just adding my 2 cents worth

Wednesday October 11, 2006, 8:31 pm
Me too Anton...Carol's list.....Thanks Carol......Bitter is not me.....Bitter is the Legacy of the Bush Administration so far........If I am alive 20 years from now, my opinion will be the same....too much grief from death....courtesy of the Bush Administration. As far as forgiving him....that could be a possibility......miniscule...maybe he has an atom of a chance of that from me......not that I matter.....if he would back off of adding to his daily list of doing unforgivable things.....hmmmmmmmm...perhaps there are some things in this life that can NEVER be Forgiven.....Perhaps Forgiving is a non- issue.

Wednesday October 11, 2006, 10:51 pm
O.K. all joking aside for a memo/moment:

The Bush Presidency is a failure and I believe every Historian will say as much.
Here is raw data, and straight facts. No smoke and mirrors.

• Presided over the loss of approximately three million American jobs in his first two-and-a-half years in office, the worst record since Herbert Hoover.
• Overseen an economy in which the stock market suffered its worst decline in the first two years of any administration since Hoover’s.
• Taken, in the wake of the terrorist attacks two years ago, the greatest worldwide outpouring of goodwill the United States has enjoyed at least since World War II and squandered it by insisting on pursuing a foolish go-it-almost-alone invasion of Iraq, thereby transforming almost universal support for the United States into worldwide condemnation. (One historian made this point particularly well: “After inadvertently gaining the sympathies of the world 's citizens when terrorists attacked New York and Washington, Bush has deliberately turned the country into the most hated in the world by a policy of breaking all major international agreements, declaring it our right to invade any country that we wish, proving that he’ll manipulate facts to justify anything he wishes to do, and bull-headedly charging into a quagmire.”)
• Misled (to use the most charitable word and interpretation) the American public about weapons of mass destruction and supposed ties to Al Qaeda in Iraq and so into a war that has plainly (and entirely predictably) made us less secure, caused a boom in the recruitment of terrorists, is killing American military personnel needlessly, and is threatening to suck up all our available military forces and be a bottomless pit for the money of American taxpayers for years to come.
• Failed to follow through in Afghanistan, where the Taliban and Al Qaeda are regrouping, once more increasing the threat to our people.
• Insulted and ridiculed other nations and international organizations and now has to go, hat in hand, to those nations and organizations begging for their assistance.
• Completely miscalculated or failed to plan for the personnel and monetary needs in Iraq after the war, so that he sought and obtained an $87 billion appropriation for Iraq, a sizable chunk of which is going, without competitive bidding to Haliburton, the company formerly headed by his vice president.
• Inherited an annual federal budget surplus of $230 billion and transformed it into a $500+ billion deficit in less than three years. This negative turnaround of three-quarters of a trillion dollars is totally without precedent in our history. The ballooning deficit for fiscal 2004 is rapidly approaching twice the dollar size of the previous record deficit, $290 billion, set in 1992, the last year of the administration of President Bush’s father and, at almost 5 percent of GDP, is closing in on the percentage record set by Ronald Reagan in 1986.
• Cut taxes three times, sharply reducing the burden on the rich, reclassified money obtained through stock ownership as more deserving than money earned through work. The idea that dividend income should not be taxed—what might accurately be termed the unearned income tax credit—can be stated succinctly: “If you had to work for your money, we’ll tax it; if you didn’t have to work for it, you can keep it all.”
• Severely curtailed the very American freedoms that our military people are supposed to be fighting to defend. (“The Patriot Act,” one of the historians noted, “is the worst since the Alien and Sedition Acts under John Adams.”)
• Called upon American armed service people, including Reserve forces, to sacrifice for ever-lengthening tours of duty in a hostile and dangerous environment while he rewards the rich at home with lower taxes and legislative giveaways and gives lucrative no-bid contracts to American corporations linked with the administration.
• Given an opportunity to begin to change the consumption-oriented values of the nation after September 11, 2001, when people were prepared to make a sacrifice for the common good, called instead of Americans to ‘sacrifice’ by going out and buying things.
• Proclaimed himself to be a conservative while maintaining that big government should be able to run roughshod over the Bill of Rights, and that the government must have all sorts of secrets from the people, but the people can be allowed no privacy from the government. (As one of the historians said, “this is not a conservative administration; it is a reckless and arrogant one, beholden to a mix of right-wing ideologues, neo-con fanatics, and social Darwinian elitists.”)
My assessment is that George W. Bush’s record on running up debt to burden our children is the worst since Ronald Reagan; his record on government surveillance of citizens is the worst since Richard Nixon; his record on foreign-military policy has gotten us into the worst foreign mess we’ve been in since Lyndon Johnson sank us into Vietnam; his economic record is the worst since Herbert Hoover; his record of tax favoritism for the rich is the worst since Calvin Coolidge; his record of trampling on civil liberties is the worst since Woodrow Wilson. How far back in our history would we need to go to find a presidency as disastrous for this country as that of George W. Bush has been thus far?

Wednesday October 11, 2006, 10:56 pm


Lets keep it historical, theoretical and philosophical.

I elaborate more on the following issue's as they are personal, close to home, and weigh directily on many people I know.

The realities in action outweigh the fluidity of the penmanship you mention.

1.) 2000 The numbers of foreign professionals legally authorized to enter the United States on H-1B visas - from 65,000 a year beginning in 1992 to 195,000 a year for 3 years beginning in 2001. October 18, 2005 the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to consider allowing 60,000 more H-1B visas to be issued per year for the next five years.

(I have several friends with Bachelors and Master Degree’s that have been out of work since 2001. )

According to INS data for FY 2001, when 164,000 new H-1B visa petitions were approved, 55% were for information technology workers; 13% were for engineers; 8% were for administrators; and 6% were for college and university educators.
Median annual compensation for new H-1B workers was $50,000 Nearly 60% of new H-1B workers in FY 2001 came from outside of the United States. 40% had been previously admitted on other temporary visas. 24% held student visas.
The Immigration and Naturalization Service is processing 856,000 H-1B visa petitions (407,500 new petitions and 448,500 renewal petitions), …while unemployment among American managers and professionals increased steadily from 725,000 (1.7%) in 2000; to 973,000 (2.3%) in 2001; to1,341,000 (3.1%) in 2002.[9]
Substantial numbers of the foreign professionals admitted on H-1B and other temporary visas - are competing with growing numbers of displaced citizens and legal permanent residents for jobs in troubled high tech labor markets.
2.) 2001 May 3, Pres. Bush met with Pres. Fox of Mexico and discussed temporary visas for Mexican workers. Later went on to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants already here. Displacing Amercian carpenters, mechanics, poultry workers, on and on and on.
3.) 2001 May 29, Pres. Bush met with Gov. Davis in Los Angeles. Bush ruled out federal price controls and Davis said he would sue to impose controls

4.) President Bush suspended the Davis-Bacon Act by executive order for hurricane-damaged areas on Thursday, September 8, 11 days after Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. The federal law governing workers' pay on federal contracts in the Hurricane Katrina-damaged areas.

The Davis-Bacon Act, passed in 1931 during the Great Depression, sets a minimum pay scale for workers on federal contracts by requiring contractors to pay the prevailing or average pay in the region. Suspension of the act will allow contractors to pay lower wages. Many Republicans have opposed Davis-Bacon, charging that it amounts to a taxpayer subsidy to unions…………. Miller said: "In New Orleans, where a quarter of the city was poor, the prevailing wage for construction labor is about $9 per hour, according to the Department of Labor. In effect, President Bush is saying that people should be paid less than $9 an hour to rebuild their communities

Moreover, DeMint noted, the Davis-Bacon Act also prohibits the use of entry-level workers classified as "helpers" on federally funded projects, and it artificially raises construction costs by up to 33 percent. The 2004 report also found that Davis-Bacon discourages many small businesses from bidding on public projects, because contractors who are unfamiliar with the complex set of laws and regulations often choose not to participate in reconstruction efforts or end up being cited or sued for inadvertently violating laws.

5.) July 20, 2006 - The NLRB – stacked with appointees of George W. Bush – has issued a series of anti-union rulings over the past two years. The latest assault on workers’ rights to organize and form unions could jeopardize the ability of RNs to receive the protections afforded by union representation and to have a strong, effective voice for patient advocacy. More than 700 California Nurses Association (CNA) RNs, joined by other union supporters, marched in downtown Oakland July 11 outside the Federal Building to protest a pending National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruling that could re-classify hundreds of thousands of RNs as “supervisors.”

America is already going to pay a high price for allowing the Bush approach of "ignorance by design" to go relatively unchecked for so long, and, furthermore, leaders worse than Bush are quite imaginable (e.g. "co-president" Cheney whose corporate crimes pale beside what might happen if he had sole control of the levers of power). Al Qaeda or some such group is bound to strike the U.S. again some day in some fashion, and the rest of us aren't nearly as well prepared as we should be

Wednesday October 11, 2006, 11:32 pm
The Amber Plan is named after Amber Hagerman, was developed by a concerned Dallas citizen in 1996 and implemented through radio stations and law enforcement. Bush signed the Bill when it got to his desk. He did not design it or help develop it in any way. What President would not sign such a Bill?

It was during the Clinton Administration that much good will and open policies were developed for trade. Much to my disagreement at the time. China is not the Iran that Carter had to deal with.

The military has had pay cuts and does not have the armour or equipment to keep them safe. If Bush signed a better housing or construction bill, who does that really benefit?

Saving the everglades protection bill, while dismantling several of the enviromental acts that the Clinton Administration implements.

I dont get it Anton. When congress should have been focusing on medicare and social security before their long winter nap, they were struggling instead with manipulating a way to legalize torture that had already occurred.

How can anyone still support this president? It is frightening to be labeled a terrorist or un-patriotic because of healthy discourse and questioning, when our laws have now been manipulated to put people with those labels away without representation, and a level of humanity that this country once exemplified.

I just don't get you. But I appreciate your individuality and open dialogue, and hopefully open mind.
9/11 was tragic. The division this administration has created in this country is tragic, when at first we were all united. ...Divide and Conquer... it's an old strategy.

Thursday October 12, 2006, 9:58 am
Carol, 2 thumbs up... thank you. you are one of the few people that refrains from name calling and can state facts and opinion here on care2, you are NOT some mindless hate america robot...
I do have a couple of things that I would like to interject with your post...
Bush Senior's government, along with the Progressive Conservative Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, spearheaded the negotiations of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which Bill Clinton signed in 1993. It took several years for american companies to build somewhere else before they could offload their jobs. look at all of the major manufacturing... have you ever tried to call to get a problem resolved (any tech support issue) and after pressing 1 for english, get someone that still does not speak english... or at least speak American? why are these jobs offloaded? Because companies were forced to to remain competitave. There is not a huge push to "Buy American". Even if there was a HUGE job creation... the un-employment figures would go down, but who is gaging UNDEREMPLOYMENT? the poor working stiff that worked for Ford, Chevy, Boeing, that was making $25 or more an hour to support his family. That person still has to go to work somewhere, usually for $10 an hour now because his craft or skill is not needed any longer.

Your stock market point is true... but stock market boys are like a flock of seagulls... watch nemo... a fish appears... Mine mine mine mine... look at gas prices now... when there was unstability... they rocketed out of site... a little stability now... prices plummet. Did we change the volume of production? did we increase drilling for new oil? did we build more refineries? no no no... our stock market "futures" dictated the price. A bunch of dumb ass seagulls gossiping on the floor together. nothing changed... the fish went away.

Bush misleading the public on WMD's I have a blog on my website from quotes of other leaders like this President Clinton: "We Have To Defend Our Future From These Predators Of The 21st Century. They Feed On The Free Flow Of Information And Technology. They Actually Take Advantage Of The Freer Movement Of People, Information And Ideas. And They Will Be All The More Lethal If We Allow Them To Build Arsenals Of Nuclear, Chemical And Biological Weapons And The Missiles To Deliver Them. We Simply Cannot Allow That To Happen. There Is No More Clear Example Of This Threat Than Saddam Hussein's Iraq. His Regime Threatens The Safety Of His People, The Stability Of His Region And The Security Of All The Rest Of Us." (President Clinton, Remarks To Joint Chiefs Of Staff And Pentagon Staff, 2/17/98)
I do not wish to reprint all here it is redundant...

you know most of our views do not differ, we are looking at them the same way, just seeing them from different views. I am just looking at them from the lesser of 2 evils eyeballs... if Mrs. Heinz-Kerry was the first lady now there would be more offloading of American jobs (indirectly in her case) with the Ketchup instead go here http://www.wketchup.com/ where the ketchup is made in America, by Americans, only from American ingredients, and it is sold only in America... okay that was a stretch... but the way I seen it. Thanks!

Thursday October 12, 2006, 11:19 am
and to back up that last statement about ketchup...
Eagle Bridge, NY — June 2, 2006 — H. J. Heinz Co. announced yesterday that it is planning to slash 2,700 jobs, eliminate 15 to 20 factories, and cut spending by $355 million. Heinz also announced that it would increase advertising 19% to $317 million.

Friday October 13, 2006, 5:11 pm
I can't stop laughing. Who on Earth are the people that actually find this insulting? This is why the world becomes so complex. Because instead of understanding the point, the issue, the cause at hand, you get offended and defensive about the most ridiculous things. The issue has nothing to do with an elephant! The point is that the symbol is being turned upide down. Ahh forget it. People like this never understand much. It's a waste of breath explaining.

AC

Friday October 13, 2006, 7:19 pm
OK Anton.....I'm telling everyone.....my sense of Humor may be skewed off center.........but,..............When Anton brought up the Heinz Ketchup comment.............the image that popped into my mind was going into a resturant and ordering the DEAD ELEPHANT BLUE PLATTER SPECIAL with a side of HEINZ KETCHUP.......Please. MM lol

Friday October 13, 2006, 11:03 pm
That abuse of the patriotism and trust of the American people is even worse than everything else this president has done. Contrary to the conservative stereotype of academics as anti-American, the reasons for seeing the Bush presidency as a disaster revolve around the perception that he is undermining traditional American practices and values. I think his presidency has been the worst disaster to hit the United States and is bringing our beloved country to financial, economic, and social disaster.

In August BP Oil announced a widespread corrosion problem that will force it to replace 16 miles of a 22-mile pipeline from Prudhoe Bay and to shut down 400,000 barrels a day of production from the largest oil field in the United States. This was the week of Aug. 7th with gas averaging $3.00+ at the pumps.

When I heard this news I thought, "Oh God, a legit excuse to keep pump prices high". Yet, miraculously our pump prices continued to go down. I think gas prices have dropped because of the Nov. elections, much more than Market seagulls having influence.

It will be interesting to see what happens after the elections as this is the time line BP Oil/Gas gave to make their repairs.

Blue platter with Heinz on the side. hee hee. Dont forget the pickle.

Saturday October 14, 2006, 12:54 am
This passion and disgust at what Bush and the GOP has brought about is great!. The damage this administration has created at home and throughout the world is horrible beyond words.

Unfortunately, while I'm relieved as hell that people finally seem to be taking our responsibility (to ourselves and on behalf of the world) to remove this party from power, I can't help but feel the need to supress my anger at those who helped create this monster by feeling it was more important to stick to their "look how progressive I am" statement of there's no difference between the Democrat and the Republican in the last election, after seeing what went on in the first four years.
There is a f*@cking difference. It might not be a big difference, but when the goddamn world is at stake the slightest difference can make all the difference. And frankly, I don't think the difference is that sllight.

Monday October 16, 2006, 10:45 am
Just to say to Queen, people have been nice to you. I LIKE this symbol and feel it is appropriate. Thank you, Jeff! If the Republicans who are in control/power would be more understanding and caring about everyone and not just the rich and powerful, maybe Republicans wouldn't feel so "threatened" by people in the world who are understanding and caring!

Lighten up, Queen, it is a symbol for the Republican Party, not to symbolize real live elephants. I don't think it is very caring of you,Queen, to call us Jackasses. You ought to direct your anger and dissatisfaction toward those who actually are doing lots of harm to animals and the environment, not to mention the harm to human beings! I have lots of education and have been trying to get a full-time job that pays more than $9.00/hr. and offers some benefits, since 2004. Try living and paying all your bills including all your health insurance on that kind of money when you have no other income. Temp work just doesn't help much--it is only a band-aid solution and is also stressful. It is getting harder and harder to get any kind of assistance from anywhere in this country, and the hoops you have to jump through are astronomical, not to mention how long it takes. One could die waiting for all the forms to go through and the help to take effect!!!

Way to go, Keith V., with "Bridge Over Troubled Water"!!!!!!!! Carol Ann, thanks so much for the history and facts as they truly are! And for the discussion Anton and Carol Ann (and everyone else!)

Tuesday October 17, 2006, 12:37 am
Carol Ann, Because you are well spoken (I really mean that) could you answer these?

Did we change the volume of production? did we increase drilling for new oil? did we build more refineries?

your comment "I think gas prices have dropped because of the Nov. elections"

If it is all because of the elections...this post is from my state's elected official... if she Really wanted the re-election, is she going to claim that it is because of her legislation that gas prices went down? You are a smart person, do you believe that? as a voter would you "buy that line"?

her quote" Today, the President called for an investigation of price manipulation of gas prices, and this legislation that we introduce today shines a bright light on futures transactions so that we can determine whether fraud or speculation has occurred."

http://cantwell.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=254700

Note: an all Woman Bi-Partisan effort? :)

Tuesday October 17, 2006, 12:40 am
Caw Caw Caw... (mine mine mine mine)

"no no no... our stock market "futures" dictated the price. A bunch of dumb ass seagulls gossiping on the floor together. nothing changed... the fish went away. "

Tuesday October 24, 2006, 9:28 pm
OMG did I kill the thread? Sorry....

Tuesday October 24, 2006, 11:20 pm
Actually Anton I thought I read that Bush was letting loose some of the Reserve Supplies. From the time prices began going down at the pumps 22 miles of major pipe line in Alaska was shut off for repairs. If anything the prices would have gone up as this greatly added to the shortage.

For some reason the reserve usage is not being mentioned by the media or repulicans. Maybe after Nov. 7th we will know what happened.

I don't believe for a minute is has to do with the stock mkt., or consumer confidence. That would be like putting the cart before the horse, when actually the suggestion you have for a improved stock mkt and/or consumer confidence came after the prices showed continued reduction.

The pipeline damage and shut down has had very little coverage. Now the east is being slammed with snow and cold temps, and the price is yet kept down.

I know I read Bush approved and ordered flow from reserves to be opened in August before news of; BP Oil announced a widespread corrosion problem that will force it to replace 16 miles of a 22-mile pipeline from Prudhoe Bay and to shut down 400,000 barrels a day of production from the largest oil field in the United States.

Now there is talk of scaling back the flow to keep prices level.

I hate SUVs with all there yellow magnetic ribbons. Don't they see the oxymoron they are representing?

This has been a good thread Anton. You have presented healthy diversity and perspective.

Wednesday October 25, 2006, 12:02 am
Thank you Carol Ann,

found this site interesting. http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/reserves/spr/spr-drawdown.html

it is a Dot Gov site... but historically correct as far as I can tell

Wednesday October 25, 2006, 7:45 am
Oil prices drop as Saudis refuse to cut production. Now why is that? ---Isn't that convenient. Right before the elections the Saudis suddenly decide to help lower oil prices. Now why is that? Oh yeah, I remember:

In an interview that aired Sunday on CBS, Woodward, a Washington Post editor, said that Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, had promised President Bush that the Saudis would cut oil prices before November to ensure the U.S. economy was strong on election day. Woodward is the author of the new book "Plan of Attack" on Bush's preparations for the Iraq war.