This case stinks!

This woman was and still is a social primitive, ignorant, and obviously troubled! The military recruits kids from rural America and all too often they are damaged goods.

I detest her behavior but I equally detest the casual cruelty in chasing her while the "Old Boy" network of military brass go home and collect pensions!

Here is social and political corruption at its worst!

(AP scratch unauthorized reprint)

Jury Selected in England Abuse Case
Jury Selected in Sentencing Phase for Pfc. England, a Day After Guilty Plea for Iraqi Abuse
By T.A. BADGER Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press
May. 3, 2005 - A jury of five men and a woman was selected Tuesday to recommend a sentence for Army Reserve Pfc. Lynndie England, who admitted mistreating prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison camp in Iraq.
England accepted responsibility for the smiling, thumbs-up poses she struck for photographs taken at Abu Ghraib that made her the face of the prisoner abuse scandal.
England, 22, pleaded guilty Monday to seven counts of mistreating prisoners, saying she let her comrades talk her into going along with the abuse.
The charges carry up to 11 years in prison, but prosecutors and the defense reached an agreement that caps the sentence at a lesser punishment, the length of which was not released. She will get the lesser of the military jury's sentence or the term agreed on in the plea bargain.
The jury is made up of two officers and four noncommissioned officers, many of whom have served in Iraq since the war began in March 2003.
At Monday's hearing, England softly told the judge she initially resisted taking part in the abuse at the Baghdad prison, but caved in to peer pressure.
"I could have said, 'No,'" she told Col. James Pohl, the judge. "I knew it was wrong."
Capt. Cullen Sheppard, a prosecution spokesman, said the government will put on one sentencing witness before the defense begins its effort to persuade the jury to go easy on England.
Pvt. Charles Graner Jr., labeled the abuse ringleader and the man said to be the father of England's infant son, is expected to testify on England's behalf, perhaps as early as Tuesday.
Graner was convicted in January on a range of abuse charges and is serving a 10-year sentence in the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
England became a central figure in the Abu Ghraib scandal after photos emerged last year showing her and others sexually humiliating Iraqi prisoners.
One of the photos showed her holding a hooded, naked prisoner on a leash. Another showed her smiling and giving a thumbs-up next to nude prisoners stacked in a pyramid. A third depicted England pointing at the prisoner's genitals as a cigarette dangled from her lips.
She told Pohl she did not want to point at the man's genitals, but that Graner or another soldier pressured her into it. "I said, 'No, no way,'" she recalled to the judge. "But they were being very persistent, bugging me, so I said, 'OK, whatever.'"
England, from Fort Ashby, W.Va., said she knew all along that she could have refused to take part in the abuse. "I had a choice, but I chose to do what my friends wanted me to," she said.
England entered guilty pleas to two counts of conspiracy to maltreat prisoners, four counts of maltreating prisoners and one count of committing an indecent act. Prosecutors agreed to drop another count of committing an indecent act and one count of dereliction of duty.
Four other members of the Maryland-based 372nd Military Police Company and two low-level military intelligence officers have entered guilty pleas in connection with the scandal, with sentences ranging from no time to 8 1/2 years. Spc. Sabrina Harman, a former Abu Ghraib guard, is scheduled to go to trial at Fort Hood next week.
Several investigations have been conducted, but so far only low-level soldiers have been charged, though the defendants have alleged that high-level officials condoned the abuse.
In England's hometown in West Virginia, Joyce Satzer said the scandal has given the community a bad name. "For someone to do something like that, and then for her to be from Fort Ashby, it's upsetting," said Satzer, 73. "This is a nice place to live."
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Copyright © 2005 ABC News Internet Ventures

The cynical action of Microsoft to hire Ralph Reed as a consultant is despicable. Reed is a predator and he uses religion in a way God himself resents. Reed is no Christian. He uses Christianity as a front for "Old South" thugs who want to defeat modernism and return to feudalism.
The facts speak for themselves! Reeds rhetoric and his historical attachment to Rev. Pat Robertson is ample evidence of this man's unsuitability to be connected with Microsoft.
If Bill Gates is hedging his bets by giving money to a man who would destroy Microsoft if given a chance, then Gates should reconsider. Evil is evil in any disguise. Ralph Reed is Evil and should not be bought, used, or kept in a cooler through cash or anything else. Real Politik is not enough here.
The very idea of Microsoft is liberation from the past, to create a digital culture and advance human knowledge!
Ralph Reeds preaches "absolutism" And he endorses the death of Democracy and the establishment of a Theocracy. Microsoft thinks they can buy off evil? Go ask the Germans about that idea!
For further information see www.NYTimes.com Page 12 "Microsoft weighs reversal on Gay Rights Issue"
Be advised, the issue here is not Gay rights in particular, it's Bill Gates callousness in giving $20,000 a month to a political predator. Reed is the antithesis of everything Microsoft claims to represent.

The election of Pope Benedict 16 is an opportunity for the Catholic Church to take a rest, gather energy and engage private consideration of the future. The Pope should make clear early on that he will not be making changes nor challenging anyone for a time. He should establish in a quiet way the need for everyone to reflect on the legacy of John Paul 2d and recognize that there was a truly inspiring man. JP2 will cast a considerable shadow for decades to come.

PB16 deserves every chance and a time to adjust.

I wish him well.

Here is my take on the issues facing the College of Cardinals;
They will agrees as best they can on the following path:

The Catholic Church will elect an older African (white) Bishop and he will serve about six years.
He will do nothing for about a year and then issue a statement condemning condoms except to prevent AIDS. In this way the church will allow contraception in a fashion protecting doctrine and recognizing the value of human life. Every decision made must be consistent with past ideas and not dangerous to the future.
In four years the church will announce that pills to prevent pregnancy in adolescent rape victims is permitted under a priests assistance. Thus the "Morning After Pill" will be ipso facto allowed. A pill that allows casual sex will not be allowed since the church sees sex as a tool of procreation and marriage.
In seven years or so there will be a new pope and he will broaden the application that married men can become priests. This will protect current priests from humiliation and establish a basis for flexibility and encourage new acolytes, married, stable and wanting to serve the church.
In twenty years the church will announce that sexual desire is genetic and thus involuntary and thus discrimination toward homosexuals is untenable. Homosexual priests will be officially celibate, but discrete unions will be allowed if they are not revealed.

Religion thinks in centuries, not decades. The Catholics are rational and understand the path of human affair's quite well.
The fad of consumer civilizations and the novelty of popular democracy might well pass. The church will wait and see and act accordingly.

In every society there are moments of mass hysteria. Smart politicians play the hysteria, building support and getting plenty of money. The current foolishness in Florida, concerning brain dead Terry Schaivo is just such a case.

To think Jeb Bush ever gave a damn about this woman, or that any politician does is bunk. Randall Terry, an extremist from the get go, yearns for Terry to die so he can hustle all the frightened women close by. He uses every tragedy to enrich himself and others who play his game.

The President is in the game, wanting money for his presidential library.

I know how all this looks to history. Nevertheless this hysteria does force the public to think about brain death and how society must act in such cases.

America is a Rube Republic, always has been, so enjoy the show and send your favorite pol a dollar, that's what it's about.

"A misguided Crusade?"

The single greatest threat to any presidency is an attitude of "Self Importance"

Without meaning to do so, President Bush is very likely defeating his ambitious Social Security Reform package. History presents two examples of such transaction.

1. In 1917 President Woodrow Wilson pleaded with the country to accept his 14 point peace plan and New World "League of Nations" plan. He spooked Democrats (And a number of Midwest Republicans) who were against the World War as it became clear US occupation in Europe as well as substantial costs to sustain US presence there would go on for years.

Wilson failed to realize how Americans saw him. He ignored warning he was seen as just another President in his second term, soon to leave.

He ignored historical evidence Presidents generally have two years in their first term to set an agenda and have a chance at success.

By 1917 his once much praised intellectual powers were increasingly marked by rigidity and a distinct intolerance. His caculating antics toward the suffragettes and Temperance movements angered friends and crirtics.

Historic public resentment of foreign adventure, and what smacked of a personal Wilson quest, matched by a bitterness over the loud quarrels by European allies that never seemed to end, eroded public support. He did not respond well to domestic issues or showed much interest in party politics.

In the 1916 Congressional Elections the GOP gained and the Democrats lost seats. His party never forgave him!

US involvement in the war itself in 1917/1918 made matters worse as casualties mounted and it looked the US was in a swamp. Post war violence in the Balkans and the Russian revolution added to the countries jitters. The "Red Scare" made the "League of Nations" idea seem dangerous.

Remarkably by 1919 Wilson had squandered much critical support by his "moralist" attitude and long trips to Europe to push his agenda, neglecting matters at home. His tragic falling out with Colonel House; his "Man in Europe" did much damage.

In 1919 the League of Nations treaty was defeated in the Senate by "Isolationist Democrats: ie: W. Jennings Bryan and Urban Republicans worried over the economy, and Wilson's ambition was swarted.

The Republicans returned to power in the 1920 elections by portraying Mr. Harding as "Normal and his term to be a return to nromalcy" and the Democrats, portrayed as crusaders, wasters of national treasure and young lives were exiled for 12 years.

Historically Wilson greatest failure was to groom a popular successor, his visible contempt for politicians would be duplicated by Jimmy Carter and today by GW Bush. Do you see GOP operatives trailing him and shouting their support?

2. In 1939 President Roosevelt sought to stack the US Supreme Court with younger less reactionary judges. He alienated everyone with what looked to be the worse kind of partisan legislation. Roosevelt betrayed his own ambition and burned away much public admiration.

Today much of America is suspicious of the Bush camp and there is a whiff of realization that Mr. Bush has a habit of putting a ideological spin on his ambitions. He acts as if he's saving America or that his plans are critical to the nations future.

The public gets fatigued when politicians talk in such language.

The President does not believe or understand that he was re-elected less by his virtues than by John Kerry's vices and flaws.

The Democrats will play the "Rich Republicans trying to cheat the working folk" card in 2006, and a tired electorate might listen, if for any reason, to shut the president up!

George Bush ignores a well documented public cynicism about Iraq and does not realize the political damage of steady drum beat of car bombings and mass killings in Baghdad erode support for him.

Plus there is the legacy of the Internet Boom and bust that still galls investors.

The President really believes most folks want the added task of private accounts on top already busy lives!

His 60 stops in 60 days resembles Woodrow Wilson's national campaign to sell the League of Nations. Like President Wilson, Mr. Bush comes across as anxious, ignoring orther important duties, and lost in a fog of personal ambition and ideology few support or are interested in.

Just as dangerous, Mr. Bush fails to glimmer (or is indifferent about) public perceptions of him as a scion of wealth or as a ambitious evangelical.

Watching TV, listening to radio, and following blogs, it becomes obvious (to me) this Social Security plan seems to be a huge ambition for a not so big problem.

Perhaps the Bush Administration should ease up on such intensity, drop the private accounts plan for a few years and offer a smaller, less dramatic plan, and then concentrate of ending the war and reducing the deficit

For further Reference see PBS "American experience: The Wilson Crusade"

Taken without permission from "One Hand Clapping" A wonderful blog by Rev. Donald Sensing.

THIS IS WHAT LIFE IS REALLY ABOUT!

Celebrating 25 years If you ever get the chance not to be married in a blizzard, take it.Twenty-five years ago this afternoon I gave myself in marriage to the former Catherine Elizabeth Stephens of Durham, NC. Saturday, March 1, 1980 was a day to remember for more than one reason - the temperatures the whole last week of February had been in the 60s, but during the night of Feb. 29 the mercury nosedived. At 10 a.m. the first I was having breakfast with my best man, my younger brother, Will. It began snowing as we ate. Our wedding was scheduled for 3 p.m. We delayed it 15-20 minutes to give people more time to make the trip through the four or five inches that had fallen. A lot of folks wisely opted to stay home, but we still had a pretty good crowd. Fortunately, the reception was held in the church, too. We had the world's fastest reception as guests jammed a piece of cake down their throats, gulped some punch, kissed the bride, shook my hand and zipped out the door, where the storm had never abated.My car was untouched because, it was later reported to me, when my "friends" went outside to "decorate" it, their shaving cream froze. So did they, making them abandon this time-hallowed wedding day tradition.I had intended to drive to Savannah after the wedding, but had quickly discarded that idea when the snow started falling. I spent a little while on the phone getting reservations at a local hotel right after breakfast. So I drove my new bride there after leaving the church. We checked in and dropped out luggage in our suite. Since it was about 5:30 we decided to go on and have dinner. So we went back downstairs and crossed the lobby to the restaurant. We had a modest dinner and watched the blizzard wail outside. When we stepped back into the lobby we discovered it was absolutely packed with people. The RDU airport had been shut down by the storm and all the people were seeking rooms because their flights had been canceled.Directly ahead of us were my older brother, Andy, and his wife and some other out-of-towners from the wedding. They didn't know we were there, it was fate. Mustering all my military training, I determined that we would have to infiltrate back to the elevators across the lobby. We almost made it. Andy espied us and called to us. Rather stupidly, we went over, where he informed me that if there were no more rooms by the time he and Suzanne got to the desk, they were going to crash with us.He was joking, of course (well, I think so) but even so, I related to my dear brother in extremely unambiguous terms exactly what I thought of that idea. But no worries anyway, for they did get a room. Cathy and I wound up going to their room and playing cards for awhile before retiring for the evening.The snow continued to fall and fall. We didn't even try to venture out on Sunday. The snow finally abated midday Sunday after dropping 11-12 inches and the skies cleared. The airport reopened and all those people got out of my hotel. Monday I dug my car from the blown snow and we decided to bag Savannah and head for New Orleans, where we had a great time.Now why, you may ask, am I sitting here writing about this on the very night of my 25th anniversary? Because life goes on and sometimes life intrudes into other plans. Cathy unfortunately came down extremely ill the night before last with a virus that's making its miserable way around these parts. She has been bedridden for two days, sick as a dog.So for our 25th anniversary I took her some soup and gave her some medicine and prayed for her health. We're long past the time when we're disappointed we cannot "celebrate" the night by going to a nice restaurant and exchanging gifts and having private times. After 25 years, to minister to her in sickness, not just health, is a form of celebration. She is sleeping now. Simply to be there and give her care is, somehow, a fitting commemoration of this Silver Anniversary. For really, all we can give one another is our love and charity, and what better time than this day?
In the name of God,I, Donald, take you, Catherine, to be my wife,to have and to holdfrom this day forward,for better, for worse,for richer, for poorer,in sickness and in health,to love and to cherish,until we are parted by death.This is my solemn vow.
That's what I said 25 years ago today. I meant it then, I mean it now, and when my love is well I will so vow to her again.by Donald Sensing, 10:04 PM