*A surprise in Pakistan – When we learned on Tuesday that the parliamentary elections in Pakistan resulted in the sound defeat of President (dictator) Pervez Musharraf I was quite surprised and wondered why. He rigged the elections in 2002 and recently suspended the Supreme Court (for fear they would rule against his powers) and he arrested many of his opposition. My question was answered by Trudy Rubin, someone I feel is an outstanding observer and analyst of international politics. In her column in the Philadelphia Inquirer “...these elections were unexpectedly fair due to the new army chief, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who recently succeeded Musharraf” (previously Musharraf headed both the military and the government). The army did not interfere in elections and as Rubin noted, “The general appears determined to focus on providing necessary security for Pakistan.” If only our Commander-In-Chief were so focused.
*No surprise in Bush – “The Bush administration is pressing the opposition leaders who defeated Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to allow the former general to retain his position, a move that Western diplomats and U.S. officials say could trigger the very turmoil the United States seeks to avoid... The U.S. is urging the Pakistani political leaders who won the elections to form a new government quickly and not press to reinstate the judges whom Musharraf ousted last year” (Bush fears the judges would try to remove Musharraf). A number of foreign policy experts have criticized Bush for investing U.S. energy and treasure in a particular individual, Musharraf. The Bush push to keep Musharraf in power could be dangerous. “The effort to persuade Pakistan's newly elected parliament not to reinstate the judges could be perceived in Pakistan as a U.S. attempt to keep Musharraf in power after voters overwhelmingly rejected his Pakistan Muslim League-Q political party”. Aside from Bush protecting his best friend/dictator he wants to have it both ways – pontificate about bringing democracy to the world until inconvenience presents itself.
*Justification to stop some people from propagating - Someone called into CSPAN insisting that Barack Obama was Muslim and would be sworn in on a Koran, should he win the presidency. When the show’s host explained that Obama is not Muslim the caller responded,” Well, that's what I heard, and it was on the television."
*They don’t build walls like they used to – The Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) plans to build an 18 foot high steel and concrete fence along the Texas/Mexico border that will pass through the backyards of family homes (whose owners face condemnation lawsuits if they protest). Further angering homeowners is the decision to stop the wall at one end of the property of River Bend Resort and Golf Course and resume the wall at the other end of the resort. This same procedure is being used in another part of Texas on the property of Dallas billionaire Ray L. Hunt, a close friend of President Bush who “recently donated $35 million to Southern Methodist University to help build Bush’s presidential library.” Aside from being another costly and seemingly bungled project of Michael Chertoff and the DHS I find it curious that the wealthy and privileged Texans don’t want to be as “protected” as the proletariat. I also wonder about the merit of building a multi-million dollar defensive wall that is designed with large openings. Reference the Berlin Wall. The East Germans knew how to build a wall.
*Speaking of the DHS - In 2002 the DHS attempted to create a separate personnel system for its employees outside of the civil service labor-management agreement that covers federal workers. In 2005 this anti-union move was denied in District court and once again by a Federal Appeals court in 2006. In the fiscal 2008 appropriations bill for the DHS congress denied funding for a new personnel system. DHS has announced it will not seek further litigation on the matter.
“Bush officials contended that the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks required changes that would give more discretion to managers and permit quicker deployment of workers without notifying their union representatives.” Given the incompetence and lack of forthrightness of DHS management its actual intent is open to question. The Bush administration’s record on (anti-)union policy may be a hint.
*The McCain Double-Flip-Flop with One-and-A-Half Twists – Matt Corley at ThinkProgress.com notes that prior to his presidential bid John McCain repeatedly was against the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. For example, "I am disappointed that the Senate Finance Committee preferred instead to cut the top tax rate of 39.6% to 36%, thereby granting generous tax relief to the wealthiest individuals of our country at the expense of lower- and middle-income American taxpayers." [McCain Senate floor statement, May 21, 2001]. Appearing on ABC’s This Week last Sunday Mitt McCain reversed his engines like a 747 that has overshot the landing strip. He performed a political polka around the definition of wealthy and then vowed, “under no circumstances would he increase taxes”. To categorically ignore the current tax structure is absurd.The Iraq war is now costing $250 million per DAY. America’s infrastructure (bridges, roads, toxic bodies of water) is in disrepair. The military and National Guard equipment is shot to hell. Education is sorely under-funded. McCain’s economic alchemy is as spurious as his claim to be at arms length from lobbyists where “virtually every one of his closest advisors are part of the Washington lobby culture. “A review of campaign finance filings shows that the Arizona Republican has accepted more than $100,000 in donations from employees of Greenberg Traurig, the very firm where Abramoff once reigned”. “According to opensecrets.org Sen. McCain has received over $400,000 from lobbyists.” ABC News on January 29, 2008 reported that McCain has 59 lobbyists raising money for his campaign – more than any of the other presidential candidates. Responding to his lobby connection on Friday McCain called his senior staff “honorable” for their lobbying work. "These people have honorable records, and they're honorable people, and I'm proud to have them as part of my team." When he recently made the statement that “economics” was not his strength it was the most straight talk we have heard from the Senator.
*The “equal time” principle – Both Clinton and Obama have benefitted from campaign donations from Greenburg Traurig and other lobbyists. RawStory.com has a rundown of major donations these Democratic candidates have received from this industry of lawyers and influencers. Lobbyists do serve a function in our system. Unfortunately, their influence and impact have far exceeded an appropriate role as their economic resources skyrocketed and in too many instances their ethics became questionable. In today’s election system candidates need huge sums of money and special interests are a gold vein waiting to be mined. The answer appears obvious - public financing of elections and stronger ethics regulations for lobbyists and politicians. The problem is that the inmates make the rules. The solution is substantial public pressure.
*The Dukester’s devil is going to hell – Former congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-CA) is currently in prison for accepting over $700,000 in bribes. The briber is defense contractor Brent Wilkes and he was just sentenced to 12 years in prison. The Washington Post points out, “Wilkes is a Republican Party "Pioneer" who raised more than $100,000 for President Bush's reelection in 2004 and donated -- in concert with his business colleagues -- $656,396 to 64 other Republican lawmakers and the national Republican Party committees in Washington from 1995 through the third quarter of 2005, according to campaign finance records.” It is no secret that defense contractors and companies such as Halliburton and Blackwater have been major donors to Republican interests. It appears that their investments were quite prudent in light of the billions of dollars they have reaped from the Iraq war. Since there was no legitimate reasons for Bush to invade Iraq it seems reasonable to examine possible illegitimate reasons.
*Modern Reform - John Halpin, a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress was a recent guest blogger at ThinkProgress. I recommend his brief review of reform movements in America and his suggestion that together they have a place in today’s world. Mr. Halpin concludes: “To build a real case for modern reform efforts, we should draw on and defend all three traditions: Liberalism (liberty with economic opportunity); Populism (a stand on the side of the people and “equal rights for all, special privileges for none”); and Progressivism (honest government and a commitment to the common good). From one perspective it is not considered hip or cool or desirable in current society to associate with ism labels. I would suggest that current conditions in America warrant that each of us commit to ideas or concepts beyond the amorphous “political party” affiliation that in recent history has not served the interest of ourselves or our nation.
*Did the earth move for you? – The attempt of the religious right to dictate how we should lead our lives is not limited to activity in the U.S. or Afghanistan or Iran. Even Israel has its “interpreters” of the Almighty’s verse and word. A parliamentary member of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish Shas Party, Shlomo Benizri, is blaming two recent earthquakes in Israel on Parliament’s tolerance of gays. Israel decriminalized homosexuality in 1988 and has since passed several laws recognizing gay rights. Israeli court rulings in recent years have granted inheritance rights to gay couples and recognized same-sex marriages performed abroad. I find it interesting that these “religious” reproachers spend more time judging others than aiding a neighbor, the sick or the needy. They prefer tearing down over building up. Recall some of the religious right in the U.S. claiming that 9/11 resulted from America’s tolerance of gays. Shlomo may be correct that God is ticked off. For the reason I suggest he look in the mirror.
*Quote of the week – From the blogger Blue Gal: Did you ever wonder that the reason everyone is talking about what Michelle Obama “thinks” is because she can?
The Great Debate – On Thursday I watched the debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama that took place in Austin, TX. As I suspected, it would not really be a “great” debate since their positions are so close on so many key issues. What particularly impressed me about the event was witnessing two intelligent and knowledgeable adults discussing serious issues of import to me and my country and proposing reasonable solutions.
~Afterthought – Did you look forward to the day when you could have confidence your leader when Obama said he would be willing to meet with leaders of countries at odds with the U.S. “with preparation but no preconditions”? It is a different approach than Bush has taken and even his predecessor, as noted by Katrina Vanden Heuvel at The Nation: “during his two terms President Clinton did not meet with Fidel Castro or with Hugo Chavez or with the leaders of Iran, Syria, and North Korea--while generally pursuing a policy of trying to isolate these countries. But what did the Clinton approach actually accomplish?”
*The children of Iraq – Little is spoken of the effect of the Iraq war on its children. UNICEF just asked for $37 million to support vulnerable Iraqi children and their families. The cold reality: “A large number of children, estimated in the tens of thousands, have lost parents, siblings and other family members to violence; At least one in five primary school-age children is unable to go to school: Only 40 per cent of children have regular access to safe drinking water; Some 600,000 children are among the 1.2 million Iraqis displaced over the past two years. Most families are still unable to return home.”
When we see much of the violence around the world our hearts may be touched but a shrug usually follows because we are helpless to do anything about it. I would suggest that there is a difference with Iraq because America’s fingerprints are all over the smoking gun. It is beyond time that we do something about it. John McCain is comfortable with American troops being in Iraq for 10 to 100 years. Americans can do something about that on November 4, 2008.
*Quotes - Mahatma Gandhi (1869 – 1948)
~ If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children.
~ An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind.
~What do I think of Western civilization? I think it would be a very good idea.
~ God has no religion.
Showing posts with label Hillary Clinton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hillary Clinton. Show all posts
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
10/23/07
*Are you sitting down? – I believe I have identified an issue on which President Bush and I would agree. The Portland, Maine school board approved a measure allowing middle-school students to obtain access to prescription birth control medications “without” notifying parents. I cannot imagine a more egregious and overreaching decision. In the first place no outside authority should be administering “any” prescription drug to a child without parental knowledge. In the other first place absolutely no one should be administrating birth control to 13 and 14 year old teenagers with or without parental knowledge. The members of this school board should be suspended for truancy.
*WMD Redeux – In July Israel secretly attacked a Syrian site. In September rumors of the event began to appear with much speculation as to the reason for the attack. Israel and Syria offered little information. One widely posited theory was that North Korea was supplying Syria with materials to manufacture nuclear weapons. However, “According to current and former intelligence sources, the US intelligence community has seen no evidence of a nuclear facility being hit… US intelligence “found no radiation signatures after the bombing, so there was no uranium or plutonium present,” said one official, wishing to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the subject.” Recall the Bush administration playing the “weapons of mass destruction” card to justify the invasion of Iraq. “What concerns intelligence officials is what appears to be manipulation of the press and strategic leaks to the public of false information, undercutting professional intelligence analysis, similar to what occurred before the Iraq war in an apparent effort to bolster support for engaging Iran.” These are dangerous times for America and the people leading us are equally dangerous.
*Prominent Republican advocates cloning – Lynne Cheney said that she would like Hillary Clinton to be more like her husband, VP Dick Cheney. I imagine that the offer must be “appealing” to Sen. Clinton. By emulating Cheyney she could initiate an unprovoked war, sell out the country’s energy policy to oil interests, torture alleged enemies, reduce the civil liberties of Americans, empower the executive branch beyond constitutional boundaries and, be bald.
*Obama losing my consideration – Our country is certainly complicated and polarized. Managing a presidential candidacy in such an environment has challenges. Barack Obama finds himself in such a situation. In an attempt to appeal to “people of faith” and Black voters he is embarking on a gospel tour with several performers. One of the performers is Donnie McClurkin, a gospel singer and preacher who has battled a gay tendency for 20 years. He preaches that religion can change a person’s homosexuality (it apparently is not a speedy process). Both his scientific understanding of the subject and his approach of crusading against “the curse of homosexuality” are wanting. McClurkin’s right wing religious orthodoxy and pulpit anti-gay bashing is not what I want a presidential candidate to be endorsing. We have had almost 7 years of that mentality. Senator Obama and the other presidential candidates must be accountable as to their message and the America that they envision.
*A Social Conservative will be somewhat missed – Sam Brownbeck has withdrawn from the Republican presidential race due to lack of money and broad recognition. I did not find many of his positions appealing but I admired his intellectual honesty. What he stood for during his candidacy was the same as before he sought the nomination. This cannot be said for most of the Republican candidates whose positions are a function of political expediency. When I listened to Mr. Brownbeck in interviews I had a sense that he believed what he espoused.
*Fetish diplomacy ~ Panty Power – Activists are sending women’s panties to Burmese embassies in the UK, Thailand, Australia and Singapore. The campaign is called “Panties for Peace” and it is a protest against the military junta in Myanmar (formerly Burma). “The maneuver is a calculated insult to the junta and its leader, General Than Shwe. Superstitious junta members believe that any contact with female undergarments will sap them of their power.” Since the early part of the 20th century when the mass production of bloomers first gained popularity, men in our culture understand the power of these garments. We call it libido.
*Game time – Which of the following is attributed to the current leader of the United States of America?
-I think, therefore I am.
-E=MC2
-The veto pen is one way to ensure that I am relevant.
-H2O
*Still breaking ground – Congratulations to Marin Alsop, the new conductor for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. She is the first female conductor of a major symphony orchestra in the United States. I find it interesting that in the year 2007 there are still situations in America where there are gender, racial and ethnic “firsts”. We have come a long way but the road has not ended and there will be potholes going forward. Some may call it defects in human genetics and others may call it prejudice.
*There is more where that came from – I have previously noted evidence of corruption, misspending and missing funds in the administration of the Iraq war. President Bush is asking congress for $46 billion more for Iraq as we learn that another $1.2 billion is unaccounted for. “…the work of DynCorp, the State Department’s largest contractor, is in such disarray that the department cannot say “specifically what it received” for most of the $1.2 billion it has paid the company since 2004 to train the police officers in Iraq.” And congress continues to refill the trough!
*Perhaps there is justice - Several prosecutions instituted by the Justice Department under the direction of Bush’s personal attorney and pretend Attorney General Alberto Gonzales are being scrutinized for being politically rather than criminally motivated. Both federal judges and congressional investigative committees have instituted inquiries. Suspicions that Bush’s political brain Karl Rove, from within the White House, influenced the replacement of Justice Department attorneys as well as prosecutions for political ends has been circulating for some time. History has demonstrated that the truth eventually is revealed. Nixon and Viet Nam are such examples. Unfortunately, truth after the fact usually does not repair the damage.
*The Iraq insurgency - The web site crooksandliars.com brought to my attention a new film “Meeting Resistance” that offers an alternative to the claim that our troops in Iraq are being attacked “primarily” by al Qaeda. “The insurgents featured in this film are ordinary citizens who are resisting the occupation of their country by a foreign army.” A provocative question: what would Americans do under similar circumstances? A synopsis, a trailer of the movie and a schedule of screenings can be seen at: http://meetingresistance.com/index.html
*Foreign policy sans context – Congress is considering condemning Turkey for the Ottoman Empire’s genocide against Armenians almost a century ago. Yes it was a horrible act of inhumanity. But this condemnation is certain to upset Turkey – a key ally in the Middle East and the main and practically only avenue of supply to our troops in Iraq. Concurrently, congress and President Bush decided to honor the Dali Llama. He is an icon of spirituality and a wonderful human being. He is also a symbol of Tibet and therefore honoring him is a guarantee to upset China – whose assistance is desperately needed in controlling Iran’s quest for nuclear weapons. The practicality of foreign policy requires an assessment of current conditions. If a country’s past inhumane history guided our current policies, alliances would preclude Germany, Japan, Russia, China, and a host of other countries – all of whom committed atrocities since the Armenian genocide took place. Benjamin R. Barber writes at the huffingtonpost.com, “The bad news is that when it comes to international affairs, America remains trapped in self-righteous and self-defeating provincialism.” If we could see ourselves as others see us…
* No Vote Zone - We have heard about the small amount of time our Senators actually meet in session. There is a broad consensus that they accomplish little. In a recent week 153 bills were passed without actually voting on them. Consideration or lack thereof on the bills was done by telephone. A reader sent me an article that identifies this procedure. Apparently, if the Senate Republican and Democratic leaders agree to pass a bill, each senator’s office is called, asking them to vote on the bill within 15 minutes. Perhaps this procedure is prudent when it involves the naming of a new post office. It is not responsible when it authorizes millions of dollars in new spending as was the case.
*No Fly Zone – From the Associated Press, “Anxious to avoid upsetting air travelers, NASA is withholding results from an unprecedented national survey of pilots that found safety problems like near collisions and runway interference occur far more frequently than the government previously recognized… Just last week, NASA ordered the contractor that conducted the survey to purge all related data from its computers… A senior NASA official, associate administrator Thomas S. Luedtke, said revealing the findings could damage the public's confidence in airlines and affect airline profits.” And we pay this idiot’s salary! I remember when the mere mention of “NASA” generated pride and respect.
*No Transparency Zone – Our state and federal legislators enact laws that affect us. They also create the laws that govern and oversee their own behavior. And this is where we have a major problem. For example, at the federal level congress determines the breadth of their ethics committees and rules for interfacing with lobbyists. The result is almost no meaningful rules and oversight. A good example of a similar weakness at the state level is Pennsylvania. A house committee just approved Open Records bill (HB 443) that “intended” to bring transparency to state government. It is pretend reform. Some of the worst aspects include:
• The independent Office of Public Records bill would not have oversight over the legislature, state attorney general, auditor general or treasurer.• The governor, not the Ethics Commission, would appoint the director of the oversight office - creating potential conflicts of interest.• Agencies would be permitted to outsource research, which would be exempt from public disclosure.• Penalties for public officials who violate the law would be paid by tax dollars instead of the guilty party.
The half of eligible Americans that actually vote in this country, especially below the federal level, generally select candidates by party affiliation or how good they look on TV or that they are not the incumbent currently screwing up. And then these “elected” officials govern our lives. It has never been different. It somehow has worked. Maybe it will work in the future. Our country has overcome much so there is optimism.
Who is wise?
He that learns from every One.
Who is powerful? He that governs his Passions.
Who is rich? He that is content.Who is that? Nobody.
Benjamin Franklin, US author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706 - 1790)
*WMD Redeux – In July Israel secretly attacked a Syrian site. In September rumors of the event began to appear with much speculation as to the reason for the attack. Israel and Syria offered little information. One widely posited theory was that North Korea was supplying Syria with materials to manufacture nuclear weapons. However, “According to current and former intelligence sources, the US intelligence community has seen no evidence of a nuclear facility being hit… US intelligence “found no radiation signatures after the bombing, so there was no uranium or plutonium present,” said one official, wishing to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the subject.” Recall the Bush administration playing the “weapons of mass destruction” card to justify the invasion of Iraq. “What concerns intelligence officials is what appears to be manipulation of the press and strategic leaks to the public of false information, undercutting professional intelligence analysis, similar to what occurred before the Iraq war in an apparent effort to bolster support for engaging Iran.” These are dangerous times for America and the people leading us are equally dangerous.
*Prominent Republican advocates cloning – Lynne Cheney said that she would like Hillary Clinton to be more like her husband, VP Dick Cheney. I imagine that the offer must be “appealing” to Sen. Clinton. By emulating Cheyney she could initiate an unprovoked war, sell out the country’s energy policy to oil interests, torture alleged enemies, reduce the civil liberties of Americans, empower the executive branch beyond constitutional boundaries and, be bald.
*Obama losing my consideration – Our country is certainly complicated and polarized. Managing a presidential candidacy in such an environment has challenges. Barack Obama finds himself in such a situation. In an attempt to appeal to “people of faith” and Black voters he is embarking on a gospel tour with several performers. One of the performers is Donnie McClurkin, a gospel singer and preacher who has battled a gay tendency for 20 years. He preaches that religion can change a person’s homosexuality (it apparently is not a speedy process). Both his scientific understanding of the subject and his approach of crusading against “the curse of homosexuality” are wanting. McClurkin’s right wing religious orthodoxy and pulpit anti-gay bashing is not what I want a presidential candidate to be endorsing. We have had almost 7 years of that mentality. Senator Obama and the other presidential candidates must be accountable as to their message and the America that they envision.
*A Social Conservative will be somewhat missed – Sam Brownbeck has withdrawn from the Republican presidential race due to lack of money and broad recognition. I did not find many of his positions appealing but I admired his intellectual honesty. What he stood for during his candidacy was the same as before he sought the nomination. This cannot be said for most of the Republican candidates whose positions are a function of political expediency. When I listened to Mr. Brownbeck in interviews I had a sense that he believed what he espoused.
*Fetish diplomacy ~ Panty Power – Activists are sending women’s panties to Burmese embassies in the UK, Thailand, Australia and Singapore. The campaign is called “Panties for Peace” and it is a protest against the military junta in Myanmar (formerly Burma). “The maneuver is a calculated insult to the junta and its leader, General Than Shwe. Superstitious junta members believe that any contact with female undergarments will sap them of their power.” Since the early part of the 20th century when the mass production of bloomers first gained popularity, men in our culture understand the power of these garments. We call it libido.
*Game time – Which of the following is attributed to the current leader of the United States of America?
-I think, therefore I am.
-E=MC2
-The veto pen is one way to ensure that I am relevant.
-H2O
*Still breaking ground – Congratulations to Marin Alsop, the new conductor for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. She is the first female conductor of a major symphony orchestra in the United States. I find it interesting that in the year 2007 there are still situations in America where there are gender, racial and ethnic “firsts”. We have come a long way but the road has not ended and there will be potholes going forward. Some may call it defects in human genetics and others may call it prejudice.
*There is more where that came from – I have previously noted evidence of corruption, misspending and missing funds in the administration of the Iraq war. President Bush is asking congress for $46 billion more for Iraq as we learn that another $1.2 billion is unaccounted for. “…the work of DynCorp, the State Department’s largest contractor, is in such disarray that the department cannot say “specifically what it received” for most of the $1.2 billion it has paid the company since 2004 to train the police officers in Iraq.” And congress continues to refill the trough!
*Perhaps there is justice - Several prosecutions instituted by the Justice Department under the direction of Bush’s personal attorney and pretend Attorney General Alberto Gonzales are being scrutinized for being politically rather than criminally motivated. Both federal judges and congressional investigative committees have instituted inquiries. Suspicions that Bush’s political brain Karl Rove, from within the White House, influenced the replacement of Justice Department attorneys as well as prosecutions for political ends has been circulating for some time. History has demonstrated that the truth eventually is revealed. Nixon and Viet Nam are such examples. Unfortunately, truth after the fact usually does not repair the damage.
*The Iraq insurgency - The web site crooksandliars.com brought to my attention a new film “Meeting Resistance” that offers an alternative to the claim that our troops in Iraq are being attacked “primarily” by al Qaeda. “The insurgents featured in this film are ordinary citizens who are resisting the occupation of their country by a foreign army.” A provocative question: what would Americans do under similar circumstances? A synopsis, a trailer of the movie and a schedule of screenings can be seen at: http://meetingresistance.com/index.html
*Foreign policy sans context – Congress is considering condemning Turkey for the Ottoman Empire’s genocide against Armenians almost a century ago. Yes it was a horrible act of inhumanity. But this condemnation is certain to upset Turkey – a key ally in the Middle East and the main and practically only avenue of supply to our troops in Iraq. Concurrently, congress and President Bush decided to honor the Dali Llama. He is an icon of spirituality and a wonderful human being. He is also a symbol of Tibet and therefore honoring him is a guarantee to upset China – whose assistance is desperately needed in controlling Iran’s quest for nuclear weapons. The practicality of foreign policy requires an assessment of current conditions. If a country’s past inhumane history guided our current policies, alliances would preclude Germany, Japan, Russia, China, and a host of other countries – all of whom committed atrocities since the Armenian genocide took place. Benjamin R. Barber writes at the huffingtonpost.com, “The bad news is that when it comes to international affairs, America remains trapped in self-righteous and self-defeating provincialism.” If we could see ourselves as others see us…
* No Vote Zone - We have heard about the small amount of time our Senators actually meet in session. There is a broad consensus that they accomplish little. In a recent week 153 bills were passed without actually voting on them. Consideration or lack thereof on the bills was done by telephone. A reader sent me an article that identifies this procedure. Apparently, if the Senate Republican and Democratic leaders agree to pass a bill, each senator’s office is called, asking them to vote on the bill within 15 minutes. Perhaps this procedure is prudent when it involves the naming of a new post office. It is not responsible when it authorizes millions of dollars in new spending as was the case.
*No Fly Zone – From the Associated Press, “Anxious to avoid upsetting air travelers, NASA is withholding results from an unprecedented national survey of pilots that found safety problems like near collisions and runway interference occur far more frequently than the government previously recognized… Just last week, NASA ordered the contractor that conducted the survey to purge all related data from its computers… A senior NASA official, associate administrator Thomas S. Luedtke, said revealing the findings could damage the public's confidence in airlines and affect airline profits.” And we pay this idiot’s salary! I remember when the mere mention of “NASA” generated pride and respect.
*No Transparency Zone – Our state and federal legislators enact laws that affect us. They also create the laws that govern and oversee their own behavior. And this is where we have a major problem. For example, at the federal level congress determines the breadth of their ethics committees and rules for interfacing with lobbyists. The result is almost no meaningful rules and oversight. A good example of a similar weakness at the state level is Pennsylvania. A house committee just approved Open Records bill (HB 443) that “intended” to bring transparency to state government. It is pretend reform. Some of the worst aspects include:
• The independent Office of Public Records bill would not have oversight over the legislature, state attorney general, auditor general or treasurer.• The governor, not the Ethics Commission, would appoint the director of the oversight office - creating potential conflicts of interest.• Agencies would be permitted to outsource research, which would be exempt from public disclosure.• Penalties for public officials who violate the law would be paid by tax dollars instead of the guilty party.
The half of eligible Americans that actually vote in this country, especially below the federal level, generally select candidates by party affiliation or how good they look on TV or that they are not the incumbent currently screwing up. And then these “elected” officials govern our lives. It has never been different. It somehow has worked. Maybe it will work in the future. Our country has overcome much so there is optimism.
Who is wise?
He that learns from every One.
Who is powerful? He that governs his Passions.
Who is rich? He that is content.Who is that? Nobody.
Benjamin Franklin, US author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706 - 1790)
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
10/10/07
*Humility and Jubilation – I was speaking with a good friend who is generally on the opposite side of the political spectrum than me. He said that if he did not love me so much he would use my writing for bath tissue. Although I find the imagery somewhat unsettling it does point out that in America we share the freedom to express our ideas and opinions. To agree to disagree is a highpoint of a civilized society. It generally results in a mediated middle ground that benefits the common good.
*The General, Hillary and Iran – Gen. Wesley Clark (retired, former presidential candidate) wrote an article at the Huffington Post supporting Sen. Clinton’s (D-NY) position on Iran. I take exception to his conclusions. He points out that 8 months ago she gave a speech on the senate floor and said, "If the administration believes that any, any use of force against Iran is necessary the President must come to Congress to seek that authority." And recently Clinton (and 75% of the Senators) voted for a non-binding resolution that designates the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization “in order to strengthen our diplomatic hand”. Clark says that, “she is committed to ending the unilateralism of the Bush-Cheney administration.” Her objective may be honorable but we must remember the context in which this all takes place. President Bush is less than honorable. He is disdainful of Congress and the American people. Hiding behind a phalanx of lawyers he makes his own rules. Oversight is stonewalled. Hillary’s speech had no more impact on Bush than my blog. On the matter of the “non-binding” resolution, calling a group “terrorist” by the Senate strengthens nothing but the President’s hand to attack Iran if he chooses. Our Constitution states that only Congress can declare war. Bush and Cheney could not care less. They have operated with impunity for almost 7 years and the resolution about the Revolutionary Guard is merely red meat for Cujo.
*The Senator, Hillary, and Iran – Last week Sen. Clinton joined Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) in co-sponsoring a bill that would prohibit the use of funds for military action in Iran without specific authorization by Congress. This is legislation worthy of our support. I would suggest one amendment. If the President ignored this legislation, on the day he attacks Iran impeachment proceedings would be instituted.
*Just one click a day – There is no cost and each day that you visit The Breast Cancer Site a contribution is made that helps fund breast exams for disadvantaged women. It will make you feel in the pink.
*Support our volunteer troops, while we still have them – thinkprogress.org reports that: approximately 2,600 members of the Minnesota National Guard recently returned home after serving multiple tours of duty in Iraq. They served 22 months - longer than any other ground combat unit - suffered nine fatalities, and were awarded dozens of Purple Hearts. But the Army wrote the orders for 1,162 of these soldiers for 729 days, making them ineligible for full educational benefits under the GI Bill, which requires written orders saying they were deployed for 730 days or more. These soldiers were shorted more than $200 per month for college. As the truth about how this administration has waged war and abused U.S. military men and women becomes known, future armed force requirements may only be met by a draft or a hired mercenary force.
*Assault on principles – When a National Rifle Association member opposed a ban on assault rifles Rudy Giuliani responded angrily, “Now the reason why the N.R.A. has lost all credibility is statements like that. By definition these are attack weapons. They are used for offense. It really is absolutely astounding that the N.R.A. continues to have influence in areas in which they make no sense at all.” This took place in 1994 when Rudy was mayor of NYC. In 2007 Giuliani needs the support of the NRA in his presidential bid so he has had an epiphany. NRA support, money and influence now make a lot of sense as he genuflects for their endorsement.
*The state of church and state - Last week I excoriated John McCain for his insisting that the U.S. Constitution established a Christian nation. It was obvious that he was pandering to the religious right, a core segment of the Republican Party. Mitt Romney has the opposite problem. As noted by conservative guru and CIA leak accomplice Robert Novak, a recent Newsweek poll found that 28% of Americans are more likely to vote for a Jewish or Black person than for an individual of the Mormon faith. He concludes that at some point Romney has to address the situation by declaring "the imposition of a religious test on U.S. politics is unfair, unreasonable and un-American." The Republican Party allowed itself to be hijacked by the religious right and now the GOP presidential candidates are being held for ransom. It may not be pretty but it just seems just.
*Public restrooms ~ political restrooms – We are more than familiar with Sen. Larry Craig’s (R-ID) arrest for soliciting sex in a men’s room. (Robert Novak is also reporting that many of Craig’s colleagues in the Senate were aware of other “strange” behavior by the conservative public servant.) We now learn of Joey DiFatta, a prominent Louisiana Republican who just withdrew from a race for state senator. He also has been arrested for lewd behavior in a restroom. Suggestion: designated public restrooms be marked “Republican” so that trolling on the white tiles does not leave one flush with embarrassment.
*Pray for President Bush – In September 2000 the web site prayforgoergewbush.com was established. It offers daily prayers one can say for the 43rd U.S. President. The dismal performance of the Bush presidency may lead some to question the power of prayer.
*The apolitical and political nature of money - Much of the funding of the military dictatorship in Myanmar comes from the millions of dollars it receives from the sale of its Yadana offshore gas to Chevron, which also owns Texaco. Burma Campaign UK offers a “dirty” list of dozens of other corporations supporting this repressive regime. Similar insidious corporate-political relationships are occurring around the world. Commercial globalism often functions with no geographical, legal, ethical or moral boundaries. One may wonder why responsible democratic governments are not exposing these relationships and making it uncomfortable for corporations like Chevron. One may wonder.
*Traversing the Yellow Brick Road – Any American concerned with the Bush administration’s “approval” of torture can relax and move on to hugging trees. At a press briefing White House spokeswoman Dana Perino was queried, “You maintain that the administration still does not torture?” Response: “Correct”. Question: “How can you say that?” Response: “Because we follow the law.” It is not likely that Ms. Perino has vacationed at the Hotel Abu Ghraib or the island of Guantanamo or the secret interrogation kiosks throughout Europe. Asked if she waterboarded she replied that she cannot even swim.
*Getting a grip – I have discussed contractors operating in Iraq with little oversight and increasing abuses. The House of Representatives just overwhelmingly passed legislation that would bring some accountability to all armed private contractors working overseas. The Senate will now consider similar legislation. It is important that they pass it with sufficient votes to override a probable Bush veto. You can send a petition to your senators at this link: truemajorityaction.org
*With so much yet to accomplish - Vladimir Putin is approaching the end of his term-limit as President of Russia. Ever the innovative leader, Putin has indicated that he will take the job of Prime Minister if a president is chosen that he can work with. It is considered a done deal. Facing his own term-limit, President Bush has been meeting with key White House insiders, Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and John Roberts, to make it happen for him.
*The Liberty Seven or 2 out of 3 – I recently commented that following the arrest by the FBI of a rag-tag group in Miami for intending to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago nothing further had been heard. That has now changed with the start of the trial. The LA Times asks are they terrorists or naïve losers? Prosecutor: they planned to take over the world. Defense: they are victims of an election-year ploy (the arrest was in June 2006). The prosecutor outlined the planned attacks which included poisoning salt shakers in restaurants, blowing up the Sears Tower, and flooding “secret tunnels” under the Tower from "Lake Toronto", an obviously “secret” lake. The accused lived in an abandoned warehouse with no resources until an undercover federal agent appeared, providing most of the plans, weapons and other equipment. These men were homeless, hapless and clueless. The government’s case will likely be two of the three. Larry Arnstein at the HuffingtonPost has an interesting column on the trial. If this is the worst of domestic threats against America we can all breathe a sigh of thank goodness. If this is the best efforts of our government, we best hold our breath.
*Quote of the week – “We cannot replace corporate Republicans with corporate Democrats.” John Edwards said this on Meet the Press. I agree with this sentiment, but, unfortunately, wonder if the current system of electing our national leaders allows for a candidate to be independent of special interest funding. The huge sums of money required for a campaign inherently require financing by interests that usually are not reflective of the electorate. Unless we institute public financing of elections our leaders necessarily mortgage their independence and our interests. Can you say “sub-prime mortgages”?
*The Taj Mahal Baghdad – Last week I noted that the U.S is building in Baghdad its biggest and most expensive embassy in U.S. history. To almost no one’s surprise the project is more expensive than budgeted. The original cost of $592 million faces a cost overrun of $144 million “and will open months behind schedule because of poor planning, shoddy workmanship, internal disputes and last-minute changes sought by State Department officials”. But it will be quite a place. Covering an area of 104 acres the compound will include 21 buildings. Besides two major diplomatic office buildings, homes for the ambassador and his deputy, and the apartment buildings for staff, the compound will offer a swimming pool, gym, commissary, food court and American Club. Unlike most buildings in Baghdad the facility will have treated water and electricity 24 hours a day. One would expect no less for three-quarters of a billion dollars.
*Corporate dilemma ~$500 or a life – Last week 2 security guards were murdered during the robbery of an armored car in Philadelphia. Both died from gunshot wounds to the chest or abdomen. Neither wore bullet-proof vests. Officials of the armored car company that employed them, Loomis, does not require guards to wear the vests but, it encourages their use according to a company spokes person. The vests cost between $350 and $700. The company pays for part of the cost of the vests and offers interest-free loans to employees for the rest. Interest-free loans! Armor for the cash, not for the guards. Common sense and decency shot to hell.
Washington D.C. ~ tarnishing the silver – Neil Volz recently received a sentence of probation for accepting bribes while on the staff of disgraced representative Bob Ney (R-OH) and for giving bribes whiled employed by disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff (the sentence reflected his cooperation with prosecutors). In a Columbus Dispatch interview he comments, “I came to Washington this total idealist. … But it's kind of like I took on this mind-set that there was a machine at work and I was just a cog in the machine. And, therefore, I need to get mine." The article notes, “It was part of what Volz calls "Ney World," where ambition and greed overcame the small-town Ohio scruples and idealism that Volz had brought to Washington, a slippery slope toward unethical and ultimately criminal behavior.” Reading about people like Mr. Volz leads me to wonder how many of us would not be blinded by the bright lights?
*Never mind – A report by the London-based think tank Oxford Research Group says that “the war on terror is failing and instead fueling an increase in support for extremist Islamist movements…invasion of Iraq was a "disastrous mistake" which has helped establish a "most valued jihadist combat training zone" for al Qaeda supporters.” The report also said, "Going to war with Iran will make matters far worse, playing directly into the hands of extreme elements and adding greatly to the violence across the region. Whatever the problems with Iran, war should be avoided at all costs." These conclusions mirror those of the U.S.-based think tank “the citizens of the United States of America.”
*The first was least - The Washington Post has an interesting article on some of the top Bush administration officials who have resigned over the last several months. Many are exhausted or discouraged or angry or soul-searching the legacy of their work. I would imagine that those with a sense of their soul will spend the remainder of their lives questioning what their efforts supported and enabled. I feel little sympathy for them as history places a magnifying glass on probably the worst administration this country has endured. It took more than George W. Bush to support the lies, obfuscations, mismanagement, subterfuges, and avoidance of our laws, our Constitution. History will similarly judge their policy and planning. The interest of the American people rarely entered their plans and objectives. Under Bush and his minions we were never first option.
*We all leave footprints in the sand. The question is will we be a big heel or a great soul?
Author unknown
*The General, Hillary and Iran – Gen. Wesley Clark (retired, former presidential candidate) wrote an article at the Huffington Post supporting Sen. Clinton’s (D-NY) position on Iran. I take exception to his conclusions. He points out that 8 months ago she gave a speech on the senate floor and said, "If the administration believes that any, any use of force against Iran is necessary the President must come to Congress to seek that authority." And recently Clinton (and 75% of the Senators) voted for a non-binding resolution that designates the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization “in order to strengthen our diplomatic hand”. Clark says that, “she is committed to ending the unilateralism of the Bush-Cheney administration.” Her objective may be honorable but we must remember the context in which this all takes place. President Bush is less than honorable. He is disdainful of Congress and the American people. Hiding behind a phalanx of lawyers he makes his own rules. Oversight is stonewalled. Hillary’s speech had no more impact on Bush than my blog. On the matter of the “non-binding” resolution, calling a group “terrorist” by the Senate strengthens nothing but the President’s hand to attack Iran if he chooses. Our Constitution states that only Congress can declare war. Bush and Cheney could not care less. They have operated with impunity for almost 7 years and the resolution about the Revolutionary Guard is merely red meat for Cujo.
*The Senator, Hillary, and Iran – Last week Sen. Clinton joined Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) in co-sponsoring a bill that would prohibit the use of funds for military action in Iran without specific authorization by Congress. This is legislation worthy of our support. I would suggest one amendment. If the President ignored this legislation, on the day he attacks Iran impeachment proceedings would be instituted.
*Just one click a day – There is no cost and each day that you visit The Breast Cancer Site a contribution is made that helps fund breast exams for disadvantaged women. It will make you feel in the pink.
*Support our volunteer troops, while we still have them – thinkprogress.org reports that: approximately 2,600 members of the Minnesota National Guard recently returned home after serving multiple tours of duty in Iraq. They served 22 months - longer than any other ground combat unit - suffered nine fatalities, and were awarded dozens of Purple Hearts. But the Army wrote the orders for 1,162 of these soldiers for 729 days, making them ineligible for full educational benefits under the GI Bill, which requires written orders saying they were deployed for 730 days or more. These soldiers were shorted more than $200 per month for college. As the truth about how this administration has waged war and abused U.S. military men and women becomes known, future armed force requirements may only be met by a draft or a hired mercenary force.
*Assault on principles – When a National Rifle Association member opposed a ban on assault rifles Rudy Giuliani responded angrily, “Now the reason why the N.R.A. has lost all credibility is statements like that. By definition these are attack weapons. They are used for offense. It really is absolutely astounding that the N.R.A. continues to have influence in areas in which they make no sense at all.” This took place in 1994 when Rudy was mayor of NYC. In 2007 Giuliani needs the support of the NRA in his presidential bid so he has had an epiphany. NRA support, money and influence now make a lot of sense as he genuflects for their endorsement.
*The state of church and state - Last week I excoriated John McCain for his insisting that the U.S. Constitution established a Christian nation. It was obvious that he was pandering to the religious right, a core segment of the Republican Party. Mitt Romney has the opposite problem. As noted by conservative guru and CIA leak accomplice Robert Novak, a recent Newsweek poll found that 28% of Americans are more likely to vote for a Jewish or Black person than for an individual of the Mormon faith. He concludes that at some point Romney has to address the situation by declaring "the imposition of a religious test on U.S. politics is unfair, unreasonable and un-American." The Republican Party allowed itself to be hijacked by the religious right and now the GOP presidential candidates are being held for ransom. It may not be pretty but it just seems just.
*Public restrooms ~ political restrooms – We are more than familiar with Sen. Larry Craig’s (R-ID) arrest for soliciting sex in a men’s room. (Robert Novak is also reporting that many of Craig’s colleagues in the Senate were aware of other “strange” behavior by the conservative public servant.) We now learn of Joey DiFatta, a prominent Louisiana Republican who just withdrew from a race for state senator. He also has been arrested for lewd behavior in a restroom. Suggestion: designated public restrooms be marked “Republican” so that trolling on the white tiles does not leave one flush with embarrassment.
*Pray for President Bush – In September 2000 the web site prayforgoergewbush.com was established. It offers daily prayers one can say for the 43rd U.S. President. The dismal performance of the Bush presidency may lead some to question the power of prayer.
*The apolitical and political nature of money - Much of the funding of the military dictatorship in Myanmar comes from the millions of dollars it receives from the sale of its Yadana offshore gas to Chevron, which also owns Texaco. Burma Campaign UK offers a “dirty” list of dozens of other corporations supporting this repressive regime. Similar insidious corporate-political relationships are occurring around the world. Commercial globalism often functions with no geographical, legal, ethical or moral boundaries. One may wonder why responsible democratic governments are not exposing these relationships and making it uncomfortable for corporations like Chevron. One may wonder.
*Traversing the Yellow Brick Road – Any American concerned with the Bush administration’s “approval” of torture can relax and move on to hugging trees. At a press briefing White House spokeswoman Dana Perino was queried, “You maintain that the administration still does not torture?” Response: “Correct”. Question: “How can you say that?” Response: “Because we follow the law.” It is not likely that Ms. Perino has vacationed at the Hotel Abu Ghraib or the island of Guantanamo or the secret interrogation kiosks throughout Europe. Asked if she waterboarded she replied that she cannot even swim.
*Getting a grip – I have discussed contractors operating in Iraq with little oversight and increasing abuses. The House of Representatives just overwhelmingly passed legislation that would bring some accountability to all armed private contractors working overseas. The Senate will now consider similar legislation. It is important that they pass it with sufficient votes to override a probable Bush veto. You can send a petition to your senators at this link: truemajorityaction.org
*With so much yet to accomplish - Vladimir Putin is approaching the end of his term-limit as President of Russia. Ever the innovative leader, Putin has indicated that he will take the job of Prime Minister if a president is chosen that he can work with. It is considered a done deal. Facing his own term-limit, President Bush has been meeting with key White House insiders, Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and John Roberts, to make it happen for him.
*The Liberty Seven or 2 out of 3 – I recently commented that following the arrest by the FBI of a rag-tag group in Miami for intending to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago nothing further had been heard. That has now changed with the start of the trial. The LA Times asks are they terrorists or naïve losers? Prosecutor: they planned to take over the world. Defense: they are victims of an election-year ploy (the arrest was in June 2006). The prosecutor outlined the planned attacks which included poisoning salt shakers in restaurants, blowing up the Sears Tower, and flooding “secret tunnels” under the Tower from "Lake Toronto", an obviously “secret” lake. The accused lived in an abandoned warehouse with no resources until an undercover federal agent appeared, providing most of the plans, weapons and other equipment. These men were homeless, hapless and clueless. The government’s case will likely be two of the three. Larry Arnstein at the HuffingtonPost has an interesting column on the trial. If this is the worst of domestic threats against America we can all breathe a sigh of thank goodness. If this is the best efforts of our government, we best hold our breath.
*Quote of the week – “We cannot replace corporate Republicans with corporate Democrats.” John Edwards said this on Meet the Press. I agree with this sentiment, but, unfortunately, wonder if the current system of electing our national leaders allows for a candidate to be independent of special interest funding. The huge sums of money required for a campaign inherently require financing by interests that usually are not reflective of the electorate. Unless we institute public financing of elections our leaders necessarily mortgage their independence and our interests. Can you say “sub-prime mortgages”?
*The Taj Mahal Baghdad – Last week I noted that the U.S is building in Baghdad its biggest and most expensive embassy in U.S. history. To almost no one’s surprise the project is more expensive than budgeted. The original cost of $592 million faces a cost overrun of $144 million “and will open months behind schedule because of poor planning, shoddy workmanship, internal disputes and last-minute changes sought by State Department officials”. But it will be quite a place. Covering an area of 104 acres the compound will include 21 buildings. Besides two major diplomatic office buildings, homes for the ambassador and his deputy, and the apartment buildings for staff, the compound will offer a swimming pool, gym, commissary, food court and American Club. Unlike most buildings in Baghdad the facility will have treated water and electricity 24 hours a day. One would expect no less for three-quarters of a billion dollars.
*Corporate dilemma ~$500 or a life – Last week 2 security guards were murdered during the robbery of an armored car in Philadelphia. Both died from gunshot wounds to the chest or abdomen. Neither wore bullet-proof vests. Officials of the armored car company that employed them, Loomis, does not require guards to wear the vests but, it encourages their use according to a company spokes person. The vests cost between $350 and $700. The company pays for part of the cost of the vests and offers interest-free loans to employees for the rest. Interest-free loans! Armor for the cash, not for the guards. Common sense and decency shot to hell.
Washington D.C. ~ tarnishing the silver – Neil Volz recently received a sentence of probation for accepting bribes while on the staff of disgraced representative Bob Ney (R-OH) and for giving bribes whiled employed by disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff (the sentence reflected his cooperation with prosecutors). In a Columbus Dispatch interview he comments, “I came to Washington this total idealist. … But it's kind of like I took on this mind-set that there was a machine at work and I was just a cog in the machine. And, therefore, I need to get mine." The article notes, “It was part of what Volz calls "Ney World," where ambition and greed overcame the small-town Ohio scruples and idealism that Volz had brought to Washington, a slippery slope toward unethical and ultimately criminal behavior.” Reading about people like Mr. Volz leads me to wonder how many of us would not be blinded by the bright lights?
*Never mind – A report by the London-based think tank Oxford Research Group says that “the war on terror is failing and instead fueling an increase in support for extremist Islamist movements…invasion of Iraq was a "disastrous mistake" which has helped establish a "most valued jihadist combat training zone" for al Qaeda supporters.” The report also said, "Going to war with Iran will make matters far worse, playing directly into the hands of extreme elements and adding greatly to the violence across the region. Whatever the problems with Iran, war should be avoided at all costs." These conclusions mirror those of the U.S.-based think tank “the citizens of the United States of America.”
*The first was least - The Washington Post has an interesting article on some of the top Bush administration officials who have resigned over the last several months. Many are exhausted or discouraged or angry or soul-searching the legacy of their work. I would imagine that those with a sense of their soul will spend the remainder of their lives questioning what their efforts supported and enabled. I feel little sympathy for them as history places a magnifying glass on probably the worst administration this country has endured. It took more than George W. Bush to support the lies, obfuscations, mismanagement, subterfuges, and avoidance of our laws, our Constitution. History will similarly judge their policy and planning. The interest of the American people rarely entered their plans and objectives. Under Bush and his minions we were never first option.
*We all leave footprints in the sand. The question is will we be a big heel or a great soul?
Author unknown
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
Thursday, September 20, 2007
9/20/07
*Integrity postmortem – The NY Times published an article about former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan’s new book “The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World.” Greenspan criticizes Bush, Cheney and the Republican-controlled congress for abandoning their party’s principle on spending and deficits. He says, “They swapped principle for power. They ended up with neither. …Mr. Bush was never willing to contain spending or veto bills that drove the country into deeper and deeper deficits, as Congress abandoned rules that required that the cost of tax cuts be offset by savings elsewhere. The Republicans in Congress lost their way.” Recall that Greenspan favored these tax cuts that since 2001 have amounted to $1,000,000,000,000 (trillion). I find it interesting that a number of government officials, after they leave their position, have much criticism of the Bush administration. I find it disingenuous that while on the job their silence allowed deception and incompetence to proliferate.
*Greenspan spins the barrel – He says that he favored the invasion of Iraq because Saddam was a threat to the Straits of Hormuz, a major route for our oil supplies that needed protection. I seem to recall that the U.S. crushed the Iraq army in under a week. Quite the threat! At that time oil was $33 a barrel. Today a barrel of oil costs $80. Quite the protection!
*Conservative wisdom – Pat Buchanan is a conservative commentator with whom I often disagree. What he had to say about the President of Iran not being allowed to lay a wreath at the site of the 9/11 attack in NYC made a lot of sense. Whatever the motivation of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, his appearance at the site may have opened a door to diplomacy, something the U.S. sorely needs. The U.S. has a long history of diplomacy with some of the most horrible men who have walked this planet – Khrushchev, Mao, Khadafy and their ilk. It was in the U.S. and world interest to engage such men following their reigns of murder and destruction. There was only an upside to engaging Ahmadinejad at the World Trade Center site.
*An about face ~ industry seeks regulation – The NY Times is reporting that many major U.S. industries are abandoning positions of self-regulation or no regulation that have been supported by the federal government. Why the change? Fear of low-cost foreign competition, stricter state rules, potential consumer law suits and the anticipation that new regulations now will be more palatable than what may ensue as the Democrats gain more control in Washington.
* Taxation without representation - The citizens of Washington D.C., under current law, cannot elect someone to the House of Representatives. This week the inequity had a chance to be corrected. However, a bid to bring D.C. voting rights legislation to the floor failed by a mere three votes. The vote was not on an actual bill. The vote was on whether to even consider such a bill. D.C. is a major black city and Democratic in make-up. While the Republicans raised constitutional questions those issues could have been addressed through legislation and the courts. It is not surprising that they would oppose adding a potential Democratic vote in congress. The right of representation for Washington D.C. citizens was immaterial.
*A look ahead, empty pockets - Recent statements by various Bush officials indicate that they are planning for a long stay in Iraq. The cost will be in the trillions of dollars. For math-challenged people like me a trillion is 1000 billion. What will be left for healthcare, education, social security, basic human services, repair of infrastructure, food safety inspection…?
*Is it a small price to pay? - Following last week’s post a reader brought to my attention a web site that offers photos and much more of our military men and women who have served in Iraq and how this war has impacted their lives. The site is: http://www.purpleheartsbook.com/. Our government has gone to great lengths to shield Americans from the war’s reality. Recall that the media is banned from photographing caskets arriving home from Iraq. The consequences of the Iraq war deserve our attention.
*It is a big price to pay ~ non-enforcement of laws - The Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996 requires that the financial systems of major federal agencies “comply substantially” with generally accepted accounting standards. Each year those agencies are required to release results of outside audits. The Department of Homeland Security has failed every audit since 2003. Its annual budget is $35 billion. The Defense Department has never come close to passing. Defense’s annual budget is $460 billion representing 20% of all federal spending. The departments seem incapable of providing even the most basic level of accountability by balancing their financial books. Our money is spent with little oversight. The question to be begged is who is enforcing the law? This is not unlike the illegal immigration crisis in this country. There are laws against entering the U.S. illegally and there are laws against employing illegal immigrants. And yet, both practices are rampant. The soap box politicians keep telling us that we are “a country of laws” and that we live under “the rule of law”. Blah, blah, blah. Where is the sheriff?
*The price of political corruption –Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a non-partisan watchdog holding public officials accountable. CREW just released its list of the 22 most corrupt congressmen (and women) in Washington. Nineteen on the list are Republicans and three are Democrats. This link provides the list and the details. Why is corruption so prevalent? Congress has vigorously opposed attempts to limit special-interest influence on elected officials as well as attempts to establish an independent commission to oversee and penalize ethics violations. And, some people are just outright crooks who won an election.
*The price of the corporate tax shell game – A USA Today article by Robert S. McIntyre, a Director of Citizens for Tax Justice says that corporate tax loopholes will cost ordinary citizens over the next ten years 3 trillion dollars. On one hand U.S. corporations face the highest tax rate of industrialized countries at 39%. However, due to loopholes and subsidies they only pay taxes on about half of their income. The extra funds left in the hands of corporate America certainly have not benefited the majority of employees as demonstrated by the number of jobs corporations outsource to foreign countries and the number of illegal immigrants they hire in this country. This system not only lacks fairness but is shortsighted. Corporations sell a product or a service. If the market lacks the resources to purchase what they produce, they are out of business. Unless the business community begins thinking beyond the next quarterly report they should start selling their stock short.
*A world apart – In 2005 Hillary Clinton gave a speech in New Delhi to Indian businessmen. She offered a blunt assessment of the loss of American jobs across the Pacific. "There is no way to legislate against reality," she declared. "Outsourcing will continue. . . . We are not against all outsourcing; we are not in favor of putting up fences." In 2007 the presidential candidate told a group of students in New Hampshire that she hated seeing U.S. telemarketing jobs done in remote locations far, far from our shores. Senator Clinton’s ties to corporate interests and money leave me in knots about her candidacy. The special interests supporting her are not that far, far away.
*Flash observations:
-China has announced that it will no longer give Giant Pandas to foreign countries as a way of improving international relations. There was no mention of whether it would improve product safety inspections as an alternative diplomatic booster.
-A Veco Oil Co. executive has testified that his company did in fact participate in the renovation of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) house. Stevens’ son is being investigated on separate corruption charges related to his tenure as President of the Alaskan senate. Is “genetics” a defense?
-Many of us sit at home frustrated with the Iraq war wishing things were different. Many people and organizations are being proactive. If you want to learn more and perhaps do something a good place to begin is: votersforpeace.org
- Republican constituents are angry with the Bush administration's aggressive drive to promote oil and gas drilling on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. Energy development is tainting some of the country's most majestic landscape. If current and past presidents had put as much effort into reducing our need for oil as drilling for oil perhaps our purple mountain’s majesty would not be in jeopardy.
-Water-boarding (a suspect has water poured over his mouth and nose to stimulate a drowning reflex) has been removed by the CIA as an approved interrogation technique. Other “enhanced interrogation techniques” remain in place.
-Fading presidential candidate John McCain has always identified himself as an Episcopalian. In a life-transforming religious experience, no doubt stemming from a desire to appeal to the Republican base to support his presidential candidacy, he is now referring to himself as a Baptist. Praise the Lord and pass the grits.
-A little discussed aspect of General Patreus’ report on the surge in Iraq was that it is his plan. The Iraq situation of “looking good, needs more time” is a familiar melody. With the Senators and Representatives offering more windy speeches than insightful inquiries for the General his appearance was not much of a test. Under this system of testing I would have graduated Magna Cum Laude.
-Leading Republican presidential candidates have avoided debates sponsored by Black and Latino organizations. In their world diversity ended in America when the passengers on the Mayflower disembarked. Praise the King and pass the spam and white bread.
*Quote of the week – “The Americans always try to pretend the responsibility for cleaning up this mess isn’t theirs and tend to shift blame onto Iraq, Iran and Syria for everything that goes wrong,” veteran Kurdish lawmaker Mahmoud Othman
*Ignoramus of the week ~ Come on down David Frye - Sgt. Yance Gray came from Ismay, Montana. He died in Iraq last week. His death gained attention because he was one of seven authors of a recent New York Times op-ed criticizing the continued occupation. Frye, a prominent Montana Republican, is saying Sergeant Gray probably wasn't smart enough to actually write the op-ed. These neo-conservative ideologues do not give a crap about the lives of Americans being wasted in support of an ideology of annihilation with potential consequences of self-annihilation. If you put a robe and mustache on these cretins you wind up with the Taliban.
*Doing a 180 – Newt Gingrich says he is making a grass-roots push to change how the country is governed so there will be less partisanship. This is the man who, when Speaker of the House in the 1990s, invented partisanship with the fury of a napalm attack. The transformation of Mr. Gingrich can be attributed to one of three factors; a guilty conscience, Alzheimer’s disease, a presidential candidacy.
*I only lie when I am lying - I noted last week that the Director of National Intelligence Mitch McConnell lied to congress about the effectiveness of laws authorizing warrentless wiretapping. This week he appeared once again before congress to request additional spying authority. How does congress determine legitimacy in the absence of credibility?
*Restoration of Civil Liberties – Senators Leahy and Dodd have proposed the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007. This would reverse one of the grievous elements of the Military Commissions Act that sanctioned the detention and jailing of U.S. residents without the opportunity to appear before a judge. This piece of legislation would reverse the error. You can sign on as a co-sponsor by clicking on this link.
*Black ops ~ black oops – A little discussed aspect of the war in Iraq is the large number of private security forces contracted by the U.S. government. These are jobs once performed by our military. They operate outside of the regular command with little oversight. In many cases they guard important U.S. officials. One of the largest of these firms is Blackwater. With strong ties to the Bush administration they have raked in billions of dollars in fees. This past weekend saw a catastrophe not unique to Blackwater and their counterpart contractors. A shootout with Blackwater mercenaries left 9 Iraqi civilians dead. The Iraqi Interior Ministry has ordered that Blackwater be expelled from Iraq. It will be interesting to see who wins this battle. I would not bet on the Interior Ministry. For those people calling for our State Dept. to stop using mercenaries they can’t. They are out of soldiers and Bush has no options.
* I feel that we are doing something so important that it is awesome—it is almost purifying. It has a deep religious meaning, of that I feel certain. Surely it is God’s wish that men not wage wars of aggression. The proof here is absolutely overwhelming. I would never have believed that men could be so evil, so determined on a course of war; of murder; of slavery; of dreadful tyranny. Never before has such a record been written and men will read it for a thousand years in amazement and wonder how it ever happened.
Excerpt from a letter written by Thomas Dodd, a prosecutor at the Nuremberg trial of Nazi war criminals, from a new book:
My Father’s Narrative of a Quest for Justice By Sen. Christopher J. Dodd with Larry Bloom, Crown Publishing New York, 2007
*Greenspan spins the barrel – He says that he favored the invasion of Iraq because Saddam was a threat to the Straits of Hormuz, a major route for our oil supplies that needed protection. I seem to recall that the U.S. crushed the Iraq army in under a week. Quite the threat! At that time oil was $33 a barrel. Today a barrel of oil costs $80. Quite the protection!
*Conservative wisdom – Pat Buchanan is a conservative commentator with whom I often disagree. What he had to say about the President of Iran not being allowed to lay a wreath at the site of the 9/11 attack in NYC made a lot of sense. Whatever the motivation of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, his appearance at the site may have opened a door to diplomacy, something the U.S. sorely needs. The U.S. has a long history of diplomacy with some of the most horrible men who have walked this planet – Khrushchev, Mao, Khadafy and their ilk. It was in the U.S. and world interest to engage such men following their reigns of murder and destruction. There was only an upside to engaging Ahmadinejad at the World Trade Center site.
*An about face ~ industry seeks regulation – The NY Times is reporting that many major U.S. industries are abandoning positions of self-regulation or no regulation that have been supported by the federal government. Why the change? Fear of low-cost foreign competition, stricter state rules, potential consumer law suits and the anticipation that new regulations now will be more palatable than what may ensue as the Democrats gain more control in Washington.
* Taxation without representation - The citizens of Washington D.C., under current law, cannot elect someone to the House of Representatives. This week the inequity had a chance to be corrected. However, a bid to bring D.C. voting rights legislation to the floor failed by a mere three votes. The vote was not on an actual bill. The vote was on whether to even consider such a bill. D.C. is a major black city and Democratic in make-up. While the Republicans raised constitutional questions those issues could have been addressed through legislation and the courts. It is not surprising that they would oppose adding a potential Democratic vote in congress. The right of representation for Washington D.C. citizens was immaterial.
*A look ahead, empty pockets - Recent statements by various Bush officials indicate that they are planning for a long stay in Iraq. The cost will be in the trillions of dollars. For math-challenged people like me a trillion is 1000 billion. What will be left for healthcare, education, social security, basic human services, repair of infrastructure, food safety inspection…?
*Is it a small price to pay? - Following last week’s post a reader brought to my attention a web site that offers photos and much more of our military men and women who have served in Iraq and how this war has impacted their lives. The site is: http://www.purpleheartsbook.com/. Our government has gone to great lengths to shield Americans from the war’s reality. Recall that the media is banned from photographing caskets arriving home from Iraq. The consequences of the Iraq war deserve our attention.
*It is a big price to pay ~ non-enforcement of laws - The Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996 requires that the financial systems of major federal agencies “comply substantially” with generally accepted accounting standards. Each year those agencies are required to release results of outside audits. The Department of Homeland Security has failed every audit since 2003. Its annual budget is $35 billion. The Defense Department has never come close to passing. Defense’s annual budget is $460 billion representing 20% of all federal spending. The departments seem incapable of providing even the most basic level of accountability by balancing their financial books. Our money is spent with little oversight. The question to be begged is who is enforcing the law? This is not unlike the illegal immigration crisis in this country. There are laws against entering the U.S. illegally and there are laws against employing illegal immigrants. And yet, both practices are rampant. The soap box politicians keep telling us that we are “a country of laws” and that we live under “the rule of law”. Blah, blah, blah. Where is the sheriff?
*The price of political corruption –Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a non-partisan watchdog holding public officials accountable. CREW just released its list of the 22 most corrupt congressmen (and women) in Washington. Nineteen on the list are Republicans and three are Democrats. This link provides the list and the details. Why is corruption so prevalent? Congress has vigorously opposed attempts to limit special-interest influence on elected officials as well as attempts to establish an independent commission to oversee and penalize ethics violations. And, some people are just outright crooks who won an election.
*The price of the corporate tax shell game – A USA Today article by Robert S. McIntyre, a Director of Citizens for Tax Justice says that corporate tax loopholes will cost ordinary citizens over the next ten years 3 trillion dollars. On one hand U.S. corporations face the highest tax rate of industrialized countries at 39%. However, due to loopholes and subsidies they only pay taxes on about half of their income. The extra funds left in the hands of corporate America certainly have not benefited the majority of employees as demonstrated by the number of jobs corporations outsource to foreign countries and the number of illegal immigrants they hire in this country. This system not only lacks fairness but is shortsighted. Corporations sell a product or a service. If the market lacks the resources to purchase what they produce, they are out of business. Unless the business community begins thinking beyond the next quarterly report they should start selling their stock short.
*A world apart – In 2005 Hillary Clinton gave a speech in New Delhi to Indian businessmen. She offered a blunt assessment of the loss of American jobs across the Pacific. "There is no way to legislate against reality," she declared. "Outsourcing will continue. . . . We are not against all outsourcing; we are not in favor of putting up fences." In 2007 the presidential candidate told a group of students in New Hampshire that she hated seeing U.S. telemarketing jobs done in remote locations far, far from our shores. Senator Clinton’s ties to corporate interests and money leave me in knots about her candidacy. The special interests supporting her are not that far, far away.
*Flash observations:
-China has announced that it will no longer give Giant Pandas to foreign countries as a way of improving international relations. There was no mention of whether it would improve product safety inspections as an alternative diplomatic booster.
-A Veco Oil Co. executive has testified that his company did in fact participate in the renovation of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) house. Stevens’ son is being investigated on separate corruption charges related to his tenure as President of the Alaskan senate. Is “genetics” a defense?
-Many of us sit at home frustrated with the Iraq war wishing things were different. Many people and organizations are being proactive. If you want to learn more and perhaps do something a good place to begin is: votersforpeace.org
- Republican constituents are angry with the Bush administration's aggressive drive to promote oil and gas drilling on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. Energy development is tainting some of the country's most majestic landscape. If current and past presidents had put as much effort into reducing our need for oil as drilling for oil perhaps our purple mountain’s majesty would not be in jeopardy.
-Water-boarding (a suspect has water poured over his mouth and nose to stimulate a drowning reflex) has been removed by the CIA as an approved interrogation technique. Other “enhanced interrogation techniques” remain in place.
-Fading presidential candidate John McCain has always identified himself as an Episcopalian. In a life-transforming religious experience, no doubt stemming from a desire to appeal to the Republican base to support his presidential candidacy, he is now referring to himself as a Baptist. Praise the Lord and pass the grits.
-A little discussed aspect of General Patreus’ report on the surge in Iraq was that it is his plan. The Iraq situation of “looking good, needs more time” is a familiar melody. With the Senators and Representatives offering more windy speeches than insightful inquiries for the General his appearance was not much of a test. Under this system of testing I would have graduated Magna Cum Laude.
-Leading Republican presidential candidates have avoided debates sponsored by Black and Latino organizations. In their world diversity ended in America when the passengers on the Mayflower disembarked. Praise the King and pass the spam and white bread.
*Quote of the week – “The Americans always try to pretend the responsibility for cleaning up this mess isn’t theirs and tend to shift blame onto Iraq, Iran and Syria for everything that goes wrong,” veteran Kurdish lawmaker Mahmoud Othman
*Ignoramus of the week ~ Come on down David Frye - Sgt. Yance Gray came from Ismay, Montana. He died in Iraq last week. His death gained attention because he was one of seven authors of a recent New York Times op-ed criticizing the continued occupation. Frye, a prominent Montana Republican, is saying Sergeant Gray probably wasn't smart enough to actually write the op-ed. These neo-conservative ideologues do not give a crap about the lives of Americans being wasted in support of an ideology of annihilation with potential consequences of self-annihilation. If you put a robe and mustache on these cretins you wind up with the Taliban.
*Doing a 180 – Newt Gingrich says he is making a grass-roots push to change how the country is governed so there will be less partisanship. This is the man who, when Speaker of the House in the 1990s, invented partisanship with the fury of a napalm attack. The transformation of Mr. Gingrich can be attributed to one of three factors; a guilty conscience, Alzheimer’s disease, a presidential candidacy.
*I only lie when I am lying - I noted last week that the Director of National Intelligence Mitch McConnell lied to congress about the effectiveness of laws authorizing warrentless wiretapping. This week he appeared once again before congress to request additional spying authority. How does congress determine legitimacy in the absence of credibility?
*Restoration of Civil Liberties – Senators Leahy and Dodd have proposed the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007. This would reverse one of the grievous elements of the Military Commissions Act that sanctioned the detention and jailing of U.S. residents without the opportunity to appear before a judge. This piece of legislation would reverse the error. You can sign on as a co-sponsor by clicking on this link.
*Black ops ~ black oops – A little discussed aspect of the war in Iraq is the large number of private security forces contracted by the U.S. government. These are jobs once performed by our military. They operate outside of the regular command with little oversight. In many cases they guard important U.S. officials. One of the largest of these firms is Blackwater. With strong ties to the Bush administration they have raked in billions of dollars in fees. This past weekend saw a catastrophe not unique to Blackwater and their counterpart contractors. A shootout with Blackwater mercenaries left 9 Iraqi civilians dead. The Iraqi Interior Ministry has ordered that Blackwater be expelled from Iraq. It will be interesting to see who wins this battle. I would not bet on the Interior Ministry. For those people calling for our State Dept. to stop using mercenaries they can’t. They are out of soldiers and Bush has no options.
* I feel that we are doing something so important that it is awesome—it is almost purifying. It has a deep religious meaning, of that I feel certain. Surely it is God’s wish that men not wage wars of aggression. The proof here is absolutely overwhelming. I would never have believed that men could be so evil, so determined on a course of war; of murder; of slavery; of dreadful tyranny. Never before has such a record been written and men will read it for a thousand years in amazement and wonder how it ever happened.
Excerpt from a letter written by Thomas Dodd, a prosecutor at the Nuremberg trial of Nazi war criminals, from a new book:
My Father’s Narrative of a Quest for Justice By Sen. Christopher J. Dodd with Larry Bloom, Crown Publishing New York, 2007
Friday, September 14, 2007
9/15/07
*The Patraeus Report ~ Theater of the Absurd - General David Patraeus reported on the merits of a tactic, the surge, that proceeds under the assumption that there is a military solution to the civil war in Iraq. The claim that the Iraqi government is being given time to reconcile differences and work out a plan to share oil revenues is disingenuous. During the surge the Iraqi government has become even more dysfunctional and anticipated oil revenue sharing agreements have fallen apart. The General and the President would also like us to believe that we are fighting terrorism in Iraq but al Qaeda is a very small presence there. The vast majority of the violence is between and within Iraqi factions with American forces ensnared in the middle. The current political and military approach to Iraq offers no viable resolution. In order to protect his imagined legacy Bush’s only alternative is stay his course until this dangerous and chaotic impasse can be foisted on the next president. And that is the true report.
*Out to lunch – General Patraeus’ “independent” report to congress reminded me of the General’s “independent” report in 2004, just prior to the election that gave Bush a second term. At that time he said “there was tangible progress in Iraq and Iraqi leaders are stepping forward.” It is 3 long years later and General Patraeus continues to carry Bush’s lunch. The bread is stale and the baloney is rancid.
* Readers who would like a detailed and documented account of what is misleading to incorrect in the General’s testimony of conditions in Iraq can find it at this link: MoveOn.org
*Technological breakthrough - One of the long-standing deceptions of the Bush administration’s warrantless wiretapping program is the White House claim that they fully briefed Congress prior to conducting these activities. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Bob Graham (D-FL), when he claimed that the WH did not inform him of spying on Americans in his briefings, was told that he “misremembered”. The WH then provided him with dates on which he was briefed. Graham checked his records and found that on most of the dates there were no meetings and on some of the dates he was not even in Washington. Since secrecy is a trademark of this administration few people know that they now communicate via mental mail. Meetings are no longer necessary. I wonder if a headache will slow downloads? Will CAT scans replace virus scans? Will mind readers now be called hackers? Will “misremembered” become a word?
*Possible good news for the environment – The auto industry, with support from the EPA, has tried to block 13 other states from adopting California’s rules that intend to reduce greenhouse gases emitted by automobiles and light trucks. Ruling in a lawsuit against Vermont’s standards on those heat-trapping gases Judge William K. Sessions III rejected a variety of challenges from auto manufacturers, including their contention that the states were usurping federal authority. Under the federal Clean Air act the EPA must still grant waivers to the states before such rules can take effect in place of federal rules. It does seem somewhat convoluted that to protect the air we breathe states have to overcome not only industry’s myopic self-interest but also the federal agency responsible for our environment. Until there is a new administration we can only hope for the best.
*The invisible injury - Marilynn Marchione, AP Medical Writer, has a story about thousands of U.S. troops suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI). These blast-caused head injuries are different from head injuries doctors normally treat that are caused by falls and car accidents. It is called “invisible” because it rarely shows up on CAT scans and other tests. People with this form of TBI have frequent headaches, dizziness, and trouble concentrating and sleeping. They may be depressed, irritable and confused, and easily provoked or distracted. Speech or vision also can be impaired. Treatment is further complicated because it can overlap with post-traumatic stress disorder. The physical and mental injuries incurred by many of our military men and women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan will require our nation’s care through most of the 21st Century. The planning and budgeting of this care must begin now.
*On Wednesday the Huffington Post, Slate Magazine and Yahoo did an online interview with the Democratic presidential candidates. Interesting and provocative questions were posed by Charlie Rose, Bill Maher and average citizens. It is worth a look. Click on this link: Huffington Post Mashup
*Let’s remember - Until two weeks ago President Bush put his hands over his ears whenever anyone mentioned the Iraq war and Viet Nam in the same sentence. Apparently an advisor to the president came up with the sound bite that we cannot leave Iraq like we left Viet Nam. What resulted was that Bush’s acolytes joined him on TV and wrote articles parroting the warning. Eugene Robinson writing in the Washington Post had a keen response. “George W. Bush wants us to remember Vietnam? Fine, then let's remember those iconic images -- the Viet Cong prisoner being executed in cold blood with a pistol shot to the temple, the little girl running naked and screaming from a napalm attack. Let's remember how little we really understood about Vietnamese society. Let's remember how wrong the domino theory proved to be. Let's remember how much damage prolonging an unpopular war did to our armed forces and our nation, and how long it took us to recover.” History will remember Iraq in this context. History will not put its hands over its eyes.
*My thoughts on George W. Bush’s 8th Major speech on Iraq –
*The good book or the bad book? - An interesting development has been taking place in federal prisons. The Bureau of Prisons has directed chaplains to clear the shelves of any books, tapes, CDs and videos that are not on a list of approved resources. A DOJ Inspector General report recommended steps that prisons should take, in light of the Sept. 11 attacks, to avoid becoming recruiting grounds for militant Islamic and other religious groups. A Christian and an Orthodox Jew in a NY prison have filed a class-action lawsuit claiming the action violates their free exercise of religion. As noted in the NY Times article, “…an administration that put stock in religion-based approaches to social problems has effectively blocked prisoners’ access to religious and spiritual materials — all in the name of preventing terrorism.”
*The vaporization of Darth Vader– President Bush’s nominee for General Counsel to the CIA, John Rizzo, is not acceptable to the Senate Intelligence Committee as they have requested that his name be withdrawn. Mr. Rizzo’s 2002 memo defined torture as pain "equivalent in intensity to the pain accompanying serious physical injury, such as organ failure, impairment of body function, or even death." Anything less is okay. It makes one “proud” to be an American.
*Investment tip of the week; buy pork - A Business Week analysis of earmark and lobbying data demonstrated how lucrative hiring a lobbyist can be for a company looking for federal money: “On average, companies generated roughly $28 in earmark revenue for every dollar they spent lobbying. And those at the very top did far better than the average: More than 20 companies pulled in $100 or more for every dollar spent.” The influence of large corporations on our federal government and elected representatives far outdistances the interests and influence of American citizens. This situation highlights the serious need for public financing of elections so that politicians are not so needy of private-interest money to fund their campaigns.
*Risky investment of the week - Hillary Clinton has decided that instead of returning $27,000 to Norman Hsu (his direct contributions), she will return the $850,000 he raised on her behalf. Hsu has been a fugitive from fraud charges in California since the 1990’s. Mr. Hsu must be a long-range planner. He helps Senator Clinton get elected president and hopes that 8 years later she pardons him.
*Risky investment of the year ~ Greed trumps due diligence – Source Funding Investors is a fund with about 100 investors. Earlier this year the fund invested $40 million in a company that was pooling money to make short-term loans to private-label fashion designers in the U.S. to buy garments made in China with the prospect that returns to investors would exceed 40%. Investors were informed this week that their investment is in jeopardy since checks received from the company invested in were bouncing for insufficient funds. Did I mention that the company with insufficient funds is run by Norman Hsu? Here is a fugitive from the law for fraud promising a 40% return on investment and a group hands him $40 million bucks. I wonder if the fund manager’s name is Gomer Pyle?
*Lightening round:
-Leader of country resigns due to scandal, incompetence and gaffes. No, you wishful thinkers, it is Shinzo Abe of Japan.
-In the Philippines resignation was not an option for ex-president Joseph Estrada. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison for illegally acquiring wealth while in office. If this trend of prosecutions continues the United Nations will be wiped out.
-Russian President Vladimir Putin unexpectedly removed his prime minister and cabinet this week. The American political system makes this option very difficult to implement.
-Potential nominees being floated by Bush to replace Gonzales at the Justice Dept. are likely to sink. They are at least as partisan as the resigning Attorney General and not what America and the Justice Dept. need to restore some semblance of confidence and credibility in the administration of our justice system. The question now is whether the Senate Democrats exert their will to ensure that Bush nominates an independent, less political candidate for Attorney General.
-When Gen. Patraeus was asked if the efforts in Iraq will make America safer he looked like a deer caught in a car’s headlights before admitting that he was not sure. The response left Americans hesitant.
-Imagine 4 million Americans being displaced. That number would come close to removing the population of New York or Chicago or Philadelphia. The Iraq war has displaced 4.2 million Iraqi citizens or 13 % of the Iraqi population. Thirteen percent of the U.S. population would equal 42 million individuals. It is very difficult to imagine.
-Presidential candidates John Edwards and Hillary Clinton are now doing criminal background checks on all donors. It will be interesting to see if other Republican and Democratic candidates follow this policy. The lure of money is intoxicating.
-House GOP Leader John Boehner tells CNN that America’s loss of life in Iraq is a small price to pay if we defeat al Qaeda there. Nothing is expensive when someone else pays for it.
*A healthy bit of health news:
-Burger King will offer a healthier alternative for children under 12 – broiled chicken tenders and apples cut to look like French fries. For people over 12 BK will offer a triple burger covered in double cheese and quadruple bacon served on a sticky bun. The manufacturer of Lipitor breathes a sigh of relief.
-High blood pressure leading to cardiovascular disease has been added to high cholesterol and an adult form of diabetes being diagnosed in young Americans. The childhood obesity epidemic taking place in our country will make severe demands on our healthcare system for the next several decades
-Rep. Tim Murphy (D-PA) is sponsoring the "Healthy Hospitals Act of 2007". The bill will make patients safer during hospital stays by requiring public disclosure of hospital-acquired infection rates. You can send a letter to your representative asking that they co-sponsor this bill by clicking on this link.
-Healthy San Francisco is the first effort by a locality to guarantee care to all of its uninsured, and it represents the latest attempt by state and local governments to patch an inadequate federal system. This effort is worth following. It is financed mostly by the city, which is gambling that it can provide universal and sensibly managed care to the uninsured for about the amount being spent on their treatment now, often in emergency rooms.
*Less is more or more is less, more or less - In his speech this week President Bush said that there were 36 countries in the Iraq coalition of multi-national forces (even though the Pentagon claims 25 countries with a military presence). As of this writing only 34 countries could be identified by researchers for having at least one person in Iraq. As of next month the number will be 33 as Iceland will pull its entire contingency out of Iraq– all one person. Some other countries with larger contingencies include: Hungary 16, Italy 8, Netherlands 10, Portugal 10, Slovakia 2, Turkey 2, Canada 2, Japan 2. For the record, total coalition forces apart from the U.S. total 11,685 or 7%.
*Yes, we got no bananas - The Justice Dept. has announced it will not prosecute executives of Chiquita Banana for paying bribes of $1.7 million to Columbian paramilitaries that are designated as terrorists by the U.S. government and responsible for thousands of deaths. I guess you have to be an al Qaeda guy to really be a terrorist. Chiquita did pay a $25 million fine and promised to adopt a large-scale integrity program. I did not know that integrity had scales. I have to stop thinking in absolutes.
*Faith in the faith-based administration - Last week the Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell, testifying under oath at a Senate hearing, claimed the new expansive FISA legislation passed by Congress in August (Protect America Act) had helped to thwart an alleged terror plot in Germany. A government official later told the NY Times that McConnell was wrong, and that the intelligence had been collected under the old FISA law which required warrants. McConnell then issued a statement saying, “…information contributing to the recent arrests was not collected under authorities provided by the Protect America Act.”
*Thou Shall Not Lie. Excerpt from the Ten Commandments
*Out to lunch – General Patraeus’ “independent” report to congress reminded me of the General’s “independent” report in 2004, just prior to the election that gave Bush a second term. At that time he said “there was tangible progress in Iraq and Iraqi leaders are stepping forward.” It is 3 long years later and General Patraeus continues to carry Bush’s lunch. The bread is stale and the baloney is rancid.
* Readers who would like a detailed and documented account of what is misleading to incorrect in the General’s testimony of conditions in Iraq can find it at this link: MoveOn.org
*Technological breakthrough - One of the long-standing deceptions of the Bush administration’s warrantless wiretapping program is the White House claim that they fully briefed Congress prior to conducting these activities. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Bob Graham (D-FL), when he claimed that the WH did not inform him of spying on Americans in his briefings, was told that he “misremembered”. The WH then provided him with dates on which he was briefed. Graham checked his records and found that on most of the dates there were no meetings and on some of the dates he was not even in Washington. Since secrecy is a trademark of this administration few people know that they now communicate via mental mail. Meetings are no longer necessary. I wonder if a headache will slow downloads? Will CAT scans replace virus scans? Will mind readers now be called hackers? Will “misremembered” become a word?
*Possible good news for the environment – The auto industry, with support from the EPA, has tried to block 13 other states from adopting California’s rules that intend to reduce greenhouse gases emitted by automobiles and light trucks. Ruling in a lawsuit against Vermont’s standards on those heat-trapping gases Judge William K. Sessions III rejected a variety of challenges from auto manufacturers, including their contention that the states were usurping federal authority. Under the federal Clean Air act the EPA must still grant waivers to the states before such rules can take effect in place of federal rules. It does seem somewhat convoluted that to protect the air we breathe states have to overcome not only industry’s myopic self-interest but also the federal agency responsible for our environment. Until there is a new administration we can only hope for the best.
*The invisible injury - Marilynn Marchione, AP Medical Writer, has a story about thousands of U.S. troops suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI). These blast-caused head injuries are different from head injuries doctors normally treat that are caused by falls and car accidents. It is called “invisible” because it rarely shows up on CAT scans and other tests. People with this form of TBI have frequent headaches, dizziness, and trouble concentrating and sleeping. They may be depressed, irritable and confused, and easily provoked or distracted. Speech or vision also can be impaired. Treatment is further complicated because it can overlap with post-traumatic stress disorder. The physical and mental injuries incurred by many of our military men and women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan will require our nation’s care through most of the 21st Century. The planning and budgeting of this care must begin now.
*On Wednesday the Huffington Post, Slate Magazine and Yahoo did an online interview with the Democratic presidential candidates. Interesting and provocative questions were posed by Charlie Rose, Bill Maher and average citizens. It is worth a look. Click on this link: Huffington Post Mashup
*Let’s remember - Until two weeks ago President Bush put his hands over his ears whenever anyone mentioned the Iraq war and Viet Nam in the same sentence. Apparently an advisor to the president came up with the sound bite that we cannot leave Iraq like we left Viet Nam. What resulted was that Bush’s acolytes joined him on TV and wrote articles parroting the warning. Eugene Robinson writing in the Washington Post had a keen response. “George W. Bush wants us to remember Vietnam? Fine, then let's remember those iconic images -- the Viet Cong prisoner being executed in cold blood with a pistol shot to the temple, the little girl running naked and screaming from a napalm attack. Let's remember how little we really understood about Vietnamese society. Let's remember how wrong the domino theory proved to be. Let's remember how much damage prolonging an unpopular war did to our armed forces and our nation, and how long it took us to recover.” History will remember Iraq in this context. History will not put its hands over its eyes.
*My thoughts on George W. Bush’s 8th Major speech on Iraq –
*The good book or the bad book? - An interesting development has been taking place in federal prisons. The Bureau of Prisons has directed chaplains to clear the shelves of any books, tapes, CDs and videos that are not on a list of approved resources. A DOJ Inspector General report recommended steps that prisons should take, in light of the Sept. 11 attacks, to avoid becoming recruiting grounds for militant Islamic and other religious groups. A Christian and an Orthodox Jew in a NY prison have filed a class-action lawsuit claiming the action violates their free exercise of religion. As noted in the NY Times article, “…an administration that put stock in religion-based approaches to social problems has effectively blocked prisoners’ access to religious and spiritual materials — all in the name of preventing terrorism.”
*The vaporization of Darth Vader– President Bush’s nominee for General Counsel to the CIA, John Rizzo, is not acceptable to the Senate Intelligence Committee as they have requested that his name be withdrawn. Mr. Rizzo’s 2002 memo defined torture as pain "equivalent in intensity to the pain accompanying serious physical injury, such as organ failure, impairment of body function, or even death." Anything less is okay. It makes one “proud” to be an American.
*Investment tip of the week; buy pork - A Business Week analysis of earmark and lobbying data demonstrated how lucrative hiring a lobbyist can be for a company looking for federal money: “On average, companies generated roughly $28 in earmark revenue for every dollar they spent lobbying. And those at the very top did far better than the average: More than 20 companies pulled in $100 or more for every dollar spent.” The influence of large corporations on our federal government and elected representatives far outdistances the interests and influence of American citizens. This situation highlights the serious need for public financing of elections so that politicians are not so needy of private-interest money to fund their campaigns.
*Risky investment of the week - Hillary Clinton has decided that instead of returning $27,000 to Norman Hsu (his direct contributions), she will return the $850,000 he raised on her behalf. Hsu has been a fugitive from fraud charges in California since the 1990’s. Mr. Hsu must be a long-range planner. He helps Senator Clinton get elected president and hopes that 8 years later she pardons him.
*Risky investment of the year ~ Greed trumps due diligence – Source Funding Investors is a fund with about 100 investors. Earlier this year the fund invested $40 million in a company that was pooling money to make short-term loans to private-label fashion designers in the U.S. to buy garments made in China with the prospect that returns to investors would exceed 40%. Investors were informed this week that their investment is in jeopardy since checks received from the company invested in were bouncing for insufficient funds. Did I mention that the company with insufficient funds is run by Norman Hsu? Here is a fugitive from the law for fraud promising a 40% return on investment and a group hands him $40 million bucks. I wonder if the fund manager’s name is Gomer Pyle?
*Lightening round:
-Leader of country resigns due to scandal, incompetence and gaffes. No, you wishful thinkers, it is Shinzo Abe of Japan.
-In the Philippines resignation was not an option for ex-president Joseph Estrada. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison for illegally acquiring wealth while in office. If this trend of prosecutions continues the United Nations will be wiped out.
-Russian President Vladimir Putin unexpectedly removed his prime minister and cabinet this week. The American political system makes this option very difficult to implement.
-Potential nominees being floated by Bush to replace Gonzales at the Justice Dept. are likely to sink. They are at least as partisan as the resigning Attorney General and not what America and the Justice Dept. need to restore some semblance of confidence and credibility in the administration of our justice system. The question now is whether the Senate Democrats exert their will to ensure that Bush nominates an independent, less political candidate for Attorney General.
-When Gen. Patraeus was asked if the efforts in Iraq will make America safer he looked like a deer caught in a car’s headlights before admitting that he was not sure. The response left Americans hesitant.
-Imagine 4 million Americans being displaced. That number would come close to removing the population of New York or Chicago or Philadelphia. The Iraq war has displaced 4.2 million Iraqi citizens or 13 % of the Iraqi population. Thirteen percent of the U.S. population would equal 42 million individuals. It is very difficult to imagine.
-Presidential candidates John Edwards and Hillary Clinton are now doing criminal background checks on all donors. It will be interesting to see if other Republican and Democratic candidates follow this policy. The lure of money is intoxicating.
-House GOP Leader John Boehner tells CNN that America’s loss of life in Iraq is a small price to pay if we defeat al Qaeda there. Nothing is expensive when someone else pays for it.
*A healthy bit of health news:
-Burger King will offer a healthier alternative for children under 12 – broiled chicken tenders and apples cut to look like French fries. For people over 12 BK will offer a triple burger covered in double cheese and quadruple bacon served on a sticky bun. The manufacturer of Lipitor breathes a sigh of relief.
-High blood pressure leading to cardiovascular disease has been added to high cholesterol and an adult form of diabetes being diagnosed in young Americans. The childhood obesity epidemic taking place in our country will make severe demands on our healthcare system for the next several decades
-Rep. Tim Murphy (D-PA) is sponsoring the "Healthy Hospitals Act of 2007". The bill will make patients safer during hospital stays by requiring public disclosure of hospital-acquired infection rates. You can send a letter to your representative asking that they co-sponsor this bill by clicking on this link.
-Healthy San Francisco is the first effort by a locality to guarantee care to all of its uninsured, and it represents the latest attempt by state and local governments to patch an inadequate federal system. This effort is worth following. It is financed mostly by the city, which is gambling that it can provide universal and sensibly managed care to the uninsured for about the amount being spent on their treatment now, often in emergency rooms.
*Less is more or more is less, more or less - In his speech this week President Bush said that there were 36 countries in the Iraq coalition of multi-national forces (even though the Pentagon claims 25 countries with a military presence). As of this writing only 34 countries could be identified by researchers for having at least one person in Iraq. As of next month the number will be 33 as Iceland will pull its entire contingency out of Iraq– all one person. Some other countries with larger contingencies include: Hungary 16, Italy 8, Netherlands 10, Portugal 10, Slovakia 2, Turkey 2, Canada 2, Japan 2. For the record, total coalition forces apart from the U.S. total 11,685 or 7%.
*Yes, we got no bananas - The Justice Dept. has announced it will not prosecute executives of Chiquita Banana for paying bribes of $1.7 million to Columbian paramilitaries that are designated as terrorists by the U.S. government and responsible for thousands of deaths. I guess you have to be an al Qaeda guy to really be a terrorist. Chiquita did pay a $25 million fine and promised to adopt a large-scale integrity program. I did not know that integrity had scales. I have to stop thinking in absolutes.
*Faith in the faith-based administration - Last week the Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell, testifying under oath at a Senate hearing, claimed the new expansive FISA legislation passed by Congress in August (Protect America Act) had helped to thwart an alleged terror plot in Germany. A government official later told the NY Times that McConnell was wrong, and that the intelligence had been collected under the old FISA law which required warrants. McConnell then issued a statement saying, “…information contributing to the recent arrests was not collected under authorities provided by the Protect America Act.”
*Thou Shall Not Lie. Excerpt from the Ten Commandments
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