Jeff Seemann For Congress '06

Slacking off for the weekend, more on Schapelle

   Thanks for not giving me too much grief as I spent the Memorial Day weekend slacking off and not blogging.  It was quite a busy weekend, I must say.  No, you can't have the details.
   I've been re-reading articles and my comments on the entire Schapelle Corby ordeal, and it's got me torn up inside.  As a child, I was always affected hard by the TV commercials asking for help while showing starving children in Africa.  I wanted so badly to help, and I often would take on a pen pal or two.  The pictures of Schapelle are doing the same thing to me today.  It's responsible for keeping me awake late last night and waking me up way too early this morning....but compared to what she's going through, I should not be complaining about lack of sleep. 
   I'll respond to the comments regarding Schapelle later.  I want to get to each of them in due time, so again forgive my slow reaction time to you.
   I can't help Schapelle much right now, so I have to relieve my own conscience before I lose any sanity.  I'm about to sit down and write her a letter of support, and make sure she knows she has people halfway around the world trying to help her.  If you feel so inclined, please do the same for her.  You can find her address in the comments of my previous posting.  Thanks to TalkLeft for the addy.
   If you'll excuse me now, I'm going to go and find my daughter and give her a big hug.

Jeff Seemann

Schapelle Corby declared guilty

   It was only a few days ago that I learned the name Schapelle Corby.  She's a 27-year-old beauty therapist who went on vacation to Bali.  While there, she was arrested and charged with smuggling 9 pounds of marijuana into the country.  Problem is, she's fully innocent and had almost all of her exculpatory evidence dismissed by the Indonesian court which earlier today found her guilty and sentenced her to 20 years in prison.
   Whether or not Corby got a fair trial is up for argument.  I for one say she was denied a fair trial.  For example;

• A drug ring brought 10 kilos of cocaine along the same route Corby took to Bali on the SAME DAY Corby traveled.  That ring has been since broken up, but Indonesian courts won't include evidence of that activity.
• The primary judge in the case has never found anyone innocent of drug charges.  Never.
• Corby still does not have a full translation of the court proceedings.  Her translator has struggled to keep up with the judges and Corby does not speak the native language.
• The court ordered the translator feed to Australian media cut off.
• A male inmate testified on Corby's behalf, accounting for a baggage handler he says smuggled the drugs into Corby's bag.  The judge threw out his testimony when he wouldn't name the handler.  The inmate was stabbed in his cell following his testimony.
• Expert witnesses testified that she didn't fit any profile of a smuggler.  The judges threw out their testimony.

   It seems like I've seen this before, only Claire Danes and Kate Beckinsale starred in the original.  But this is no movie.  Schapelle Corby, from my reading of numerous accounts of her trial, is innocent.  She was not set up, but she was the victim of a corrupt system of smuggling baggage handlers who dumped product to escape arrest.  That's my take on the whole thing.  But it won't make much of a difference.
   I plan to do everything I can to help Corby, but I am just one man.  I will begin by boycotting Bali.  It won't make much of a difference, but if many many people join me, we can restore justice to this tragic case.
   Look, I know my efforts seem pathetic and small.  They are.  But when this corner of the world needed my help with tsunami disaster relief, I sent every penny I had left in my personal bank account.  So did millions of others.  They needed our help and I gave.  NO, I do not want my money back.  It's not like that.  What I'm saying is that it's time for the government of Indonesia to step in and carefully recreate this case.  I'm confident that when they do ponder all the evidence, Schapelle Corby was be exonerated and set free.  But the Indonesian government will not listen to just one of us.  We HAVE to lay pressure on them to get cooperation.  Join me.  Click on the links to learn more and please help Schapelle.

Jeff Seemann

So, does that mean we can call them French Fries again??

   

This is particularly puzzling.  I love it when the war-hawks end up eating crow.

   The US politician who led the campaign to change the name of french fries to "freedom fries" has turned against the war.  Walter Jones, the Republican congressman for North Carolina who was also the brains behind french toast becoming freedom toast in Capitol Hill restaurants, told a local newspaper the US went to war "with no justification".

   Jones now claims that the name change was a "light-hearted gesture".  Bull.  What a crock.  Jones, like the daily pundits on Faux News, was particularly nasty in demanding and forcing through this change on a wave of nationalism.  It was pure hatred then and Jones knows it.

   As someone who opposed the war in Iraq from the beginning, I am happy to welcome anybody who has seen the light and demands answers and accountability into the unjust invasion.  However, there's something fishy about Jones' about-face.  And I think I've found the answer as to why it doesn't pass the smell test.
   Turns out that Jones' congressional district has the highest percentage of military personnel in the country.  Now that the public opinion has switched on the justification for the war, that the troops are complaining about inadequate armor, that the recruitng goals cannot be met and that more and more soldiers are seeing themselves as mere cannon fodder, Jones now finds himself in a new position....he's got to address that he voted to send his constituents into a war without a valid reason to do so.
   He was pandering to the troops when he cried about french fries, and he's pandering to the troops now as well.  I don't buy his new assessment at all.
   Here's what I need to see, and THEN I'll be willing to believe him.  Introduce two bills, Congressman Jones.  The first one calls for immediate troop withdrawal and/or accountability from the White House and Pentagon.  The second one calls for the name change BACK to french fries.
   Until then, I'm not buying it, Congressman.

Jeff Seemann

"My name is not Michael Vaughn"

   Yep.  They did it.  As I predicted earlier today, the cliffhanger-ending to Alias' Season Four has left me completely frustrated, wanting to know more.
   For those who missed it, Vaughn and Sydney were eloping, when Vaughn decided to tell her his big secret.  He was midway into a story about how is "was no accident that I was the one you were directed to when you first came to the CIA with the story about SD-6".  He then hit her with the line "my name is not Michael Vaughn", and then an SUV slammed into the driver's side door of their car.  Roll credits.
   Damn, damn, damn.

Jeff Seemann

FBI declassifies - Newsweek was CORRECT!

   The news just came out about 10 minutes ago, via a series of declassified FBI documents. 
   As early as April of 2002, reports were being filed about desecration of the Koran at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba....including the flushing of the holy book.  The reports were kept secret until today, but the Pentagon, Department of Defense and the WHITE HOUSE were AWARE of the reports, and they STILL had the audacity to attack Newsweek?
   As usual, accountability for White House lies will be absent.
   But the next time you hear a right-winger bitching about accountability of the media, remind them that the Koran-flushing story WAS TRUE.

Jeff Seemann

P.S.  Also, ask them "if the CBS memos were lies, why did the White House say 'we're checking to see if the memos are false'?"  If Bush really finished his National Guard Tour, the memos would have been ABSOLUTELY false.  The mere fact that they had to check just PROVES that the memos were true.  You don't "check into" something that you know is false from the get-go.

ALIAS - My obsession, and how will Season Four end?

   Non-political posting for today.  Must discuss my biggest television obsession.

   Tonight is the Season Four finale of my favorite show, Alias.  I've been a big fan of the show for a little over a year now, right after a friend gave me the first two seasons on DVD (and later, the Third Season).  I wtached the first few episodes and got addicted.  Took a weekend vacation at a cabin in the woods and watched episode after episode after episode.  I finally caught up with the series as Season Four began.

   My thoughts about Season Four were that the show had pulled back from its' strengths....each show seemed episodic, and there was very little drama that carried over from one show to the next.  This upset me, because the first three seasons relied on cliffhangers and ALWAYS left you wanting more.  That all changed last week during a two-hour episode.  Finally, we got back to the Derevkos, Rambaldis, and (bad, not good) Sloanes of the world.  Tonight, I expect to be VERY frustrated when left with another season-ending cliffhanger.

   But what will that cliffhanger be?  I'm convinced someone will die tonight.  My gut instinct tells me that Nadia will be our victim.  The ass-kickin'-babes-who-are-also-sisters vibe never fully took, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Nadia get knocked off (rumors tell me that Jack Bristow will learn HE is her father just before she dies).  If I'm wrong, it'll be Arvin Sloane who dies, sacrificing himself to save Nadia.

   Anyway, we're about 6 hours from the finale....and I'm quite excited.  Nobody call me after 10pm toinight, because I'm not gonna answer the phone.

Jeff Seemann

P.S.  Yes, the fact that Jennifer Garner can kick butt makes her more attractive to me.  Heck, all my favorite actresses are of the butt-kickin' variety (Garner, Eliza Dushku, Hilary Swank)

Tuesday Lincoln Blogging!

   Let me preface this post with a little history.  Many of the popular left blogs set aside Fridays as a special day....for example, Atrios posts pictures of his cats at Eschaton for what he calls "Friday Cat Blogging".  John Aravosis followed up on AMERICAblog with "Friday Orchid Blogging".  Amanda Marcotte at Pandagon publishes a random list from her iPod every Friday morning.
   So with that intro, I have here to begin a new feature at the JSFC blog.....Tuesday Lincoln Blogging!  Every Tuesday, we'll have a brief feature on Lincoln.  Today's will be about our 16th President, other days will be about other uses of the word "Lincoln".

• Abraham Lincoln was born February 12, 1809 in Kentucky.  When he was 8, he moved to Illinois.  His mother died when he was 10.
• During his second Inaugural Address, he included the words "With malice towards none: with charity for all".  It was the last speech ever given by a Republican president that didn't address the problems with gay marraige.
• Abraham Lincoln once said "If you're a racist, I will attack you with the North", and those are the kind of goals I carry with me in the workplace.

   Welcome to Tuesday "Lincoln Blogging"!  Hope you enjoyed it!

Jeff Seemann

P.S.  While I don't yet have an influx of trolls on my site, before any show up I need to remind people that only one of the above facts about Lincoln is actually true.  Bonus points to anybody who can guess which fact is fully truthful, which fact is only halfway truthful and which fact came from a TV sitcom's dialogue.

Update on the filibuster

As can be found on multiple web sites, TV stations, newspapers, etc etc etc, a deal has been brokered to stop the 'nuclear option' from being launched.  There are those on both sides of the aisle who will say they won and those who will declare depression, claiming their side surrendered.

Here's how I see it....Bill Frist was the puppet, James Dobson was pulling the strings.  Both demanded the world and both claimed they'd never compromise over this.  They caved.  Therefore, we KNOW they didn't have the votes to pull this off, or they would have pushed it to the limit.

We won.  Democracy lives for another day.

Something different

   It's Monday night, a little after 7:30 pm.  I've been pondering what to blog about for my daily posting, and I decided to blog about a subject that very few online sites are discussing tonight.....tomorrow's potential "nuclear option" in the Senate.

   OK, I'm kidding.  EVERYBODY is discussing it, and they should be.  It can be summarized quite easily.  The Republicans don't like the rules that are in place.  The Republicans don't like the rules they need to follow in order to change the rules.  The Republicans are going to ignore the rules and do what they want.  It's that simplistic.

   Like it or not, filibusters are part of the rules of the Senate.  They've been used throughout the history of our country, and they've been used by the SAME Senators who are now claamoring to get rid of them.  The rules of the Senate further state that in order to change existing laws and regulations, a 2/3rds majority vote is required.  The Republicans need 67 votes to do away with the filibuster, according to these laws.  But they don't care.  They're prepared to declare that filibusters are illegal based on a simple majority vote.  Yes, that means they are prepared to violate the rules of the Senate in order to get what they want.

   The good news is that a handful of moderate Republican Senators exist and may vote against the so-called Nuclear Option, which will deny the right-wing of the 51 votes needed to get the simple majority.  Imagine the embarrassment to the extreme right wing if they try to violate the rules and can't even get the 51 votes to do it.

   Now's where you step in.  The last tally has the Democrats at 49 votes and a few Senators have not yet decided.  Call their offices and explain your stance to them.  Be polite and professional and explain the dire circumstances when a party violates rules to achieve unchecked power.  Here's the names and phone numbers of the undecided Republican Senators.  Go get 'em...special attention is paid to Mike DeWine, as he is an Ohioan (and up for re-election next year).

    Arlen Specter: (Pennsylvania)
    DC Office:
    202-224-4254

    Philadelphia Office:
    215-597-7200

    Pittsburgh Office:
    412-644-3400

    John Warner: (Virginia)
    DC Office:
    (202) 224-2023

    Richmond Office:
    (804) 739-0247

    Norfolk Office:
    (757) 441-3079

    Mike Dewine: (Ohio)
    DC Office:
    (202) 224-2315

    Cleveland office:
    (216) 522-7272

    Columbus office:
    (614) 469-5186

    Chuck Hagel: (Nebraska)
    DC Office:
    (202) 224-4224

    Omaha Office:
    (402) 758-8981

Thanks!
Jeff Seemann

Laura Bush, champion of Women's Rights (offer not valid in Saudi Arabia)

   Dear God, help us all.  Laura Bush is speaking on behalf of women's rights in the Middle East.  Yes, that's right....women deserve the rights of all free societies.  But Laura Bush is playing the part of a MASSIVE HYPOCRITE in her calls for such freedoms. 

   Case in point; Laura Bush calls for freedom of women, especially "the right to speak and vote and worship freely".  However, she refuses to address Saudi Arabia's oppression of women, who are not permitted to vote or run for office.  A pat on the back to the first person who can guess why Bush won't dare challenge the Saudis.

   Laura Bush is on record as saying that rights are taken away from women in brutal fashion by "only the terrorists and the Taliban."  Laura, Saudi does the same thing....so which are they?  Are they the Taliban or the terrorists?  Don't hold your breath for an answer on that one.  Saudi Arabia is the proverbial elephant in the living room....well, in this case, Saudi Arabia is the massive campaign contributor to the elephant in the living room.

   Three years ago, Laura Bush was bravely fighting for the rights of Afghani women to wear nail polish and still keep their nails attached to their fingers.  I applaud anybody who calls for the cease and desist of oppression, especially of women.  But she called out the Taliban on their actions in November of 2001, just as a war had begun in Afghanistan.  Prior to 9/11, Bush never once even mentioned women under tyrannical rule, and the Taliban were patted on the head in the late '90s as they toured Texas (whose Governor was, survey sayyyyysssssss.......).

   Bush was promoting women's rights as a cover in Afghanistan then, and she's doing it again now.  She truly has no care for what happens to women across the globe.  Her sole purpose in the Middle East this week is to paint a rosy picture on the fact that we are nation-building and bullying countires that are weaker than ours.

   And if you have any doubt as to her true concern about women's rights, just ask the question....why isn't she confronting the Saudi empire on their laws which oppress women?

   Odds are that Laura Bush won't answer the question.  She has no concern for gender equality.  If she did, she'd tell you that women's rights do not stop at the borders of the poor countries.

Jeff Seemann

P.S.  If anybody does get to ask her the question, try and get a follow-up question in there.....ask her why her limousine is armored better than our soldiers' trucks in Iraq and Afghanistan.