We've heard a lot of rhetoric from the right about how we Democrats don't respect our military men and women. The talking heads spew the ridiculous "If you're against Bush's policies and this insane war, then you MUST be anti-military." What idiocy!

The men and women who serve this country are no different today than they were during other wars. They are patriotic and brave. They are not to blame for the politics, lies, arrogance and monstrous behavior of the civilians who send them to fight.

As a Vietnam Vet I know what it is to be involved in one of these horrible events in our history. There are so many parallels to that war in this one but that's not what this blog is about.

The thing is: purple hearts, bronze and silver stars, heroic acts which earn medals of honor are the same when you're in battle. No matter the cause, no matter the arrogance or incompetence in leadership, no matter the legitimacy of the original threat.... The men and women who serve are the same. For the most part these are brave and patriotic Americans.

There is some bad news on the front pages lately about Marines murdering and soldiers doing horrible things while wearing our country's uniform. There is a certain percentage of "bad" people in any group. The military is no exception.

There are always heroes like Sgt. Paul Ray Smith who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for acts in this war. It is ironic that that medal was presented to Sgt. Smith's young son by the antithesis of a hero: An arrogant coward, George W. Bush, who was able to avoid dangerous service because he had a wealthy and powerful father.

I salute the brave men and women who serve and who have served this country. We were spat upon when we came back from Vietnam. These guys will be welcomed as heroes when they return. ALL veterans of ALL wars should be considered heroes. They protect and defend every American, Republican and Democrat.

One of the guys who comments regularly on my blog is a Lt. in the US Army. He's an avid Republican who argues strongly for "Georgie's" policies and is defensive when I write negative things about our Idiot In Chief or the lies which took us into this quagmire. He and I have met and talked. He's a great American and has strong beliefs. I respect him even though we disagree.

Every American should take a minute to think about these men and women without connecting them to the arrogant and incompetent leadership. If you see someone in uniform in Walmart or McDonalds, thank him or her for serving. They deserve it!

Let's punish the "bad" guys who have done terrible things while wearing our country's uniform severely. They deserve it!

Let's punish this leadership in the upcoming election by voting them out of power. They deserve it!

I am still proud to be an American. We're not all monsters like the Neo-Cons in this administration. We're not all monsters like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter and the rest of the spewing heads. We need to come together as AMERICANS to turn this ship around. Change the course! Hell, even "Georgie" has stopped saying "Stay the course!"

But through it all and when it's over, never forget the Sgt. Smiths who gave their lives for our country. And never forget the arrogant cowards like "Georgie" who will always be slithering around Washington. Never forget where we are and how we arrived at this point in our history. Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it... And I NEVER want this country to repeat the atrocities which this administration has committed. I want us to regain our civil liberties. I want Habeas Corpus to return to our system. I want "Georgie" impeached. If I had one wish it would be that George W. Bush, Dick "The Monster" Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and the rest could spend some time in a place like Gitmo or Abu Ghraib and experience the waterboarding and other tortures they have inflicted on other human beings. That won't happen. But maybe this election's results can be their torture. I hope every American votes their conscience.

I want America to return to its greatness. And to all who serve and have served you have my deepest respect. And that comes from a "Cut and Run" Democrat who loves this country.

I've just finished listening to our illustrious Idiot In Chief give another of his empty, meaningless rants about the "War" on terror which he and his Neo-Con puppet masters caused for political and financial gain.

Every time I hear this man speak I am more ashamed than before that the world feels he speaks for us. The vast majority of American citizens DO NOT agree with the policies of this puppet regime or it's "Leader."

He takes NO responsibility for the deaths of thousands of American troops and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians. He stands with a straight face and speaks of the consequences of "losing" in Iraq: The terrorists will have unlimited oil money, The terrorists will have a safe haven to train and from which to operate against Israel and the U.S., Iraq will quickly fall into anarchy and genocide will occur on a grand scale. Well, Mr. President... None of these things would have happened if you'd "stayed the course" in Afghanistan and captured or killed Osama. None of these things would have happened under the brutal leadership of Saddam Hussein. None of these things would have happened if you hadn't invaded a sovereign nation and put in place another puppet regime. What a shameful, horrible leader you have been.

Anyone with the intelligence of a gnat can see through this "Press Conference" event your puppet masters staged for the benefit for the 30% who still support you, for the right wing radio hosts to use and quote to rally your minions and in another attempt to scare the Hell out of enough moderate Americans to swing the upcoming mid-term elections so that you can hold onto power.

You, Mr. President, have demonstrated at every turn your desire for absolute power in our Executive branch. You have stolen our civil liberties in the name of "protecting" us. You have murdered Habeas Corpus. You ARE responsible for every man, woman and child who has died in Iraq. YOU and your administration have lied! YOU and your administration continue to attempt to use the same scare tactics which have worked so well in previous elections.

The American people are finally waking to the terrible threat which faces our country. The most dangerous threat we face isn't a terrorist or another religion... It's YOU and this arrogant, incompetent group who surround you.

You and they have sold your souls. You and they have stolen our country's soul and stomped it into the bloody ground of the middle east. You and they should be impeached, fired, imprisoned or punished in other ways for what you have done to, and in the name of, America.

The new ad the Republican party is running using Osama as their "Poster Child" for the mid-terms is another indication of the evil hate and fear mongers who run their campaigns.

Keith Olbermann challenges the Republican "Fear Machine". Last night, my favorite TV anchor gave another of his patented "Special Comments" about that ad.

Take a look. Nobody speaks to power like Keith.