18,000 Georgians lose extended unemployement benefits on Saturday.

But all the corporate big wigs from Enron to Arthur Anderson, and from energy companies to defense suppliers, will have a jolly Christmas. All the CEOs and upper management will be singing carols all the way to the bank.

My best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and joyful holidays to all those who may be hurting in any way.

Everybody pray for peace please.

I am leaving for St. Louis for the holidays. I am rarely out of Georgia for the Christmas, and will  miss it. I will leave you all with a little reminder of Christmas in Georgia: White Trash Christmas!

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A very nice Flash animation of the "Chicken Hawk Hall of Shame."

Funny how most of the people pushing us towards war in Iraq show up in this animation.

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Daily Kos has a great entry on states right and racism, and the GOP's hypocrisy on both.

If the GOP wants to honestly rid itself of its racist element, then it should do so clearly and unequivocally.

GOP candidates should clearly repudiate the racist vote. In the South, they should clearly disavow the Confederate flag and the evils it stands for. Heck -- if Republicans want to discuss patriotism, what is more anti-American than the flag of the rebels who sought to destroy the US? If Republicans want to talk about "state rights", then they should fully embrace the concept, including Oregon's Right-to-Die law and California's pot clinics.

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"Help is on the way!"

"I do not presume to speak for the military, but I am now speaking to them. To all of our men and women in uniform, and to their parents and families: Help is on the way!" - Cheney during presidential campaign

Since that time:

The administration has supported rescinding lifetime health benefits for World War II and Korean War veterans.

The administration has done nothing to correct continuing problems at veterans hospitals .

The administration has had the Director of the White House's Office of Management and Budget propose limiting the annual military pay raises to 2% instead of the planned 3.7%, starting in January 2004.

Yes, help is on the way!

Actually this is standard operating procedure for the Bush White House. They promise the world to the elderly to get their vote and then announce a cut in Medicare payments. They promise to protect rural Americans and then give their land to large energy companies with all environmental protections removed. They give a "wink, wink, nudge, nudge" to the racists and then turn on them and gut Trent Lott when it suits their political needs. They promised the moon and the sky to the military men and women to get their votes, and now will break their promise with no shame or guilt.

Retired Air Force Colonel George ''Bud'' Day, a Republican who won the Medal of Honor and was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam with Senator John McCain of Arizona, said Bush is violating his oft-repeated campaign pledge to veterans: ''A promise made is a promise kept.''

While Bush is cutting the pay of our military men, increased military spending will continue. The money will now go into the pockets of the defense contractors, some of the largest campaign contributors to the Republican party. The mostly unsuccessful missile defense system the administration calls "better than nothing" will cost $37.5 billion dollars in the four years of Bush's presidency. That money could be better spent by military men and women, than buy Bush's campaign contributors.

I've got a feeling that help is on the way for all Americans.

Story about Bush breaking promises on veteran's healthcare issues.

Story on Bush proposing to cut military pay as he sends them away from family to fight in foreign countries.

Story on 37.5 billion missile defense system that the white house characterizes as "better than nothing."

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Joe Strummer of The Clash dead at age 50.

Joe Strummer died Sunday of what has been mentioned as being a heart attack. As the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for leftist punk band The Clash, he was one of the most influential musicians of the ''70's and 80's. While their album "London Calling" was named the best album of the '80's by Rolling Stone Magazine, "Give 'Em Enough Rope" was one of the most powerful punk albums ever recorded. He is survived by a wife and daughters.

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