Please Gov. Quinn: Provide Pained Illinoisans Pot To Put Pain In‏

 

For a week now Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has been pondering whether to sign the bill making Illinois the 19th state to legalize marijuana for relief of chronic pain. If politics weren't a factor - Quinn is up for re-election next year - the bill would already be law and thousands of chronically pained Illinoisans would step out from the shadows of illegal marijuana use to relieve their pain legally. However, Quinn, like he did with his March 9, 2011, signing of the Illinois death penalty ban, doesn't want to appear too eager to legalize a federally banned substance and rile up conservatives who deem it a "gateway" drug to depravity and destruction of the Illinois nuclear family. Bunk. More people become addicted to and even die from abuse of prescription drugs, such as the highly addictive pain drug Oxycontin in a week, than have ever been harmed by marijuana. These legal prescription drugs are loaded with horrible side effects that take up half of the million dollar commercials hawking them to recite. They drain the finances of the chronically and terminally ill while they degrade their health, all to make greedy rich men and women masquerading as the Titans of Big Pharma, greedier and richer.

Arguments that medical marijuana will cause these folks to graduate to cocaine or heroin would be hilarious if they weren't so counterproductive to providing better pain treatment to people in need.  One of the most ludicrous comments from opponents of the bill came from Sen. Jason Barickman (Rep. Bloomington), who claimed we must follow the federal government model for regulating marijuana which amounts to a 76 year long ban that has been an utter failure of a sensible drug policy. Millions of folks have clogged up our jails and had their lives ruined over this  essentially victimless crime. What's hilarious is that while Republicans lambast every vestige of federal governance that actually helps people and promotes the commons, Barickman praises one of the more truly dysfunctional aspects of federal rule.

Come on, Gov, whip out your passage pen, sign the bill, and let non super side effect pain relief begin.

Book Pick: The Third Coast: When Chicago Built The American Dream, by Thomas Dyja. The Penguin Press, 2013

Chicago may long be known as the Second City, a dig on its trailing The Big Apple's big status as US city No. 1, but Dyja's calling Chicago between WWII and 1960 the Third Coast is pure complement. Dyja details the enormous innovation that emanated from Chicago in most cultural endeavors suc...h as architecture, science, politics, television, music, education and literature which allowed Chicago to outshine such innovation from either the east or west coasts: hence the name Third Coast. As a lifelong Chicagoan and amateur historian, I thought I knew the Chicago story till I picked up this tome. Dyja seamlessly interweaves dozens of stories supporting his thesis throughout this 412 page valentine to That Toddlin' Town. Chicago still may not be ready for reform, but recognition of its influence on the American Century has finally been chronicled

Baghdad's Biggest Problem Is BB's

Hard to believe but the biggest problem in the Iraqi capital of Iraq are BB's. Monday, saw nine Baghdad BB's kill 27 and wound 116. The ongoing outbreak of BB's has brought fears of return to the 2006-07 BB epidemic that killed thousands in sectarian violence.
How can BB's inflict such carnage you ask? It's simple. BB's are the nickname given to phenomenon instituted on March 19, 2003, when President George W. Bush, a.k.a. The Decider, decided to launch his criminal war against the Iraqi people. Since that time hundreds of thousands of Iraqis lay dead, many from the grisly use of US launched BB's that have now spawned homegrown BB's as Iraq continues its 11 year civil war between Sunnis and Shiites. BB's refer, of course, to Bush Bombings, a most appropriate way to characterize the criminal legacy of Bush and his criminal war cabinet. While Bush enjoys painting daisies 3 hours a day in his Dallas mansion, countless Iraqis are pushing up daisies 24 hours a day thanks to Bush Bombings.

Can anyone say "war crime trial"?

Jazz Pick Of The Week: That's A Plenty

This Nov. 27, 1943 recording on Commodore Records led by cornetist Wild Bill Davison is a great example of Chicago Style Jazz popularized by white Chicagoans in the 1920's and based around Austin H.S. on Chicago's west side; hence the names Austin High Gang and Chicago Style Jazz. It's less relaxed than more traditional black Dixieland bands out of New Orleans, featuring a raucous, race to the finish tempo and more freewheeling individual solos emulating the faster pace of life in Chicago. Also appearing on this side are Pee Wee Russell, clarinet; George Brunnies, trombone, Eddie Condon, guitar; Gene Schraeder, piano; George Wettling, drums; and Bob Casey, drums. Davison's pick up group was tabbed the "Commodores" after the record label, which in turn, was started in 1937 by Milt Gabler, uncle of comedian Billy Crystal. Crystal's father ran the Commodore Record Store, a famous NYC jazz record shop which gave its name to the record company. 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di-4yMei3Wc

Illinois Democrats Should Unify Behind Inspiring Leader

 

When Pat Quinn assumed the Illinois governorship on January 29, 2009, it was a case of the right man taking charge at a critical time. Following the second consecutive Governor jailed on federal corruption charges, and the entire nation suffering economic meltdown, Quinn's 35 year career as political reformer, tireless champion for working people and squeaky clean advocate for effective government, was just what Illinois needed at that moment of crisis. And Quinn didn't disappoint. Even his harshest critic would concede Quinn righted the morally listing ship of state and has maintained that even keel for nearly four and a half years.

But that Job One which he did splendidly would not ensure his election to the Governorship outright just 21 months after assuming office. Having spent his entire career both in and out of office doing good works for all Illinoisans such as spearheading the cost saving reduction in the size of the state legislature, helping create the Citizens Utility Board to protect consumers interests, or seeking to amend the Illinois Constitution to increase the power of public referendums in both legislation and public official recall, Quinn hit the governorship ground running.

On the economic front he passed Illinois Jobs Now, the largest capital construction project ever, to support creation of 400,000 jobs over six years. He doubled the Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit, providing the largest tax relief for working families in Illinois history. He signed the Dream Act.

A true "green" Governor, Quinn led a $1 billion Illinois Clean Water Initiative to overhaul Illinois' aging water infrastructure, creating thousands of jobs. He launched the Illinois Millennium Reserve, the largest open space project in the country, to improve public recreation in the Calumet region.

Mindful of the need for ethics reform, Quinn passed and signed a new strong ethics code, enacted campaign contribution limits for the first time in Illinois history and abolished the much abused hundred year old political scholarship program.

A true friend to those whose rights are abridged or denied, Quinn strengthened women's' reproductive choice, championed family planning and access to reproductive health services, advocated tirelessly for marriage equality for gays, and finally achieved abolition of the death penalty.

Mindful of endless and senseless gun tragedies, Quinn proposed a ban on assault weapons and high capacity ammunition clips.

That aggressive program of plain ol' good governance did not go unnoticed by the electorate.
Pat Quinn confounded the pundits by being elected governor outright in 2010 against a Republican tide that brought fellow Midwestern states Wisconsin and Ohio extreme union busting and social safety net cutting governors who made their states a showcase of bad governance and job destruction.

But with election for a second full term just a year and a half away, speculation abounds concerning a Primary challenge from either former White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley or Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. That would be a mistake. A Primary challenge would surely split Illinois Democrats and leave the winner wounded and bereft of finances to face a tough GOP foe in the general election. The most likely challenger, Attorney General Madigan would do well to consider second spot on the ticket as Quinn's Lt. Governor running mate. A Quinn-Madigan ticket would be tough to beat. It would unite Illinois Democrats behind a formidable pair, provide Illinois with an outstanding person to step up to Governorship if necessary, and provide Quinn and all Illinoisans with an equally tireless advocate to develop and implement a true People's Agenda. It would also make for a smooth transition to electing Illinois' first woman governor four years hence.

 

Attorney General Lisa Madigan is one very smart person. Uniting all Illinois Democrats behind the Pat Quinn, who has proved repeatedly he deserves a second term, might just be the smartest move she could make, for herself and for all of Illinois.

Jazz Pick Of The Week: Lillie Delk Christian & Louis Armstrong

 Louis spent the years 1923 to 1929 recording race records, low budget sides of major companies' black artists marketed solely to the black community. His crossover hit "I can't give you anything but love" in March, 1929, made Pops a mainstream star and he never looked back. This June 26, 1928 side features his Hot Four including Earl "Fatha" Hines, piano; Jimmy Noone, clarinet and Mancy Cara, Banjo, backing Lillie Delk Christian singing "Too Busy". Delk is a fine singer but isn't singing jazz as demonstrated when Pops takes over the song at 2:14 with a riveting scat vocal underneath Christian's final chorus. It's almost as if Louis is saying "time for some real jazz singing". Good example of jazz and non jazz singing on the same record.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsIkZydHGrI

This Time The Last Man....May Be A Woman

Does anyone but the immediate families and friends know the names or even care about the seven American soldiers who were senselessly allowed to die May 4, in our lost war in Afghanistan simply to save face? But more on them later.

Back on April 22, 1971, a young, decorated Vietnam War veteran  give among the most riveting testimony ever before a Congressional committee. Speaking on behalf of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW), that shaggy dark haired vet said this which should be taught in every US history class in America:

"Each day to facilitate the process by which the United States washes her hands of Vietnam someone has to give up his life so the United States doesn't have to admit something that the entire world already knows, so that we can't say we have made a mistake. Someone has to die so that President Nixon won't be, and these are his words, 'the first President to lose a war'. We are asking Americans to think about that because how do you ask a man to be the last man to die in Vietnam?  How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?  

History has a tendency to inflict extreme irony on its actors. That eloquent patriot and hero, John Kerry, parlayed his instant fame speaking truth about our criminal and failed Vietnam War into a 28 year run as US Senator, 2004 Presidential candidate and now Secretary of State. His current role includes letting soldiers needlessly die in Afghanistan by pretending we have a valid purpose in continuing to fight that war till it is mercifully concluded on December 31, 2014. Neither John Kerry, nor his boss, President Obama, started the Afghan war, and unlike many of the unrepentant Congressional warmongers like John McCain (Rep. AZ), Lindsay Graham (Rep. SC) and Mark Kirk (Rep. IL), they have the good sense and decency to put a cork, albeit 600 days out, on the bottle of endless blood we've allowed to bleed out for the past eleven and a half years.

We know that so far 2,216 US soldiers have died in Afghanistan for a mistake. We will never know how many thousands of innocent Afghan men, women and children we've needlessly slaughtered because we dare not put a number on it, just like we refuse to acknowledge the two million Vietnamese we slaughtered when John Kerry was playing "shootemup", in the jungle. And quite frankly, our government does not care. If we did we wouldn't be mistakenly bombing Afghan wedding parties to this day simply because a large gathering of Afghan humans in an open area could be imagined bad guys.

The extreme irony for John Kerry, is that a Congressman could haul him before a Congressional committee, look him in the eye and ask, "Secretary Kerry, how do you ask a man to be the last man to die in Afghanistan? How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake"?

Four years and 24 days after the idealistic John Kerry asked those questions to Sen. William Fulbright's Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Kelton Rena Turner, an 18 year old Marine, became the last man to die for the Vietnam War mistake. While we won't know till the end of next year who will be the last man (or woman) to die for the Afghan war mistake, we know for sure it will not be one of the seven who died last Saturday.

 

 

 

 

 .

Gidwitz Not Giddy Over HOP Circular Firing Squad

It's sure tough being a reasonable, decent human being in today's Illinois HOP (Homophobe Only Party, a.k.a. GOP). Consider the reasonable and decent Ron Gidwitz, onetime HOP gubernatorial candidate, splendid fundraiser and major player in national and statewide politics. He is so distraught over the morphing of the GOP into the HOP, he blasted the homophobic dinosaurs who have split the party in two, telling the media they were "destroying"  the party's chances in the 2014 statewide elections. The recent thrice failed effort of the Illinois HOP Central Committee to oust their honorable state chairman Pat Brady because he believes all Illinoisans are full fledged Americans deserving marriage equality, caused an exasperated Gidwitz to publically exclaim, "I mean, how stupid is this!"

Alas, HOP major domo homophobes, led by state senator Jim Oberweis (HOP 25th), Jerry Clarke, former chief of staff to U.S. Congressman Randy Hultgren, and the irrepressible homophobe state representative Jeanne Ives (HOP 42nd), are high fiving themselves over Brady's finally resigning after surviving the third ouster attempt which brought in the Keystone Kops to restore order.

If the HOP has any chance of regaining their former moniker GOP (Grand Old Party), then moderates like my state rep Sandy Pihos (HOP, 48th) and my state senator and gubernatorial wannabee Kirk Dillard (HOP, 24th) need to tell the homophobic bigots, pounding on their door demanding the Land of Lincoln never sanctify a gay marriage, to find a land that will protect their disgusting bigotry. If they need some help with their search here are two: North Korea and Iran.

An Army Motto To Fit The Times

News of the sexual assault epidemic in the military gets worser and worser. In 2012, an estimated 26,000 female soldiers experienced sexual assault, a little over 70 per day. This week we viewed the mug shot of Lt. Col. Jeff Krusinski, an officer in charge of a military sexual assault and response office, who was arrested for sexually assaulting a stranger in a parking lot. In response to this epidemic, the Army has changed its marketing campaign to young, impressionable males from "BE ALL THAT YOU CAN BE"  to "GET ALL THAT YOU CAN GET".  For young, impressionable females its: "THE CHALLENGE OF A LIFETIME".

Call Off The Cops: Brady Throws In Towel To HOP Homophobes‏

 

The Daily Herald article chronicling IL HOP (Homophobe Only Party, a.k.a. GOP) Chairman Pat Brady's resignation was pretty mundane till paragraph 17 which is too precious not to share:

The last of three ouster attempts was a raucous meeting April 13 in Tinley Park. About 75 people attended to call for Brady's removal over his support for same-sex marriage and erupted in anger when they learned Brady would keep his job. Local police had been called to keep the peace and at one point locked people out of the hallway adjacent to the meeting room, where they'd begun yelling and chanting, "Throw him out."

Not once, not twice, but three times the IL HOP led by State Senator Jim Oberweis and Jerry Clarke, former chief of staff to U.S. Congressman Randy Hultgren, disgraced themselves and their party by publically staging an ouster move of the gallant Mr. Brady, whose support of gay marriage in Illinois was the 800 lb impediment to his staying in charge of the HOP and trying to drag it (no pun intended) into the 21st century of inclusiveness and full humanitarianism. If you're  going to make complete fools of yourselves, the least you can do is finish the job in one embarrassing effort.  Three times the HOP well to well of divisiveness and three times they came up dry. HOP stalwarts were quick to point out that Brady's gay marriage stance had little to do with their ferocious ouster campaign. To believe them, it focused on his inability to make the HOP competitive in elections. Considering this is the same self destructive mindset that gave us possibly the worst major office candidate in Illinois history, Alan Keyes in 2004, who lost to Barack Obama by over 2,200,000 votes, the current HOP leaders need only look in the mirror to figure out what ails the HOP. By the way, what ever happened to that guy who overwhelmed Keyes?

Brady's removal exposes the real problem the HOP faces as the 2014 election season approaches. A virulent homophobe has little chance to ascend to the chairmanship and the dwindling moderates left, like state Sen. Matt Murphy of Palatine, have already bowed out, reading the homophobia writing on the wall.

While these Illinois HOP shenanigans were playing out, both Rhode Island and Delaware legalized gay marriage, pushing Illinois to only a possible 12th best finish in the statewide full civil rights sweepstakes. And over at Lincoln's Tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery, if you're real quiet, you might hear mutterings like this:

"In 1860 I put the GOP on the map. If I could come back for one day I'd rip the HOP right off that map."

© 2013 Microsoft Terms Privacy Developers English (United States)

DuPage GOP Should Rescind Sen. Cruz Speaking Invite

 DuPage GOP Chairman Dr. Darlene Ruscitti should rescind her invitation to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz to be Keynote Speaker at their Lincoln Day Dinner this Friday.

Sen. Cruz has engaged in incendiary, non-productive, false and destructive speech unbecoming of any public official, much less a sitting US Senator.

A previous post on Sen. Cruz detailed how he promoted his political rise amongst the Tea Party faithful by once telling a Texas Fourth of July political rally that there were more Commie professors at Harvard than Republican professors. He then said his predecessor at Harvard Law, Barack Obama, would have made a great Harvard Law School President, since he's the most radical president in US history, making him right at home amongst those Reds who believed in Communist overthrow of the US.  Such talk is not only false and hateful, its dangerous. When a prominent politician makes such incendiary charges and characterizations against a sitting President, one can only ponder the disturbed individuals who will lap up those words of hate speech and consider them a call to action. No wonder the President has received an unprecedented level of threats.

It would be bad enough if Cruz actually believed such outrageous talk, but he's simply making it all up to excite the Tea Party extremists who formed his base for gaining a Senate seat. Are we to believe that Cruz uncovered this Commie Conspiracy at Harvard Law, a plot no one else was privy to, and then stayed in spite of that for three years simply to punch his ticket to fame and fortune via the best law degree available? Guess what law school Cruz will tell his kids to strive for if they want to follow daddy in the high stakes arena of law and politics. There won't be a single mention of Commie Profs when Junior fills out his Harvard Law application. Cruz is simply an opportunistic cynic who knows what red meat to throw the gullible crowd pining for a movie star handsome, silver tongued messenger of hate and divisiveness. 

DuPage GOP Party Chairman Dr. Ruscitti, the Regional Superintendent of Schools in DuPage County, should know better than to give a public forum to a demagogic figure who will malign the sacred profession of education for unseemly political gain. Least she view this merely as a partisan attack, she should consider the editorial words of the far right New York Daily News, demanding New York GOP Chairman Ed Cox cancel his invitation to Sen. Cruz to address the May 29 NY state GOP $1,000 a plate dinner:

"Two choices are offered to New York Republican Chairman Ed Cox: Cancel plans to have Texas Sen. Ted Cruz headline the party’s annual dinner or speed the GOP’s long demise in the state. In featuring Cruz as the prime speaker at the May 29 affair, Cox has entered a death embrace with New York’s political Public Enemy No. 1 of the moment. Cruz represents the unthinking, doctrinaire strain of conservatism that doomed Mitt Romney’s electoral chances, such as they were, and threatened to alienate Republicans from key voting blocs, including Cruz’s fellow Hispanics."

Nor is this a matter of denying free speech. Sen. Cruz has every right to walk outside his door or stand on the Capitol steps and howl at the moon for hours about Commie Profs at Harvard and the most radical President in US history if he chooses. But every one of us, whether officeholder or concerned citizen, who deeply cares about solving the serious problems we face, should not give a platform to a charlatan who uses the grand opportunity of public service to infest our body politic with cynical, extremist talk.

This is one time when the confluence of politics and education weighs heavy on the crown of Dr. Ruscitti. Let's hope she gets this one right. 

DuPage County GOP Driving On Cruz Control To Dishonor Lincoln

 

It's possible the Du Page County GOP could have picked a worse political leader to keynote their May 10 Lincoln Day Dinner, but I doubt it. The honoree they picked, Sen. Ted Cruz (Rep. TX), not only looks a tad like 1950's champion demagogue, Sen. Joe McCarthy (Rep. WI), he demagogues like him, too. Cruz, who attended Harvard Law from 1992 to 1995, once told a Texas Fourth of July political rally that there were more Commie professors at Harvard than Republican professors. He then said his predecessor at Harvard Law, Barack Obama, would have made a great Harvard Law School President, since he's the most radical president in US history, making him right at home amongst those "dirty dozen" who believed in Communist overthrow of the US.  That talk resonated with Texas Tea Party faithful attending, and up in Demagogue Heaven, Tail Gunner Joe McCarthy was smiling.

But Cruz doesn't limit his demagogueing to partisan political events. At the Chuck Hagel Defense Secretary hearings Cruz implied that Hagel accepted speaking fees from the North Koreans. This brought an unprecedented rebuke from far right Republican colleague Lindsey Graham (Rep. SC) who called Cruz's crazy talk "out of bounds".

Cruz fairs no better when not channeling McCarthy. Threatening to filibuster all reasonable gun control measures in the wake of the Newtown massacre, Cruz called the families of the victims "political props" for the Obama administration simply because they petitioned Congress to enact sensible gun legislation.

Cruz voted against Hurricane Sandy relief for blue state victims in New York and New Jersey prompting conservative Republican colleague Representative Pete King to publically state, "He went out of his way to attack New York on the bill. There were really phony charges made against Sandy aid, and if Ted Cruz had prevailed, my constituents would be homeless." Yet, when a fertilizer plant blew away most of West, TX, Cruz had he gall to demand Uncle Sam devote "all available resources" to help his constituents.

On immigration relief Cruz is fighting to sink bipartisan immigration reform by demanding that a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants be "taken off the table".

Just this week, Cruz broke Senate protocol by publically trashing Republican colleagues who privately told him in closed door meetings not to threaten filibustering all gun control legislation in advance. He called them "squishes" because after privately criticizing him, they rolled over and voted for the filibuster as well.

What nonsense Cruz will offer the DuPage GOP faithful this Friday remains to be heard. Maybe he'll come up with a new "birther" slam at the President. Maybe he'll turn the spotlight on Illinois state representative Jeanne Ives (Rep. 42) to honor her demagogic comment that "Same sex marriages are completely disordered". "They're trying to redefine society."  "They're trying to weasel their way into acceptability so that they can then start to push their agenda down into the schools, because this gives them some sort of legitimacy... And we can't allow that to happen." Maybe Cruz will share more of his private battles with Republican colleagues that are trying to tamp down his driving lust for power and self aggrandizement.

Is the DuPage GOP trying to insult the legacy of Honest Abe or are they simply tone deaf. If actor Daniel Day-Lewis donned his Oscar winning Lincoln garb and tried to gain entry this Friday, security would scrutinize his scruffy beard, non elite clothing, and obvious humanitarianism and tell him: "Get lost, pal, you're not one of us". 

It's wheels up for high flyers; wheels off for homebound hungry

As soon as the Sequester created hours long air traffic delays, the nation's privileged high flyers took umbrage. They talked, and the Congressmen walked...straight into legislative session. Voila, a bill appeared and the air traffic delays magically vanished from the Sequester cutbacks.

Meanwhile, the folks really in need, such as those homebound and dependent upon the 365 million Meals on Wheels served yearly, have seen a 5% cutback in service. That represents an annual reduction of almost 20 million meals. They're talking too....but nobody is listening.

The folks promoting the Sequester are doing High Fives, finally achieving cutbacks in the social safety net they have been championing for years. They even have a new name for the wonderful program that provides early education for the needy so they can gain a semblance of parity with their affluent peers: Head Stop.

Don't Let Anti Government Clique Destroy Postal Service

As a 40 year logistics industry veteran, I know first hand how Fred Smith, founder of Fed Ex became a billionaire two times over. And it wasn't by providing excellent delivery service at Chevy prices; it was providing excellent service at Mercedes Benz prices. Scare the daylights out of people with million dollar ads touting the end of their job if they don't use Fed Ex and you can get individuals and companies to fork over exorbitant prices for what the United State Postal Service (USPS) does routinely for much less.

That is why folks like Fred and his counterparts at UPS are pouring millions into the coffers of the "destroy good government" crowd in Congress to take down their current bête noir, the United States Postal Service.  The 2006 legislation that requires the Postal Service to pre-fund retiree health benefits costs for the next 75 years within 10 years, is like shackling this wonderful provider of tens of thousands of good middle class jobs with a ten ton anchor, throwing it out to sea and chirping: "Swim for it". That is reprehensible and must be rescinded. A good starting point is to learn about and then support H.R. 630 / S. 316, a bill introduced by Rep. Pete De Fazio (Dem OR) which will do just that.

How? First and most importantly, H.R. 630, The Postal Service Protection Act, eliminates the USPS's unique and unprecedented burdensome pre-funding requirement. Second, it provides for the USPS to recover the estimated 75 billion in overpayments. Third, it provides for permanent establishment of six day a week mail delivery, whose elimination would disrupt timely and efficient service without any significant cost savings. Fourth, it would end the current prohibition on USPS from providing non-postal opportunities, including notary services, issuance of licenses, services to state and local agencies, and shipping of wine and beer. Other countries have had great success with these non-postal services; so should America from the USPS. Fifth, it would give the Postal Regulatory Commission binding authority to prevent post office closures that would adversely affect communities and employees. Sixth, by creating strict standards for delivering First Class Mail on time, it would make it more difficult to close area mail processing facilities, saving thousands of good middle class jobs in the process.

If I've learned two things in my 40 years in logistics, one is that Fred Smith doesn't need a third billion. The second is that Chevy may be the heartbeat of America, but the Postal Service is the heartbeat of great middle class jobs providing fine mail delivery at Chevy prices.  

It's not "Torture without excuses", it's torture without justice

The Chicago Tribune's chief political pundit Steve Chapman is to be commended for his important and stark recital of the Bush-Cheney torture regime in his April 21 column, "Torture without excuses".

But he is also to be condemned for two astounding conclusions which go to the core of Chapman and the Trib Editorial Board's unwillingness to take the next step in the process and demand that President Bush and Vice President Cheney be brought to justice.

First, after reciting the likely torture death of a 52 year old Iraqi who died in US custody from blunt force injuries to torso and legs, abrasions indicating being shackled, a fractured neck bone, and death...due to strangulation, Chapman claims "its too much to hope for justice in this case...because the homicide came at the hands of the administration of George W. Bush".  Since when is a former President immune from prosecution for launching a criminal war and practicing torture during its execution? Apparently, its when that criminal war and torture were enabled and condoned by the mainstream media, including the Trib, which supported the re-election of President Bush long after his criminality was apparent to anyone who investigated the Iraq war with an open mind, free from a self serving agenda.

Second, Chapman concludes his piece with the ludicrous claim that the Bush-Cheney decision to ignore international law and treaties prohibiting torture honored by every other presidential administration will result in their "lasting disgrace". Considering that both have bragged about their use of torture and said they'd do it again if necessary because it gets results, neither feels the least bit of disgrace and couldn't care less with their critics think. Bush and Cheney will live out their lives cushioned by fabulous wealth and supportive family and friends. The only worry they might have is if current government leaders, the citizenry, and the Fourth Estate, exemplified by the Trib Editorial Board, demand justice.

How 'bout a follow up column Mr. Chapman?

A More Appropriate Number Nickname

 Today, '43' will open his Presidential Library and '41' will be on hand to honor him. '43', of course is former 43rd President George W. Bush and '41' is his predecessor and father, 41st President George H.W. Bush.

While very clever father and son nicknames, a better one for Bush the Younger is '4488' which reflects the 4,488 American soldiers he got kille...d unnecessarily in his pre-emptive and criminal war in Iraq.

We don't need to be reminded that he was the 43st President as we're still trying to forget that unfortunate twist of history. We do need to reminded, every time we refer to him, about the 4,488 American families that lost a father, a mother, a sister, a brother, a son, a daughter due to mendacity and evil unprecedented in an American president. We also need to be reminded that he was never even investigated, must less charged or convicted for his crimes.

On second thought, if we want to remember all the Iraqi victims of his mis-deeds, his nickname would be '1,000,000'.

Bush Presidential Library Bans War Crime, Torture Material

This Thursday, former President George W. Bush will dedicate his $500 million, 226,000 square foot Presidential Library at SMU in Dallas. For a man who should be confined to a prison cell for pre-emptively and criminally launching the Iraq War ten years ago, Bush the Younger is living pretty high. Already comforted by millions of Bush family wealth, Bush is paid up to $200,000 per speech, as long as its not in a country that would arrest him for war crimes, and collects an annual pension worth over another $200,000, including travel expenses and mailing privileges. Bush found that criminal war and torture, the two most grievous hallmarks of his presidency, most certainly do pay. His library will air brush out his criminality and mendacity for getting millions killed, injured or made homeless in a senseless bit of empire building in the Middle East; empire building that in fact failed. It will not include the recent bi-partisan report that found it "indisputable" that the Bush Administration, at its highest levels, instituted a world wide regime of long term torture.

Nor will you find a shred of guilt in Bush's pronouncements leading up to the Grand Opening, April 25. “I’m comfortable with what I did... “I’m comfortable with who I am,” Bush offered a NY Times interviewer. “Much of my presidency was defined by things that you didn’t necessarily want to have happened.” Maybe there were some things President Bush didn't want to have happened - Hurricane Katrina comes to mind. But criminal war and torture? They are most appropriately defined by one of Bush's most infamous quotes, disgracefully used in taunting the Iraqi insurgents who were daily blowing up our canon fodder with improvised explosive devices: "Bring it on".

Also published at Glen Ellyn Patch, April 22, 2013

A Tale Of Two Cities: American Style

It was the best of America; it was the worst of America in two American cities this week.

In Boston, after the horrific Marathon bombing, some Americans ran toward something; the blast scene, and not away from people in need to offer help. They represent the best of America.

In Washington, some Americans also ran toward something, but it wasn't people in need. The 41 GOP Senators, and 4 Democratic Senators, who voted to shut down debate on sensible gun control, ran toward the money they receive from the NRA to maintain their lavish political lifestyle. In so doing they ran away from the vast majority of Americans seeking relief from horrific everyday carnage caused in part, from virtually unlimited access to hundreds of millions of guns, including war worthy weaponry, and billions of bullets in high capacity clips. Their job descriptions specify they are to represent the interests of the people of their state to promote the general good. Those job descriptions may as well contain a stamp marked: "This job description NRA approved". They represent the worst of America.

Homophobes Fail In Second Attempt To Oust Principled Leader Pat Brady

Fifty dedicated members of the HOP (Homophobe Only Party), a.k.a. GOP, gathered Saturday in their second attempt to oust Illinois HOP Chairman Pat Brady because he believes the Illinois and US Constitutions apply to all citizens, even gay ones. And for the second time decency and common sense prevailed as Brady kept his leadership position in the HOP, even though he opposes its most sacred tenant: continued discrimination against gays concerning marriage equality. While Brady's fate was being debated behind closed doors, some of the rowdy homophobes, in a classless move, chanted and yelled for Brady and party leaders to hear: "Throw him out". 

Brady, reading the writing on the homophobe door, advised party leaders he will not seek re-election as IL HOP leader next year. This will give the IL HOP plenty of time to pick a truly dedicated homophobe to lead the party of Lincoln, who is not resting very comfortably in his Oak Ridge Cemetery vault while current crop of HOP leaders in Illinois spew hate against their fellow man and woman over a human quality that is utterly insignificant to their well being. If Lincoln could come back for just one day to meet with a kindred spirit of his party, he would choose Pat Brady. The embattled IL HOP state chairman exemplifies, in his principled and courageous stand against the homophobes beating their chests against granting full civil rights to all Illinoisans, the very essence of the Great Emancipator. And those HOP homophobes who'd love a little face time with Lincoln? Honest Abe would tell them honestly: "Spend a few hours reading my political writings until a little bit of that 'With malice toward none, with charity for all' rubs off on your dark and heartless soul".

Blair Event At Judson University Only Inspiring For War Criminal Wannabes

The Daily Herald April 13th article "Tony Blair inspires during Judson University visit" is a shameful example of puff journalism unbefitting a responsible newspaper. Blair is the former British Prime Minister, who a majority of Brits believe should be tried for war crimes for his cooperation in President Bush's 2003 criminal invasion of Iraq. He keeps his speaking engagement itinerary secret in Britain because responsible protesters show up in mass with signs blaring BLIAR instead of BLAIR to reflect the lies he told with President Bush to  launch their criminal war. He occasionally shakes hands with an attendee at the Meet N Greet afterwards who calmly says "I'm making a citizen's arrest of you for war crimes" before security hustles the citizen arrester away.

But there were no BLIAR signs among the 600 Judson Forum attendees, or citizen arresters among the 150 admitted to the VIP event where Blair gave his one sided defense of actions that would land him in a prison cell if there were justice for the hundreds of thousands killed in the Bush-Blair war crime, including 4,488 GI's. That is because Americans, kept in the dark by fawning corporate media like the Daily Herald, are shielded from the truth that simply doesn't fit our mainstream narrative that America is incapable of committing such abominable acts.

The article starts with the line " 'Inspiring' was the overwhelming description from those who saw former British Prime Minister Tony Blair speak Friday at Judson University". But the millions who were killed, wounded or left homeless by Blair's criminality weren't privileged to attend the event simply described as "inspiring". Had they been present, through tears they would have muttered "Shame".

Jazz Pick Of The Week: Bunny Berigan

Bunny Berigan's theme song and one of most famous recordings of Big Band era. "I can't get started" was little known 1929 Broadway show tune till Bunny recorded it twice, first in 1936 with a six piece combo and again in 1937 with his full 14 piece big band. This is the shorter, more intimate 1936 version (despite link label stating 1937 as year recorded) . Bunny made only a handful of vocals to go along with his amazing trumpet work on over 600 sides recorded between 1930 and 1941, but his amateurish, high pitched, nasally voice is perfect for this lament about a guy whose achieved everything but can't impress his love interest. Bunny did get started early on with the bottle and couldn't stop till it killed him at 33 in 1942. But you won't find one clinker on his prodigious recorded output.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyAoTLJAHOk

US Big Lie About North Korea Is One Of Omission

If you believe Uncle Sam and his servants in the mainstream media, North Korean leader Kim Jung-un woke one day and decided to engage in crazy talk about ordering his underlings to prepare for a missile attack on the United States. He followed up by posing before a command center wall map titled: "Plans to Attack the Mainland US". That was enough to provoke the US to announce it's sending an additional missile defense system to American territory Guam, which has been the subject of previous North Korean threats.

But what neither our Uncle nor the media tell us concerns the provocative actions America took such as conducting war games in South Korea since early March, including a mock nuclear attack on North Korea by flying two nuclear capable B-2 Stealth bombers. America also ordered F-22 Raptor stealth fighters to South Korea, which further escalated tensions with North Korea. Is it any wonder that North Korean leaders would trot out their only possible response: bellicose and delusional claims of standing up to our needless provocative behavior.

The Military-Industrial Complex loves this flare up. It portends more military contracts for weapons systems to meet an imaginary danger, a danger likely provoked by their bankrupt, but still free spending Uncle when it comes to military hardware. While the real needs of rebuilding US infrastructure, creating alternative energy independence, developing a medical delivery system for all, and returning America to world class educational leadership languish, those vested in endless war and military adventurism flourish.

America's reporting of North Korea's threatening words are truthful. Its refusal to give us the whole story of America's belligerent and provocative actions, much more ominous than mere words, amounts to a reckless lie of omission that every sensible American should call out and challenge.

Jazz Pick Of The Week - Lee Wiley

My favorite canary (girl singer) from the early jazz/big band era is Lee Wiley. Wiley (1908-1975) is little known today outside of  jazz aficionados, but she should be. Great name, gorgeous and possessing ...a smoky, sensual singing voice that still mesmerizes. I got hooked on her singing about 20 years ago. In 1939, she originated the concept album featuring only songs of one composer. Here is one of her best, "Lets Fly Away" from her 1940 Cole Porter album. The trumpeter is jazz legend Bunny Berrigan, one of her music pals she did fly away with and compromise.   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGheSn5MSLg

GOP Moniker One Letter Short; HOP (Homophobe Only Party) More Fitting

The GOP Should officially change their acronym to HOP. It's not the Grand Old Party; it's the Homophobe Only Party.

How so? Let us count the ways:

Fifty-one of 55 US Democratic senators support gay marriage; Republicans? Just 2 of 45.

In Illinois, just one of 19 HOP state senators, Jason Barickman, voted for marriage equ...ality for gay Illinoisans. It took 33 of 40 Democratic senators to pass this historic legislation which now moves to the Illinois House for final passage.

The national Republican Party Platform opposes full civil rights, including marriage equality for gays. It goes beyond supporting state bans on gay marriage and the national Defense of Marriage Act. It calls for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Ugh!

When Illinois state HOP Chairman Pat Brady called for support of gay marriage, the Illinois HOP stalwarts scheduled a Central Committee Meeting to dump him as chairman for his apostasy. Newly minted state senator Jim Oberweis, leader of the aborted coup, stated, “You cannot have the chair of an organization publicly going out and lobbying in opposition to the organization’s stated goals". Opposing gay civil rights is a goal you will only find in the HOP.

Now for the piece de resistance of HOP craziness on gay civil rights: Illinois District 42 representative Jeanne Ives. She "stepped in it" when speaking freely on a Catholic radio station in February, stating: "Same sex marriages are completely disordered". "They're trying to redefine society." "They're trying to weasel their way into acceptability so that they can then start to push their agenda down into the schools, because this gives them some sort of legitimacy... And we can't allow that to happen."

What we can't allow to happen is let the Jeanne Ives of the HOP set the agenda of preventing Illinois and America from joining Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Sweden), and parts of Brazil, Mexico, and 9 states and the District of Columbia in the US, which allow same-sex couples to marry

It's gonna take more than Jason Barickman, Pat Brady and a couple of US senators from replacing the H with the G in the Homophobe Only Party.

One Cheer For Sen. Mark Kirk On Gay Marriage Support

One cheer for my junior Senator Mark Kirk for being only the second of 45 Republican Senators to "come out" for gay marriage. Apparently, it takes an epiphany equivalent to a lightning bolt for an HOP (Homophobe Only Party) Senator to join the human race when it comes to granting full civil rights to their fellow citizens who swing from the other side of the plate.

First to break ranks was Rob Portman (HOP, OH) who took two years after his son informed him he was gay to send shock waves through the HOP faithful by officially declaring his support for gay marriage. Then, just 18 days later, Senator Kirk, (HOP, IL) announced his support, implying his near death experience from a 2012 stroke made him realize that life is short, we're all going to die, so why in homophobes' name would we prevent two lovers from marrying simply because of matching genitals.

One of the reasons we have so much hate and discrimination in this country is that too many politicians cower before the hate filled madness of their voting base, or actually believe that hate instead of governing on the basis of principle and the Golden Rule.

HOP office holders and pundits remind me of rats scurrying to the dry end of a sinking ship as it slips beneath the waves. Portman and Kirk, stunned by the lightning bolt, have jumped to safety, albeit a tad late as far as showing true statesmanship. The 43 remaining HOP Senators have yet to enter the 21st century when it comes to being a true American and a decent human being.

Vote For Gay Marriage Would Ennoble Rep. Pihos

The proponents of full citizenship for all Illinoisans are still twelve votes short in their campaign to bring this to fruition. Full citizenship means that the roughly half million gay residents of Illinois can legally marry the person of their choice regardless of sex. Anything less is degrading, demeaning and not representative of American and human democratic ideals. Yet, my 48th District representative Sandy Pihos is on record as a NO vote because she claims the "vast majority" of her district opposes gay marriage and she is duty bound to represent this so called "vast majority".

Rep. Pihos can still change her mind and vote YES to gay marriage in Illinois. If she decides to "come out" and publically renounce her intended NO vote, she may actually inspire other representatives in the NO column to change their vote as well, allowing passage of this historic legislation. Voting YES will not add any new citizenship rights and privliges to Rep. Pihos as it won't for the twelve and half million of us Illinoisans not directly affected by gay marriage passage. However, like us, it will ennoble Rep. Pihos and give her something to be proud of for the rest of her legislative career; indeed, for the rest of her life. But if Rep. Pihos follows through with her public intention to vote against legalizing gay marriage, that vote may very well end up on the cutting room floor when she puts together her legislative highlight reel.

Would God Approve Judson U. Forum For War Criminal Tony Blair?

 Judson University, an evangelical Christian school in Elgin, IL, is heavily promoting the upcoming appearance of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair at their third World Leaders Forum April 12. Print and online ads are everywhere. But call Judson and try to discuss their choice of known war criminal Tony Blair to be their keynot...e speaker on "Faith, Power and the Post Modern World" and Judson suddenly becomes mute. Apparently, Judson cannot comprehend that many folks take umbrage with their decision to give a high profile forum and a fat speaking fee to President George W. Bush's primary co-conspirator in launching the criminal war against Iraq ten years ago that cost trillions of dollars, millions of people their homes and hundred of thousands their lives.

I called Jessica who is coordinating the event for Judson. She was utterly flummoxed by my inquiry as to why Judson would promote a man who would likely be sitting in a prison cell for war crimes if there were justice in this world. She acted as if there neither was an Iraq war nor aware of Blair's involvement in making it happen. She did agree to pass on my concerns to her superiors. Then I called to speak with Interim President Dr. William Crothers. Advised he was not available, I asked his secretary to have Dr. Crothers call me back to discuss Judson's choice of Tony Blair to keynote the April 12 event, but have not heard back from him in three days.

Judson University leaders need not worry about me or any other mere mortal who might find their choice of Tony Blair to keynote their third World Leaders Forum deplorable and inexcusable. They should tremble at how it plays with the righteous God they believe created them and guides their actions for the betterment of mankind. Blair actually represents the second setback their chances of reaching the Promised Land has incurred. Two years ago Judson's choice to keynote their first World Leaders Forum was Blair's puppet master in unleashing criminal shock and awe upon Iraq, the war criminal in chief, George W. Bush. Only their second keynote speaker, former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990, for guiding the dissolution of the Soviet system and ending the Cold War, had merit and deserves praise.

Two out of three, Judson University, is very, very bad.

Rep. Pihos Apparently Doesn't Listen To, Much Less Trust Anyone Under 30

The NY Times reported today that 81% of Americans under 30 support gay marriage. That massive majority among young adults tilts the overall support for gay marriage among all age groups to 58% against just 36% against. Yet my state representative Sandy Pihos continues to insist that she will vote against legalizing gay marriage in Illinois because "there remains strong opposition to same-sex marriage from the vast majority of my district constituents". I'm still trying to see the data Rep. Pihos is using to make such a statement that simply does not jibe with the seismic change in public opinion on gay marriage that has occurred in the past year. Could it be that its mainly the aging generation of homophobic folks, raised in an era when homosexuality was generally considered deviant and gays themselves were treated as lepers, that are bombarding Rep. Pihos with their fears and their ignorance and their hate to vote against granting gays basic human and civil rights?

When I was experiencing some of the hippie lifestyle back in the 1960's, our mantra was: "Never trust anyone over 30". It seems Rep. Pihos has turned that upside down when it comes to understanding the demographics of gay marriage support. She apparently doesn't listen to, much less trust, anyone under 30.

Rep. Pihos AWOL On Great Civil Rights Issue Of Our Time

As a civil rights advocate for fifty years now, I've learned to be patient in the inexorable struggle to achieve full civil rights for every American; indeed, every human being. I rejoiced at seeing Jim Crow abolished by a relentless campaign of civil disobedience, legal challenge, and yes, political leaders who had the moral courage to sta...nd up to the ignorant, the fearful and the haters and say "Enough, we are going to grant full citizenship to all Americans, regardless of skin color". Two of the proudest moments came when President Kennedy went on national TV to use the Presidential bully pulpit to advocate for racial equality, and President Johnson speak about the historic Voting Rights Act he was signing which amounted to a tearing down of the Berlin Wall of voter disenfranchisement in the South.

But that was fifty years ago and here we are today engaged in the latest effort to grant full citizenship to a minority, marginalized class of Americans still seeking the American promise of freedom; the freedom of gays to marry the person of their choice. This campaign also includes ending every last vestige of homophobic conduct including job discrimination, bullying, even beatings and murder which occur more frequently than we care to admit. But freedom of gays to marry is the most symbolic and visible vestige of our sordid history on this issue and the last year has witnessed a seismic change in public opinion and courage by political leaders to move up the timetable of victory. First, Vice President Joe Biden, than President Barack Obama "came out" for gay marriage. Public opinion then shifted with the latest national poll favoring gay marriage 58% to 36%. On a national level, DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) appears doomed to fall in the Supreme Court possibly as early as this year. Illinois is on the cusp of becoming the tenth state to legalize gay marriage, and Governor Quinn, following the courageous footsteps of Biden and Obama, has come out strongly for marriage equality, promising to sign the bill into Illinois law immediately upon passage.

Alas, it is discouraging to report that my state representative, Sandy Pihos (GOP, 48th) has officially come out against passage of Senate Bill 10 (Marriage Equality Act). Is Sandy Pihos personally against gay marriage? Does she feel it will undermine opposite sex marriage? Is she worried it will allow gays to "weasel their way" into our schools to promote the gay lifestyle? Unlike Pihos' colleague and neighbor Jeanne Ives (GOP, 42nd) of Wheaton, who proudly proclaims those views, we don't know. Rep. Pihos says simply, "As with civil unions (which she also voted NO on) there remains strong opposition to same sex marriage from the vast majority of my constituents in my district, which I've been sent to Springfield to represent".

That's it. The great moral issue of our time and Pihos claims its simply majority rule in the 48th. Pihos provides no data on her alleged "strong majority". Is it 15 of 20 persons who've contacted her out of a constituency of over 100,000? I've been lobbying her to support gay marriage for five years now and she never responds to my request for the data. I've challenged her to go into any high school in our district and poll the students on gay marriage. They would almost certainly favor gay marriage by a much larger percent than the current 58% to 36% nationally. This is because the youth of our district, our state and our nation are not frozen in the fear, and ignorance and hate regarding gays that the older generations still are. Rep. Pihos can talk all she wants about majority rule being determinative. If that were true we wouldn't need persons in our legislature. We'd simply need a computer to tally opinions and then vote accordingly. Would Rep. Pihos support legislation to only allow sugary drinks in our schools if that's what a majority wanted? Of course not. She would use their views as a "teachable moment" to inform on the toxic effect of too much sugar. Some issues simply cannot be left up to a majority, real or imagined, particularly when it involves the rights of others. It took civil disobedience and courageous office holders to grant women the right to vote a century ago. Women got the right to vote and even hold office; and when that happened the world didn't come to an end for men governed by fear and hate and ignorance. The same holds true today for marriage equality and full citizenship for gays. Sorry, but heteros will still suffer a 50% marriage failure rate after gay marriage becomes law.

Regardless of her written statement, Rep. Pihos still has time to search her heart and her soul to provide a moral justification for impeding the goal of marriage equality in Illinois. She needs to stop hiding behind the mask of "majority rule" and be a leader, not a follower. Although there is still time madam Representative, don't wait too long. I'm getting old; and the historic vote looms.

Is Roskam's Congressional Website The Worst Ever?

The College of DuPage political science department should offer a course on fashioning a responsible Congressional website to serve the interests of Congressional constituents. They could use the website of their home IL 6th District Congressman Peter J. Roskam, www.roskam.house.gov, to demonstrate what not to do.

Take the issue of war and peace.... Roskam has voted for every one of the hundreds of billions of dollars in his first three terms for our senseless and failed wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that have claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, including 6,666 GI's. But Roskam, as a loyal member of the war party and Military Industrial Congressional Complex, scrubbed his website clean of any mention of these two catastrophic wars; Iraq, which President Obama ended in 2011, as promised, and Afghanistan, which Obama will end next year. That oversight is irresponsible and reprehensible. Not to ignore senseless war entirely, Roskam devotes several posts on his site to joining his fellow pre-emptive war promoters in ratcheting up the rhetoric and sanctions that are inexorably leading to war with Iran. Roskam's website shows him to be 100% against the measured diplomacy and dialogue that kept him and his family safe from his 1961 birth at the height of the Cold War till the collapse of Soviet Communism 40 years later. On his website you find a Congressman afraid of the Arab Spring, taunting the President about his failure to arm Syrian rebels who consist of many extremists, and using blind friendship to Israel as the only litmus test of responsible diplomacy. On foreign policy, www.roskam.house.gov is downright scary.

On economic growth Roskam's website ignores the 6.1 million private sector jobs created in the last 37 months, including 236,000 in February, to focus on his favorite topics: cutting public sector jobs (war jobs excepted) to offset Obama's private sector accomplishments, fending off fair taxation for the fabulously wealthy, and trashing sensible governmental financial regulations which are preventing new economic collapse. Oh yes, those 40 million folks without adequate health insurance get no re-assurance from www.roskam.house.gov, as it continues its three year campaign to abolish the Affordable Health Care Act which has given them the first glimmer of hope for a medically secure future. Gee, thanks, Congressman.

Could Roskam's website offer hope to minorities and the marginalized? Fagettaboudit. Mentions about the great moral issue of our time, marriage equality for gays, now supported 58% to 36% nationwide: zero. Mentions about the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): one, and its a false one at that. Even though Roskam voted against VAWA, his website, it you dig deep enough, posts a Roskam video from May 18, 2012, which was a pitch for the much more water-downed House version which was soundly rejected by a strong bi-partisan consensus in the Senate - the one Roskam voted against. That bit of website sophistry sure takes Chutzpah. A responsible website would discuss his heartless vote against this needed legislation without resorting to tricks designed to fool his constituents.

Come to think about it, a full examination of www.roskam.house.gov may require a full year rather than a single semester. The real question such course study might answer is not whether it's the worst Congressional website ever, but whether Peter J. Roskam is the worst Congressman ever.

The War And The Nursery Rhyme

On the tenth anniversary of our criminal Iraq war, I'm reminded of the English nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty. Alas, just like "all the King's men" could not salvage Humpty Dumpty, all the President's men, after they smashed Iraq to smithereens, couldn't put Iraq together again either.