To this day, even after the miserable failure of the Republicans/ Bushco.'s reign, people make the claim: "Ultra-liberals...are un-American." To them I say: "...Conservatism Has Failed. Deal With It."

On February 7, 2008, McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee was booed at the Conservative Political Action Conference (C-PAC) convention.

However, VP Cheney was applauded by the same delusional crowd when he made the following claims:

"As conservatives, we believe in a government that takes up a smaller share of the national income, that treats tax dollars with respect and restraint. And we believe in a government that keeps to its limits under the Constitution, never expanding beyond the consent of the governed...

The United States is a country that takes human rights seriously. We do not torture -- it's against our laws and against our values. We're proud of our country and what it stands for. [...]

America is a fair and a decent country. (Applause.) President Bush has made it clear, both publicly and privately, that our duty to uphold the laws and standards of this nation admit no exceptions in wartime. As he put it, "We are in a fight for our principles, and our first responsibility is, live by them"

Stalin could have made the above speech with an equally straight face.

Unfortunately, the legislative branch (Reid, Pelosi, et.al) is complicit in letting the BushCo. criminals off the hook.  8 LONG years of these atrocities and I'm so exhausted of being outraged all the time!!!  Apparently others are equally appalled at the crimes committed by the republican regime, as can be seen in this photo diary of Alaska caucus voters, where even (- 40º) could not keep them home!!!

The sad part is that no matter who is elected, the future does not look bright. BushCo's legacy will continue to haunt us ad infinitum:

...Having started his administration destroying the environment through executive orders bearing laughable names like "Clear Skies," Bush is ending his official tenure by systematically dismantling out last wild places.

In the last month, Bush has placed a giant "for sale" sign on America's largest national forest, the Tongass rainforest in Alaska.  58 million acres there have been  opened up to development.  The same thing has happened recently in Idaho and Colorado.  It's not just the trees that are threatened.  Last week the Bush administration auctioned off oil drilling rights in the Chukchi Sea, just off Alaska's northwest shore, despite the fact that it's an environmentally fragile area where polar bears are struggling to hang on.  You'll be happy to know that Shell and ConncoPhillips now hold the rights to drill an area about the size of the state of Pennsylvania.

Speaking of "For Sale" signs, a few days ago one went up next door, declaring that my neighbor's house here on Long Island, NY is in foreclosure. One can check out the housing bubble trouble of Long Island on this site:

http://www.longislandbubble.com/

The media silence on this type of news is deafening (realtors, etc. make up a large percentage of needed advertising dollars), but various blogs have gleaned snippets from corporate media sources and presented us with a bleak overall picture.  From a post on TheSixteenthHour's blog comes a great slideshow primer on the "subprime crisis" and its ripple effect on the world economy.  As always the constant liars at FOX are ready with their "spin":  note the video of John Gibson claiming that Bush "Made Sure You Have a Job" and "Homelessness is Virtually Over".  FOX:  continually ready to "spin" you a tale, guaranteed to make your head "explode from disbelief"...

Compared to Florida (video), Long Island hasn't seen anything yet-here are a few links to "other national housing bubble" sites:

• http://calculatedrisk.blogspot.com/
• http://housingpanic.blogspot.com/
• http://www.housebubble.com/index.html
• http://housingbubblecasualty.com./

To check historical sale prices of homes on one's street (only goes back to 1987)http://www.domania.com/homepricecheck/index.jsp

To check foreclosures in one's area, go to: http://www.realtytrac.com/pub/landing/optimized_c.asp?a=b&accnt=146530

Foreclosures: 100 worst hit zip codes:  Where the mortgage meltdown is having the heaviest impact and Homeowners: Can't pay? Just walk away are two recent CNN articles alluding to a troubling economic future.  CNN reporters act as though the entire "foreclosure" crisis fell out of the blue and provide no narrative as to how or why this is happening to thousands of Americans all across this nation.  Contrast that to DailyKos diaries such as:  "Housing disaster havocs the American landscape" and "Major Risks to Democrats on the Economy" which do provide context and are much more informative than the corporate media.

The next president will inherit from the BushCo. Republicans a nation / world in shambles-global warming, looming economic depression, continuing Iraqi / Afghan occupations, restoring our civil liberties-are just a few of the obstacles that he/she has to overcome.