I just listened to Bush's speech on the Iraqi election and the state of our efforts in Iraq. I didn't hear anything that he hasn't said before. I didn't hear anything that would lead me to believe that he is going to listen to any other views. He continues to be insular and closed off to dissent.

Bush made no mention of the fact that he illegally authorized the government to spy on Americans, which republicans and democrats alike have aired major concern over. Republicans such as Graham and Specter have denounced the program, which Bush has reauthorized over 45 times allowing over 1700 American phones to be tapped. Republicans and Democrats alike are calling for an official investigation into Bush's actions.

If there is one thing we should all be able to agree on, it should be that American citizens should be protected from illegal search and siezure. Even in a time of war, there should be judicial oversight that limits what the president can authorize using executive priviledge. Bush's bypassing of judicial process is a sign of blatant disregard for the Bill of Rights, and our democratic system.

The AP picked this up yesterday.

-------------------------------------------------------------- Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia said Monday he doesn't expect Democrats to filibuster the nomination of Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, but he still chastised Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist for threatening to stop any such effort through a drastic parliamentary effort that has been dubbed the "nuclear option."

"If he ever tries to exercise that, he's going to see a real filibuster if I'm living and able to stand on my feet or sit in my seat," Byrd said in a Senate debate with Frist, R-Tenn.

"If the senator wants a fight, let him try it," said Byrd, the Senate's senior Democrat. "I'm 88 years old, but I can still fight, and fight I will for freedom of speech. I haven't been here for 47 years to see that freedom of speech whittled away and undermined. "
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The amazing thing is he said this while looking Frist right in the eyes across the table from him. Looks like a battle is getting ready to happen in Congress. A battle for our hearts and minds. (and wallets) This could get interesting. Does anyone remember the 'Gang of Fourteen'? The 7dems/7repubs who stopped the nuclear option last time it was brought up, they still have regular meetings to stay in touch. I wouldn't worry about the nuclear option. The smart Republicans aren't going to go along with the removal of the filibuster from our process for the simple reason that they know they won't always be in power and might want to use it someday in the future.

MSNBC reports that House leaders dropped plans to drill in ANWR as well as off-shore sites.

Republicans are fighting tooth and nail to get their budget passed. It looks like they may not have the votes. Raw Story has more on this.

–We are in Jefferson Parish, just outside of New Orleans. At the National Guard checkpoint, they are under orders to turn away all media. All of the reporters are turning they're TV trucks around. Things are so bad, Bush is now censoring all reporting from NOLA. The First Amendment sank with the city.–

I found this on DailyKos

It came with a link to this site.

Which gives me a Forbidden message, are you guys able to access it?

This is covered by the media here.

Pre-flight.

Sitting and sitting and sitting. That’s what traveling is all about. I sat in molasses traffic for what seemed like days on the way to the airport. Now here I am sitting in the airport bar, waiting to go sit on a plane to take me to another airport where I get to sit some more just to sit on another plane. Then when I arrive in Halifax I get to sit through a conference. Then all of that travel sitting gets repeated. No wonder Americans are so fat; all of our technological advancements go towards making sure we can sit on our asses everywhere we go. We literally fly by the seat of our pants, traveling thousands of miles without working a single muscle except our jaws. On the television here at the Sea-Tac Bar is an eating contest, grown men shoveling cold cuts into their mouths hand-over-fist. This should be shocking but it’s not, I see this same behavior everyday in the news. Gluttonous nihilistic expansionism has infected every facet of our society and it makes me ill. That’s what eating like that can do.