From: Sean Osborn - Subject: What I Know
Dear friends, I wrote this, and I will try to be brief. Please read it. Pass it on if you think it's important enough.

What I know:

I know that Bush's first national security meeting was about how to invade Iraq. ("The Price of Loyalty" - Paul O'Niell)

I know that intelligence about Al'Qaeda was ignored. http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/10/august6.memo/

I know that intelligence about Iraq as a threat was exaggerated or fabricated to suit Bush's political agenda, and that intelligence that it was not a threat was ignored. http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0306/S00211.htm And even high-level administration officials changed their minds when Bush wanted war. http://www.thememoryhole.org/war/powell-no-wmd.htm

I know that Bush and Rumsfeld ignored military recommendations for how to succeed in Iraq, and sent inadequate strategy, troops, and equipment. I believe this is because neither of them served active duty in the military, so they have no concept of how the military really works. Because of this mess, the selective service is drawing up plans for drafting healthcare workershttp://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/195831_homeland19.html?searchpagefrom=1&s earchdiff=0

I know that Rumsfeld approved techniques to humiliate and abuse Iraqi prisoners. http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?040524fa_fact and approved disregarding the Geneva convention. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5166951/site/newsweek/site/newsweek/ I believe that if we disregard the Geneva convention, that other nations will disregard it when it comes to our citizens and troops.

I know that many prisoners are being held without charge, without access to council, and without hope of release, in direct violation of the constitution (especially with regards to the Fifth Amendment, which says "no person," not "no citizen.") http://www.usconstitution.net/const.txt

I know the world at large considers Bush's policies to have a destabilizing effect on world security and peace. I believe these policies have made Americans, and the world in general, dramatically less safe and secure.

I know that Bush said, even knowing all he knows today, that he would do the Iraq war in exactly the same way.

I know that THE WAR IN IRAQ IS NOT PART OF THE WAR ON TERROR. So what we have is a President who ignores the real threat at the cost of American lives, and relentlessly and cavalierly pursues an unnecessary war for personal reasons, botching the invasion and the occupation through his incompetence, detaining hundreds without trial or charge and torturing them, while having no regrets about any of it.

This election is a referendum on Bush's foreign policy, and if he is re-elected, he will feel that all of his actions have been justified, and HE WILL DO IT AGAIN. So, if you like unnecessary war, torture, less security, suspending the constitution, shredding alliances, thousands of dead and maimed, and ignoring terrorists threats, then vote for Bush.

I know that Bush is the first president to lose more jobs than at any time since the Great Depression. http://www.rense.com/general58/joblossfiguresdeliver.htm

I know deficits are bad - even Alan Greenspan says so. (Paul O'Niell "The Price of Loyalty") But Bush turned a surplus into record deficits through tax cuts. Bush's first tax cut didn't stimulate the economy, but he signed a second one into law anyway. These cuts made record deficits, did not stimulate the economy, and benefitted wealthy America more than the middle class. http://www.alternet.org/story/15558

I know that Cheney's company Haliburton was given a no-bid contract in Iraq, going against the idea of a free market and competition (core Republican values) in favor of cronyism. Haliburton then gouged the government. http://www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/1900/1/18

I know that Drug companies sell the same drugs all over the world, but charge Americans the most. http://www.baddteddy.com/medical/campaign.htm They also have the largest profit margins of any industry, over three times the average. http://www.citizen.org/documents/4.11.PDF The industry was very happy when Bush signed a law banning drug re-importation to the US.

I know that electronic voting machines are easy to tamper with (three republicans in Texas won by exactly 18,181 votes). http://www.gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=301&row=2 From 2001-2003, Diebold (who makes electronic voting machines) board members and executives gave over $400,000 (99% of contributions) to Republicans. http://www.pewtrusts.org/pdf/electionline_081104.pdf And the head of the company said that he is "committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the president next year." http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0828-08.htm So, even if Bush really loses, we might never know. Make sure your vote counts!

I thought that Republicans were for fiscal responsibility, the middle class, and a fair market for all. This administration clearly is not.

If you like corporations that get whatever they want from the government, cronyism, high unemployment, big government, record deficits, and voter fraud, then vote for Bush. If you're against balanced budgets, a stimulated economy, and a free market, then vote for Bush.

John Kerry is not the perfect candidate, but I love my country too much to allow Bush four more years to ruin it further. As the bumper sticker says: Why have Peace and Prosperity, when you could have Bush?

Sean Osborn.
www.geocities.com/osbornmusic/