A statesman may defined as a dead politician. Lord knows we need more statesmen! Let us proceed with some statesmen and some politicians who should be statesmen. Here are some of the more colorful figures in our blessed political landscape. Some are good, some are evil and some are beyond either.

The Writings of Lyndon LaRouche
Lyndon LaRouche said it, I believe it and that settles it. The only man George Bush feared enough to put in jail! LaRouche is an accomplished economist, technologist and international managing consultant who left school for an important job in the footwear industry. Find out who killed Princess Diana, how the British oligarchy assasinated three American Presidents and why we still need a space-based strategic defense system.

Col. James "Bo" Gritz and his Center For Action
America's most decorated Green Beret and a true Patriot with a capital 'P' who continues (maybe) to serve. His name is Gritz, my name is Grits. We both love our country. And I mean that without the slightest bit of irony. If you think I'm kidding, well, tough. Gritz is serious about taking back our country and re-establishing a constitutional republic. Word has it that he put a bullet in himself, but I smell foul play here. Let the smoke clear.

Taliban Online (Afghanistan)
The madcap mullahs and their zany program to institute a strict theocracy in post-Soviet Afghanistan. They have received support in one way or another from the U.S. (I'm not supposed to tell you that), Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. These guys are even too radical for the Iranians, who have been helping out the resistance. The Taliban have restricted women to the home, destroyed TVs & VCRs, shot people for not praying, banned all non-religious music and all non-Afghan printed matter. There was an article in The New Republic right after the Taliban seized Kabul, where an Afghani woman is quoted as saying “We never thought we’d miss the Russians.” The Shar'iah! Coming soon to a country near you!

Osama bin Laden
Living under the protection of the Taliban is the good friend of the United States, Osama bin Laden, or Mr. bin Laden to you. This exiled multimillionaire Saudi went to fight the Russkies in Afghanistan, built roads and guerilla training camps in the Sudan, and is now mobilizing mujahadeen to bring down those irreligious secular Arab governments that have perverted the Arab world with Western culture and kowtow to Israel and the Great Satan, the United States. Osama loves the United States of America. Osama loves them so much, he loves them to death. He is suspected of having a hand in the bombings of U.S. facilities in Saudi as well as Kenya & Tanzania embassy bombings. Death to the infidels!

General Augusto Pinochet Ugarte (Chile)
Viva Mi General! Also on Geocities; proud to call him a neighbor on the Capitol Hill cyberblock. Here's the story: Socialist dictator Allende nationalized everything, including U.S. mines. The middle class revolted and the military stepped in. Chile is the most prosperous S. American country, thanks to what happened under Pinochet (well, it wasn't him, but his economics ministry, made up of students of Milton Friedman). They paid off their debts, brought inflation down and infant mortality became the lowest in Latin America. After elections the Chileans had the wisdom to keep him leading the military for another decade and finally made him Senator for life. Torture, schmorture! Pinochet may not have tolerated political dissent, but you didn't have to worry if ya weren't a commie! Free Pinochet!

The Hon. Bernie Sanders (Vermont)
Former socialist mayor of Burlington, Vermont. The only non-major party member of Congress, Bernie is a pro-labor progressive but independent of Democratic Party leadership. He pushes for starry-eyed single-payer health care system, wants to keep Social Security and is a dogged advocate for workers and farmers (give them more money). A true relic from the 1930s, and funny too. A friend once told me she was at a party in Burlington and in barged Bernie, pushing her out of the way. He was on his way to the bar.