*Campaign promises ~ we know how they usually turn out – Mike Huckabee is now promising miracles if elected. Promising a policy of energy self-reliance, he said that soon after his election "we will be able to tell the Middle East we don't need your oil anymore than we need your sand.'" The consistently irresponsible inaction by presidents and congress since the oil shortage of 1973 has left us dependent on the oil teat of the Middle East for decades to come. That is the inconvenient and unfortunate truth.
*Speaking of miracles ~ a positive comment about George W. Bush – This is the 35th edition of SVN and I have finally found something that is complimentary about President Bush. The NY Times reports, “the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (initiated 5 years ago) may be the most lasting bipartisan accomplishment of the Bush presidency... So far, roughly 1.4 million AIDS patients have received lifesaving medicine paid for with American dollars, up from 50,000 before the initiative.” Going against Republican conventional wisdom with respect to foreign aid Mr. Bush has made a meaningful impact against a widespread and devastating disease. This is a proud accomplishment.
*Campaign losses – Following extremely poor showings in the Iowa caucus both Joe Biden and Chris Dodd have dropped out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. I believe that both are quality leaders and offer a depth of experience but neither captured the imagination of Iowa voters. As leaders in the Senate they will play important roles toward getting America back on track.
*Iowa surprise 1 ~ the turnout – The turnout for the Iowa Democratic caucus (236,000) set a substantial record and dwarfed the Republican turnout (115,000) even though registered Dems (600,000) outnumber GOPers (550,000) by only 50,000. I also found it interesting and promising that a state with an over 97% white population would give Barack Obama such a strong win over the other six candidates. Maybe America is becoming color blind. It has been difficult for many of us over the last 7 years to feel pride in a country that we love so much and yet has erred so often. Cycles of varying scale govern all activity on this planet. Let us hope that a new positive cycle is emerging for America.
*Iowa surprise 2 ~ the turnout of youth – “...13 percent of eligible 17-29 year olds caucused. That is more than triple the percent that participated in 2004. Most significantly, young people made up 22 percent of the Democratic caucus-goers, which means they had a real impact in that race.” It is reported that 57% of these young voters chose Obama resulting in his impressive victory. In 2000 and 2004 the evangelical vote propelled Bush to victory. It will be interesting to see if the youth vote has a similar impact on the Obama candidacy. For quite some time I have been disappointed about the lethargy exhibited by young people in response to what is taking place in America and how it affects their future. Perhaps we are seeing a wakeup call.
*Iowa ~ not such a surprise – I have seen varying figures that say between 60 to 80% of the Iowa Republican voters for Mike Huckabee were evangelicals. Is Huckabee in line to be Bush light? Is it possible to be lighter than Bush? The glare of the bible’s burning bush can be blinding, leaving its message in the dark.
*A Republican against militants ~ do we feel safer now? – Jim Talent, former senator and current advisor to Mitt Romney had this to say about Romney’s brave and steadfast stance about what they perceive to be a grave threat against America, “He’s always had the same position as regards to the gay agenda. “Look, he wants people to know he values gay people as people, okay? But he doesn’t want the militant gays to be able to change the cultural institutions of the country.” I happen to love this open-code speak of the Republican agenda. They continue to put on the front pages their disdain for the principles of a democratic and free society that values choice and diversity. Couched in religion and “family” values they encourage hate and prejudice. Their appeal to a pathetic minority of Americans will ensure their minority status as a political party. For that I express gratitude.
*The real America – Congressman Tom Lantos, a representative of California since 1980 and an advocate for human rights, civil liberties and social justice, has announced that illness prevents him from seeking a 15th term in Congress. An excerpt from his press release demonstrates an aspect of America that makes me proud: “It is only in the United States that a penniless survivor of the Holocaust and a fighter in the anti-Nazi underground could have received an education, raised a family, and had the privilege of serving the last three decades of his life as a Member of Congress. I will never be able to express fully my profoundly felt gratitude to this great country.”
*The real Arlen Specter – My Senator from PA (R) appears so senatorial while sitting on the Senate Judiciary Committee and lecturing about the rule of law. Apparently, this self-proclaimed moderate was so busy enabling Bush policies and looking the other way as Bush appointees slithered through his grasp of inquiries and investigations that he failed to notice his election campaign was breaking Federal Election Campaign (FEC) law. “Sen. Arlen Specter's 2004 re-election campaign collected more than $1 million in excessive contributions, failed to properly disclose hundreds of thousands of dollars in receipts from political party committees and political action committees, and missed a key reporting deadline before the primary election, according to a FEC audit.”
*The real John McCain – In November the Republican presidential candidate was asked by Charlie Rose if he foresaw a U.S. presence in Iraq lasting as long as the Korean experience. He replied, No. But I can see an American presence for a while. But eventually I think because of the nature of the society in Iraq and the religious aspects of it that America eventually withdraws.” Last week McCain told a town hall meeting in New Hampshire, “it would be fine with him if the U.S. military stayed in Iraq for a hundred years ... we’ve been in Japan for 60 years. We’ve been in South Korea 50 years or so.” McCain’s comments are contradictory and his analogy is absurd. Our military presence in both Asian countries does not involve an armed conflict where almost 100 U.S. military personnel die each month, where the cost is $10 billion per month and where the government depends upon the U.S. military for its very existence. In fact, Bush’s puppet leader of Iraq, Nuri al-Maliki, is one of the few Iraqis that want U.S. troops to stay in Iraq. The Iraqi Parliament petitioned for a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops back in May, 2007. U.S. foreign policy is in dire need of a makeover infused with some fresh thinking.
*The real Rudy Giuliani – In an act that can only be characterized as desperate or ignorant and certainly dangerous Giuliani suggested, “if he were to be elected president — he would like to choose someone like Dick Cheney to be his Vice President”. This is the Dick who deceived us into an unprovoked and unwarranted war, shredded our constitution and sold us out to the oil industry. Let’s clone that!
*The real Mike Huckabee – CNN recently estimated that the next president could have as many as 3 Supreme Court Justices to nominate. Huckabee recently said that if elected president he would nominate men such as Joseph Scalia. That would make the Inquisition look like a Saturday night bingo bash. When Huckabee strums his bass guitar he appears to be the guy next door. Unfortunately, he has demonstrated that he does not know squat about foreign policy, brings his politics from the very far right and if given the chance would shove his bible down your proverbial throat. The evangelicals may like his sermons but that is not a qualification for the leader of America and the free world.
*The real Bush – The NY Times reports, “Six months ago, the Bush administration quietly eased some restrictions on the export of politically delicate technologies to China. The new approach was intended to help American companies increase sales of high-tech equipment to China despite tight curbs on sharing technology that might have military applications.
But today the administration is facing questions from weapons experts about whether some equipment — newly authorized for export to Chinese companies deemed trustworthy by Washington — could instead end up helping China modernize its military. Equally worrisome, the weapons experts say, is the possibility that China could share the technology with Iran or Syria.” I concede that current world dynamics are very complicated. At the same time Bush policies so consistently damage American interests and increase the threat to American safety that I am reminded of the Manchurian Candidate. To avoid being accused of paranoia I will just call it incompetence on steroids.
*A real Justice Department – AG Mukasey appointed a tough, non-partisan, independent prosecutor to investigate the CIA’s destruction of interrogation tapes. “John Durham, who has served with the Justice Department for 25 years, has a reputation as one of the nation's most relentless prosecutors.” Under AG Gonzales either no investigation would have taken place or the investigator would have been Mary Poppins.
*Something to think about ~ the brain – The website New Directions often speaks about the disparity in coverage that health insurers provide for physical versus mental illness. However, like the kidney the brain is an organ. Mental health advocates have been urging congress to enact laws that will force insurers to correct this gap in health coverage. A recent article in the Phila. Inquirer discusses the toll that mental illness takes on society – 26% of adults have a diagnosable mental illness that is often untreated because coverage of mental disorders remains subject to the whims of employers and insurers. Lack of treatment not only affects the individual but also their family, friends and co-workers. In extreme cases of neglect it can lead to tragedies that we see in the headlines. Congresswoman Allyson Y. Schwartz (D-PA) is co-sponsor of the still to be passed “Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act” that would require health insurance companies to provide the same benefits for mental illness as for physical illness. It is beyond time to re-think the treatment of the brain’s illnesses. You can advocate the passage of this bill by locating and contacting your congressman at Project Vote Smart.
*Thank you ~ it’s about time – I was in my favorite bagel shop waiting for my order when I saw the following sign: “As a courtesy to staff and customers Fill A Bagel has developed a policy of no cell phones.” Cell phones offer a whole new set of ways to be rude – by employees and patrons. A well-managed business that actually keeps the customer in mind deserves our business.
*Thank you Crooks and Liars – This is one of the most popular political blogs on the internet. A daily feature is Mike Finnigan’s “Mike’s Blog Roundup” and last week it made mention of and linked to Stephen Views the News. It resulted in a significant increase in visitors to the site. Bloggers have feelings too.
*Can you hear me now – Two privacy groups recently rated countries for surveillance and privacy protection “The 2007 rankings indicate an overall worsening of privacy protection across the world, reflecting an increase in surveillance and a declining performance on privacy safeguards...” Countries with endemic surveillance are Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Russia, China, Malaysia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Wired.com has more details about these trends.
*Platform for Change ~ Barack Obama – I recently sent an email to the presidential candidates (I do not remember which organization sponsored the effort) requesting that they develop policies against torture and indefinite imprisonment of suspected but unproven members of terrorist organizations and abusing the civil liberties of Americans. The following is an excerpt from the email reply by the Obama campaign:
“This Administration has put forward a false choice between the liberties we cherish and the security we demand. When I am president, there will be no more illegal wire-tapping of American citizens. No more national security letters to spy on citizens who are not suspected of a crime. No more tracking citizens who do nothing more than protest a misguided war. Our Constitution works, and so does the FISA court. By working with Congress and respecting our courts, I will provide our intelligence and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to track and take out the terrorists without undermining our Constitution and our freedom.”
“My Administration will once again show the world that we are not a country that ships prisoners in the dead of night to be tortured in far off countries. That we are not a country that runs prisons which lock people away without ever telling them why they are there or what they are charged with. When I am President, America will reject torture without exception. I will also reject indefinite imprisonment without trial and close Guantanamo, reject the Military Commissions Act, and adhere to the Geneva Conventions.”
These are certainly qualities that I expect of an American president.
* “Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790)
Showing posts with label Giuliani. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Giuliani. Show all posts
Monday, January 7, 2008
Friday, November 30, 2007
12/1/07
*The world as a village of 100 people – A reader sent me this interesting website that examines the premise: If we could reduce the world’s population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all existing human ratios remaining the same, the demographics would look something like this:
~60 Asians – 12 Europeans – 5 North Americans – 8 Latin Americans – 14 Africans
~49 females – 51 males
~82 non-white – 18 white
~89 heterosexual – 11 homosexual
~33 Christian – 67 non-Christian
~5 would control 32% of the entire world’s wealth, and all of them would be US citizens
~80 would live in substandard housing
~24 would not have any electricity
~67 would be unable to read
~1 would have a college education
~50 would be malnourished and 1 dying of starvation
~33 would be without access to a safe water supply
~1 would have HIV and 1 would be near death
Seeing oneself in this context is enlightening. Most of the time my thoughts of the “world” revolve narrowly around what directly affects me. I imagine that this same phenomenon applies to you, our elected leaders and our national and foreign policies. Perhaps if we saw the world in a broader way we would have a greater appreciation for our good fortune to live in America. If our leaders saw the world in a broader context perhaps polices would have more positive results. America is not the world – it is a small part of a much larger and diverse community. The site offers some interesting implications of this data and is worth a visit.
*Once in a while the good guys win – In May of 2000 Pacific Northwest timber moguls donated $1 million to the Republican Party to help elect George W. Bush. In return they were promised that the Bush administration would lift certain logging restrictions that protected the environment and salmon populations. The administration kept its bargain with the devil by intentionally misinterpreting and ignoring the scientific data. Environmental groups and local communities stood up to this not untypical sell-out by Bush to big business interests. “In April a federal court ruled the administration acted illegally by suppressing scientific dissent when it illegally modified environmental safeguards, known as the Aquatic Conservation Strategy, developed in 1994 as part of the Northwest Forest Plan.” "In the end the government wasted millions of dollars in staff and attorney time all for nothing. We were able to keep the salmon protections in place because the government couldn't get any reputable scientist to go along with their scheme” said Earthjustice attorney Patti Goldman. I say don’t blame the President. His belief system precludes science.
*Pondering profit motives - In Eugene Jarecki's documentary film Why We Fight, about the U.S. military-industrial complex, U.S. foreign policy critic Chalmers Johnson states: "I guarantee you when war becomes that profitable, you are going to see more of it." The Iraq war has generated billions of dollars for defense and supply companies. The privatization of many military functions in Iraq has resulted in 180,000 personnel (more than the number of our military personnel) working for private companies in Iraq – most of which have strong ties to Bush, Cheney and the Republican party. No recession in this sector - merely a loss of life, limb and taxpayer assets.
*Standing up for your candidate – A politician in Thailand is distributing Viagra to older men in hopes of gaining their vote in the December elections. I think that this tactic is an excellent way to maximize the use of campaign funds. It gains the vote of the older man and probably the vote of a surprised but happier wife.
*Lott trots to K Street - Senator Trent Lott (R-MS) indicated that he may resign from the Senate (after 30-plus years) before the end of the year. Having just been re-elected in 2006, the move raises questions about the timing of the decision. It is likely that Lott is racing a new law that goes into effect January 1, 2008. Under current law a Senator or Representative must wait one year after leaving office before becoming a lobbyist. The new law requires a two-year waiting period – a law that Lott voted against. Former senators, representative, staff and family have made huge amounts of money working for Washington D.C. (K Street) lobbyists where they use their connections to influence legislators and public officials. Industry and trade groups fund this influence. The musical chairs of influence benefit all but the disenfranchised average citizen. I suggest that former elected officials and staff have a waiting period of 5 years before they can register as lobbyists. In the mean time they can seek real jobs and avoid the stigma of prostitution.
*The two faces of Cheney – As VP of the U.S Dick Cheney has been a leading force against Iran with threats of bombing the country and the imposition of sanctions. As CEO of Halliburton Cheney danced around the law to do business with Iran. In 1995 President Bill Clinton signed an executive order barring U.S. investments in Iran’s energy sector. Halliburton then set up an offshore subsidiary that engaged in dealings with Iran, a country the U.S. deemed a terrorist state. Of course, such epiphanies for the disingenuous members of the Bush administration generate little surprise. The offshore subsidiary gambit by Cheney may have been a loophole in the law but it demonstrates an even larger loophole in his integrity. He was for Iran (when it benefited his personal gain) before he was against it. Does Halliburton manufacture bombs?
*The third face of Cheney ~ Energy – Some may recall that in the early days of the Bush presidency Dick Cheney held secret policy meetings with America’s major oil companies – Exxon/Mobil, BP, Chevron and many of their fellow goniffs (crooks). Since it was a secret meeting we do not know what was discussed. What we do know is that when Bush took office a gallon of gasoline cost $1.45. Today, that same gallon costs $3.07. Coincidence?
*Romney’s tolerance of intolerance – Mitt Romney has faced anti-Mormon attacks in his primary run for the Republican presidential nomination. He subsequently has been asking Americans not to adversely judge him because he is a Mormon. However, he has no problem feeding the salivating racism of the political right in order to curry their favor. Steve Benen at the carpetbaggerreport.com notes that when Romney was asked if he would consider Americans of the Islamic faith for his cabinet if elected president Romney replied, “…based on the numbers of American Muslims [as a percentage] in our population, I cannot see that a cabinet position would be justified. But of course, I would imagine that Muslims could serve at lower levels of my administration.” As Benen notes, discriminating against Muslims or gays is a plus situation in appealing to the Republican base. Recall how Karl Rove energized the religious right to vote for Bush with the promise to “protect” them from gays and this was supported by the majority of the Republican leadership. What a sad commentary that a major political party in 21st Century America fuels itself with hate and prejudice. Of course, using Romney’s “demographics”, a Mormon would not qualify to run for president.
*Sex question of the week – Palm Beach Community College has approved medical insurance for employees’ pets. The Board of Trustees, however, voted down medical insurance for employee domestic partners even though the plan would not have cost the school anything because it pays employee premiums only, not those of dependents. The question this raises for me: If an employee has 2 dogs or 3 cats or 4 gerbils of the same sex are the pets disqualified from plan participation?
*I would laugh if not so sad ~ I would cry if my eyes didn’t burn – Twelve states are suing the Environmental Protection Agency for “weakening regulations that for two decades have required businesses and industries to report the toxic chemicals they use, store and release.” The “protection” that the EPA currently provides is no better than a condom with a hole. Where is congressional oversight? I guess it does not really matter since congress is so impotent there is no need for a condom.
*Star-dudded endorsement – Barack Obama is being supported by Oprah so Hillary Clinton lined up Barbara Streisand. Flash has its place but I would prefer to see a bit more substance in what the candidates stand for and what solutions they propose for the monumental problems facing this nation. And yet, perhaps this approach makes sense since as a nation we are consumed with the next media download on the Ipod, Blackberry, computer, X-Box, Sling Box, Hi Def TV, satellite radio and cell phone ring tone. There just is not enough time to devote to what is going on in our country. Bush and Cheney and Rove understood this phenomenon. They realized that too few were paying attention thus enabling them to get away with almost anything.
*President Bush’s best friend 1 – Russian President Vladimir Putin is up for re-election. In addition to critical journalists and political opponents disappearing/dying under unusual circumstances and political rivals being arrested it is now being reported that, “With the Kremlin determined to see a high turnout in Sunday's election, many Russians say they are being pressured to vote at work under the watchful eyes of their bosses or risk losing their jobs.” There is nothing like bringing back the good old days.
*President Bush’s best friend 2 – John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia was overwhelmingly voted out of office due to two policies he closely held with Bush - the Iraq war and denial of climate change. The once widely popular Howard has served as PM since 1996.His defeat was considered humiliating given that a year ago his re-election was considered a given. The new PM Kevin Rudd campaigned on removing Australia’s 550 combat troops from Iraq and joining the Kyoto Treaty whose aim is to address climate change. This now leaves America as the only industrialized country not participating in the Kyoto Treaty (172 nations participate). And most of the minimal support that comprised the Iraq “coalition” is disappearing. It is also interesting to note that the former heads of Great Britain and Italy and Spain join Howard in being forced out of office largely due to their Iraq positions. America and President Bush truly “stand alone” in the world.
*Another friend of President Bush 1 – Meet Mark W. Everson. He is a Republican family values kind of guy (with a wife and two children) who worked in the Bush administration from 2001 until recently. His jobs included Commissioner of the IRS, a position he left in May to become President and CEO of the Red Cross with a $500,000 salary. He has stepped down after revelations that he was "engaged in a personal relationship with a subordinate employee." I say it could have even been worse for Mr. Everson. The subordinate employee was a female, thereby avoiding the embarrassment experienced by a number of other prominent Republicans in recent months whose trysts were with the same gender.
*Another friend of President Bush 2 – Meet the Saudis. “Saudi Arabia has released 1,500 prisoners suspected of belonging to a radical Islamic group after the prisoners underwent what was described as a five-week counseling program”. What a novel approach - fighting terrorism with sensitivity seminars. Not so sensitive was the Saudi decision to order a young woman to be physically beaten as “punishment” for being in a situation where she was gang-raped. When Middle East leaders complain that Americans do not understand them they are spot on.
*Rudy, Rudy, Rudy ~ Another “law and order” derriere orifice – We now learn that while Giuliani was Mayor of NYC his extra-marital affair with the woman now his current wife cost the taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars. When hizzoner snuck off to the Hamptons to cavort with Judith Nathan he billed NYC agencies for security costs. The funding came from agencies responsible for regulating loft apartments, aiding the disabled and providing lawyers for indigent defendants. Republicans like Giuliani believe that such agencies should not even exist so there is no problem stealing their funds. Let’s call it reallocating the resources to benefit the “benefitted”.
*Victoria’s Secret ~ no longer – If you lust for Victoria’s Secrets (VS) products or catalog allow me to temper your libido. The National Labor Committee has issued a report that VS abuses foreign guest workers in Jordan. “D.K. Garments is a subcontract factory with 150 foreign guest workers (135 from Bangladesh and 15 from Sri Lanka), which has been producing VS garments for the last year.... The VS workers toil 14 to 15 hours a day, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 or 10:00 p.m., seven days a week, receiving on average one day off every three or four months. Despite being forced to work five or more overtime hours a day, the workers are routinely shortchanged on their legal overtime pay, being cheated up to $18.48 each week in wages due them... Workers are allowed just 3.3 minutes to sew each $14 Victoria's Secret women's bikini, for which they are paid four cents... The workers are housed in primitive dorms which have only irregular access to water. During winter months, when the temperatures can drop to freezing, the workers' dorms have neither heat nor hot water.” I find that what goes into Victoria’s bra and panties is no longer hot to me. In fact, it is very cold.
* ... the 20th century has been characterized by three developments of great political importance: The growth of democracy, the growth of corporate power, and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy.
Alex Carey, Australian social scientist
~60 Asians – 12 Europeans – 5 North Americans – 8 Latin Americans – 14 Africans
~49 females – 51 males
~82 non-white – 18 white
~89 heterosexual – 11 homosexual
~33 Christian – 67 non-Christian
~5 would control 32% of the entire world’s wealth, and all of them would be US citizens
~80 would live in substandard housing
~24 would not have any electricity
~67 would be unable to read
~1 would have a college education
~50 would be malnourished and 1 dying of starvation
~33 would be without access to a safe water supply
~1 would have HIV and 1 would be near death
Seeing oneself in this context is enlightening. Most of the time my thoughts of the “world” revolve narrowly around what directly affects me. I imagine that this same phenomenon applies to you, our elected leaders and our national and foreign policies. Perhaps if we saw the world in a broader way we would have a greater appreciation for our good fortune to live in America. If our leaders saw the world in a broader context perhaps polices would have more positive results. America is not the world – it is a small part of a much larger and diverse community. The site offers some interesting implications of this data and is worth a visit.
*Once in a while the good guys win – In May of 2000 Pacific Northwest timber moguls donated $1 million to the Republican Party to help elect George W. Bush. In return they were promised that the Bush administration would lift certain logging restrictions that protected the environment and salmon populations. The administration kept its bargain with the devil by intentionally misinterpreting and ignoring the scientific data. Environmental groups and local communities stood up to this not untypical sell-out by Bush to big business interests. “In April a federal court ruled the administration acted illegally by suppressing scientific dissent when it illegally modified environmental safeguards, known as the Aquatic Conservation Strategy, developed in 1994 as part of the Northwest Forest Plan.” "In the end the government wasted millions of dollars in staff and attorney time all for nothing. We were able to keep the salmon protections in place because the government couldn't get any reputable scientist to go along with their scheme” said Earthjustice attorney Patti Goldman. I say don’t blame the President. His belief system precludes science.
*Pondering profit motives - In Eugene Jarecki's documentary film Why We Fight, about the U.S. military-industrial complex, U.S. foreign policy critic Chalmers Johnson states: "I guarantee you when war becomes that profitable, you are going to see more of it." The Iraq war has generated billions of dollars for defense and supply companies. The privatization of many military functions in Iraq has resulted in 180,000 personnel (more than the number of our military personnel) working for private companies in Iraq – most of which have strong ties to Bush, Cheney and the Republican party. No recession in this sector - merely a loss of life, limb and taxpayer assets.
*Standing up for your candidate – A politician in Thailand is distributing Viagra to older men in hopes of gaining their vote in the December elections. I think that this tactic is an excellent way to maximize the use of campaign funds. It gains the vote of the older man and probably the vote of a surprised but happier wife.
*Lott trots to K Street - Senator Trent Lott (R-MS) indicated that he may resign from the Senate (after 30-plus years) before the end of the year. Having just been re-elected in 2006, the move raises questions about the timing of the decision. It is likely that Lott is racing a new law that goes into effect January 1, 2008. Under current law a Senator or Representative must wait one year after leaving office before becoming a lobbyist. The new law requires a two-year waiting period – a law that Lott voted against. Former senators, representative, staff and family have made huge amounts of money working for Washington D.C. (K Street) lobbyists where they use their connections to influence legislators and public officials. Industry and trade groups fund this influence. The musical chairs of influence benefit all but the disenfranchised average citizen. I suggest that former elected officials and staff have a waiting period of 5 years before they can register as lobbyists. In the mean time they can seek real jobs and avoid the stigma of prostitution.
*The two faces of Cheney – As VP of the U.S Dick Cheney has been a leading force against Iran with threats of bombing the country and the imposition of sanctions. As CEO of Halliburton Cheney danced around the law to do business with Iran. In 1995 President Bill Clinton signed an executive order barring U.S. investments in Iran’s energy sector. Halliburton then set up an offshore subsidiary that engaged in dealings with Iran, a country the U.S. deemed a terrorist state. Of course, such epiphanies for the disingenuous members of the Bush administration generate little surprise. The offshore subsidiary gambit by Cheney may have been a loophole in the law but it demonstrates an even larger loophole in his integrity. He was for Iran (when it benefited his personal gain) before he was against it. Does Halliburton manufacture bombs?
*The third face of Cheney ~ Energy – Some may recall that in the early days of the Bush presidency Dick Cheney held secret policy meetings with America’s major oil companies – Exxon/Mobil, BP, Chevron and many of their fellow goniffs (crooks). Since it was a secret meeting we do not know what was discussed. What we do know is that when Bush took office a gallon of gasoline cost $1.45. Today, that same gallon costs $3.07. Coincidence?
*Romney’s tolerance of intolerance – Mitt Romney has faced anti-Mormon attacks in his primary run for the Republican presidential nomination. He subsequently has been asking Americans not to adversely judge him because he is a Mormon. However, he has no problem feeding the salivating racism of the political right in order to curry their favor. Steve Benen at the carpetbaggerreport.com notes that when Romney was asked if he would consider Americans of the Islamic faith for his cabinet if elected president Romney replied, “…based on the numbers of American Muslims [as a percentage] in our population, I cannot see that a cabinet position would be justified. But of course, I would imagine that Muslims could serve at lower levels of my administration.” As Benen notes, discriminating against Muslims or gays is a plus situation in appealing to the Republican base. Recall how Karl Rove energized the religious right to vote for Bush with the promise to “protect” them from gays and this was supported by the majority of the Republican leadership. What a sad commentary that a major political party in 21st Century America fuels itself with hate and prejudice. Of course, using Romney’s “demographics”, a Mormon would not qualify to run for president.
*Sex question of the week – Palm Beach Community College has approved medical insurance for employees’ pets. The Board of Trustees, however, voted down medical insurance for employee domestic partners even though the plan would not have cost the school anything because it pays employee premiums only, not those of dependents. The question this raises for me: If an employee has 2 dogs or 3 cats or 4 gerbils of the same sex are the pets disqualified from plan participation?
*I would laugh if not so sad ~ I would cry if my eyes didn’t burn – Twelve states are suing the Environmental Protection Agency for “weakening regulations that for two decades have required businesses and industries to report the toxic chemicals they use, store and release.” The “protection” that the EPA currently provides is no better than a condom with a hole. Where is congressional oversight? I guess it does not really matter since congress is so impotent there is no need for a condom.
*Star-dudded endorsement – Barack Obama is being supported by Oprah so Hillary Clinton lined up Barbara Streisand. Flash has its place but I would prefer to see a bit more substance in what the candidates stand for and what solutions they propose for the monumental problems facing this nation. And yet, perhaps this approach makes sense since as a nation we are consumed with the next media download on the Ipod, Blackberry, computer, X-Box, Sling Box, Hi Def TV, satellite radio and cell phone ring tone. There just is not enough time to devote to what is going on in our country. Bush and Cheney and Rove understood this phenomenon. They realized that too few were paying attention thus enabling them to get away with almost anything.
*President Bush’s best friend 1 – Russian President Vladimir Putin is up for re-election. In addition to critical journalists and political opponents disappearing/dying under unusual circumstances and political rivals being arrested it is now being reported that, “With the Kremlin determined to see a high turnout in Sunday's election, many Russians say they are being pressured to vote at work under the watchful eyes of their bosses or risk losing their jobs.” There is nothing like bringing back the good old days.
*President Bush’s best friend 2 – John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia was overwhelmingly voted out of office due to two policies he closely held with Bush - the Iraq war and denial of climate change. The once widely popular Howard has served as PM since 1996.His defeat was considered humiliating given that a year ago his re-election was considered a given. The new PM Kevin Rudd campaigned on removing Australia’s 550 combat troops from Iraq and joining the Kyoto Treaty whose aim is to address climate change. This now leaves America as the only industrialized country not participating in the Kyoto Treaty (172 nations participate). And most of the minimal support that comprised the Iraq “coalition” is disappearing. It is also interesting to note that the former heads of Great Britain and Italy and Spain join Howard in being forced out of office largely due to their Iraq positions. America and President Bush truly “stand alone” in the world.
*Another friend of President Bush 1 – Meet Mark W. Everson. He is a Republican family values kind of guy (with a wife and two children) who worked in the Bush administration from 2001 until recently. His jobs included Commissioner of the IRS, a position he left in May to become President and CEO of the Red Cross with a $500,000 salary. He has stepped down after revelations that he was "engaged in a personal relationship with a subordinate employee." I say it could have even been worse for Mr. Everson. The subordinate employee was a female, thereby avoiding the embarrassment experienced by a number of other prominent Republicans in recent months whose trysts were with the same gender.
*Another friend of President Bush 2 – Meet the Saudis. “Saudi Arabia has released 1,500 prisoners suspected of belonging to a radical Islamic group after the prisoners underwent what was described as a five-week counseling program”. What a novel approach - fighting terrorism with sensitivity seminars. Not so sensitive was the Saudi decision to order a young woman to be physically beaten as “punishment” for being in a situation where she was gang-raped. When Middle East leaders complain that Americans do not understand them they are spot on.
*Rudy, Rudy, Rudy ~ Another “law and order” derriere orifice – We now learn that while Giuliani was Mayor of NYC his extra-marital affair with the woman now his current wife cost the taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars. When hizzoner snuck off to the Hamptons to cavort with Judith Nathan he billed NYC agencies for security costs. The funding came from agencies responsible for regulating loft apartments, aiding the disabled and providing lawyers for indigent defendants. Republicans like Giuliani believe that such agencies should not even exist so there is no problem stealing their funds. Let’s call it reallocating the resources to benefit the “benefitted”.
*Victoria’s Secret ~ no longer – If you lust for Victoria’s Secrets (VS) products or catalog allow me to temper your libido. The National Labor Committee has issued a report that VS abuses foreign guest workers in Jordan. “D.K. Garments is a subcontract factory with 150 foreign guest workers (135 from Bangladesh and 15 from Sri Lanka), which has been producing VS garments for the last year.... The VS workers toil 14 to 15 hours a day, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 or 10:00 p.m., seven days a week, receiving on average one day off every three or four months. Despite being forced to work five or more overtime hours a day, the workers are routinely shortchanged on their legal overtime pay, being cheated up to $18.48 each week in wages due them... Workers are allowed just 3.3 minutes to sew each $14 Victoria's Secret women's bikini, for which they are paid four cents... The workers are housed in primitive dorms which have only irregular access to water. During winter months, when the temperatures can drop to freezing, the workers' dorms have neither heat nor hot water.” I find that what goes into Victoria’s bra and panties is no longer hot to me. In fact, it is very cold.
* ... the 20th century has been characterized by three developments of great political importance: The growth of democracy, the growth of corporate power, and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy.
Alex Carey, Australian social scientist
Saturday, November 24, 2007
11/24/07
*Dishonoring the honorable ~ a national disgrace – KDKA in Pittsburgh is reporting that, “The U.S. Military is demanding that thousands of wounded service personnel give back signing bonuses because they are unable to serve out their commitments. Why are they unable to serve out their commitments? They have lost an arm or a leg or an eye or hearing or a brain function in combat. These brave American military men and women are maimed for life and they are being asked to return bonuses (or not receive part of the bonus still due). From the outset of the Iraq war our enlisted military have had to deal with insufficient equipment, inadequate training, unconscionably long tours of combat duty, and wanting post-injury medical and psychological treatment. The President and the military hierarchy who have spoken so earnestly about supporting the troops have in fact stood down. Disgrace is their mantle.
~Update – The former soldier that KDKA reported on is Jordan Fox. Just before Mr. Fox was to make an appearance on national television to tell his story the Pentagon announced it was cancelling their $3000 bill back. No mention was made of the unknown number of other military personnel facing similar accounting procedures.
*Forgetful???? – USA Today has found that the U.S. government has not classified as wounded during combat in Iraq and Afghanistan at least 20,000 troops with brain injuries. This is over and above the 30,000 wounded officially listed by the Pentagon.” Soldiers and Marines whose wounds were discovered after they left Iraq are not added to the official casualty list, says Army Col. Robert Labutta, a neurologist and brain injury consultant for the Pentagon.” Were these statistics “state secrets” or a calculated method to keep the truth from the American people? This administration has never owned up to the damage the Iraq war has had on this country and the military has blindly marched in step. The lessons of Viet Nam have been forgotten!
*Very soft porn - A 101-year-old British pensioner has posed topless for a nude calendar to raise money for a local soccer team. Nora Hardwick will be Miss November in the calendar, aimed at raising money for the Ancaster Athletic team made up of 9 and10 year-olds in her village in Lincolnshire. The first 2 weeks of December had to be omitted since Ms. Hardwick’s breasts are sagging below the fold. A local Vicar said that the calendar will positively impact youth abstinence.
*Taking a sabbatical – Karl Rove says that religious conservatives may stay away from the voting booth in 2008. One may speculate that they have realized the damage their “religious” vote wrought on this country in the person of G.W. Bush. Perhaps they developed an understanding of the concept of separation of church and state. Maybe they realized that their leaders such as Pat Robertson or Gerry Falwell were more interested in enhancing their own power and financial positions than in enhancing the souls of their followers. It could be that they studied history and concluded that theocracies wreak havoc on the populace and that the founders of America were intelligent and insightful.
*Happy Holidays Mr. President – The criticism President Bush has received for avoiding the dictates of the U.S. Constitution may be unfair. I suggest that he never read it. The Center for Constitutional Rights has a solution. They are offering free of charge the opportunity for any individual to send a copy of the Constitution to the president. From the CCR site, “The President needs to be reminded that he swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States-his administration has been systematically destroying the Constitution since he took office. With your help, CCR will flood the Oval Office with copies of the Constitution this holiday season”. Get in the holiday/patriotic spirit and join your fellow Americans who are sending Mr. Law and Order this thoughtful gift. I just sent a copy and mine was number 29,201.
*dailykos.com – This is the website that two years ago stimulated my interest to become more active in the political discourse. It is one of the top political sites on the internet. The founder of the site, Markos Moulitsas, co-authored the book “Crashing the Gate” that discussed the need for Democrats to stop doing business as usual by depending upon the same consultants that led them from one defeat to the next. Markos, or Kos as he is known to his huge audience, was just added to Newsweek’s slate of columnists. His first article “Make the Bush Record the Issue” addresses the point that Republican candidates cannot distance themselves from Bush because they are dependent on the (shrinking) Republican base to win the nomination. However, the vast majority of Americans are very aware of the dismal Bush years and they will not have amnesia during the elections of 2008. Moulitsas says, “As long as Democratic candidates remind voters that the Republican platform and Bush's record are one and the same, victory will be assured.” I would like to share this optimism but it must be tempered with the fact that Americans have not paid enough attention to the damage its elected leaders have wrought. Where is the outrage to what has occurred these past 7 years? Shaking one’s head and changing the channel does not make for a responsible and responsive electorate.
*A George Bush dream ~ A George Bush opera – Independent judges on the Supreme Court are removed and hand-picked judges are installed, dismissing legal challenges to his rule. Opposition lawyers, journalists and human rights activists are jailed. The leader of the country says, “The decisions were made in the best interests of the country”. These dictatorial events just occurred in Pakistan. How did Bush respond this week? He said, “The general (Musharraf) "hasn't crossed the line" and "truly is somebody who believes in democracy." Honestly, really, cross my heart.
*Getting tougher on terror – Last week I criticized Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee for waving the false flag of Islamo Facism as an indication that he comprehends Middle Eastern geopolitics and terrorism. Well, Mr. Huckabee just kicked it up a notch. His first television campaign ad features Kung Fu aficionado and B-movie actor Chuck Norris endorsing Huckabee for President. Can Rambo be far behind? This is exactly what America needs - more macho bullshit. Take a look at the ad. It is not Saturday Night Live but it could be.
* Alberto R. Gonzales Legal Expense Trust – Having resigned in disgrace former Attorney General Gonzales is paying the price. Well, actually others are paying the price to hear him speak – something he failed to do when testifying before congress. The University of Florida is paying $40,000 and the University of Washington in St. Louis is paying $30,000 for Gonzales to give a speech. The honorariums are not all gravy for Mr. Gonzales since it has been necessary for him to establish a legal defense fund. He is facing multiple investigations (including perjury and witness tampering) for his actions while head of the Justice Department.
*Rudy is no longer a disingenuous joke ~ He is now a dangerous joke – Most of my remarks about Rudy Giuliani have been in a humorous vein as he lies about his record or argues for Second Amendment gun rights for blind people. There is nothing funny about his most recent remarks. Seeking Federalist Society (an ultra conservative group of lawyers) support, the GOP presidential candidate promises to nominate justices like Scalia and Thomas to the Supreme Court. With more Scalias and Thomases on the bench we would have a group of reactionary activists obliterating the gains made by minorities, women and consumers over the past 75 years.
*Southern conservatives ~ blind ideology – John Aravosis, who writes at americablog.com, provides an interesting commentary about the South: “We've written before about how the South has a reputation for electing far-right Neanderthal politicians who don't care about much beyond God, gays and guns (embracing the former and the latter, and bashing the guy in the middle). And we've written about how the South's biggest problems, like poverty, have little to do with God, gays, guns or the Republican (or far-right Democratic) politicians they elect. It's therefore funny, yet again, that the conservative South is shooting itself in the foot by siding with politicians (that would be Republicans) who deny the existence of global warming. Why? Because according to a new study, America's South will be among the world's regions worst hit by the impact of global warming on local agriculture.” One of the wonderful aspects of a democracy is that it allows for a changing of the guard when it is ineffective. Some folks just don’t get it, y’all.
*Speaking of climate change – The United Nations just completed a rigorous multi-stage review process on climate change that includes 2,500 scientific expert reviewers, 800 contributing authors, and 450 lead authors representing 130 countries. Some conclusions include: “All countries will be affected; it is 90% certain that global warming is man-made; by 2100 temperatures and sea levels will have risen; reduction in greenhouse gasses had to begin immediately to avert a global climate disaster; China and the U.S. must play a more active role.” Not to go unnoticed is the fact that under Bush the White House and the EPA have had a policy of unprecedented obstructionism in addressing global warming. At a time when a proactive stance by our government was desperately required it not only ignored the problem but intensified it. The report concludes that, “effects of climate change are "becoming evident already," and without due action, will be "abrupt or irreversible.” Some folks just don’t get it, y’all.
*Gap for Kids ~ Gap by Kids – You know it as a cute retail store in malls that sells children’s clothes and extends its Gap brand image. That brand image just took a hit. “Apparel retailer Gap is canceling half of its orders with a vendor in India after revelations that some of its clothes were made by children as young as 10. The company has promised to donate $200,000 to improve working conditions in India, and it pledged to tighten its own standards. Gap says it didn't know that its Indian vendor paid a subcontractor who hired children.” I am no longer accepting “we didn’t know” malarkey from American corporations that have outsourced their production and their souls. We heard the same crap from Mattel about their toxic toys made in China. Perhaps the executives of Mattel should be required to have their children play with these toys before the toys are put on the market. Perhaps the executives of Gap should send their children to a factory in India for their summer vacation to learn the business.
*Human Rights for all – The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.” HRC has just released “Buying for Equality 2008” listing the major U.S. companies that have achieved high marks for equality in the workplace. When making a purchase you may want to consider supporting these companies.
*What Happened – This is the title of a book to be released in April by Scott McClellan, former White House Press Secretary. Excerpts from the publisher’s web site: “The most powerful leader in the world had called upon me to speak on his behalf and help restore credibility he lost amid the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. So I stood at the White house briefing room podium in front of the glare of the klieg lights for the better part of two weeks and publicly exonerated two of the senior-most aides in the White House: Karl Rove and Scooter Libby. There was one problem. It was not true. I had unknowingly passed along false information. And five of the highest ranking officials in the administration were involved in my doing so: Rove, Libby, the vice President, the President's chief of staff, and the President himself.” There will be many books published about what happened during the Bush presidency. I suspect that most will have a common theme - the 43rd President of the United States, a self-described man of faith, a man who swore to uphold the rule of law in his first inaugural speech, was in word and deed a liar.
*What Happened? – How long has McClellan known that he was lied to by high administration officials? What was his responsibility to tell the truth to the American people when he first knew it? Are we to believe that “integrity” was McClellan’s motivation to reveal the truth or his greed to sell books? It should be remembered that Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has not closed the case on the Plame leak. Could he subpoena McClellan to determine what he knows under oath? Will a congressional investigative committee do the same?
*You can help ~ Following are excerpts from the letter a reader of SVN sent to the Philadelphia Inquirer. It requests our help. - “I’m one of 5.7 million Americans who suffer from bipolar disorder. If not managed properly, these severe mood swings are devastating to the individual, family and society. ... We do not receive full insurance coverage for our condition. If our liver or kidneys are damaged, insurance will pay. However, unlike Parkinson’s disease, dramatic mood swings are not considered a brain illness even though our tiny brain neurons are flawed. Many of us are forced to pay catastrophically high costs for psychiatric visits, meds or hospitalizations. Fortunately, this may soon change, thanks to the culmination of 2 decades of legislative battles. House Bill 1424 proposes to offer full medical coverage, a bill which recently passed the Senate unanimously. That’s why I urge your readers to call their US Congressmen today and ask them to vote Yes on Bill 1424. What a great Christmas gift this would be. We are, after all, our brothers’ keepers.” (Ruth Z. Deming). At Project Vote Smart the names and contact information of your representatives can easily be obtained.
* “We must rapidly begin the shift from a "thing-oriented" society to a "person-oriented" society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 – 1968)
~Update – The former soldier that KDKA reported on is Jordan Fox. Just before Mr. Fox was to make an appearance on national television to tell his story the Pentagon announced it was cancelling their $3000 bill back. No mention was made of the unknown number of other military personnel facing similar accounting procedures.
*Forgetful???? – USA Today has found that the U.S. government has not classified as wounded during combat in Iraq and Afghanistan at least 20,000 troops with brain injuries. This is over and above the 30,000 wounded officially listed by the Pentagon.” Soldiers and Marines whose wounds were discovered after they left Iraq are not added to the official casualty list, says Army Col. Robert Labutta, a neurologist and brain injury consultant for the Pentagon.” Were these statistics “state secrets” or a calculated method to keep the truth from the American people? This administration has never owned up to the damage the Iraq war has had on this country and the military has blindly marched in step. The lessons of Viet Nam have been forgotten!
*Very soft porn - A 101-year-old British pensioner has posed topless for a nude calendar to raise money for a local soccer team. Nora Hardwick will be Miss November in the calendar, aimed at raising money for the Ancaster Athletic team made up of 9 and10 year-olds in her village in Lincolnshire. The first 2 weeks of December had to be omitted since Ms. Hardwick’s breasts are sagging below the fold. A local Vicar said that the calendar will positively impact youth abstinence.
*Taking a sabbatical – Karl Rove says that religious conservatives may stay away from the voting booth in 2008. One may speculate that they have realized the damage their “religious” vote wrought on this country in the person of G.W. Bush. Perhaps they developed an understanding of the concept of separation of church and state. Maybe they realized that their leaders such as Pat Robertson or Gerry Falwell were more interested in enhancing their own power and financial positions than in enhancing the souls of their followers. It could be that they studied history and concluded that theocracies wreak havoc on the populace and that the founders of America were intelligent and insightful.
*Happy Holidays Mr. President – The criticism President Bush has received for avoiding the dictates of the U.S. Constitution may be unfair. I suggest that he never read it. The Center for Constitutional Rights has a solution. They are offering free of charge the opportunity for any individual to send a copy of the Constitution to the president. From the CCR site, “The President needs to be reminded that he swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States-his administration has been systematically destroying the Constitution since he took office. With your help, CCR will flood the Oval Office with copies of the Constitution this holiday season”. Get in the holiday/patriotic spirit and join your fellow Americans who are sending Mr. Law and Order this thoughtful gift. I just sent a copy and mine was number 29,201.
*dailykos.com – This is the website that two years ago stimulated my interest to become more active in the political discourse. It is one of the top political sites on the internet. The founder of the site, Markos Moulitsas, co-authored the book “Crashing the Gate” that discussed the need for Democrats to stop doing business as usual by depending upon the same consultants that led them from one defeat to the next. Markos, or Kos as he is known to his huge audience, was just added to Newsweek’s slate of columnists. His first article “Make the Bush Record the Issue” addresses the point that Republican candidates cannot distance themselves from Bush because they are dependent on the (shrinking) Republican base to win the nomination. However, the vast majority of Americans are very aware of the dismal Bush years and they will not have amnesia during the elections of 2008. Moulitsas says, “As long as Democratic candidates remind voters that the Republican platform and Bush's record are one and the same, victory will be assured.” I would like to share this optimism but it must be tempered with the fact that Americans have not paid enough attention to the damage its elected leaders have wrought. Where is the outrage to what has occurred these past 7 years? Shaking one’s head and changing the channel does not make for a responsible and responsive electorate.
*A George Bush dream ~ A George Bush opera – Independent judges on the Supreme Court are removed and hand-picked judges are installed, dismissing legal challenges to his rule. Opposition lawyers, journalists and human rights activists are jailed. The leader of the country says, “The decisions were made in the best interests of the country”. These dictatorial events just occurred in Pakistan. How did Bush respond this week? He said, “The general (Musharraf) "hasn't crossed the line" and "truly is somebody who believes in democracy." Honestly, really, cross my heart.
*Getting tougher on terror – Last week I criticized Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee for waving the false flag of Islamo Facism as an indication that he comprehends Middle Eastern geopolitics and terrorism. Well, Mr. Huckabee just kicked it up a notch. His first television campaign ad features Kung Fu aficionado and B-movie actor Chuck Norris endorsing Huckabee for President. Can Rambo be far behind? This is exactly what America needs - more macho bullshit. Take a look at the ad. It is not Saturday Night Live but it could be.
* Alberto R. Gonzales Legal Expense Trust – Having resigned in disgrace former Attorney General Gonzales is paying the price. Well, actually others are paying the price to hear him speak – something he failed to do when testifying before congress. The University of Florida is paying $40,000 and the University of Washington in St. Louis is paying $30,000 for Gonzales to give a speech. The honorariums are not all gravy for Mr. Gonzales since it has been necessary for him to establish a legal defense fund. He is facing multiple investigations (including perjury and witness tampering) for his actions while head of the Justice Department.
*Rudy is no longer a disingenuous joke ~ He is now a dangerous joke – Most of my remarks about Rudy Giuliani have been in a humorous vein as he lies about his record or argues for Second Amendment gun rights for blind people. There is nothing funny about his most recent remarks. Seeking Federalist Society (an ultra conservative group of lawyers) support, the GOP presidential candidate promises to nominate justices like Scalia and Thomas to the Supreme Court. With more Scalias and Thomases on the bench we would have a group of reactionary activists obliterating the gains made by minorities, women and consumers over the past 75 years.
*Southern conservatives ~ blind ideology – John Aravosis, who writes at americablog.com, provides an interesting commentary about the South: “We've written before about how the South has a reputation for electing far-right Neanderthal politicians who don't care about much beyond God, gays and guns (embracing the former and the latter, and bashing the guy in the middle). And we've written about how the South's biggest problems, like poverty, have little to do with God, gays, guns or the Republican (or far-right Democratic) politicians they elect. It's therefore funny, yet again, that the conservative South is shooting itself in the foot by siding with politicians (that would be Republicans) who deny the existence of global warming. Why? Because according to a new study, America's South will be among the world's regions worst hit by the impact of global warming on local agriculture.” One of the wonderful aspects of a democracy is that it allows for a changing of the guard when it is ineffective. Some folks just don’t get it, y’all.
*Speaking of climate change – The United Nations just completed a rigorous multi-stage review process on climate change that includes 2,500 scientific expert reviewers, 800 contributing authors, and 450 lead authors representing 130 countries. Some conclusions include: “All countries will be affected; it is 90% certain that global warming is man-made; by 2100 temperatures and sea levels will have risen; reduction in greenhouse gasses had to begin immediately to avert a global climate disaster; China and the U.S. must play a more active role.” Not to go unnoticed is the fact that under Bush the White House and the EPA have had a policy of unprecedented obstructionism in addressing global warming. At a time when a proactive stance by our government was desperately required it not only ignored the problem but intensified it. The report concludes that, “effects of climate change are "becoming evident already," and without due action, will be "abrupt or irreversible.” Some folks just don’t get it, y’all.
*Gap for Kids ~ Gap by Kids – You know it as a cute retail store in malls that sells children’s clothes and extends its Gap brand image. That brand image just took a hit. “Apparel retailer Gap is canceling half of its orders with a vendor in India after revelations that some of its clothes were made by children as young as 10. The company has promised to donate $200,000 to improve working conditions in India, and it pledged to tighten its own standards. Gap says it didn't know that its Indian vendor paid a subcontractor who hired children.” I am no longer accepting “we didn’t know” malarkey from American corporations that have outsourced their production and their souls. We heard the same crap from Mattel about their toxic toys made in China. Perhaps the executives of Mattel should be required to have their children play with these toys before the toys are put on the market. Perhaps the executives of Gap should send their children to a factory in India for their summer vacation to learn the business.
*Human Rights for all – The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.” HRC has just released “Buying for Equality 2008” listing the major U.S. companies that have achieved high marks for equality in the workplace. When making a purchase you may want to consider supporting these companies.
*What Happened – This is the title of a book to be released in April by Scott McClellan, former White House Press Secretary. Excerpts from the publisher’s web site: “The most powerful leader in the world had called upon me to speak on his behalf and help restore credibility he lost amid the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. So I stood at the White house briefing room podium in front of the glare of the klieg lights for the better part of two weeks and publicly exonerated two of the senior-most aides in the White House: Karl Rove and Scooter Libby. There was one problem. It was not true. I had unknowingly passed along false information. And five of the highest ranking officials in the administration were involved in my doing so: Rove, Libby, the vice President, the President's chief of staff, and the President himself.” There will be many books published about what happened during the Bush presidency. I suspect that most will have a common theme - the 43rd President of the United States, a self-described man of faith, a man who swore to uphold the rule of law in his first inaugural speech, was in word and deed a liar.
*What Happened? – How long has McClellan known that he was lied to by high administration officials? What was his responsibility to tell the truth to the American people when he first knew it? Are we to believe that “integrity” was McClellan’s motivation to reveal the truth or his greed to sell books? It should be remembered that Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has not closed the case on the Plame leak. Could he subpoena McClellan to determine what he knows under oath? Will a congressional investigative committee do the same?
*You can help ~ Following are excerpts from the letter a reader of SVN sent to the Philadelphia Inquirer. It requests our help. - “I’m one of 5.7 million Americans who suffer from bipolar disorder. If not managed properly, these severe mood swings are devastating to the individual, family and society. ... We do not receive full insurance coverage for our condition. If our liver or kidneys are damaged, insurance will pay. However, unlike Parkinson’s disease, dramatic mood swings are not considered a brain illness even though our tiny brain neurons are flawed. Many of us are forced to pay catastrophically high costs for psychiatric visits, meds or hospitalizations. Fortunately, this may soon change, thanks to the culmination of 2 decades of legislative battles. House Bill 1424 proposes to offer full medical coverage, a bill which recently passed the Senate unanimously. That’s why I urge your readers to call their US Congressmen today and ask them to vote Yes on Bill 1424. What a great Christmas gift this would be. We are, after all, our brothers’ keepers.” (Ruth Z. Deming). At Project Vote Smart the names and contact information of your representatives can easily be obtained.
* “We must rapidly begin the shift from a "thing-oriented" society to a "person-oriented" society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 – 1968)
Saturday, November 3, 2007
11/3/07
Stephen Views The News 11/03/07
*Better but good enough? ~ A rock and a hard place – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) announced that he will not vote for confirming Michael Mukasey as Attorney General. He said Mukasey should not be confirmed because he could not muster a straightforward answer when asked this question: Is the president of the United States required to obey federal statutes? That would have to depend, Mukasey hedged, "on whether what goes outside the statute nonetheless lies within the authority of the president to defend the country." (This evasiveness is not unlike similar dances performed by Bush justifiers and apologists.) Mukasey responded in like fashion when asked if waterboarding was torture. The question puts Mukasey and Bush in a difficult situation. If he states that waterboarding is torture and he becomes the AG, it puts in jeopardy all of the interrogators that have used the procedure. Bush cannot nominate an AG that would jeopardize his overreaching executive power grab and the authorization of torture as an interrogation technique. As the administration attempts to cover its tracks the trail becomes more convoluted. Mukasey would be an upgrade to Alberto Gonzales but, that is faint praise. Whether the Senate miraculously develops a spine to oppose this nomination and such manipulative and destructive reasoning remains to be seen.
*Torture is Surrender - Counterterrorism expert and former instructor at the Navy’s training program for Special Forces Malcolm Nance disagrees with nominee for Attorney General Mukasey and others that feel waterboarding is not torture. His article at Small Wars Journal states unequivocally that waterboarding is torture. An important point he makes: “If you support the use of waterboarding on enemy captives, you support the use of that torture on any future American captives.” I would also point out that experts in the field of interrogation almost universally agree that information obtained through torture is extremely unreliable. And, most importantly, if we become the human animals that we have historically separated ourselves from, we have forfeited our souls.
Keystone Cops ~ 2007 edition – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) scheduled security checks across the country of airport screeners. It has been learned that a senior official at TSA sent an email “giving screeners all over the country very specific details about what sorts of suspicious clues the undercover testers would expect them to notice - such as ID's with photos that did not match the people using them and boarding passes with altered dates.” Under these circumstances one would expect that the screeners would be more than prepared to do their job. “Security expert David Heyman told NBC that despite the tip offs the screeners still did poorly, and "that's got to be very discouraging." Ya think?
Shylocks of shopping – Credit card companies are leeches on consumers. While you receive airline miles and other perks from credit card companies they offer this allure so that they can pick your pocket. Their hidden fees and interest rates have been an abomination for many years. As interest rates have dramatically fallen the rates they charge have not and remain at an exorbitant 16 to 23% on balances and in some cases even higher. This is allowed to occur because credit card companies and their lobbyists have a stronger voice in congress than you and me. It is estimated that the earnings of the top six card companies from these fees exceed $8 billion annually. Consumers Union through CreditCardReform.org offers a petition to congress that you can sign urging your representatives to, “support tough new legislation to rein in abusive credit card practices that impose unfair and costly fees and unwarranted interest rate hikes on consumers that can send them into a spiral of debt.”
*Sociological observation of the week –Sean Hannity, FOX News commentator and imbecilic spokesman for all that is wrong with right-wing pundits in America said, “Halloween teaches kids to ask for a handout... its teaching them to be liberals.” Mr. Hannity would prefer that we teach children the modern-day conservative values of hate, fear, greed, intolerance and prejudice. Hmm, I’ll take the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.
*Dollar Day Sale –The dollar does not shine quite so brightly these days. It continues to drop in value relative to other major currencies around the world and this drop is a reflection of how others view our financial condition. One implication is that imported goods will cost more and that will potentially contribute to inflation. Another potential implication is a decline in investment by foreigners in U.S. stocks and bonds. Such a decline would likely lead to lower prices in both instruments. Little spoken of is the high level of U.S. debt that is funded by foreign investment. To continue to attract this money the U.S. government will probably have to offer higher interest rates and that will increase the amount American tax payers pay for this debt. The president and his supporters continue to tell us how great the American economy is doing. If one is a member of the upper echelon of the “haves” in this country it is probably true. For the other 90+% of us, real income is declining and discretionary income is fading.
*Back from Iraq ~ “I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)” - Former music luminary (Orleans band) and freshman congressman John Hall (D-NY) recently returned from a trip to Iraq. He wrote a letter to his constituents about his findings and what follows is an excerpt: “My conclusion is that we should never send our Armed Forces to carry out a mission that is not militarily achievable. Based on comments by Ambassador Crocker, and the fact that since the September report to Congress the top four Iraqi leaders have not even been in the country at the same time, I continue to believe that American involvement in this war must be ended. This is a political and civil conflict that can only be resolved by the Iraqis themselves, by deciding whether they want to compromise and live together, or continue to fight along religious, ethnic, or tribal lines.” Almost 1500 years of hatred and fighting between Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds was not considered prior to Bush invading Iraq with a stated goal to bring democracy to that country. No amount of military force will change the Iraqi political landscape. Our troops were sent on a fool’s errand and have paid a steep price. And that is a terribly sad lesson. At some point a military confrontation with Iran over its nuclear capability may be required. However, America certainly cannot trust the contemporary version of the 3 Stooges to make that decision.
*Derriere orifices of the week – Meet Rev. Fred Phelps and his two daughters, Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebecca Phelps-Davis of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka. These morons and their followers travel the country to protest at funerals of soldiers who died in Iraq and Afghanistan. A grieving father won a nearly $11 million verdict Wednesday against this fundamentalist Kansas church who believe that the war in Iraq is a punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality. Church members testified they are following their religious beliefs. Religious beliefs! One placard they carried said, “Thank GOD for dead soldiers” and another said “GOD hates fags”. The verdict should have included an injunction preventing these miscreants from reproducing.
*A smile where you can get one – Last week I noted the Bush administration slashing (censoring) the CDC report on the dangerous effects of global warming. This week I received a mass email from Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) requesting the signing of a petition to President Bush “demanding that he come clean about White House censorship of global warming science!” Perhaps a sardonic smile really doesn’t count as a smile. Smiles should feel good. For those interested in what the administration removed from the CDC report desmogblog.com obtained a full version of the report. The redactions are in red. There is a lot of red.
*Joke of the week – Did you hear the one about the acting chairwoman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) asking lawmakers in two letters not to approve the bulk of legislation that would increase the agency’s authority, double its budget and sharply increase its dwindling staff? Meet Bush appointee Nancy Nord. “The CPSC has exactly one full-time toy inspector... It has 15 inspectors who oversee all of the imports under the agency's jurisdiction, a $614 billion market.” A question I often ask: Why does the President of the U.S. and the administrative people he has appointed, hate Americans? We continually see evidence that federal agencies such as CPSC, FDA, EPA and NASA, whose mission includes protecting us, have deliberately gone out their way to do the opposite. Like Humpty Dumpty our federal government has taken a great fall and there is no one in sight to repair it.
*Joke of the week punch line - The Washington Post is reporting some interesting information about Nancy Nord. “The chief of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and her predecessor have taken dozens of trips at the expense of the toy, appliance and children's furniture industries and others they regulate... Some of the trips were sponsored by lobbying groups and lawyers representing the makers of products linked to consumer hazards... The records document nearly 30 trips since 2002.” We pay her salary to oversee the safety of products we use. The companies she is supposed to regulate pay for lavish trips. She tells congress not to give her the resources necessary to protect consumers. In a normal world this would be conflict of interest, dereliction of duty, unethical and amoral. In Bush’s Bizarro World it is syllogistic harmony.
*Shooting oneself in the prostate, Ouch – In a new radio ad Rudy Giuliani bashes socialized medicine and says that "My chance of surviving prostate cancer, and thank God I was cured of it, in the United States, 82%. My chances of surviving prostate cancer in England, only 44% under socialized medicine.” As is quite often the case what passes through Giuliani’s lips has little to do with reality (a Bizarro World requisite). ABC News is reporting that prostate cancer survival rates are almost the same in the U.S and England. It would be interesting to know if Giuliani is receiving serious campaign contributions from the health insurance industry. As I noted last week he is already a tool (fool) of the National Rifle Association when he promulgated the Second Amendment right of blind people to have hand guns.
*A Leader in Congress – A Leader in Corruption - Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is the Minority Leader in the Senate. He is also a leader in corruption according to the non-partisan Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). “Senator McConnell’s ethics issues stem from earmarks he has inserted into legislation for clients of his former chief of staff, lobbyist Gordon Hunter Bates, in exchange for campaign contributions...” Further details about McConnell’s indiscretions and the corrupt activities of many other elected officials can be found at CREW’s web site. People like McConnell preen in front of the TV cameras as esteemed governors of our nation. They are crooks.
*BP pleads guilty, 6 times - Last week I noted that BP was not the wonderful corporate citizen that they advertise themselves to be. The truth about BP’s method of operating is surfacing. It was announced that various divisions of BP: “racked up over $380 million in criminal and civil fines and restitution in five separate instances involving federal regulators and prosecutors. In the sixth instance, a federal grand jury indicted four former employees.” Among its civil and criminal acts BP pleaded guilty to violations of the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. “With the addition of these six instances, BP now has the second highest misconduct penalty dollar amount with $1.1 billion. It ranks behind another oil company, Exxon Mobil. Unfortunately, these fines are relatively petty annoyances given the billions of dollars in profit that these companies generate. Lacking a conscience, the oil companies will not choose corporate responsibility over irresponsible cost cutting measures until major executives are imprisoned or the level of fines gets the attention of stock holders.
*For female readers and cross-dressers only – The organization Campaign for Safer Cosmetics recently conducted a study on lipsticks. It found lead in 61% of the 33 top-brand lipsticks tested -- including L'Oreal, Cover Girl, and Christian Dior. These are lipsticks manufactured in the U.S. and used daily by millions of women. “Lead is a potent neurotoxin and linked to numerous other health and reproductive problems—and it doesn't belong in lipstick.” The Environmental Working Group’s web site Skin Deep offers an extensive list of cosmetic and skin care products (for both genders) that have been tested for safety. Resources such as this are valuable because the Food and Drug Administration lacks standards for many of these products. Some might say that the FDA is not doing its job. For me it is not an equivocation.
*Sporting News – Vice President of the United States and prominent sportsman Dick Cheney went hunting again. This time he fortunately did not shoot a human being. What is of interest is where. The Clove Valley Gun and Rod Club is in upstate Union Vale, N.Y. and displays a confederate flag. I think the Reverend Al Sharpton’s comment has merit. "It's appalling for the VP to be at a private club displaying the flag of lynching, hate and murder. It's the epitome of an insult." There is no truth to the rumor that the VP dropped his white sheet and fired birdshot at the Reverend.
*No avoiding the void - Toby Moore formerly worked in the Civil Rights Division of the Dept. of Justice under Bush appointee John Tanner. This week he testified before a congressional committee hearing explaining why he and so many other career employees left the Civil Rights Division; “there was no sense in doing his work if it didn’t make a difference in the decisions being made." Tanner and the political appointees above him, Moore explained, decided issues "of significance and controversy". So Moore, and many other career analysts and attorneys left. This is one example among thousands where the Bush administration silenced or squeezed out experienced and conscientious federal employees to advance their political agenda. In 15 months Bush will retire to his ranch but the voids created within most departments of the federal government will be felt for a very long time. You can hear Moore’s testimony at this link: tpmmuckraker.com
*Interesting numbers:
~The U.S. is spending $43.5 billion on spying this year. The figure does not include the intelligence programs run the by the separate military services. Who is watching the watchers? Spending on steroids.
~Forbes.com is reporting that Elvis, who died in 1977, led earnings of dead celebrities over the last 12 months at $49 million. John Lennon ranks second with $44 million. The very Golden Oldies.
~In the past month there have been 7 suspicious fires in the Senate office buildings. Police report that there are no viable suspects. I suspect that someone is trying to light a fire under the asses of our elected leaders.
~The head of Merrill Lynch was fired after a third-quarter loss of $2.3 billion and an $8.4 billion charge for failed credit and mortgage-related investments. They certainly made E. Stanley O’Neal an example for underperformance. They threw him out the door – where he landed on a $150 million severance package. There was no mention of his health insurance benefits.
~The head of Citigroup is resigning in the wake of a $5.9 billion write-down and a sharp drop in profits. Charles O. Prince III, who has earned in salary $53 million over the last 4 years will leave with stock holdings of $87 million and a pension. In Bizarro World, the bigger the screw-up the larger the reward.
~The U.S. budget deficit for 2007 will be $167 billion. And that is the good news. The 2008 budget deficit could reach $210 Billion. Don’t you just love those fiscal conservatives?
~”Dropout Factory" is a high school where no more than 60 percent of the students who start as freshmen make it to their senior year. That dubious distinction applies to more than one in 10 high schools across America. Whatever happened to “No Child Left Behind”? The brain drain has new meaning.
*”To keep students from dropping out, either from school physically or while sitting in the classroom, schools have to be places where there is hope that something good is going to happen.”
Dorothy Rich, founder and president of the nonprofit Home and School Institute, MegaSkills Education Center, in Washington. The quote is from her article “Do school, teachers have the freedom to be great?” that appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer and can be read at this link.
*Better but good enough? ~ A rock and a hard place – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) announced that he will not vote for confirming Michael Mukasey as Attorney General. He said Mukasey should not be confirmed because he could not muster a straightforward answer when asked this question: Is the president of the United States required to obey federal statutes? That would have to depend, Mukasey hedged, "on whether what goes outside the statute nonetheless lies within the authority of the president to defend the country." (This evasiveness is not unlike similar dances performed by Bush justifiers and apologists.) Mukasey responded in like fashion when asked if waterboarding was torture. The question puts Mukasey and Bush in a difficult situation. If he states that waterboarding is torture and he becomes the AG, it puts in jeopardy all of the interrogators that have used the procedure. Bush cannot nominate an AG that would jeopardize his overreaching executive power grab and the authorization of torture as an interrogation technique. As the administration attempts to cover its tracks the trail becomes more convoluted. Mukasey would be an upgrade to Alberto Gonzales but, that is faint praise. Whether the Senate miraculously develops a spine to oppose this nomination and such manipulative and destructive reasoning remains to be seen.
*Torture is Surrender - Counterterrorism expert and former instructor at the Navy’s training program for Special Forces Malcolm Nance disagrees with nominee for Attorney General Mukasey and others that feel waterboarding is not torture. His article at Small Wars Journal states unequivocally that waterboarding is torture. An important point he makes: “If you support the use of waterboarding on enemy captives, you support the use of that torture on any future American captives.” I would also point out that experts in the field of interrogation almost universally agree that information obtained through torture is extremely unreliable. And, most importantly, if we become the human animals that we have historically separated ourselves from, we have forfeited our souls.
Keystone Cops ~ 2007 edition – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) scheduled security checks across the country of airport screeners. It has been learned that a senior official at TSA sent an email “giving screeners all over the country very specific details about what sorts of suspicious clues the undercover testers would expect them to notice - such as ID's with photos that did not match the people using them and boarding passes with altered dates.” Under these circumstances one would expect that the screeners would be more than prepared to do their job. “Security expert David Heyman told NBC that despite the tip offs the screeners still did poorly, and "that's got to be very discouraging." Ya think?
Shylocks of shopping – Credit card companies are leeches on consumers. While you receive airline miles and other perks from credit card companies they offer this allure so that they can pick your pocket. Their hidden fees and interest rates have been an abomination for many years. As interest rates have dramatically fallen the rates they charge have not and remain at an exorbitant 16 to 23% on balances and in some cases even higher. This is allowed to occur because credit card companies and their lobbyists have a stronger voice in congress than you and me. It is estimated that the earnings of the top six card companies from these fees exceed $8 billion annually. Consumers Union through CreditCardReform.org offers a petition to congress that you can sign urging your representatives to, “support tough new legislation to rein in abusive credit card practices that impose unfair and costly fees and unwarranted interest rate hikes on consumers that can send them into a spiral of debt.”
*Sociological observation of the week –Sean Hannity, FOX News commentator and imbecilic spokesman for all that is wrong with right-wing pundits in America said, “Halloween teaches kids to ask for a handout... its teaching them to be liberals.” Mr. Hannity would prefer that we teach children the modern-day conservative values of hate, fear, greed, intolerance and prejudice. Hmm, I’ll take the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.
*Dollar Day Sale –The dollar does not shine quite so brightly these days. It continues to drop in value relative to other major currencies around the world and this drop is a reflection of how others view our financial condition. One implication is that imported goods will cost more and that will potentially contribute to inflation. Another potential implication is a decline in investment by foreigners in U.S. stocks and bonds. Such a decline would likely lead to lower prices in both instruments. Little spoken of is the high level of U.S. debt that is funded by foreign investment. To continue to attract this money the U.S. government will probably have to offer higher interest rates and that will increase the amount American tax payers pay for this debt. The president and his supporters continue to tell us how great the American economy is doing. If one is a member of the upper echelon of the “haves” in this country it is probably true. For the other 90+% of us, real income is declining and discretionary income is fading.
*Back from Iraq ~ “I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)” - Former music luminary (Orleans band) and freshman congressman John Hall (D-NY) recently returned from a trip to Iraq. He wrote a letter to his constituents about his findings and what follows is an excerpt: “My conclusion is that we should never send our Armed Forces to carry out a mission that is not militarily achievable. Based on comments by Ambassador Crocker, and the fact that since the September report to Congress the top four Iraqi leaders have not even been in the country at the same time, I continue to believe that American involvement in this war must be ended. This is a political and civil conflict that can only be resolved by the Iraqis themselves, by deciding whether they want to compromise and live together, or continue to fight along religious, ethnic, or tribal lines.” Almost 1500 years of hatred and fighting between Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds was not considered prior to Bush invading Iraq with a stated goal to bring democracy to that country. No amount of military force will change the Iraqi political landscape. Our troops were sent on a fool’s errand and have paid a steep price. And that is a terribly sad lesson. At some point a military confrontation with Iran over its nuclear capability may be required. However, America certainly cannot trust the contemporary version of the 3 Stooges to make that decision.
*Derriere orifices of the week – Meet Rev. Fred Phelps and his two daughters, Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebecca Phelps-Davis of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka. These morons and their followers travel the country to protest at funerals of soldiers who died in Iraq and Afghanistan. A grieving father won a nearly $11 million verdict Wednesday against this fundamentalist Kansas church who believe that the war in Iraq is a punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality. Church members testified they are following their religious beliefs. Religious beliefs! One placard they carried said, “Thank GOD for dead soldiers” and another said “GOD hates fags”. The verdict should have included an injunction preventing these miscreants from reproducing.
*A smile where you can get one – Last week I noted the Bush administration slashing (censoring) the CDC report on the dangerous effects of global warming. This week I received a mass email from Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) requesting the signing of a petition to President Bush “demanding that he come clean about White House censorship of global warming science!” Perhaps a sardonic smile really doesn’t count as a smile. Smiles should feel good. For those interested in what the administration removed from the CDC report desmogblog.com obtained a full version of the report. The redactions are in red. There is a lot of red.
*Joke of the week – Did you hear the one about the acting chairwoman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) asking lawmakers in two letters not to approve the bulk of legislation that would increase the agency’s authority, double its budget and sharply increase its dwindling staff? Meet Bush appointee Nancy Nord. “The CPSC has exactly one full-time toy inspector... It has 15 inspectors who oversee all of the imports under the agency's jurisdiction, a $614 billion market.” A question I often ask: Why does the President of the U.S. and the administrative people he has appointed, hate Americans? We continually see evidence that federal agencies such as CPSC, FDA, EPA and NASA, whose mission includes protecting us, have deliberately gone out their way to do the opposite. Like Humpty Dumpty our federal government has taken a great fall and there is no one in sight to repair it.
*Joke of the week punch line - The Washington Post is reporting some interesting information about Nancy Nord. “The chief of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and her predecessor have taken dozens of trips at the expense of the toy, appliance and children's furniture industries and others they regulate... Some of the trips were sponsored by lobbying groups and lawyers representing the makers of products linked to consumer hazards... The records document nearly 30 trips since 2002.” We pay her salary to oversee the safety of products we use. The companies she is supposed to regulate pay for lavish trips. She tells congress not to give her the resources necessary to protect consumers. In a normal world this would be conflict of interest, dereliction of duty, unethical and amoral. In Bush’s Bizarro World it is syllogistic harmony.
*Shooting oneself in the prostate, Ouch – In a new radio ad Rudy Giuliani bashes socialized medicine and says that "My chance of surviving prostate cancer, and thank God I was cured of it, in the United States, 82%. My chances of surviving prostate cancer in England, only 44% under socialized medicine.” As is quite often the case what passes through Giuliani’s lips has little to do with reality (a Bizarro World requisite). ABC News is reporting that prostate cancer survival rates are almost the same in the U.S and England. It would be interesting to know if Giuliani is receiving serious campaign contributions from the health insurance industry. As I noted last week he is already a tool (fool) of the National Rifle Association when he promulgated the Second Amendment right of blind people to have hand guns.
*A Leader in Congress – A Leader in Corruption - Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is the Minority Leader in the Senate. He is also a leader in corruption according to the non-partisan Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). “Senator McConnell’s ethics issues stem from earmarks he has inserted into legislation for clients of his former chief of staff, lobbyist Gordon Hunter Bates, in exchange for campaign contributions...” Further details about McConnell’s indiscretions and the corrupt activities of many other elected officials can be found at CREW’s web site. People like McConnell preen in front of the TV cameras as esteemed governors of our nation. They are crooks.
*BP pleads guilty, 6 times - Last week I noted that BP was not the wonderful corporate citizen that they advertise themselves to be. The truth about BP’s method of operating is surfacing. It was announced that various divisions of BP: “racked up over $380 million in criminal and civil fines and restitution in five separate instances involving federal regulators and prosecutors. In the sixth instance, a federal grand jury indicted four former employees.” Among its civil and criminal acts BP pleaded guilty to violations of the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. “With the addition of these six instances, BP now has the second highest misconduct penalty dollar amount with $1.1 billion. It ranks behind another oil company, Exxon Mobil. Unfortunately, these fines are relatively petty annoyances given the billions of dollars in profit that these companies generate. Lacking a conscience, the oil companies will not choose corporate responsibility over irresponsible cost cutting measures until major executives are imprisoned or the level of fines gets the attention of stock holders.
*For female readers and cross-dressers only – The organization Campaign for Safer Cosmetics recently conducted a study on lipsticks. It found lead in 61% of the 33 top-brand lipsticks tested -- including L'Oreal, Cover Girl, and Christian Dior. These are lipsticks manufactured in the U.S. and used daily by millions of women. “Lead is a potent neurotoxin and linked to numerous other health and reproductive problems—and it doesn't belong in lipstick.” The Environmental Working Group’s web site Skin Deep offers an extensive list of cosmetic and skin care products (for both genders) that have been tested for safety. Resources such as this are valuable because the Food and Drug Administration lacks standards for many of these products. Some might say that the FDA is not doing its job. For me it is not an equivocation.
*Sporting News – Vice President of the United States and prominent sportsman Dick Cheney went hunting again. This time he fortunately did not shoot a human being. What is of interest is where. The Clove Valley Gun and Rod Club is in upstate Union Vale, N.Y. and displays a confederate flag. I think the Reverend Al Sharpton’s comment has merit. "It's appalling for the VP to be at a private club displaying the flag of lynching, hate and murder. It's the epitome of an insult." There is no truth to the rumor that the VP dropped his white sheet and fired birdshot at the Reverend.
*No avoiding the void - Toby Moore formerly worked in the Civil Rights Division of the Dept. of Justice under Bush appointee John Tanner. This week he testified before a congressional committee hearing explaining why he and so many other career employees left the Civil Rights Division; “there was no sense in doing his work if it didn’t make a difference in the decisions being made." Tanner and the political appointees above him, Moore explained, decided issues "of significance and controversy". So Moore, and many other career analysts and attorneys left. This is one example among thousands where the Bush administration silenced or squeezed out experienced and conscientious federal employees to advance their political agenda. In 15 months Bush will retire to his ranch but the voids created within most departments of the federal government will be felt for a very long time. You can hear Moore’s testimony at this link: tpmmuckraker.com
*Interesting numbers:
~The U.S. is spending $43.5 billion on spying this year. The figure does not include the intelligence programs run the by the separate military services. Who is watching the watchers? Spending on steroids.
~Forbes.com is reporting that Elvis, who died in 1977, led earnings of dead celebrities over the last 12 months at $49 million. John Lennon ranks second with $44 million. The very Golden Oldies.
~In the past month there have been 7 suspicious fires in the Senate office buildings. Police report that there are no viable suspects. I suspect that someone is trying to light a fire under the asses of our elected leaders.
~The head of Merrill Lynch was fired after a third-quarter loss of $2.3 billion and an $8.4 billion charge for failed credit and mortgage-related investments. They certainly made E. Stanley O’Neal an example for underperformance. They threw him out the door – where he landed on a $150 million severance package. There was no mention of his health insurance benefits.
~The head of Citigroup is resigning in the wake of a $5.9 billion write-down and a sharp drop in profits. Charles O. Prince III, who has earned in salary $53 million over the last 4 years will leave with stock holdings of $87 million and a pension. In Bizarro World, the bigger the screw-up the larger the reward.
~The U.S. budget deficit for 2007 will be $167 billion. And that is the good news. The 2008 budget deficit could reach $210 Billion. Don’t you just love those fiscal conservatives?
~”Dropout Factory" is a high school where no more than 60 percent of the students who start as freshmen make it to their senior year. That dubious distinction applies to more than one in 10 high schools across America. Whatever happened to “No Child Left Behind”? The brain drain has new meaning.
*”To keep students from dropping out, either from school physically or while sitting in the classroom, schools have to be places where there is hope that something good is going to happen.”
Dorothy Rich, founder and president of the nonprofit Home and School Institute, MegaSkills Education Center, in Washington. The quote is from her article “Do school, teachers have the freedom to be great?” that appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer and can be read at this link.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
10/28/07
*Sleeping with the Enemy – First Kuwaiti General Trading & Contracting Co is the contractor building the massive U.S. embassy in Iraq. As reported by McClatchy, “massive construction defects, allegations of criminal misconduct, forced labor, and cost overruns in the Baghdad project, the Kuwaiti company is run by a Lebanese businessman who is an ally of Syria and the Iranian-backed Islamic militant group Hezbollah.” Typical of the Bush administration ignoring and covering up corruption and incompetence of its contractors and then rewarding them, First Kuwaiti has just been awarded a $122 million State Department contract to build a U.S. consulate in Saudi Arabia. ALLY OF SYRIA, CONNECTIONS TO HEZBOLLAH, FORCED LABOR, AND, NO ONE DOES ANYTHING ABOUT IT. The President of the United States has become Emperor of Bizarro World!
*Clear and Present Danger ~ State Department Yoga – ABC news is reporting that internal State Department e-mails, “Show top officials were extensively briefed about repeated incidents of Blackwater security guards killing innocent civilians (in Iraq) more than two years ago.” How many more Iraqi civilians have been killed by these mercenary soldiers since this cover up? Our own government did nothing, allowing more innocents to be murdered. With their heads breaching their own sphincter this administration has the unmitigated gall to lecture the world about the Bush/Cheyney perverted version of democracy, freedom, justice and morality.
*The Greatest Show on Earth ~ Obama balancing act – After receiving strong criticism for inviting a gay-bashing preacher to his gospel/attract Black people of faith tour/presidential campaign Barack Obama decisively addressed the situation. He added an openly gay minister to the tour. One wonders if Obama and his advisors are ready for prime time? I think that any presidential candidate who tries to be all things to all people jeopardizes being anything to anyone. A spinning moral compass leads nowhere.
*The American President ~ Triaging the future - I agree with John Bruhns’ commentary at americablog.com. Although he has not advocated an impeachment of President Bush he feels that Speaker Nancy Pelosi erred when she went on record that impeachment is not on the table. All that did, says Bruhns, “was send a message to President Bush that he can operate however he wishes without facing any consequences.” I would suggest that what is off the table should be put back on. It will take decades for America to recover from the G.W. Bush presidency. With 15 months remaining, how many generations of recovery are still to be tacked on?
*Dumb and Dumber ~ Glaucoma of the brain – Rudy Giuliani told a town hall meeting in New Hampshire that blind people have the Second Amendment right to carry a gun. No doubt this will nail down the “blind vote” for Rudy in the primaries. I imagine that under his leadership new provisions in the Americans with Disabilities Act will include bullet caliber must be marked in Braille. I am guessing that Mr. Giuliani is hoping that “blind” voters will not notice that on his staff is a former priest and personal friend guilty of pedophilia and a staffer in Florida convicted of wife beating. Next week the Giuliani campaign will be targeting the hearing impaired – at least those deafened from firing weapons.
*Marathon Man ~ Glaucoma of the mouth – At a town hall meeting in Iowa Giuliani was asked if he thought that waterboarding was torture. He replied, “It depends on how it’s done. It depends on the circumstances. It depends on who does it.” He went on to say that the way it is defined by the “liberal media” it should not be done. Listening to Giuliani is torturous.
*1984 ~ past, present and future– The success of democracy depends upon the free exchange of diverse ideas and opinions. Over the last decade the consolidation of all segments of the media has strained this idea. Independent voices have been lost to acquisitions and drowned out by what is now called mega media corporations who often express the views of its self-interested mega owners. And the situation looks to get worse. Where once our country stood guard against monopoly in most industries that has not been the case in recent years. As noted by the public watchdog Common Cause, “In case you haven't heard, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is threatening to vote, as soon as mid-December, to allow massive consolidation of media outlets. These new media ownership rules are likely to give a single company the right to own multiple television stations, numerous radio stations and the biggest newspaper in your town - effectively controlling almost all of your local news! Worse, the FCC wants to approve the new rules without giving the public a fair chance to voice their concerns.” You can sign a petition to your congressmen opposing this FCC action at Common Cause – Take Action. I certainly do not want the opportunists, manipulators and principle-challenged people such as Rupert Murdoch controlling my news and information. Much of what has taken place in our country is a direct result of our decision, as a society, not to fight city hall. The result is elected leaders operating in the shadows with impunity. Concurrently, the light that the fourth estate once shone brightly is fading. Both of these developments do not bode well for a democracy.
*Dr. Strangelove – NY Times political writer David Brooks was appearing on PBS. The discussion concerned whether Bush will bomb Iran. Brooks commented that he is a member of a group of conservative journalists that meet regularly with the president. Brooks said, “But if you look, read his language, if you look at his body language, you see a man that's totally different than before Iraq. He is preparing the way for the next administration to have some means to deal with the situation. He believes in the diplomacy. But unless I totally misread him, I think he has no inclination to launch a military action.” We can all rest easier now. Brooks the soothsayer reads the body language of an instigator of unprovoked war and disastrous foreign policy and sees a man of diplomacy and strategic planning. I see the same journalist talking heads that did not do their investigative jobs in the lead up to the Iraq invasion.
*The Great Escape – Col. David Hunt writing at Fox News on line, “We know, with a 70 percent level of certainty — which is huge in the world of intelligence — that in August of 2007, bin Laden was in a convoy headed south from Tora Bora. We had his butt, on camera, on satellite. We were listening to his conversations. We had the world’s best hunters/killers — Seal Team 6 — nearby. We had the world class Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) coordinating with the CIA and other agencies. We had unmanned drones overhead with missiles on their wings; we had the best Air Force on the planet, begging to drop one on the terrorist. …Our government, the current administration and yes, our military leaders included, failed to kill bin Laden for no other reason than incompetence.” As we shake our heads in unison, again.
*Dracula and other blood suckers – Bush appointee William Winkenwerder Jr. was secretary of Defense for health affairs from 2001 until April 2007. He then went to work for Logistics Health Inc. as a director and consultant. In June Logistics was awarded a Defense Department medical services contract worth up to $790 million. The firm beat out two other bidders with proposals that ranged from $80 million to $100 million less, records show. The lower bidders have filed a complaint with the Government Accounting Office. Is it any wonder that Bush feels the country cannot afford healthcare insurance for children? Republican ideology historically served this country well calling for smaller government and eliminating wasteful spending. Republicans over the past 15 years are extremely knowledgeable in the “wasteful” category. Graft and cronyism have been symbolic of their tenure.
*Wag The Dog - Vice Admiral Harvey E. Johnson, the deputy administrator of FEMA held a press briefing last week on the government’s response to the California wildfires. As Fox News and MSNBC ran their cameras Johnson took questions from the press, or so we were lead to believe. Johnson actually took questions from FEMA staff members pretending to be members of the press corps. Understandably, he did not have to field any tough questions. In Bizarro World up is down, pretend is the norm, and the hair missing from the top of my head is returning.
*It’s a Wonderful Life – Recall the TV commercials that BP has been running. Squeaky clean people are romping across a pristine and sun-dappled green landscape. Life is good and BP is helping to make it that way. The only thing missing in the commercial is the “truth”. “The British energy company BP, tarnished by a string of costly legal problems, is preparing to settle accusations that it was criminally indifferent to worker safety and that it manipulated energy prices… BP had agreed to a settlement to end criminal investigations stemming from an explosion at a giant BP oil refinery in Texas two years ago… Officials said that the case would not resolve accusations against BP executives who may have failed to take steps to make the refinery safer and that those investigations would continue.” The “accident” killed 15 people and injured 180. “BP is also preparing to settle accusations that its energy trading unit was involved in manipulating prices in the propane market three years ago…The paradox for BP is that it has long promoted itself as an environmentally friendly company that takes its civic responsibilities seriously.” Perhaps mendacity and greed best characterize BP.
*The Gang that Couldn’t Shoot Straight - During Condoleezza Rice’s testimony at a Senate hearing it was learned that the Bush administration official responsible for tough-as-nails anti-corruption in Baghdad is not a diplomat or trained anti-corruption official but a paralegal. Dudley Do-Right to the rescue!
*The Pink Panther – A new government report says that the government’s terrorist watch list now exceeds 755,000 names. A policy of throwing enough crap against the wall hoping that some will stick is not meaningful or productive “anti-terrorism”. Tim Sparapani of the American Civil Liberties Union says the list is “approaching absolutely useless”. Inspector Clouseau to the rescue!
*Mississippi Burning - The Georgia Supreme Court dismissed the sentence of Genarlow Wilson - the young Black man serving a ten-year prison sentence for having consensual oral sex with a 15 year old when he was 17. He was released after spending over 2 years in prison. From thecolorofchange.org “The sad truth is that Genarlow's case is one of many. Black youth, and in particular young Black men, are unfairly criminalized on a routine basis; it becomes clear when you look at arrest rates, prosecution rates, and the sentences they're given. Unfortunately, most cases don't end up like Genarlow's. They get little attention and our young people spend far too much time in jail. Our hope is that by taking action on cases like Genarlow's we can keep the focus on the systemic injustices we face and begin to correct them.”
*Edward Scissorhands – Last week Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, testified before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. She was reporting about how climate change affected public health. It has been learned that the White House cut whole sections from her report on global warming: “heat stress on vulnerable populations; the likelihood of respiratory illnesses from increased air pollution; the spread of waterborne infectious diseases; food and water scarcity; and more injuries from severe weather events such as wildfires.” The Bush flunkies claimed that they redacted the report because it conflicted with findings by a U.N. scientific panel. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) then compared the two reports and found them to be strikingly similar. She said, “Time and time again this administration has changed scientific reports that do not align with their position.” I have run out of adjectives to describe these injurious morons. But, with dictionary in hand, I will keep on trying.
*All the President’s Men - At the site tpmmuckraker.com there is an article, “The Bush Administration; What You Don’t Know Can’t Hurt Us”. It identifies about 30 ways the Bush Administration has tried to hide once-public information sources from the public record. For example: After the Bureau of Labor Statistics uncovered discouraging data about factory closings in the U.S., the administration announced it would stop publishing information about factory closings; When Bush’s Department of Education found that charter schools were underperforming, the administration said it would sharply cut back on the information it collects about charter schools; The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced plans to close several libraries which were used by researchers and scientists. The agency called its decision a cost-cutting measure, but a 2004 report showed that the facilities actually brought the EPA a $7.5 million surplus annually. I recommend visiting the article to learn more about what they want hidden – Bush’s “state secrets”.
*An ounce of performance is worth pounds of promises.
Mae West, actress, 1893 - 1980
*Clear and Present Danger ~ State Department Yoga – ABC news is reporting that internal State Department e-mails, “Show top officials were extensively briefed about repeated incidents of Blackwater security guards killing innocent civilians (in Iraq) more than two years ago.” How many more Iraqi civilians have been killed by these mercenary soldiers since this cover up? Our own government did nothing, allowing more innocents to be murdered. With their heads breaching their own sphincter this administration has the unmitigated gall to lecture the world about the Bush/Cheyney perverted version of democracy, freedom, justice and morality.
*The Greatest Show on Earth ~ Obama balancing act – After receiving strong criticism for inviting a gay-bashing preacher to his gospel/attract Black people of faith tour/presidential campaign Barack Obama decisively addressed the situation. He added an openly gay minister to the tour. One wonders if Obama and his advisors are ready for prime time? I think that any presidential candidate who tries to be all things to all people jeopardizes being anything to anyone. A spinning moral compass leads nowhere.
*The American President ~ Triaging the future - I agree with John Bruhns’ commentary at americablog.com. Although he has not advocated an impeachment of President Bush he feels that Speaker Nancy Pelosi erred when she went on record that impeachment is not on the table. All that did, says Bruhns, “was send a message to President Bush that he can operate however he wishes without facing any consequences.” I would suggest that what is off the table should be put back on. It will take decades for America to recover from the G.W. Bush presidency. With 15 months remaining, how many generations of recovery are still to be tacked on?
*Dumb and Dumber ~ Glaucoma of the brain – Rudy Giuliani told a town hall meeting in New Hampshire that blind people have the Second Amendment right to carry a gun. No doubt this will nail down the “blind vote” for Rudy in the primaries. I imagine that under his leadership new provisions in the Americans with Disabilities Act will include bullet caliber must be marked in Braille. I am guessing that Mr. Giuliani is hoping that “blind” voters will not notice that on his staff is a former priest and personal friend guilty of pedophilia and a staffer in Florida convicted of wife beating. Next week the Giuliani campaign will be targeting the hearing impaired – at least those deafened from firing weapons.
*Marathon Man ~ Glaucoma of the mouth – At a town hall meeting in Iowa Giuliani was asked if he thought that waterboarding was torture. He replied, “It depends on how it’s done. It depends on the circumstances. It depends on who does it.” He went on to say that the way it is defined by the “liberal media” it should not be done. Listening to Giuliani is torturous.
*1984 ~ past, present and future– The success of democracy depends upon the free exchange of diverse ideas and opinions. Over the last decade the consolidation of all segments of the media has strained this idea. Independent voices have been lost to acquisitions and drowned out by what is now called mega media corporations who often express the views of its self-interested mega owners. And the situation looks to get worse. Where once our country stood guard against monopoly in most industries that has not been the case in recent years. As noted by the public watchdog Common Cause, “In case you haven't heard, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is threatening to vote, as soon as mid-December, to allow massive consolidation of media outlets. These new media ownership rules are likely to give a single company the right to own multiple television stations, numerous radio stations and the biggest newspaper in your town - effectively controlling almost all of your local news! Worse, the FCC wants to approve the new rules without giving the public a fair chance to voice their concerns.” You can sign a petition to your congressmen opposing this FCC action at Common Cause – Take Action. I certainly do not want the opportunists, manipulators and principle-challenged people such as Rupert Murdoch controlling my news and information. Much of what has taken place in our country is a direct result of our decision, as a society, not to fight city hall. The result is elected leaders operating in the shadows with impunity. Concurrently, the light that the fourth estate once shone brightly is fading. Both of these developments do not bode well for a democracy.
*Dr. Strangelove – NY Times political writer David Brooks was appearing on PBS. The discussion concerned whether Bush will bomb Iran. Brooks commented that he is a member of a group of conservative journalists that meet regularly with the president. Brooks said, “But if you look, read his language, if you look at his body language, you see a man that's totally different than before Iraq. He is preparing the way for the next administration to have some means to deal with the situation. He believes in the diplomacy. But unless I totally misread him, I think he has no inclination to launch a military action.” We can all rest easier now. Brooks the soothsayer reads the body language of an instigator of unprovoked war and disastrous foreign policy and sees a man of diplomacy and strategic planning. I see the same journalist talking heads that did not do their investigative jobs in the lead up to the Iraq invasion.
*The Great Escape – Col. David Hunt writing at Fox News on line, “We know, with a 70 percent level of certainty — which is huge in the world of intelligence — that in August of 2007, bin Laden was in a convoy headed south from Tora Bora. We had his butt, on camera, on satellite. We were listening to his conversations. We had the world’s best hunters/killers — Seal Team 6 — nearby. We had the world class Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) coordinating with the CIA and other agencies. We had unmanned drones overhead with missiles on their wings; we had the best Air Force on the planet, begging to drop one on the terrorist. …Our government, the current administration and yes, our military leaders included, failed to kill bin Laden for no other reason than incompetence.” As we shake our heads in unison, again.
*Dracula and other blood suckers – Bush appointee William Winkenwerder Jr. was secretary of Defense for health affairs from 2001 until April 2007. He then went to work for Logistics Health Inc. as a director and consultant. In June Logistics was awarded a Defense Department medical services contract worth up to $790 million. The firm beat out two other bidders with proposals that ranged from $80 million to $100 million less, records show. The lower bidders have filed a complaint with the Government Accounting Office. Is it any wonder that Bush feels the country cannot afford healthcare insurance for children? Republican ideology historically served this country well calling for smaller government and eliminating wasteful spending. Republicans over the past 15 years are extremely knowledgeable in the “wasteful” category. Graft and cronyism have been symbolic of their tenure.
*Wag The Dog - Vice Admiral Harvey E. Johnson, the deputy administrator of FEMA held a press briefing last week on the government’s response to the California wildfires. As Fox News and MSNBC ran their cameras Johnson took questions from the press, or so we were lead to believe. Johnson actually took questions from FEMA staff members pretending to be members of the press corps. Understandably, he did not have to field any tough questions. In Bizarro World up is down, pretend is the norm, and the hair missing from the top of my head is returning.
*It’s a Wonderful Life – Recall the TV commercials that BP has been running. Squeaky clean people are romping across a pristine and sun-dappled green landscape. Life is good and BP is helping to make it that way. The only thing missing in the commercial is the “truth”. “The British energy company BP, tarnished by a string of costly legal problems, is preparing to settle accusations that it was criminally indifferent to worker safety and that it manipulated energy prices… BP had agreed to a settlement to end criminal investigations stemming from an explosion at a giant BP oil refinery in Texas two years ago… Officials said that the case would not resolve accusations against BP executives who may have failed to take steps to make the refinery safer and that those investigations would continue.” The “accident” killed 15 people and injured 180. “BP is also preparing to settle accusations that its energy trading unit was involved in manipulating prices in the propane market three years ago…The paradox for BP is that it has long promoted itself as an environmentally friendly company that takes its civic responsibilities seriously.” Perhaps mendacity and greed best characterize BP.
*The Gang that Couldn’t Shoot Straight - During Condoleezza Rice’s testimony at a Senate hearing it was learned that the Bush administration official responsible for tough-as-nails anti-corruption in Baghdad is not a diplomat or trained anti-corruption official but a paralegal. Dudley Do-Right to the rescue!
*The Pink Panther – A new government report says that the government’s terrorist watch list now exceeds 755,000 names. A policy of throwing enough crap against the wall hoping that some will stick is not meaningful or productive “anti-terrorism”. Tim Sparapani of the American Civil Liberties Union says the list is “approaching absolutely useless”. Inspector Clouseau to the rescue!
*Mississippi Burning - The Georgia Supreme Court dismissed the sentence of Genarlow Wilson - the young Black man serving a ten-year prison sentence for having consensual oral sex with a 15 year old when he was 17. He was released after spending over 2 years in prison. From thecolorofchange.org “The sad truth is that Genarlow's case is one of many. Black youth, and in particular young Black men, are unfairly criminalized on a routine basis; it becomes clear when you look at arrest rates, prosecution rates, and the sentences they're given. Unfortunately, most cases don't end up like Genarlow's. They get little attention and our young people spend far too much time in jail. Our hope is that by taking action on cases like Genarlow's we can keep the focus on the systemic injustices we face and begin to correct them.”
*Edward Scissorhands – Last week Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, testified before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. She was reporting about how climate change affected public health. It has been learned that the White House cut whole sections from her report on global warming: “heat stress on vulnerable populations; the likelihood of respiratory illnesses from increased air pollution; the spread of waterborne infectious diseases; food and water scarcity; and more injuries from severe weather events such as wildfires.” The Bush flunkies claimed that they redacted the report because it conflicted with findings by a U.N. scientific panel. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) then compared the two reports and found them to be strikingly similar. She said, “Time and time again this administration has changed scientific reports that do not align with their position.” I have run out of adjectives to describe these injurious morons. But, with dictionary in hand, I will keep on trying.
*All the President’s Men - At the site tpmmuckraker.com there is an article, “The Bush Administration; What You Don’t Know Can’t Hurt Us”. It identifies about 30 ways the Bush Administration has tried to hide once-public information sources from the public record. For example: After the Bureau of Labor Statistics uncovered discouraging data about factory closings in the U.S., the administration announced it would stop publishing information about factory closings; When Bush’s Department of Education found that charter schools were underperforming, the administration said it would sharply cut back on the information it collects about charter schools; The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced plans to close several libraries which were used by researchers and scientists. The agency called its decision a cost-cutting measure, but a 2004 report showed that the facilities actually brought the EPA a $7.5 million surplus annually. I recommend visiting the article to learn more about what they want hidden – Bush’s “state secrets”.
*An ounce of performance is worth pounds of promises.
Mae West, actress, 1893 - 1980
Monday, October 15, 2007
10/16/07
*Opportunistic demagoguery ~ meet Ann Coulter - The conservative spokes witch is on tour promoting her book. True to form, Ms. Coulter conjures up an outrageous attack that feeds the hatefulness of her followers. On this occasion she suggested that Jewish people can perfect themselves by converting to Christianity. This nadir of nonsense adds, “An ideal America would be one where everyone is Christian.” Any individual with a sense of brotherhood and an understanding of democracy will be offended by her comments. It is interesting to note the congruity of her effluence with John McCain’s assertion that America was established to be a Christian nation. I imagine that Jesus and Ben Franklin are debating whether to laugh or cry at this infantile interpretation of their work.
*The Rendition of America – A German of Lebanese descent was seized by U.S. federal agents, taken to Afghanistan and kept in captivity in a secret prison and tortured for five months. He had been mistaken for a terrorism suspect with a similar name. The abduction is known as “extraordinary rendition”. The victim sued the U.S. government and the Bush administration argued that the case should be dismissed because it involved “state secrets”. Lower courts agreed with this claim and the Supreme Court decided that it would not consider the case. While “protecting” America, federal agents can do anything and then be cloaked with state secrets. And, our courts protect such actions! “State secrets” was a hallmark of the communist and fascist governments that democratic societies so disdained. Who and what we are has been extraordinarily renditioned.
*The Rendition of Society – Pennsylvania will soon consider legislation requiring all hospitals to provide victims of sexual assault with information about and access to the emergency contraception drug known as Plan B. This law is necessary because a woman who has been raped can be denied the means to assure that she did not get pregnant following this physically and psychologically brutal attack. Plan B denial is a result of the religious beliefs of one sect being imposed upon others. If one finds a religious system that is enriching, that makes existence more meaningful, it is a blessing. The imposition of that system and structure on another is arrogant and lacking understanding. To contend that a particular belief is what a Universal force intended for every person walking this planet demonstrates a wanting concept of humanity and spirituality. If birth control, even under extreme circumstances, is not right for a particular individual, do not use it. It does not justify being rapacious with the free will of another human being.
*Ring-tones and much more - If color-coded terror alerts, invented themes such as “Islamo-Facism” and a U.S. foreign policy that has substantially increased the number of terrorists in the world has not sufficiently scared the hell out of you, help is on the way. You can now subscribe to AlertUSA, a Terror Alert/Incindent Notification Service for mobile devices. From the web site: “AlertsUSA gives you an information edge, regardless of your location, with timely notification of substantial terrorist threats, warnings, advisories and other events and incidents of national significance - sent direct to your mobile device. …A discreet text message delivers core alert information.” The next Ipod will probably feature a Geiger counter and Arabic dictionary.
*Polling for relevancy ~ the miracle of statistical sampling – I just read a recent “national” poll that said 44% of conservatives favored so-and-so for this and 29% of woman were against so-and-so for that. I am saying to myself that this is fairly interesting, especially with the claim, “The results have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points.” I then learn that for this study 1,114 adults were polled over a four day period. We have 300 million people in this country and this “respected” poll is asking me to believe that the query of 1,114 people yields the pulse of the country. With a margin of error of plus or minus 1.5% call me a skeptic.
*Reality television - Another presidential debate and another audience left wondering who really did cut taxes as mayor or improve health care as governor. Parry and thrust, bluster and blather. Too often we do not know truth from fiction. I say the potential is there for great reality television programming. An independent panel of experts would be gathered off stage to determine the veracity of the candidates’ statements. The panel’s conclusions would be depicted on a 25 foot high electronic TruthoMeter. If a candidate’s responses reach the level of “Liar, liar pants on fire” he or she must immediately leave the stage and not return until the next show. After 3 disqualifications the candidate is barred for the season. Maybe it is not such a good idea. After 3 shows there probably would be no qualified candidates.
*Rudy fact check of the week 1 – On his web site Rudy Giuliani claims that while he was mayor of NYC, 1994 to 2000, he increased the police force by 12,000 officers. It seems that the number is marginally inflated. Actually, 7100 were already housing or transit police who were administratively folded into the police department. Liar, liar pants on fire.
*Rudy fact check of the week 2 - Rudy Giuliani said the United States has disrupted 23 terrorist attacks since 9/11. I guess that he is demonstrating that he is even tougher on terrorism than President Bush, who claims only a dozen thwarted attacks. Homeland security experts were baffled by Rudy’s statement. They are not alone.
*Help Congress Grow a Spine – This is a campaign by the organization People for The American Way. “The fight to restore oversight, accountability and your constitutional rights is on! Congress still has the chance to say NO, definitively and without equivocation, to spying on Americans without a warrant.” At their web site pfaw.org you can sign a petition to your congressmen urging that your rights under the Constitution be protected.
*Hairdressers under greater scrutiny than presidential candidates – During the recent Republican presidential debates Chris Matthews asked Mitt Romney, “Does Congress need to authorize a strategic attack on Iran? Romney replied that he would have to consult his lawyers. Basic knowledge of the U.S. Constitution appeared to be a stretch for the former governor of Massachusetts. Licensing is required of the people that cut your hair to verify their proficiency. Perhaps there should be a similar requirement for individuals seeking to lead our country.
*Former top lawyer lawyering up - Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales may have resigned but the Dept. of Justice’s Inspector General continues to investigate him. With a good possibility that the Inspector will make a criminal referral to Justice’s Office of Public Integrity or call for the appointment of a Special Counsel, Gonzales has hired criminal defense attorney George Terwilliger. A primary focus of the investigation is whether Gonzales made false statements to congress. Such action is a crime and resignation from office does not provide immunity from prosecution. Regardless of the economy I expect it to be a bull market for defense attorneys over the next couple of years.
*Spooks spooked - It seems that the Director of the CIA has ordered an investigation of the independent Inspector General responsible for investigating the CIA. The move is considered by experts to be improper and possibly illegal. We have seen that “improper and possibly illegal” may also apply to the actions of the FBI, FDA, DOJ, EPA, DOI…XYZ. The servants of the Bush administration will make every effort to get out of town in January 2009 before the truth of their actions is revealed.
*A question for Obama - I recently expressed criticism of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and 74 other senatorial votes designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) offered his own criticism of Clinton’s vote. Clinton’s office then issued a response that I feel has merit. “Senator Obama was silent on the measure when it was considered on the floor. Despite serving on the Foreign Affairs Committee, he wasn't involved in Senate negotiations or discussions over the bill's language. He didn't speak out against it before it was voted on - he didn't even return from the campaign trail to vote. He didn't speak out against it at a nationally televised debate that night… If Senator Obama believed the measure was as dangerous as he says, wouldn't he have had some obligation to stand up, speak out, and fight against it?” This is the type of question that should be asked more often of all candidates.
*An Education Plan that we can learn from - Democratic presidential candidate Gov. Bill Richardson (NM) has offered his detailed plan for improving education in America. It is comprehensive and broad-based and worthy of inspection by anyone concerned with the state of learning in our country. There are knowledgeable individuals that feel his proposals dwarf anything that other candidates have so far proposed. As noted at mydd.com ,“Richardson is calling for a massive $60 billion dollar education plan; an initiative that would put the focus back on education and creating saleable job skills in this country, and would make college affordable for everyone through a national service program… That is bold, decisive leadership of a presidential caliber”. Details are available at this website: richardsonforpresident.com/issues/educationplan
*They threw a Party but forgot most of the invitations - On PBS NY Times columnist David Brooks made an interesting observation. White middle class (annual income of $40,000 to 60,000) workers favored Republicans in the last presidential election by a whopping 23%. This group is currently quite apprehensive about their economic security. To date the Republican presidential candidates have offered this group nothing while many of the Democratic candidates have significant proposals that address the economic inequality spreading across America, loss of manufacturing jobs and ever-increasing cost of healthcare. It appears to me that the Republican Party has so narrowly tailored its appeal that winning a national election borders on the impossible. Based on their performance over the last decade this is cause for optimism.
*Not so trite ~ the rich get richer - New IRS data shows the top 1 percent of Americans are claiming a larger share of national income than at any time since 1920. Bush tax cuts and economic policy has in fact helped Americans economically. Only ninety-some percent of us have been left behind. With half of U.S. senators and a third of Congress being millionaires one wonders how interested they are in progressive policies that benefit a broad base of citizens. I recall Steven Wright saying that you cannot have everything because where would you put it? Maybe this explains the explosion of self-storage facilities across the U.S.
*Can you hear me now? – Articles are beginning to appear that indicate the Bush administration was working with telecommunications companies well before 9/11 to spy on Americans. If that is the case President Bush may have been less than forthright in claiming domestic spying was a response to the World Trade Center attack. And it obviously did not prevent 9/11. What was this program about? What oversight and investigation will congress provide? Bush and lobbyists for the telecommunication companies are furiously pressuring congress to pass legislation giving immunity from lawsuits to telecommunication companies for their cooperation in illegal wiretapping. Will congress once again yield to an administration that has for the most part emasculated the House and the Senate’s oversight responsibility?
Neocon Mantra Ad Infinitum Update um – I listened to William Kristol and Charles Krauthammer on FOX News. They say the surge is working, the situation in Iraq is improving and that a political solution in Iraq will come when the U.S. is able to achieve security on the ground. They go on to say that it will only happen if the administration gets Iran to back off. Five years of dismal prognostication and strategy has not diminished their enthusiasm for staying the course. “Iran” is now the roadblock to victory. Neocon thinking continues to be the long and tiring road to disaster. Are neo-conservatives Machiavellians in tailored suits and ties where any evil action can be justified if it is done for a good purpose? And whose good purpose? To date the only beneficiary of our Iraq misadventure is the defense industry.
*Who’s Sorry Now? – Jan Smiley at huffingtonpost.com has written a powerful article concerning opportunism and its effect over the last seven years. I recommend the entire article and offer this excerpt: “Is it possible to have no sense of civic responsibility at all? Yes -- that's what Free Market theory, and the last generation of Republican culture is about. It elevates commerce and deal-making above every other human activity, and therefore glorifies opportunism. A generation of coaching by Free Market gurus has robbed Americans of the means of a decent existence. The reason we can't get out of Iraq is that none of the opportunists dares to admit why he or she wanted to make a war there in the first place, and so we, the American people, don't actually know what the goal was and can't ever judge whether it has been achieved. Though Cheney's goal was to secure the oil, he can't admit that to the Iraqis, who don't want to give up the oil. If the Iraqis' goal was to use our military to fight the battle and then take over themselves, they ceded that goal every time they flattered the Americans. If the Israelis consider their existence to be worth every American sacrifice of money, corruption, and human life, they dare not say so. If the military industrial complex really is happy to profit from death and destruction, do they actually pretend to their children that they are human?”
*“If the general remains silent while the statesman commits a nation to war with insufficient means, he shares culpability for the results.”
From an article “A Failure in Generalship,” by Lt. Col. Paul Yingling that appeared in the May 2007 issue of Armed Forces Journal
*The Rendition of America – A German of Lebanese descent was seized by U.S. federal agents, taken to Afghanistan and kept in captivity in a secret prison and tortured for five months. He had been mistaken for a terrorism suspect with a similar name. The abduction is known as “extraordinary rendition”. The victim sued the U.S. government and the Bush administration argued that the case should be dismissed because it involved “state secrets”. Lower courts agreed with this claim and the Supreme Court decided that it would not consider the case. While “protecting” America, federal agents can do anything and then be cloaked with state secrets. And, our courts protect such actions! “State secrets” was a hallmark of the communist and fascist governments that democratic societies so disdained. Who and what we are has been extraordinarily renditioned.
*The Rendition of Society – Pennsylvania will soon consider legislation requiring all hospitals to provide victims of sexual assault with information about and access to the emergency contraception drug known as Plan B. This law is necessary because a woman who has been raped can be denied the means to assure that she did not get pregnant following this physically and psychologically brutal attack. Plan B denial is a result of the religious beliefs of one sect being imposed upon others. If one finds a religious system that is enriching, that makes existence more meaningful, it is a blessing. The imposition of that system and structure on another is arrogant and lacking understanding. To contend that a particular belief is what a Universal force intended for every person walking this planet demonstrates a wanting concept of humanity and spirituality. If birth control, even under extreme circumstances, is not right for a particular individual, do not use it. It does not justify being rapacious with the free will of another human being.
*Ring-tones and much more - If color-coded terror alerts, invented themes such as “Islamo-Facism” and a U.S. foreign policy that has substantially increased the number of terrorists in the world has not sufficiently scared the hell out of you, help is on the way. You can now subscribe to AlertUSA, a Terror Alert/Incindent Notification Service for mobile devices. From the web site: “AlertsUSA gives you an information edge, regardless of your location, with timely notification of substantial terrorist threats, warnings, advisories and other events and incidents of national significance - sent direct to your mobile device. …A discreet text message delivers core alert information.” The next Ipod will probably feature a Geiger counter and Arabic dictionary.
*Polling for relevancy ~ the miracle of statistical sampling – I just read a recent “national” poll that said 44% of conservatives favored so-and-so for this and 29% of woman were against so-and-so for that. I am saying to myself that this is fairly interesting, especially with the claim, “The results have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points.” I then learn that for this study 1,114 adults were polled over a four day period. We have 300 million people in this country and this “respected” poll is asking me to believe that the query of 1,114 people yields the pulse of the country. With a margin of error of plus or minus 1.5% call me a skeptic.
*Reality television - Another presidential debate and another audience left wondering who really did cut taxes as mayor or improve health care as governor. Parry and thrust, bluster and blather. Too often we do not know truth from fiction. I say the potential is there for great reality television programming. An independent panel of experts would be gathered off stage to determine the veracity of the candidates’ statements. The panel’s conclusions would be depicted on a 25 foot high electronic TruthoMeter. If a candidate’s responses reach the level of “Liar, liar pants on fire” he or she must immediately leave the stage and not return until the next show. After 3 disqualifications the candidate is barred for the season. Maybe it is not such a good idea. After 3 shows there probably would be no qualified candidates.
*Rudy fact check of the week 1 – On his web site Rudy Giuliani claims that while he was mayor of NYC, 1994 to 2000, he increased the police force by 12,000 officers. It seems that the number is marginally inflated. Actually, 7100 were already housing or transit police who were administratively folded into the police department. Liar, liar pants on fire.
*Rudy fact check of the week 2 - Rudy Giuliani said the United States has disrupted 23 terrorist attacks since 9/11. I guess that he is demonstrating that he is even tougher on terrorism than President Bush, who claims only a dozen thwarted attacks. Homeland security experts were baffled by Rudy’s statement. They are not alone.
*Help Congress Grow a Spine – This is a campaign by the organization People for The American Way. “The fight to restore oversight, accountability and your constitutional rights is on! Congress still has the chance to say NO, definitively and without equivocation, to spying on Americans without a warrant.” At their web site pfaw.org you can sign a petition to your congressmen urging that your rights under the Constitution be protected.
*Hairdressers under greater scrutiny than presidential candidates – During the recent Republican presidential debates Chris Matthews asked Mitt Romney, “Does Congress need to authorize a strategic attack on Iran? Romney replied that he would have to consult his lawyers. Basic knowledge of the U.S. Constitution appeared to be a stretch for the former governor of Massachusetts. Licensing is required of the people that cut your hair to verify their proficiency. Perhaps there should be a similar requirement for individuals seeking to lead our country.
*Former top lawyer lawyering up - Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales may have resigned but the Dept. of Justice’s Inspector General continues to investigate him. With a good possibility that the Inspector will make a criminal referral to Justice’s Office of Public Integrity or call for the appointment of a Special Counsel, Gonzales has hired criminal defense attorney George Terwilliger. A primary focus of the investigation is whether Gonzales made false statements to congress. Such action is a crime and resignation from office does not provide immunity from prosecution. Regardless of the economy I expect it to be a bull market for defense attorneys over the next couple of years.
*Spooks spooked - It seems that the Director of the CIA has ordered an investigation of the independent Inspector General responsible for investigating the CIA. The move is considered by experts to be improper and possibly illegal. We have seen that “improper and possibly illegal” may also apply to the actions of the FBI, FDA, DOJ, EPA, DOI…XYZ. The servants of the Bush administration will make every effort to get out of town in January 2009 before the truth of their actions is revealed.
*A question for Obama - I recently expressed criticism of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and 74 other senatorial votes designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) offered his own criticism of Clinton’s vote. Clinton’s office then issued a response that I feel has merit. “Senator Obama was silent on the measure when it was considered on the floor. Despite serving on the Foreign Affairs Committee, he wasn't involved in Senate negotiations or discussions over the bill's language. He didn't speak out against it before it was voted on - he didn't even return from the campaign trail to vote. He didn't speak out against it at a nationally televised debate that night… If Senator Obama believed the measure was as dangerous as he says, wouldn't he have had some obligation to stand up, speak out, and fight against it?” This is the type of question that should be asked more often of all candidates.
*An Education Plan that we can learn from - Democratic presidential candidate Gov. Bill Richardson (NM) has offered his detailed plan for improving education in America. It is comprehensive and broad-based and worthy of inspection by anyone concerned with the state of learning in our country. There are knowledgeable individuals that feel his proposals dwarf anything that other candidates have so far proposed. As noted at mydd.com ,“Richardson is calling for a massive $60 billion dollar education plan; an initiative that would put the focus back on education and creating saleable job skills in this country, and would make college affordable for everyone through a national service program… That is bold, decisive leadership of a presidential caliber”. Details are available at this website: richardsonforpresident.com/issues/educationplan
*They threw a Party but forgot most of the invitations - On PBS NY Times columnist David Brooks made an interesting observation. White middle class (annual income of $40,000 to 60,000) workers favored Republicans in the last presidential election by a whopping 23%. This group is currently quite apprehensive about their economic security. To date the Republican presidential candidates have offered this group nothing while many of the Democratic candidates have significant proposals that address the economic inequality spreading across America, loss of manufacturing jobs and ever-increasing cost of healthcare. It appears to me that the Republican Party has so narrowly tailored its appeal that winning a national election borders on the impossible. Based on their performance over the last decade this is cause for optimism.
*Not so trite ~ the rich get richer - New IRS data shows the top 1 percent of Americans are claiming a larger share of national income than at any time since 1920. Bush tax cuts and economic policy has in fact helped Americans economically. Only ninety-some percent of us have been left behind. With half of U.S. senators and a third of Congress being millionaires one wonders how interested they are in progressive policies that benefit a broad base of citizens. I recall Steven Wright saying that you cannot have everything because where would you put it? Maybe this explains the explosion of self-storage facilities across the U.S.
*Can you hear me now? – Articles are beginning to appear that indicate the Bush administration was working with telecommunications companies well before 9/11 to spy on Americans. If that is the case President Bush may have been less than forthright in claiming domestic spying was a response to the World Trade Center attack. And it obviously did not prevent 9/11. What was this program about? What oversight and investigation will congress provide? Bush and lobbyists for the telecommunication companies are furiously pressuring congress to pass legislation giving immunity from lawsuits to telecommunication companies for their cooperation in illegal wiretapping. Will congress once again yield to an administration that has for the most part emasculated the House and the Senate’s oversight responsibility?
Neocon Mantra Ad Infinitum Update um – I listened to William Kristol and Charles Krauthammer on FOX News. They say the surge is working, the situation in Iraq is improving and that a political solution in Iraq will come when the U.S. is able to achieve security on the ground. They go on to say that it will only happen if the administration gets Iran to back off. Five years of dismal prognostication and strategy has not diminished their enthusiasm for staying the course. “Iran” is now the roadblock to victory. Neocon thinking continues to be the long and tiring road to disaster. Are neo-conservatives Machiavellians in tailored suits and ties where any evil action can be justified if it is done for a good purpose? And whose good purpose? To date the only beneficiary of our Iraq misadventure is the defense industry.
*Who’s Sorry Now? – Jan Smiley at huffingtonpost.com has written a powerful article concerning opportunism and its effect over the last seven years. I recommend the entire article and offer this excerpt: “Is it possible to have no sense of civic responsibility at all? Yes -- that's what Free Market theory, and the last generation of Republican culture is about. It elevates commerce and deal-making above every other human activity, and therefore glorifies opportunism. A generation of coaching by Free Market gurus has robbed Americans of the means of a decent existence. The reason we can't get out of Iraq is that none of the opportunists dares to admit why he or she wanted to make a war there in the first place, and so we, the American people, don't actually know what the goal was and can't ever judge whether it has been achieved. Though Cheney's goal was to secure the oil, he can't admit that to the Iraqis, who don't want to give up the oil. If the Iraqis' goal was to use our military to fight the battle and then take over themselves, they ceded that goal every time they flattered the Americans. If the Israelis consider their existence to be worth every American sacrifice of money, corruption, and human life, they dare not say so. If the military industrial complex really is happy to profit from death and destruction, do they actually pretend to their children that they are human?”
*“If the general remains silent while the statesman commits a nation to war with insufficient means, he shares culpability for the results.”
From an article “A Failure in Generalship,” by Lt. Col. Paul Yingling that appeared in the May 2007 issue of Armed Forces Journal
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
9/25/07
*Rudy the Alchemist – In a recent speech Rudy Giuliani proposes eliminating the alternative minimum tax that is expected to raise $1 trillion over the next 10 years. He says that he will cover this loss of revenue by proposing additional tax cuts, leaving people in the audience bewildered. Adding by subtracting. While most of the Republican presidential candidates are distancing themselves from Bush, Giuliani is cloning.
*Not so blind justice – Several weeks ago I noted the severe prosecution of Black young men in Jena, LA who reacted to racially motivated intimidation at their high school. I also noted that these young men were being supported by ColorofChange.org, an organization whose stated goal is: “started after Hurricane Katrina to make sure the next time disaster struck our community, there would be an organized, strategic and loud response from Black America and our allies.” This past week we saw the demonstration of peaceful grassroots support as over 10,000 people descended on Jena to seek justice for fellow Americans, the “Jena Six”. If you would like to know more about this organization and/or support these young men click on the above link. In a Phila. Inquirer editorial on Jena it referenced historian John Hope Franklin, who as chairman of the Advisory Board for the President’s Initiative on Race in 1997-98 said, “America will never be color-blind, so it needs a thoughtful alternative.” The editorial concludes, “An alternative that sees our differences and values them is the goal. But without national leadership to reach that dream, we’ll just keep applying ointment whenever a pimple signifying a much deeper disease breaks out.”
*Another step back in healthcare, and much more – Over the last few years, groups of large private investors have been acquiring nursing homes. With profit being the dominating objective, the level of care has precipitously declined. Residents have suffered and died as a result. The NY Times has a comprehensive report at this link. In the past, concerned family members have sued and regulators have issued significant fines. “But private investment companies have made it very difficult for plaintiffs to succeed in court and for regulators to levy chain-wide fines by creating complex corporate structures that obscure who controls their nursing homes.” When the President says that the private sector can do a better job than government in providing services it has a nice ring to libertarians and conservatives but it actually obfuscates the issue. Both sectors have been diminished in their ability to perform. Our government lacks the dedicated resources and will to oversee relatively uncomplicated areas such as food safety inspection and border protection to more complicated issues of comprehensive healthcare, self-policing and oversight of the business community. The private sector, with ever-growing resources, has a business model that allows it to minimize services for the maximization of greater profit because it has the “permission” of our government through the same lack of oversight, resources and will. The capitalism that we knew in the second half of the 20th century has been abandoned. It required broad competition, regulation and a modicum of ethics, humanity and nationalism. Globalization, profit-motive on steroids and a governmental free pass is the new environment. It is proving to be as harmful as global warming.
*On Friday Hillary Clinton issued a statement that she is not a lesbian. Later that day Barack Obama said that neither is he. Bush said he had a nephew that might be one. Seven Republican presidential candidates claimed that they did not have sexuality.
*Nominee for Attorney General Michael Mukasey has vowed to fire any Justice Department employee who shares sensitive case information with the White House or members of congress without his approval. This is in stark contrast to Alberto Gonzales who allowed his staff to share hundreds of cases with the Bush administration’s political cadre.
*Much ado about what? - At least one lawmaker is attacking the politicization of fear. Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA) attacked Republicans and the administration alike for hyping bogus claims of impending terror this past August in order to facilitate the passing of an exceptionally broad FISA reform act. Which brings to mind two recently discovered terrorist plots that were foiled – a 3 Stooges-like group in Florida (urged on by a federal undercover agent) that allegedly had intentions of blowing up the Sears Tower in Chicago and a hapless group in NJ planning to attack McGuire Air Force base that were detected by a Circuit City clerk. Both incidents generated major news conferences and headlines. Since then, silence.
*Unlikely fundraisers – MoveOn.org ran the ad “General Betray Us” on the day that Petraeus gave his report to congress. The ad documented the misleading statements that the General would make. Subsequently, Pres. Bush, Republicans and right-wing pundits attacked MoveOn.org. Within two days citizens gave almost $1 million to MoveOn to support their efforts. The headline of the ad may have offended some peoples’ sensibilities. However, the content of the ad showed that the General was part and parcel of the political game being played behind the Iraq war, a game that has been in place since the erroneous warnings of WMDs preceded the Iraq invasion. I am not offended by the truth.
*My Senators at work – Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Bob Casey (D-PA) voted to censure MoveOn.org for the political ad censuring General Petraeus. The concept of free speech did appear to inhibit their decision. Now that an important matter has been settled as the Senate flexed its atrophied muscle perhaps my Senators will deal with under-addressed immigration, health care, THE WAR. Gov. Bill Richardson’s (D-NM) comment seemed appropriate, “Let’s get some perspective here - ads don’t kill people - wars kill people. And it’s long past time to end this war.”
*Finally, an answer - Republicans have defeated legislation in congress that would give the troops more rest between deployments or set timetables for withdrawal or would force a change of strategy. To the question of why, Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) was most revealing in a NY Times interview. He said, "If it goes bad, the nation loses and the Republican Party loses disproportionately compared to the Democratic Party." If it goes bad? With respect to political implications I would suggest that Sen. Graham reference “Waterloo” below.
* Waterloo 1 – Idaho is a very Republican state. Based on military deaths in Iraq, relative to state population, it has the highest troop loss in the country. Larry LaRocco, a Democrat and former representative has entered the Senate race on a platform that prominently includes an anti-war stance. In a recent editorial the Lewiston Tribune says, “Many Idahoans who are disheartened by their congressional delegation cheering on every incompetent move the Bush administration has made in the Iraq War feel deprived of a voice in the nation's capital. They are not deprived of a voice in next year's election, though. …LaRocco says he is not afraid to make his opposition to the war a major issue of his campaign. No matter which Republican he faces in the Senate race next year, that will no doubt offer voters a clear choice.” Evidence is mounting that the 2008 elections could significantly reduce the Republican party’s influence on national issues.
* Waterloo 2 - U.S. Federal Election Commission records show dozens of corporate executives who backed George W. Bush for re-election in 2004, including some of his top fund-raisers, are now helping Democrats running for president.
John Mack, CEO of Morgan Stanley, Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corp., and Terry Semel, chairman of Yahoo are among some 60 executives writing checks to Democrats such as Senators Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois. Follow the money.
*A fine mess ~ una problema grande – Under a limited provision of Medicaid the federal government allows emergency care for illegal immigrants. NY state has just been notified that this care no longer covers chemotherapy. Officials and hospitals in the state are caught in the middle. This is not unlike the situation where cities that have enacted laws prohibiting landlords to rent to illegal immigrants are seeing the courts overturn the laws because they usurp federal authority, even though it is an authority not being exercised. The congress and executive branch continue to ignore this growing and increasingly complicated problem. The societal, humanitarian and economic implications for our country are daunting.
*Can’t fall far from the tree – Two months ago Senator John Warner (R-VA) stated that he would endorse Senator Jim Webb’s (D-VA) bill requiring troops to have as much down time as deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan. Warner stated, "Senator Webb's amendment, I would say without any equivocation, is designed to help protect the concept of the all-volunteer force, and it was for that reason that I joined him," This past week Warner voted against the legislation. In January, Warner drafted a Senate resolution opposing President Bush's “surge" of additional troops into Iraq. Then, on Feb. 5, he voted against bringing up his own resolution for debate. Can you say “prefrontal lobotomy”? Warner has announced he will not seek another term. I wonder if he will remember.
* A reader brought to my attention a NY Times book review of “In the Ruins of Empire”. A summary of observations: “The General declared that today freedom is on the march…Strewn in liberty’s path were a tar pit of internal wars, native fighters un-intimidated by modern weapons, unresolved policy disputes between the State Dept. and the Defense Dept, bales of American dollars, alliances of convenience with warlords and local militias of unknown provenance led by whiz-bang demagogues. Washington pursued ambiguous policies that officials on the ground knew were doomed; fewer troops were deployed than commanders requested; tours of duty were extended for war-weary soldiers who were unprepared temperamentally or by training to become part of a great social and economic reconstruction project; and support from the American public declined sharply…” The General was Douglas MacArthur. The subtitle of this book is, “The Japanese Surrender and the Battle for Postwar Asia” written by Ronald H Spector. Sixty-two years later, that American experience is sickeningly familiar. It causes one to wonder what is taught in our military’s war colleges today. It is likely that history will be unkind to the U.S. military leaders whose silence and acquiescence contributed to this Iraq War tragedy.
*The altruism of Romney – While speaking to a select group of Republicans in Michigan, Mitt Romney said, “Republicans share the blame with Democrats for the nation's woes. He bemoaned excessive spending, insecure borders and ethical lapses." Thanks, but, no thanks. There is nothing to share or give away Mr. Romney. Our nation’s woes that you identify are owned by your Republican party and it has provided no evidence it has the ability to “share” in the solution.
*TV channels you cannot watch – It seems that there are television channels not being utilized that through new technology could provide internet access to millions of people. Last week the National Association of Broadcasters blitzed Washington with ads and lobbyists opposing such a use. This is perhaps the best indication that it would be good for the average American. For it to happen it requires the approval of the Federal Communications Commission. You can learn more about this technology at FreePress.net. You can sign a petition asking the FCC to approve the use of unused channels by clicking here,
*Shooting off one’s mouth to the NRA – As a federal prosecutor and then Mayor of NYC Rudy Giuliani sought tougher gun control laws. In both jobs he personally saw the carnage wreaked by guns on the streets of a major metropolis. This past weekend Giuliani addressed the National Rifle Association telling them his views changed following the terrorist attacks on 9/11. He said, “It put a whole different emphasis on the things America needs to do to protect itself, and maybe even a renewed emphasis on the Second Amendment." 9/11 changed nothing with respect to NY street violence and citizens walking around with weapons will do nothing to prevent such terrorist attacks unless they are packing surface-to-air missiles. I certainly do not want a President who repeatedly shoots himself in the foot. Been there, done that.
*Racism is an ism to which everyone in the world today is exposed; for or against, we must take sides. And the history of the future will differ according to the decision which we make. Ruth Benedict (1887–1948), U.S. anthropologist
*Not so blind justice – Several weeks ago I noted the severe prosecution of Black young men in Jena, LA who reacted to racially motivated intimidation at their high school. I also noted that these young men were being supported by ColorofChange.org, an organization whose stated goal is: “started after Hurricane Katrina to make sure the next time disaster struck our community, there would be an organized, strategic and loud response from Black America and our allies.” This past week we saw the demonstration of peaceful grassroots support as over 10,000 people descended on Jena to seek justice for fellow Americans, the “Jena Six”. If you would like to know more about this organization and/or support these young men click on the above link. In a Phila. Inquirer editorial on Jena it referenced historian John Hope Franklin, who as chairman of the Advisory Board for the President’s Initiative on Race in 1997-98 said, “America will never be color-blind, so it needs a thoughtful alternative.” The editorial concludes, “An alternative that sees our differences and values them is the goal. But without national leadership to reach that dream, we’ll just keep applying ointment whenever a pimple signifying a much deeper disease breaks out.”
*Another step back in healthcare, and much more – Over the last few years, groups of large private investors have been acquiring nursing homes. With profit being the dominating objective, the level of care has precipitously declined. Residents have suffered and died as a result. The NY Times has a comprehensive report at this link. In the past, concerned family members have sued and regulators have issued significant fines. “But private investment companies have made it very difficult for plaintiffs to succeed in court and for regulators to levy chain-wide fines by creating complex corporate structures that obscure who controls their nursing homes.” When the President says that the private sector can do a better job than government in providing services it has a nice ring to libertarians and conservatives but it actually obfuscates the issue. Both sectors have been diminished in their ability to perform. Our government lacks the dedicated resources and will to oversee relatively uncomplicated areas such as food safety inspection and border protection to more complicated issues of comprehensive healthcare, self-policing and oversight of the business community. The private sector, with ever-growing resources, has a business model that allows it to minimize services for the maximization of greater profit because it has the “permission” of our government through the same lack of oversight, resources and will. The capitalism that we knew in the second half of the 20th century has been abandoned. It required broad competition, regulation and a modicum of ethics, humanity and nationalism. Globalization, profit-motive on steroids and a governmental free pass is the new environment. It is proving to be as harmful as global warming.
*On Friday Hillary Clinton issued a statement that she is not a lesbian. Later that day Barack Obama said that neither is he. Bush said he had a nephew that might be one. Seven Republican presidential candidates claimed that they did not have sexuality.
*Nominee for Attorney General Michael Mukasey has vowed to fire any Justice Department employee who shares sensitive case information with the White House or members of congress without his approval. This is in stark contrast to Alberto Gonzales who allowed his staff to share hundreds of cases with the Bush administration’s political cadre.
*Much ado about what? - At least one lawmaker is attacking the politicization of fear. Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA) attacked Republicans and the administration alike for hyping bogus claims of impending terror this past August in order to facilitate the passing of an exceptionally broad FISA reform act. Which brings to mind two recently discovered terrorist plots that were foiled – a 3 Stooges-like group in Florida (urged on by a federal undercover agent) that allegedly had intentions of blowing up the Sears Tower in Chicago and a hapless group in NJ planning to attack McGuire Air Force base that were detected by a Circuit City clerk. Both incidents generated major news conferences and headlines. Since then, silence.
*Unlikely fundraisers – MoveOn.org ran the ad “General Betray Us” on the day that Petraeus gave his report to congress. The ad documented the misleading statements that the General would make. Subsequently, Pres. Bush, Republicans and right-wing pundits attacked MoveOn.org. Within two days citizens gave almost $1 million to MoveOn to support their efforts. The headline of the ad may have offended some peoples’ sensibilities. However, the content of the ad showed that the General was part and parcel of the political game being played behind the Iraq war, a game that has been in place since the erroneous warnings of WMDs preceded the Iraq invasion. I am not offended by the truth.
*My Senators at work – Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Bob Casey (D-PA) voted to censure MoveOn.org for the political ad censuring General Petraeus. The concept of free speech did appear to inhibit their decision. Now that an important matter has been settled as the Senate flexed its atrophied muscle perhaps my Senators will deal with under-addressed immigration, health care, THE WAR. Gov. Bill Richardson’s (D-NM) comment seemed appropriate, “Let’s get some perspective here - ads don’t kill people - wars kill people. And it’s long past time to end this war.”
*Finally, an answer - Republicans have defeated legislation in congress that would give the troops more rest between deployments or set timetables for withdrawal or would force a change of strategy. To the question of why, Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) was most revealing in a NY Times interview. He said, "If it goes bad, the nation loses and the Republican Party loses disproportionately compared to the Democratic Party." If it goes bad? With respect to political implications I would suggest that Sen. Graham reference “Waterloo” below.
* Waterloo 1 – Idaho is a very Republican state. Based on military deaths in Iraq, relative to state population, it has the highest troop loss in the country. Larry LaRocco, a Democrat and former representative has entered the Senate race on a platform that prominently includes an anti-war stance. In a recent editorial the Lewiston Tribune says, “Many Idahoans who are disheartened by their congressional delegation cheering on every incompetent move the Bush administration has made in the Iraq War feel deprived of a voice in the nation's capital. They are not deprived of a voice in next year's election, though. …LaRocco says he is not afraid to make his opposition to the war a major issue of his campaign. No matter which Republican he faces in the Senate race next year, that will no doubt offer voters a clear choice.” Evidence is mounting that the 2008 elections could significantly reduce the Republican party’s influence on national issues.
* Waterloo 2 - U.S. Federal Election Commission records show dozens of corporate executives who backed George W. Bush for re-election in 2004, including some of his top fund-raisers, are now helping Democrats running for president.
John Mack, CEO of Morgan Stanley, Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corp., and Terry Semel, chairman of Yahoo are among some 60 executives writing checks to Democrats such as Senators Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois. Follow the money.
*A fine mess ~ una problema grande – Under a limited provision of Medicaid the federal government allows emergency care for illegal immigrants. NY state has just been notified that this care no longer covers chemotherapy. Officials and hospitals in the state are caught in the middle. This is not unlike the situation where cities that have enacted laws prohibiting landlords to rent to illegal immigrants are seeing the courts overturn the laws because they usurp federal authority, even though it is an authority not being exercised. The congress and executive branch continue to ignore this growing and increasingly complicated problem. The societal, humanitarian and economic implications for our country are daunting.
*Can’t fall far from the tree – Two months ago Senator John Warner (R-VA) stated that he would endorse Senator Jim Webb’s (D-VA) bill requiring troops to have as much down time as deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan. Warner stated, "Senator Webb's amendment, I would say without any equivocation, is designed to help protect the concept of the all-volunteer force, and it was for that reason that I joined him," This past week Warner voted against the legislation. In January, Warner drafted a Senate resolution opposing President Bush's “surge" of additional troops into Iraq. Then, on Feb. 5, he voted against bringing up his own resolution for debate. Can you say “prefrontal lobotomy”? Warner has announced he will not seek another term. I wonder if he will remember.
* A reader brought to my attention a NY Times book review of “In the Ruins of Empire”. A summary of observations: “The General declared that today freedom is on the march…Strewn in liberty’s path were a tar pit of internal wars, native fighters un-intimidated by modern weapons, unresolved policy disputes between the State Dept. and the Defense Dept, bales of American dollars, alliances of convenience with warlords and local militias of unknown provenance led by whiz-bang demagogues. Washington pursued ambiguous policies that officials on the ground knew were doomed; fewer troops were deployed than commanders requested; tours of duty were extended for war-weary soldiers who were unprepared temperamentally or by training to become part of a great social and economic reconstruction project; and support from the American public declined sharply…” The General was Douglas MacArthur. The subtitle of this book is, “The Japanese Surrender and the Battle for Postwar Asia” written by Ronald H Spector. Sixty-two years later, that American experience is sickeningly familiar. It causes one to wonder what is taught in our military’s war colleges today. It is likely that history will be unkind to the U.S. military leaders whose silence and acquiescence contributed to this Iraq War tragedy.
*The altruism of Romney – While speaking to a select group of Republicans in Michigan, Mitt Romney said, “Republicans share the blame with Democrats for the nation's woes. He bemoaned excessive spending, insecure borders and ethical lapses." Thanks, but, no thanks. There is nothing to share or give away Mr. Romney. Our nation’s woes that you identify are owned by your Republican party and it has provided no evidence it has the ability to “share” in the solution.
*TV channels you cannot watch – It seems that there are television channels not being utilized that through new technology could provide internet access to millions of people. Last week the National Association of Broadcasters blitzed Washington with ads and lobbyists opposing such a use. This is perhaps the best indication that it would be good for the average American. For it to happen it requires the approval of the Federal Communications Commission. You can learn more about this technology at FreePress.net. You can sign a petition asking the FCC to approve the use of unused channels by clicking here,
*Shooting off one’s mouth to the NRA – As a federal prosecutor and then Mayor of NYC Rudy Giuliani sought tougher gun control laws. In both jobs he personally saw the carnage wreaked by guns on the streets of a major metropolis. This past weekend Giuliani addressed the National Rifle Association telling them his views changed following the terrorist attacks on 9/11. He said, “It put a whole different emphasis on the things America needs to do to protect itself, and maybe even a renewed emphasis on the Second Amendment." 9/11 changed nothing with respect to NY street violence and citizens walking around with weapons will do nothing to prevent such terrorist attacks unless they are packing surface-to-air missiles. I certainly do not want a President who repeatedly shoots himself in the foot. Been there, done that.
*Racism is an ism to which everyone in the world today is exposed; for or against, we must take sides. And the history of the future will differ according to the decision which we make. Ruth Benedict (1887–1948), U.S. anthropologist
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