NEW eBook - "Obama's Greatest First-Term Successes"

President Barack Obama's most important successes are explored in my brand-new, just-released eBook OBAMA'S GREATEST FIRST-TERM SUCCESSES. It explains why his historic first-term was one of the most significant of the modern era. Topics include President Obama's landmark healthcare reform, the killing of Osama bin Laden, the rescue of the American automobile industry and many more. Get it for a deeply discounted price from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

      Get if from Amazon HERE

      Get it from Barnes and Noble HERE

Dick Cheney Rebuked By REPUBLICANS Colin Powell and General Petraeus

I have been very outspoken about my disgust for former Vice President Cheney's disgraceful conduct since he was rolled out of the White House in a wheelchair as one of the most unpopular politician's in our history. Lacking any evidence whatsoever, he has continually leveled the charge against President Barack Obama that he has made the United States "less safe." In fact, virtually all of the evidence points to the contrary. There has been no 9/11 on President Obama's watch. Increased cooperation with other countries has led to major successes, drone strikes have been dramatically increased in Pakistan, and numerous plots have been disrupted in the past year here in the U.S. Cheney's one discredited point seems to be that illegal torture methods are no longer employed and therefore we are less safe. Again, the experts agree with virtual unanamity that higher quality intelligence is gathered through proven, professional interrogation methods and not toruture. A flood of recent cases including the "underwear" bomber and Najibullah Zazi (who had plotted to blow up the New York City subway system) show that reams of intelligence were gained without torture and by using the professionals in our criminal justice system.

It was nice to finally see two of the most popular Republicans condemn Cheney's nonsense. Petraeus has actually publicly disagreed with Cheney before stating that "It is hugely significant to us to live the values that we hold so dear and that we have fought so hard to protect over the years." Being that both David Petraeus and Colin Powell are or were Generals, I think they might have just a little bit more credibility on this issue than the former Vice President. The obvious attempt by Cheney and his daughter to undercut the current President of the United States with unsupported, universally discredited, self-serving talking points may make good theater for the far right-wing fringe, but it is beyond shameful. I applaud both Powell and Petraeus for strongly backing President Obama's highly-effective, pro-American anti-terrorism strategies. I would like to see many more Republicans speak out on this issue which should be above the partisan fray, but I am not holding my breath. Watch Powell's scathing rebuke of Cheney's factless charges in the video above. In addition he lays out the FACTS about military commissions.

Another Case of Domestic Terrorism In the U.S.

The terrorists are not just located in far-away middle eastern countries. They are also located here in the U.S. The person who murdered Dr. Tiller today in Kansas was sending a clear message to other doctors who perform abortions. If you perform LEGAL abortions in this country you are placing your life at great risk. That is terrorism and we need to fight it just as aggressively as we are fighting international terrorism. I must commend President Obama and Attorney General Holder for their swift actions in this case.

I live in the heart of probably the most notorious city for anti-abortion violence in the U.S. - Pensacola, Florida. I still remember the foggy night on Christmas eve 1984 when I was standing outside and speaking with a good friend after we left a party I attended at another friend's house. Suddenly the calm was shattered by an explosion and then by another much stronger explosion. I then drove home wondering what it was I had just heard. Little did I know that I was the first car to drive by the abortion clinic that was bombed that Christmas eve. Two other doctor's offices were also bombed. My friend and I are probably the only people to hear 2 out of the 3 bombings that night.

More Pensacola history: In 1993 Dr. David Gunn was shot and killed outside an abortion clinic. This was the first murder of an abortion doctor in the United States. In 1994 Dr. John Britton and clinic escort retired Air Force Lt. Colonel James Barrett were both shot and killed outside of another facility in Pensacola. Thankfully, all of the domestic terrorists were captured and convicted in these cases. Reverend Paul Hill, who committed the 1994 murders, was executed in 2003 - good riddance to that unrepentant, arrogant piece of trash who committed his terrorist acts in the name of God. The other terrorists were sent to prison and Michael Griffin, who committed the 1993 murder, is serving a life sentence.

There are no easy solutions to stopping this steady stream of domestic terrorism which has been occurring on U.S. soil for more than 25 years. But we must do what we can to protect the medical staff and escorts at these offices and clinics from a handful of insane, misguided fanatics.

Patrick Leahy - My New Favorite Senator

On my podcast and videoblog I already applauded Leahy's call for a "Truth and Reconciliation" Commission to investigate the details of the Bush Administration's long list of illegal activities; now Leahy is pushing back on Cheney's recent remarks about Obama's ability to protect the United States from terrorists. This is my favorite quote of 2009 so far:

"I just want to say here Bush and Cheney were in charge when the last attack happened," Leahy said. "They were warned about the last attack before it happened. On September 10th their proposal was to cut our counter-terrorism budget substantially. I don't need any lectures from him. They screwed up badly.

"They are also the same people who said the war in Iraq would be over in a couple weeks and we would find the weapons of mass destruction. Their policy was to let Osama bin Laden get away when we had him cornered and send the troops into a useless war in Iraq. No, no, I don't think he has a great deal of credibility." LINK

OUCH!

Obama To Make Capturing Bin Laden A Priority - Finally!

Remember that guy who was responsible for the worst terrorist attack in the history of the U.S? It might be easy to forget him since Bush's brilliant response to 9/11 consisted of invading one of the few countries in the Middle East without terrorist ties. The massive quagmire in Iraq took most of the troops, equipment and focus away from Al Qaeda and the hunt for Bin Laden. And nobody could get anyone within the Bush Administration very interested in Bin Laden before 9/11 either. It looks like we might finally be getting a President that is ready to get serious about bringing Bin Laden to justice or ending his time here on this earth. If Obama can hunt down this coward during his first term it will be just another glaring example of the ineptitude of the Bush Administration. LINK

Bush On Finding Bin Laden: "I don't know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority."- G.W. Bush, Washington, D.C. 3/13/02