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Report shows widespread torture in US facilities

Amnesty International is one of those organizations, like the ACLU and the United Nations, that conservatives love to
hate - until they need them.  When you see a right winger on TV, radio or sometimes in person - they will recite an
extreme example of a case or action one of these groups has taken to "prove" that it is  ...um...liberal, un-American,
corrupt, pitiful..the usual string of right wing adjectives used to demonize opponents.  Think about it though.  The
United Nations tries to bring cooperation between nations, the ACLU advocates individual Civil Liberties and Amnesty
International fights again torture and police mistreatment of citizens.  Is it any wonder, now that we see the big picture
of Republican rule, why that they have put so much time, money and propaganda efforts to criticize these groups?

A new study by Amnesty International is sure to get the Reds all fired up once again. The study shows that torture
takes place in US prisons abroad - both those we know about and the secret prisons recently discovered. (No
comment on other secret prisons the Bush administration may be operating, but which have yet to be learned about
by the public). The report also criticizes domestic criminal justice in the USA, saying there are many examples of
police and prison abuse within our borders.  Noooooo!?!?

Groups such as Amnesty International should be applauded for their efforts and courage to stand up against those
forces in the world who feel they have a right to engage in improper activities. Yes, they open themselves up to a
barrage of well funded and well organized criticism, but that is the price many have paid for daring to stand up to  
Red America.

Spanish language national anthem

I guess you can say that George Bush was FOR a Spanish language national anthem before he was against it.  We
all know that the President, perhaps in another effort to pander to his base, sharply criticized the Spanish language
national anthem last week.  But did you know that he seemed fine with it while running for President? This is a
wonderful link to a series of stories which find that Bush not only had the US National Anthem sung in Spanish at his
Inauguration - he also sang it himself on the campaign trail!  

Imagine with me for a moment if this was John Kerry.  I would guess that through the mainstream media, right wing
media, talk radio and GOP press releases - the nation would be informed within 24 hours about this "flip flop".  Kerry
would be mocked, ridiculed and degraded.  Don't look for the same level of coverage on George W. Bush.

Sometimes I wish we had the same propaganda machine the right wing does.  But, after thinking about it, I don't think
it would work - for the same reason liberal talk radio will never have the same listenership of right wing radio. I just
don't think that most people have an appetite for, or a susceptibility to, propaganda techniques.  Those who are, I
would suggest, have already joined the GOP.  

We cannot lie, spin or manipulate voters away from the GOP.  We can only relay the facts, and trust that those who
intelligently consider their opinions will eventually outnumber those who just follow along with what they are told. It
hasn't been the case for a generation and now everyone can see the mess it has caused.  So, we have little choice
but to have faith that enough people will wake up, realize what con has been pulled on them - and run (don't walk)
from the right wing politicians.  

Groups like Amnesty International help to make that possible. And they don't like that one little bit.
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STUDY: U.S CONDUCTS
"WIDESPREAD TORTURE"