Biden's plan for Iraq

Repeat post but I want to emphasize that Democrats do have plans to help the situation in Iraq.

Folks, the great Senator from Delaware and Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Committee, Joe Biden, has a plan for Iraq. Regardless of party, you can't deny the fact that Biden is the only person who has put forth an actionable plan. Great work Senator!

First, the plan calls for maintaining a unified Iraq by decentralizing it and giving Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis their own regions. The central government would be left in charge of common interests, such as border security and the distribution of oil revenue.

Second, it would bind the Sunnis to the deal by guaranteeing them a proportionate share of oil revenue. Each group would have an incentive to maximize oil production, making oil the glue that binds the country together.

Third, the plan would create a massive jobs program while increasing reconstruction aid -- especially from the oil-rich Gulf states -- but tying it to the protection of minority rights.

Fourth, it would convene an international conference that would produce a regional nonaggression pact and create a Contact Group to enforce regional commitments.

Fifth, it would begin the phased redeployment of U.S. forces this year and withdraw most of them by the end of 2007, while maintaining a small follow-on force to keep the neighbors honest and to strike any concentration of terrorists.

Reese and Ryan split-up and George says Dems haven't won yet

I wasn't sure it was true when I first learned Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon have split up. Another celebrity couple bites the dust. I just hope the media leave them alone.

In other more serious news, President Bush is warning Democrats that they haven't won yet. Frankly, I think we have but he's right we cannot let our guard down until November 8th. Let's keep our eye on the prize and the rest will fall into place. We will be ready to bring back integredty to the political system and get Congress back to work.

If you haven't seen it yet, check out the Rolling Stone article which states how this Congress was the worst in history.

O'Reilly, New Jersey & Dixie Chicks

Bill O'Reilly was just on Oprah and I had to throw the remote at the TV and turn it off.

On a lighter note...I applaud the NJ Supreme Court's ruling that the NJ constitution doesn't grant the same rights to gays and lesbians as it does to straight folks. Conservatives say that this ruling will urge social conservatives to come out and vote in large numbers on November 7 but I think the reality is that this issue of gay marriage is not as big of a wedge issue as it once was.

Finally, the Dixie Chicks' documentary, Shut Up and Sing, comes out in theaters this week. It will be released nationwide on November 10. Can't wait! Oh, their CD is excellent and I'm not even a country music fan.

A great escape to the windy city

It's hard to believe that just yesterday at this time I was enjoying high tea at The Drake hotel off Chicago's Magnificent Mile. Now fantasy land is over and it’s back to the grind but what a great escape it was!

The Chicago Marathon was yesterday. We didn't realize it until we arrived Friday night and everyone kept asking us if we were running on Sunday. Nope, just there to enjoy Chicago in the fall. It was amazing to see 40,000 runners push it to the limits.

I enjoyed seeing Chicago's Museum of Contemporary art and the Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House. I would recommend stopping by both if you get the chance.

Saturday night's dinner at Bin 36 was fabulous. It's a wine and cheese restaurant so naturally, we had to indulge.

It's always fun to vacation like you're some other person. The entire weekend zipped by like an express train ride but oh it was good to get away, even if it was for just over 48 hours.

Weekends with nothing to do are great

Don't you just love the weekends where nothing is planned and you can get shit done! That was the weekend I had and boy it was great. I actually watched that movie, High School Musical. I know, its for like 10 year old girls but I just had to do it. Cute movie but once was enough for me.

The next three weekends are going to be filled with traveling. First to Chicago, then to Pittsburgh and then to Joplin, Missouri. Oh the fun I have to look forward too!

In the meantime, the election is like 22 days away and we still need to fight the good fight!

Troops to stay in Iraq through 2010

I just received this letter from the DNC. I'm not a huge fan of the DNC but this is worth a mention. Mr. Bush doesn't have any clue what he's doing with regard to Iraq and he's going to give his mess to the next president while he gallops off into the sunset. Shameful.

Is this what George Bush means when he says we're going to "stay the course?"

MSNBC Breaking News: A.P.: U.S. Army making plans to keep current Iraq troop level through 2010.

The Bush Administration has the wrong strategy for Iraq. Deadlines continue to be extended, and the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate.

We have an opportunity now to elect Democrats who will hold this administration accountable and force a new strategy in Iraq. Winning this election will bring real change on Iraq, and we all know that continuing to follow a failed policy isn't working.

This is the final stretch of the race, and we all need to start sprinting now. Please make a donation to win this election:

http://www.democrats.org/newdirection

The overwhelming majority of Americans want a new direction in Iraq, but this administration is laying plans to keep the same failed course no matter what the people want.

Just as importantly, an unprecedented number of retired generals -- many of whom have been on the ground in Iraq -- agree that the civilian political leadership had the wrong strategy in Iraq since the beginning.

Despite overwhelming evidence that the Republican strategy in Iraq is failing, this administration and the rubber-stamp Republican Congress refuse to do anything about it.

If you want a new direction, you have to participate. It's going to take hundreds of thousands of us giving $20 and $50 each to cut through the right-wing Republican propaganda machine that spreads lies and misinformation. If you can afford to help, now is the time:

http://www.democrats.org/newdirection

Please spread the word to everyone you know that the time has come for a new direction in Iraq.

Change in Iraq starts by electing new leaders here at home, and we've got less than four weeks to make it happen.

Thank you,
Tom

Tom McMahon
Executive Director
Democratic National Committee

In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day

My paster, Mark Batterson, just released his book, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars, this week.

Buy it, read it and rejoice!

More information is available on the Batterson Blog. It's a great pick me up if you're having a rough day.

Hello America, Get Ready to Welcome Number 300 Million

Since there is already so much talk about the Mark Foley scandal, I thought I would get everyone prepared to welcome our 300th US citizen to our country. (either through birth or immigration)

The population is supposed to cross the 300 million mark sometime around mid-October. Three hundred million people is a lot of people! I'm sure if you live near a big city you are feeling the growth. I know in Washington, DC, you can feel the population stresses on the roads and in shopping centers on a daily basis.

More importantly, the population milestone should have everyone worried about its affect on the environmental, according to a report authored by the non-profit Center for Environment and Population. We are consuming an abundance of natural resources at an unprecedented rate compared to other countries across the world.

Here is an intriguing fact:

Half the continental United States can no longer support its original vegetation; nearly 1,000 plant and animal species are listed by the U.S. government as endangered or threatened, with 85 percent of those due to habitat loss or alteration.

We as Americans are ruining the environment not only for future Americans, but for our global neighbors as well. The pollutions we give off and the energy we consume impact the entire world.

Population growth isn't necessarily a bad thing but maybe its time to step back and look how these numbers play into various policy issues such as the environment, immigration, trade and academic research to name a few.