Preaching to the choir yesterday in Martinsburg, W Va, Bush recited the same sermon he and his handlers reserve for these carefully controlled and completely choreographed appearances before the faithful.

"We give thanks for all the brave citizen-soldiers of our Continental Army who dropped pitchforks and took up muskets to fight for our freedom and liberty and independence," Bush said. He added: "You're the successors of those brave men. . . . Like those early patriots, you're fighting a new and unprecedented war."

I wonder if anyone else noticed that our Revolution against the tyrannical rule of that earlier George, the occupation of our cities and provinces by British troops, his interference in what we regarded as our affairs, and the general mistreatment of our citizenry was, in fact, the polar opposite of  our invasion and occupation of Iraq and the mistreatment, maiming and murder of their citizenry.

By Jason Miller

"Non-violence is a weapon of the strong."

---Mahatma Gandhi

It is with regret that I pronounce the fatal truth: Louis ought to perish rather than a hundred thousand virtuous citizens; Louis must die that the country may live."

---Maximilien Robespierre

October 17, 2006 is a watershed date in the epic struggle between oppressors and oppressed. Events of that day undoubtedly prompted Marx and Engels to awaken from their eternal slumber and spin violently in their graves. A mere swish of the pen by a conscienceless swine effectively transferred absolute power into the hands of a relative handful of rich and powerful individuals and corporations.

Throughout that horrible winter of 1777, as the fledgling American army suffered a series of setbacks and settled in to the winter camp at Valley Forge, one man seemed to not understand what was going on.  While others in the camp were dispirited, he was excited.  While many thought their cause was lost, he was certain of victory.  Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yve s-Roch-Gilbert Du Motier, also known as the marquis de La Fayette, had crossed the ocean to participate in the dream that was a free nation, and he wasn't about to let that dream end.