http://www.infowars.com/articles/ps/vaccines_tx_requires_cancer_vaccine_for_girls.htm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16948093/

AUSTIN (AP) -- "Gov. Rick Perry ordered Friday that schoolgirls in Texas must be vaccinated against the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer, making Texas the first state to require the shots.

The girls will have to get Merck & Co.'s new vaccine against strains of the human papillomavirus, or HPV, that are responsible for most cases of cervical cancer.

Merck is bankrolling efforts to pass laws in state legislatures across the country mandating it Gardasil vaccine for girls as young as 11 or 12. It doubled its lobbying budget in Texas and has funneled money through Women in Government, an advocacy group made up of female state legislators around the country.

Details of the order were not immediately available, but the governor's office confirmed to The Associated Press that he was signing the order and he would comment Friday afternoon.

Perry has several ties to Merck and Women in Government. One of the drug company's three lobbyists in Texas is Mike Toomey, his former chief of staff. His current chief of staff's mother-in-law, Texas Republican state Rep. Dianne White Delisi, is a state director for Women in Government.

Toomey was expected to be able to woo conservative legislators concerned about the requirement stepping on parent's rights and about signaling tacit approval of sexual activity to young girls. Delisi, as head of the House public health committee, which likely would have considered legislation filed by a Democratic member, also would have helped ease conservative opposition.

Perry also received $6,000 from Merck's political action committee during his re-election campaign.

It wasn't immediately clear how long the order would last and whether the legislation was still necessary. However it could have been difficult to muster support from lawmakers who champion abstinence education and parents' rights.

Perry, a conservative Christian who opposes abortion rights and stem- cell research using embryonic cells, counts on the religious right for his political base.

But he has said the cervical cancer vaccine is no different than the one that protects children against polio.

"If there are diseases in our society that are going to cost us large amounts of money, it just makes good economic sense, not to mention the health and well being of these individuals to have those vaccines available," he said.

Texas allows parents to opt out of inoculations by filing an affidavit stating that he or she objected to the vaccine for religious or philosophical reasons.

Even with such provisions, however, conservative groups say mandates take away parents' rights to be the primary medical decision maker for their children.

The federal government approved Gardasil in June, and a government advisory panel has recommended that all girls get the shots at 11 and 12, before they are likely to be sexually active.

The New Jersey-based drug company could generate billions in sales if Gardasil _ at $360 for the three-shot regimen _ were made mandatory across the country. Most insurance companies now cover the vaccine, which has been shown to have no serious side effects.

Merck spokeswoman Janet Skidmore would not say how much the company is spending on lobbyists or how much it has donated to Women in Government. Susan Crosby, the group's president, also declined to specify how much the drug company gave.

A top official from Merck's vaccine division sits on Women in Government's business council, and many of the bills around the country have been introduced by members of Women in Government."

Governor capitulates to pharmaceutical industry.
Lobbying money talks; ethical discretion walks. Common occurrence among politicians.

Vaccines. Parental rights. Political shenanigans. Billions for pharma industry giant.

We need stronger curbs and accountabililty with the entire lobbying concept to decrease corporate abuses and foster political transparency.

Relevance:
One might want to lament lobbying improprieties in general and then bring in RIAA lobbying habits, but that allusion was not made by whoever posted the news article. So, was that an oversight?
Otherwise, the temptation is to ponder what this topic has to do with music, directly or indirectly.

[time out for pondering]

grumpygeezer, This article was simply waiting for someone like YOU to come along complete it by pointing out that obvious relevance right off the bat.



(lol, I'm guessing leflaw posted this one. His law practice has taken on some of these evil drug companies before in the past I do believe.)

evil drug companies or not. the polio vaccine is REQUIRED. MMR is REQUIRED. list goes on and on. why is it that this particular vaccine has generated so much venom?

"Texas allows parents to opt out of inoculations by filing an affidavit stating that he or she objected to the vaccine for religious or philosophical reasons." Well, there ya go!.. let me stop here before I start quoting Molly Ivins.. rest in peace, dear!

Here in MI I was informed that any and/or all vaccines are NOT required, but only for attending public schools. I actually read thur most of the info provided about the shots and the slight risk of adverse reactions.... No shots = no school, not much of a choice

I can see the RIAA lobbying for ALL music for sale, weather Riaa or Indie, being infected with DRM. No DRM = No UPC, sign me up as a registered voter to fight against this.

I posted this:, and @captdunsel's question "why is it that this particular vaccine has generated so much venom?".

Look at WHAT this is for "SEXUALLY transmitted virus"

1) It catapults, condones and promotes sexual promiscuity at an early age, far beyond handing out condoms in schools ever did. If you think about it, in a way, this is like being forced to receive a package of condoms every semester or something while in school. TOTAL abrogation of the decision making power and inalieable rights of the parents to have this authority over their kids.

"Texas allows parents to opt out of inoculations by filing an affidavit stating that he or she objected to the vaccine for religious or philosophical reasons."

O RLY? What if you don't have any parents? Are you allowed to reject the vaccine ON YOUR OWN WILL? Even if you do have parents, kids don't have authority to deny a INSUFFICIENTLY TESTED, UNPROVED, FOREIGN compund injected into their bodies? This is also another attack on the family structure.

2) All other vaccines are contagious by means other than SOLELY THROUGH sexual contact. Consider this scenario which will happen.

Mother of child "I'll be damned if my daughter is going to be having sex before shes an adult, and married, who the hell do you think you people are to insinuate that my daughter will be off having sex, when we have raised her to know better and she believes in God's laws." How DARE you make an STD drug MANDATORY.

"can opt out if you have religious or philosophical reasons" O RLY? Who the fuck dictates that I must have a PHILOSOPHICAL OR RELIGIOUS REASON?

HOW ABOUT JUST A "REASON" PERIOD", HOW ABOUT FUCK YOU GOVERNOR PERRY.

Folks, this (even if indirectly) is a BETA TEST just like so many other things, to see how far they can push the public. This is a pre-cursor to possibly, a MANDATORY NATIONWIDE BIRD FLU VACCINE, which will NOT be a vaccine at all but in fact will CAUSE you hard and many will die. Ultimately, this is all about eventually getting to the point of mandatory CHIP implantation, of course, FOR YOUR SAFETY.

Laugh at it, why do you think parents who decide to home school their children are demonized? Because they have removed their kids from the brain wash controlled state educational indoctrination system, thats why. For example, if you home schooled a child, they wouldn't get their minds poisoned by the likes of the RIAA/MPAA propaganda ministers parading the schools, wouldn't have to read any BULLSHIT about fucking copyright law in high school, or any of that crap.

If anyone is too blind to see the implications behind shit like this, you are part of the problem, you are one with the NWO. You fully deserve the prison being engineered for you that you laugh at, pretending doesn't exist, pretending isn't happening.

You can laugh at me when in 10 years from now, if we make it that long, when you have CANCER because the Food and Drug Administration APPROVED THE USE OF CLONED MEATS TO BE SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES WITHOUT HAVING TO BE LABELED AS SUCH. So ENJOY your fuckign CLONED roast beef, your CLONED turkey, your CLONED filet mignon steak. have a nice day, and welcome to the depopulation plan of the Illuminati/Bilderbergs.

I posted this here because it is a wake up call to a literal police state.

"hard" is supposed to say "harm"

one additional note:

a quote from Bill Cooper R.I.P.

"Any time any system makes you dependent upon anybody or anything or any system you are enslaved, understand that. Doesn't have to be chains of iron, you dont have to be hanging up on a wall, you just have to be *obligated*, thats all it takes."

~~TOTAL abrogation of the decision making power and inalieable rights of the parents to have this authority over their kids.~~

~~This is also another attack on the family structure.~~

Truer statements never made...it always starts with the kids...
But it's not only what they lay on us, but how they achieve it...

People, if all these government decisions being made "mandatory" for us all isn't a warning bell, never mind all the sirens going off...then I can understand how easy it will be for them to impliment "the mark of the beast". Just a little ole' tatoo on your hand or forehead, so you can buy and sell...you know, to replace that little ole' debit card you keep losing?

I really hate hearing about stuff like this...but onward it continues....like snakes slithering upon us, silent, but deadly...

at least we can see the kind of venom I'm talking about.

I should start a business selling foil hats, teflon body glitter, microtransmitter detection devices and miniature pyramids.



fact - we are trying to prevent your daughter from getting cancer

conclusion - "~~This is also another attack on the family structure.~~"


"1) It catapults, condones and promotes sexual promiscuity at an early age, ...."


you have got to be kidding me. I am speechless.


here's how it really works.


my daughter will be receiving the vaccine.

any little boys who start getting ideas about my daughter will also be getting dad's very special "touch my daughter and your ass will hurt too bad to screw vaccine".

then when my daughter gets old enough to live and make decisions for herself she won't be getting cancer from mistakes she made as a kid.

problem solved.

I am not a doctor, but I secretly suspect that the human papillomavirus, or HPV is only a POSSIBLE cause of (...or, merely SOMETIMES causes) cervical cancer.

I think most people in the world would test positive for HPV if they went to the doctor and had it checked.

All my ex-wives and some of girlfriends have told me of experiences they had when the be-jeezus got scared out of them by their drug-pushing doctors after a pap-smear showed them to be "HPV positive".

"We gotta get you on expensive drugs and perform expensive painful & potentially dangerous proceedures on you because you have got HPV!" these doctors would say.

But in many many cases, HPV is benign.

The medical industry often likes to make mountains out of mole-hills in order to generate $$$

Again, I am not a doctor, nor a medical professional, but that's the way I see it in this case.

This kind of law is more about making money instead of truely helping people.

We need a more socialized medical system. Leaving health care in the hands of a capitolist paradigm brings about
abuse and corruption.

seriously,

you guys need to do your homework.

HPV in most cases is benign. and it is quite common. of the 30 or so varieties on the market most are innocuous and do nothing. a few strains cause genital warts. 4 variants are proven to cause cervical cancer.

I'm not really sure of the numbers but my understanding is about half to two thirds of women become infected with a strain of HPV at some point in their life. most never know it but a number of them go on to develop cancer which is specifically caused by a virus that can be prevented if they are innoculated BEFORE they become sexually active.


hmmmm, let's see if I got this straight, if take my kid down now and get her a series of shots (for about $300 if I don't have insurance -- a $15 dollar copay if I do) I can possibly save her a battle with a killer disease later on in life...........

or I can be pissed about the fact that she's going to become a woman and become sexually active no matter what I do.

fuck that, I'm gonna let the little slut die. I don't want to encourage her to show any kind of responsibility about her sexual health and well being. and by god she better never even think about ANY sort of birth control. if she wants to go out and be a little whore then she can pay for it with her life. women need to learn that sex is evil and sinful and that they just shouldn't do it at all or they most certainly be struck down for their wickedness.

now if you guys will excuse me I have to go look at some porn.

Uh, I mean.....

I can see the concern about the drug companies pushing their products on us. and yes I have railed against special interest legislation many times in the past. but this particular issue is the wrong one to use to point that fact out.

this vaccine is a great advance in women's health and it shouldn't be thrown in the middle of a giant tug of war when there are too many other things that could be used as examples.

sorry, back to surfing porn.

This post is stupid.

Like Capn. Dunsel, I am also speechless that loyal longtime Boycott and dmusic supporters would mouth platitudes about home-schooling and the inference that sexual promiscuity is state sanctioned or teacher-approved.

You're crazy, True Audio. i didn't know that before. I am the first one to raise an alarm at lobbyist activities and Big Pharma. But I am lucky that I am not insane. I'm not suffering from a John Birch Society perspective.

That stuff from the 50's about polio vaccine and fluoride was pretty much destroyed in "Dr. Strangelove", dontcha think? Worried about the communists tampering with your precious bodily fluids?

This has nothing to do with the internet business. Certainly it can be said back in the day (when we had real journalism ongoing at Boycott)--- that Code Warrior and I went far afield with internet issues---alarms about Ashcroft's war on privacy---creationism in Kansas--the School of America's soldier training camps for torture--and the secret implementation of citizen detention centers.

And those issues that interested me and Code would never had passed Thumbtack's worship of all things Bush. Although the worst paranoid fantasies turned out to be true.

Is anyone actually vetting the submission process for articles? Or is every fool allowed admin access?

As for those diehard dominionists and ten-per-centers who continue to defend President Cheney--- I ask Boycott and Dmusic loyalists to "say a prayer for those who still suffer."

"It catapults, condones and promotes sexual promiscuity at an early age, far beyond handing out condoms in schools ever did."

I don't see how it promotes sexual promiscuity.
Perhaps I missed some relevant reason somewhere.

"You're crazy, True Audio."

He carried this issue too far, but he may be right about an ominous new world order being planned.

tomsong, this article was posted over on DMusic (apparently by TrueAudio) and it thus was automatically posted here at Boycott Riaa too (as has been the situation forever.)

I have always agreed that Boycott Riaa articles should only reflect our issues because some of the stuff from DMusic news doesn't always fit. But you have first hand knowledge of how this place works having been the chief admin yourself.

Why not jump back in the saddle (at least on some part-time basis) and help by being one who "vettes" the things that get posted on the front page? (Yes, something needs to be done to keep DMusic's non-boycott riaa specific articles from being automatically posted. I have grumbled about that for years. It is a part of the reason I made the mistake of focusing on the "new" site while ignoring this one for so long.)

=======

But, then again. Sometimes it is nice to see viewpoints and opinions about NON boycott riaa issues from our participants.

...but, Ye'r right. Only sometimes.

Oh, BTW.

I'm not completely sure myself who all has "admin approval" but...

leflaw, Tracy, and perhaps a few others do for the DMusic news threads (and those items get jumbled in over here)

Twarrior and myself are the only ones I know of for sure that can specifically "approve" articles for Boycott Riaa (other than the spill-over mentioned above)

...but CodeWarrior, yourself, and George Z. (possibly ShadowMom) might still have working keys. (I don't know for sure.)

My own status is now just voluntary and part-time (I had to "drop out" due to my work schedual in the real world.) For the most part, I only "approve" the articles/items that I submit myself. (I am unable to approve DMusic items. I never had that key on my keyring.)

"I don't see how it promotes sexual promiscuity. Perhaps I missed some relevant reason somewhere."

Use your brain; by mandating a vaccine specifically to try to prevent something that can only be acquired through sexual contact, you are saying "we expect, and know that your going to be having sex while at a statutory age, so you must take this vaccine."

"fact - we are trying to prevent your daughter from getting cancer"

Fact? According to whom? The fact MIGHT BE "We secretly have a cancer CAUSING virus in this vaccine, that will take many many years to come out of its dormant state, but will help us reduce the worlds population". Do a google search for "Alex Jones, Microchip Vaccine depopulation plan". Do a search for "MKULTRA".


"conclusion - "~~This is also another attack on the family structure.~~"

My deduction is based on the fact that *choice* has been REMOVED from you, not whether or not the INTENTION of the vaccine is genuine. Noone is having sex IN school, therefore, any comparison to Polio or the like is totally off base.

Whether the vaccine is TRULY what it is purported to be has NOTHING to do with why anyone should be pissed about this.

The issue at hand is nothing less than gestapo facism on brought to you by Big Pharma/Police State testing grounds. You think all those drug commercials you see on TV are in YOUR best interest? They're not, go read Kevin Trudeu's books and pull your head out of your ass about wtf the real agenda is behind drugs in this world. Yeah he's trying to make money also, who isn't, but there is a hell of alot of truth to the shit he talks about.

"I should start a business selling foil hats, teflon body glitter, microtransmitter detection devices and miniature pyramids."

captdunsel, I hear Fox News is hiring, as well as the Department of Homeland Security. You'd fit right in. Your facetious, sully attack on the true perspective of this issue doesn't diminish it, and doesn't shift ANY eyebrow raising credence to YOUR position. Wouldn't suprise me if your a boot licking neo-con who fully supports H.R. 6166, praises Alberto Gonzales, truly thinks Michael Chertoff is going to "protect you", and thinks that the fucking drug companies have YOUR DAUGHTER's health in their best interest.

The fucking UNITED NATIONS has been involved in contaminating vaccines for ALONG TIME with cancer viruses, female sterilization components, among other things. Ever hear of Henry Kissinger? Why don't you read what the fuck he planned for his part in the NWO.

Your contemptuous and vilifying rhetoric do nothing but make me laugh, I have read more about this shit than you have, because I've been doing it for the last 5 fucking years. Noone likes the truth, because usually the truth, when finally realized, utterly destroys everything that you thought you lived for, it tears what seemingly were rock solid understandings of the affairs of the world down to the ground.

@tomsong "That stuff from the 50's about polio vaccine and fluoride was pretty much destroyed in "Dr. Strangelove", dontcha think? Worried about the communists tampering with your precious bodily fluids?"

Check out Terrorstorm, available for free to view on google video, and pull your fucking head out of your ass.

Alex jones is mostly right on what he has said for years.

Former Naval and Air Force Intelligence officer, Bill Cooper's findings (which predate 9/11 and pre-date Alex Jones) FORTELL of the things that Alex jones has already shown to have become reality.

I guess former LAPD narcotics officer was full of shit when he said his Air Force Colonel partner was MURDERED by the CIA for videorecording them trafficking in tons of Cocaine and loading it onto a C-130 on a USAF base.

I guess the fact that the US Govt quickly got rid of almost every shred of evidence about 9-11 doesnt mean anything.

I don't want your tinfoil hats, and this very article was supposed to SMASH the possibility of anyone even being able to reply with such a idiotic, and condescending suggestions as that.

Yeah the Liquid Terror plot on airplanes was a genuine and not manufactured, I suppose you think that was real. Get fucking real. I was EOD in the military, I know.

So enjoy your rosey eyeglasses with your daughter, while you possibly subject her to being infected WITH cancer, or sterilized, or having some unexpected side effect, because the vaccine HAS NOT GONE THROUGH SUFFICIENT TESTING, PERIOD.


I'm crazy? No, Im pissed off at apathetic and psy-op mainstream media yes-men like you who probably hasn't even read the Bill of Rights.

"former LAPD narcotics officer"

Insert "Michael Ruppert"

18 years with LAPD, was shot at by CIA operatives for blowing whistle on illegal CIA drug running.

Fact: CIA brings most of the illegal drugs into the United States. Bullshit you say? Do a search for it and enjoy reading for the next few weeks.

Also check out Aaron Russos film "Freedom to Fascism"


Historic Interview with Aaron Russo, Fighting Cancer and the New World Order"

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5420753830426590918&q=aaron+russo+rockefeller
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1263677258215075609&q=aaron+russo+rockefeller

"I have read more about this shit than you have, because I've been doing it for the last 5 fucking years."

5 years? 5 years? five short years?


you don't know very much about me do you?

let me help you out. here's what's important.

I don't get my news from Jeff Rense.

there is help available. find it.

"Use your brain; by mandating a vaccine specifically to try to prevent something that can only be acquired through sexual contact, you are saying "we expect, and know that you're going to be having sex while at a statutory age, so you must take this vaccine."

Your premise is somewhat flawed.
IF a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer from HPV is expected to be most effective when it is administered prior to puberty, then it does not necessarily follow that a reaction such as "we anticipate you're going to have sex at a certain age” is warranted or justified. You're going overboard on this issue, sir.
Advice: Save your NWO warning for when it can count for more impact.
BTW, I've been an editor myself, so I can empathize with the inevitable hits that an editor has to take. But, man, we have to view this type of topic with a little less vehemence. Take a more mellow perspective; reserve your thunder for a stronger storm, my friend.
Doing so will be better for you as well as for those you wish to influence.

"It catapults, condones and promotes sexual promiscuity at an early age, far beyond handing out condoms in schools ever did."

A person can reasonably take issue with that statement.
Anytime a strong statement is subject to logical challenge, it has the tendency to weaken the thrust of a basic position stemming from it.
Debate 101.

BTW, regarding a phrase you used ("contemptuous and vilifying rhetoric") . . . be alert to avoid placing yourself in a vulnerable position of being a pot calling a kettle names.

Let me make sure I've got this right.

You are either certain the Great Conspiracy which began immediately after World War II, is ongoing, and threatens our very fabric of life, or you are a right-wing fanatic who wants to turn America into a police state.

Alex Jones and Bill O'Reilly live in the same end of the Bell curve.

"5 years? 5 years? five short years?"

Yeah, and there's still people who haven't woken up since 9/11, stay asleep.

you don't know very much about me do you? let me help you out. here's what's important.

"I don't get my news from Jeff Rense."
Jeff Rense? I just Wiki'd him now, never heard of him before, so I guess that means I must not get my news from him now, doesn't it?

"there is help available. find it."

Enjoy your federally mandated drivers license renewal this year captdunsel, thereafter to be followed by Real ID, aka. National ID Card, oh and your daughter will be forced to get one of those spiffy new things too, if she wishes to drive. Ignorance like this over the last decades has helped this happen, it's too late now for the most part.

Enjoy getting your new RFID equipped US Passport also. Oh wait, I must be making this stuff up, please start your tinfoil hat business soon so I can buy one. How about the North American Union? Jeff Rense verbiage? How about Lou Dobbs of CNN? Maybe you can find Lou Dobbs on youtube.com, just maybe.

@gdZienann
"Alex Jones and Bill O'Reilly live in the same end of the Bell curve."

Thats equivalent to saying "Fred Von Lohmann and Mitch Bainwol live in the same end of the Bell curve."

"threatens our very fabric of life" the Patriot Act is only one example of a tool implemented to work toward that very end.
For one example, it was invoked to go after a toy store for copyright infringement of a toy that was like the discontinued Rubik's Cube. Wait, I thought the Patriot Act was only to be used for terrorist cases? Yeah, I must be making that up also, go buy a tinfoil hat, Im a liar.

The Hollywood cartel has even gotten your US Attoryney General on board, stating that piracy funded terrorism. Yeah, all these little things like this can in now way "threaten the very fabric of life" what is "life", or wait, do you mean freedom? I think thats what you mean. But wait, thats probably just "Jeff Rense stuff" huh? yup.

How can warning you about a police state coincide with that same person wanting to turn America into a Police state? Ever hear of "A house divided against itself cannot stand"?

have a nice day guys, i'm done with this thread, kind of reminds me of something that Mike Ruppert said in one of his documentaries: "There was a time when I wanted to save the world, but now I look back, screw them, the world doesn't want to be saved."

Now back to my coffee.

This presumes that we find the FDA's judgment on the vaccine's safety and efficacy to be wholly reliable. I certainly do not.

Mandatory chastity belts would be much less expensive, and would prevent a much greater variety of disease and expense to the state. Clearly the chastity belt manufacturers did not pony enough money for lobbying and bribes.

I believe in freedom. If your daughter is a slut, she better have the vaccine. If she's not, it is superfluous, and possibly dangerous, not to say expensive. If the liberals want government to stay out of the bedroom, maybe vaccines for STD's should also fall under this umbrella of freedom to choose.

Frankly, I am apalled, and ultimately I don't believe Texans will stand for it. But I'm not a Texan, so it remains to be seen.

Woo-Hoo! This is one class "A" rant!! Agree or disagree, ya gotta give Kudos for style.

It appears that they take "test sites" or areas. In Canada, this same cancer innoculation program is going to run in one of our Manitoba cities.

In Edmonton, Alberta, they are instigating a program of screening everyone who comes into their clinics for diabetes, which means, you go in for stitches for your cut finger, and your blood will be tested for diabetes..like it or not....

They're going to take care of us to death!

invasion of privacy by Big Brother

intrusive crap in various places

gdZiemann:
Alex Jones and Bill O'Reilly live in the same end of the Bell curve.

TrueAudio:
That's equivalent to saying "Fred Von Lohmann and Mitch Bainwol live in the same end of the Bell curve."

TrueAudio:
How can warning you about a police state coincide with that same person wanting to turn America into a police state? Ever hear of "A house divided against itself cannot stand"?


Interesting dialogue.
And I'm reminded of how a university history instructor once draw a straight line on the overhead projector. At one end of the line, he wrote the word "anarchy". At the other end, he wrote: "totalitarianism". Then he asked where the class thought fascism and communism fit.
It became obvious, they'd both go under totalitiarianism. (Fascism by design, and communism by function though not theory. Karl Marx's ill-conceived "dicatatorship of the proletariat" in actuality becomes the dictatorship of the oligarchy.)
And yet most of this class could recall a high school course of history which, distortedly, had a textbook showing communism at the extreme left (liberal) end of a line and fascism at the extreme right (conservative) end of the same line.

Sometimes a lot depends on one's perspective, doesn't it?

regarding "worship of all things Bush" --

Sad to say, there are even still those kind of misguided folks around, or otherwise the Senate wouldn't have been snarled in some footdragging against a verbal protest over the current administration's escalated interventionist policies.
Simply put, you'd have be a dumb as a box of rocks to keep from opposing Bush's warmongering crusade in Iraq, not to mention his firebrand approach to Iran, don't you think?
Then again, I'm not optimistic that a segment of the population (read neocon congresspeople and a number of their constituents) will wise up enough to get smarter than that box of rocks.
Not optimistic! (that's me)

Okay, if not dumb, then beholden to special interests
(which is a lot of what politicans are about anyway).

"As dumb as a box of rocks" still applies to those adminstration supporters who aren't tainted with lobbyist leanings, though.

Being a warmonger about Iraq.
Being a firebrand about Iran.
Bush has mad cowboy disease.

"Some people say that the U.S. president is not prone to calculating the consequences of his actions," Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Thursday.

In remarks broadcast on state television, Khamenei added, "but it is possible to bring this kind of person to wisdom."


The actual truth: barely remotely possible, if at all.

Sorry, Khamenei, but you may have seriously overestimated the potential of that guy.
Or, perhaps you just felt like being a little generous.
)