TRUFFULAUT #10

3 April 2004

PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE

BUSH ON THE MIDDLE EAST

March 23, 2004, the day after the assassination of Shaikh Ahmad Yasin, verbatim:

"About the Middle East: Its a troubled region -- «pause» -- and events there are troubling."

9/11 CITIZENS WATCH

"...a new citizen-led oversight process established to monitor and engage the Government-sanctioned National Commission on the Terrorist Attacks on the USA."

http://911citizenswatch.org/

http://911citizenswatch.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=7&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON TERRORIST ATTACKS UPON THE UNITED STATES

http://www.9-11commission.gov/

TESTIMONY OF RICHARD A. CLARKE AS SUBMITTED

http://www.9-11commission.gov/hearings/hearing8/clarke_statement.pdf

JON STEWART ON RICHARD CLARKE

For those of you fortunate few with streaming video, this clip from The Daily Show might help you.

http://www.comedycentral.com/mp/play.php?reposid=/multimedia/tds/headlines/8117.html

PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE

TAX EQUITY

Thanks for this link to Kim Komando (http://www.komando.com/), whose excellent computer advice show airs on Saturday afternoons here in Austin on KLBJ-AM. Evidently she realizes that everyone paying their fair share and obeying the spirit as well as the letter of the law should not be considered a partisan issue. In "Tax Me If You Can," Hedrick Smith (http://www.hedricksmith.com/) and PBS's Frontline investigated corporate tax shelters. It is bothersome to see statistics compared to the Great Depression, and it has happened frequently recently.

"As corporate tax payments plummeted, so did the corporate share of the total tax take: once 25 to 30 percent of the total, it fell last year to 7.7 percent, its second lowest level since the Great Depression. Individual taxpayers are making up the difference."

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/tax/

EXPORTING AMERICA

From Lou Dobbs, of CNN: "Here is a list of companies we've confirmed are Exporting America. These are U.S. companies either sending American jobs overseas, or choosing to employ cheap overseas labor, instead of American workers."

http://us.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/lou.dobbs.tonight/popups/exporting.america/frameset.exclude.html

TEXAS IS MEANER

From our friends in Deep East Texas, Lufkin (http://www.cityoflufkin.com/), comes the following editorial, which uses actual facts to show how help for children has suffered greatly. I blame Republican leadership and lack thereof.

"Apart from the lack of compassion represented by the cuts -- we are ashamed to say that Texas has become a much meaner place in the past 10 months -- there is the fiscal irresponsibility exhibited by state leaders."

http://www.lufkindailynews.com/news/newsfd/auto/feed/news/2004/03/25/1080190855.26609.2646.7223.html

SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY TO OURSELVES AND OUR POSTERITY

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Truffulaut could rant for hours but won't, except to say that the USA fought and won two world wars without the phrase "Under God" in any pledge. From the Detroit Free Press (http://www.freep.com/), here is one of the better editorials from around the nation, which includes some history of the phrase in question:

http://www.freep.com/news/metro/des25_20040325.htm

DEMONSTRATORS TAKE PROTEST TO ROVE'S DOORSTEP

Takin' it to the streets... (http://www.lyricsfreak.com/d/doobie-brothers/42433.html) "...when we got to the front door, he yelled at us to get off his property."

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/2474092

REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE

They may own the County Club, but they don't own the nation.

310 First Street, SE

Washington, DC 20003

202-863-8500

Of course here in Austin, we have the Governor's Mansion. I like to drive by late at night when I'm downtown and honk my horn, just to let him know I care.

REPUBLICAN PARTY OF TEXAS

It's in a bank building, also in downtown Austin, and it's fun to walk in and wander through the lobby wearing Democratic tee shirts or carting various subversive paraphernalia. I haven't tried going up the elevator to the GOP office yet, but it might be fun to ask them if they have a bathroom I could use, especially if I really do need to take a bath.

900 Congress, Suite 300

Austin, Texas 78701

512-477-9821

info@texasgop.org

SPOTLIGHT ON MEDIA

AIR AMERICA RADIO

"...a collaborative effort that brings together a group of experienced radio entrepreneurs with a talented team of creative artists. We are a new voice in talk radio: a smart voice with a sense of humor. It brings to the marketplace an unserved need. We give voice to what millions of Americans are thinking, but can't hear on radio." Until now! Streaming radio online of the new "liberal" radio network:

http://airamericaradio.com/

GETTING OUT THE MUSIC LOVERS

Bob Titley, Executive V.P. TBA Entertainment Corporation (http://www.tbaent.com/), and President of its Artist Management Division; one of the co-founders of Music Row Democrats (MRD -- http://www.musicrowdemocrats.com/) said, "It's our view that the interests of country music fans, many of whom are middle-class, blue-collar folks, are not being served by the Republican party."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4542018/

CLEAR CHANNEL VS. THE AMERICAN PUBLIC

Do you remember the furor over comments made by the Dixie Chicks

(http://dixiechicks.launch.yahoo.com/) a furor invented and stoked by Clear Channel Communications Public Disinformation Propaganda Department, Southern Division? You may also recall that the "Support The Troops" rallies (which were very poorly disguised "Re-Elect the First Dude" rallies) were also financed and organized by Clear Channel as described very well by Paul Krugman:

http://www.pubtheo.com/page.asp?PID=1195

JOHN KERRY AND THE ELECTRAS

Probable Democratic nominee played bass in early 60s rock'n'roll band.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1485690/20040311/index.jhtml?headlines=true

HOMELAND SECURITY LIASON TO KEEP HOLLYWOOD IN LINE

"Protecting America against terrorist attacks & other disasters requires strong interagency communication and superior intelligence-gathering. Oh, and a little help from Hollywood."

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-holly21.html

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/

JOB LISTING FOR DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, ENTERTAINMENT LIASON

http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=21344491&AVSDM=2004%2D03%2D17+16%3A59%3A39&Logo=0&col=dltc&cy=&brd=3876&lid=316&fn=&q=entertainment

WE THE PEOPLE ALSO NEED SOME COMIC RELIEF!

http://www.bluetoothagainstbush.com/sloganator/

PAX

TRUFFULAUT