The Short and Not So Long of Rovian Politics

Karl Rove was back in the news last week. He was testifying before a congressional committee investigating the firing of eight Assistant Attorney Generals in 2007. There has been much speculation about Rove’s role in the firings while a key White House political operative. The firings reeked of political maneuvering and compromised the integrity of our legal system. Prosecutions and decisions not to prosecute surrounded the politicization of the Justice Department during the Bush years, especially during the tenure of Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez. It remains to be seen whether Rove will at some point have to answer for his involvement in this travesty as well his likely role in the compromising of a CIA undercover operative in the Valerie Plame case. Other cynical machinations abound that were intended to provide cover for the Bush administration’s questionable to illegal activities and to assure the domination of the Republican Party for years to come.

Rove has been widely credited for his role in bringing George W. Bush to the White House. It was a strategy that brought together the moneyed class of America and the working class of the Christian religious-right under the umbrella of the Republican Party. Rove came to be known as Bush’s Brain. The early successes of this political merger led to predictions that the GOP would dominate national politics for perhaps decades. How has the Rovian Strategy played out? One assessment would be that the legacy of Bush’s Brain is an inoperable tumor.

The election of African American Barack Obama to the presidency of the USA would not likely have occurred if not for the backlash against Bush, Rove and their minions. This backlash has also been seen in the Congress where the Republican Party now finds itself in the minority in both the Senate and the House. The number of registered Republicans has substantially declined. A significant number of long-standing Republican congress people are not seeking re-election, as they see the writing on the wall. The Republican Party’s strength is now limited to a few southern states and a couple of western states characterized as the “Mormon Corridor”. The heart of the GOP is now a narrow political base bottom feeding on fringe ideas. Their mantras are anti-abortion, anti-gays, questioning Obama’s birth certificate and bemoaning the fate of the White man. Their heroes are the likes of pundits Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Lou Dobbs, Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin and politicos Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich. The common theme of these “conservative” voices is fear, divisiveness, negativity and more fear. At a time when this country desperately needs ideas to overcome much of the damage that this group has wrought, they have little to offer. Their strategy is to oppose everything but their narrow failed vision. This is the state of the Party that rumbled into town on the Rove Express. What happened to the projected political dominance so giddily anticipated just a few years ago?

Certainly the divide and conquer Rove strategy proved short-term successful in the sense that they gained entrance to the White House. Bush did not win the popular vote in 2000 and it took a questionable decision by the Supreme Court to get seated in the Oval Office, but they got there. They then proceeded to politicize virtually every aspect and department of government, break rules of accepted procedure and ignore the warnings of an imminent terrorist attack that resulted in 9/11. Bush and VP Dick Cheney subsequently used this attack to misleadingly justify the Iraq War where the safety of troops and treatment of wounded took a back seat to the imperialist focus of the Neocons. They broke national and international laws with respect to human rights and torture. They broke national laws with illegal wiretaps, allowed the special interests of corporations to take precedence over worker and product safety and they ignored and secreted scientific reports on the damaging effects of global warming.

As busy as the Bushites were they found time to inject the catechism of the religious-right throughout the federal government while ignoring the constitutional requirement of the separation of church and state. By the end of the Bush administration the average American was significantly worse off in 2008 than in 2000. The focus of the Republican Party under Bush was to be the advocate of special interests and by the presidential election of 2008 the majority of Americans were seeing that the Republican Party was as naked as the king in the children’s parable.

In a democracy, lies, manipulation and misdirection can lead to short-term political success. But unless such an effort actually destroys that democracy, incumbency will be short-lived. We may never know all of the details about how our country was derailed by Rovian tactics but for the time being we have survived. In a free society, a political philosophy that does not ultimately serve the interests of the majority of the populous cannot gain long-term traction. The ultimate failure of Karl Rove to achieve Republican Party dominance bodes well for the future of our country, if we can first survive the mess left behind.

Farewell, At Least for a While

In June 2007 I began offering my unsolicited view of the news, otherwise known as a blog. It was my way of expressing displeasure with the abominations perpetrated by the Bush administration and the terrible leadership exhibited by our national legislators. What I originally believed would be a few short notes to friends blossomed into 125 blog posts. Although Stephen Views the News has been a very small voice in the world of blogging it is gratifying that my comments have been visited by people from 46 countries, almost 1100 cities and you. This adventure has been a labor of love, an interesting challenge, a vehicle to learn more about my country and how it functions and a venue to participate in the dialogue. New friends met along the way have been a special bonus. The positive feedback I received has been an encouragement and the criticisms an impetus to further evaluate my positions and better understand opposing points of view. What could be healthier in a free society?

I share these thoughts because recently I have felt it is time for a break. This current post encompasses much of what I have written about these last two years and therefore serves as an apropos dénouement.

11/24/07

*Dishonoring the honorable ~ a national disgrace – KDKA in Pittsburgh is reporting that, “The U.S. Military is demanding that thousands of wounded service personnel give back signing bonuses because they are unable to serve out their commitments. Why are they unable to serve out their commitments? They have lost an arm or a leg or an eye or hearing or a brain function in combat. These brave American military men and women are maimed for life and they are being asked to return bonuses (or not receive part of the bonus still due). From the outset of the Iraq war our enlisted military have had to deal with insufficient equipment, inadequate training, unconscionably long tours of combat duty, and wanting post-injury medical and psychological treatment. The President and the military hierarchy who have spoken so earnestly about supporting the troops have in fact stood down. Disgrace is their mantle.
~Update – The former soldier that KDKA reported on is Jordan Fox. Just before Mr. Fox was to make an appearance on national television to tell his story the Pentagon announced it was cancelling their $3000 bill back. No mention was made of the unknown number of other military personnel facing similar accounting procedures.

*Forgetful???? – USA Today has found that the U.S. government has not classified as wounded during combat in Iraq and Afghanistan at least 20,000 troops with brain injuries. This is over and above the 30,000 wounded officially listed by the Pentagon.” Soldiers and Marines whose wounds were discovered after they left Iraq are not added to the official casualty list, says Army Col. Robert Labutta, a neurologist and brain injury consultant for the Pentagon.” Were these statistics “state secrets” or a calculated method to keep the truth from the American people? This administration has never owned up to the damage the Iraq war has had on this country and the military has blindly marched in step. The lessons of Viet Nam have been forgotten!

*Very soft porn - A 101-year-old British pensioner has posed topless for a nude calendar to raise money for a local soccer team. Nora Hardwick will be Miss November in the calendar, aimed at raising money for the Ancaster Athletic team made up of 9 and10 year-olds in her village in Lincolnshire. The first 2 weeks of December had to be omitted since Ms. Hardwick’s breasts are sagging below the fold. A local Vicar said that the calendar will positively impact youth abstinence.

*Taking a sabbatical – Karl Rove says that religious conservatives may stay away from the voting booth in 2008. One may speculate that they have realized the damage their “religious” vote wrought on this country in the person of G.W. Bush. Perhaps they developed an understanding of the concept of separation of church and state. Maybe they realized that their leaders such as Pat Robertson or Gerry Falwell were more interested in enhancing their own power and financial positions than in enhancing the souls of their followers. It could be that they studied history and concluded that theocracies wreak havoc on the populace and that the founders of America were intelligent and insightful.

*Happy Holidays Mr. President – The criticism President Bush has received for avoiding the dictates of the U.S. Constitution may be unfair. I suggest that he never read it. The Center for Constitutional Rights has a solution. They are offering free of charge the opportunity for any individual to send a copy of the Constitution to the president. From the CCR site, “The President needs to be reminded that he swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States-his administration has been systematically destroying the Constitution since he took office. With your help, CCR will flood the Oval Office with copies of the Constitution this holiday season”. Get in the holiday/patriotic spirit and join your fellow Americans who are sending Mr. Law and Order this thoughtful gift. I just sent a copy and mine was number 29,201.

*dailykos.com – This is the website that two years ago stimulated my interest to become more active in the political discourse. It is one of the top political sites on the internet. The founder of the site, Markos Moulitsas, co-authored the book “Crashing the Gate” that discussed the need for Democrats to stop doing business as usual by depending upon the same consultants that led them from one defeat to the next. Markos, or Kos as he is known to his huge audience, was just added to Newsweek’s slate of columnists. His first article “Make the Bush Record the Issue” addresses the point that Republican candidates cannot distance themselves from Bush because they are dependent on the (shrinking) Republican base to win the nomination. However, the vast majority of Americans are very aware of the dismal Bush years and they will not have amnesia during the elections of 2008. Moulitsas says, “As long as Democratic candidates remind voters that the Republican platform and Bush's record are one and the same, victory will be assured.” I would like to share this optimism but it must be tempered with the fact that Americans have not paid enough attention to the damage its elected leaders have wrought. Where is the outrage to what has occurred these past 7 years? Shaking one’s head and changing the channel does not make for a responsible and responsive electorate.

*A George Bush dream ~ A George Bush opera – Independent judges on the Supreme Court are removed and hand-picked judges are installed, dismissing legal challenges to his rule. Opposition lawyers, journalists and human rights activists are jailed. The leader of the country says, “The decisions were made in the best interests of the country”. These dictatorial events just occurred in Pakistan. How did Bush respond this week? He said, “The general (Musharraf) "hasn't crossed the line" and "truly is somebody who believes in democracy." Honestly, really, cross my heart.

*Getting tougher on terror – Last week I criticized Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee for waving the false flag of Islamo Facism as an indication that he comprehends Middle Eastern geopolitics and terrorism. Well, Mr. Huckabee just kicked it up a notch. His first television campaign ad features Kung Fu aficionado and B-movie actor Chuck Norris endorsing Huckabee for President. Can Rambo be far behind? This is exactly what America needs - more macho bullshit. Take a look at the ad. It is not Saturday Night Live but it could be.

* Alberto R. Gonzales Legal Expense Trust – Having resigned in disgrace former Attorney General Gonzales is paying the price. Well, actually others are paying the price to hear him speak – something he failed to do when testifying before congress. The University of Florida is paying $40,000 and the University of Washington in St. Louis is paying $30,000 for Gonzales to give a speech. The honorariums are not all gravy for Mr. Gonzales since it has been necessary for him to establish a legal defense fund. He is facing multiple investigations (including perjury and witness tampering) for his actions while head of the Justice Department.

*Rudy is no longer a disingenuous joke ~ He is now a dangerous joke – Most of my remarks about Rudy Giuliani have been in a humorous vein as he lies about his record or argues for Second Amendment gun rights for blind people. There is nothing funny about his most recent remarks. Seeking Federalist Society (an ultra conservative group of lawyers) support, the GOP presidential candidate promises to nominate justices like Scalia and Thomas to the Supreme Court. With more Scalias and Thomases on the bench we would have a group of reactionary activists obliterating the gains made by minorities, women and consumers over the past 75 years.

*Southern conservatives ~ blind ideology – John Aravosis, who writes at americablog.com, provides an interesting commentary about the South: “We've written before about how the South has a reputation for electing far-right Neanderthal politicians who don't care about much beyond God, gays and guns (embracing the former and the latter, and bashing the guy in the middle). And we've written about how the South's biggest problems, like poverty, have little to do with God, gays, guns or the Republican (or far-right Democratic) politicians they elect. It's therefore funny, yet again, that the conservative South is shooting itself in the foot by siding with politicians (that would be Republicans) who deny the existence of global warming. Why? Because according to a new study, America's South will be among the world's regions worst hit by the impact of global warming on local agriculture.” One of the wonderful aspects of a democracy is that it allows for a changing of the guard when it is ineffective. Some folks just don’t get it, y’all.

*Speaking of climate change – The United Nations just completed a rigorous multi-stage review process on climate change that includes 2,500 scientific expert reviewers, 800 contributing authors, and 450 lead authors representing 130 countries. Some conclusions include: “All countries will be affected; it is 90% certain that global warming is man-made; by 2100 temperatures and sea levels will have risen; reduction in greenhouse gasses had to begin immediately to avert a global climate disaster; China and the U.S. must play a more active role.” Not to go unnoticed is the fact that under Bush the White House and the EPA have had a policy of unprecedented obstructionism in addressing global warming. At a time when a proactive stance by our government was desperately required it not only ignored the problem but intensified it. The report concludes that, “effects of climate change are "becoming evident already," and without due action, will be "abrupt or irreversible.” Some folks just don’t get it, y’all.

*Gap for Kids ~ Gap by Kids – You know it as a cute retail store in malls that sells children’s clothes and extends its Gap brand image. That brand image just took a hit. “Apparel retailer Gap is canceling half of its orders with a vendor in India after revelations that some of its clothes were made by children as young as 10. The company has promised to donate $200,000 to improve working conditions in India, and it pledged to tighten its own standards. Gap says it didn't know that its Indian vendor paid a subcontractor who hired children.” I am no longer accepting “we didn’t know” malarkey from American corporations that have outsourced their production and their souls. We heard the same crap from Mattel about their toxic toys made in China. Perhaps the executives of Mattel should be required to have their children play with these toys before the toys are put on the market. Perhaps the executives of Gap should send their children to a factory in India for their summer vacation to learn the business.

*Human Rights for all – The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.” HRC has just released “Buying for Equality 2008” listing the major U.S. companies that have achieved high marks for equality in the workplace. When making a purchase you may want to consider supporting these companies.

*What Happened – This is the title of a book to be released in April by Scott McClellan, former White House Press Secretary. Excerpts from the publisher’s web site: “The most powerful leader in the world had called upon me to speak on his behalf and help restore credibility he lost amid the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. So I stood at the White house briefing room podium in front of the glare of the klieg lights for the better part of two weeks and publicly exonerated two of the senior-most aides in the White House: Karl Rove and Scooter Libby. There was one problem. It was not true. I had unknowingly passed along false information. And five of the highest ranking officials in the administration were involved in my doing so: Rove, Libby, the vice President, the President's chief of staff, and the President himself.” There will be many books published about what happened during the Bush presidency. I suspect that most will have a common theme - the 43rd President of the United States, a self-described man of faith, a man who swore to uphold the rule of law in his first inaugural speech, was in word and deed a liar.

*What Happened? – How long has McClellan known that he was lied to by high administration officials? What was his responsibility to tell the truth to the American people when he first knew it? Are we to believe that “integrity” was McClellan’s motivation to reveal the truth or his greed to sell books? It should be remembered that Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has not closed the case on the Plame leak. Could he subpoena McClellan to determine what he knows under oath? Will a congressional investigative committee do the same?

*You can help ~ Following are excerpts from the letter a reader of SVN sent to the Philadelphia Inquirer. It requests our help. - “I’m one of 5.7 million Americans who suffer from bipolar disorder. If not managed properly, these severe mood swings are devastating to the individual, family and society. ... We do not receive full insurance coverage for our condition. If our liver or kidneys are damaged, insurance will pay. However, unlike Parkinson’s disease, dramatic mood swings are not considered a brain illness even though our tiny brain neurons are flawed. Many of us are forced to pay catastrophically high costs for psychiatric visits, meds or hospitalizations. Fortunately, this may soon change, thanks to the culmination of 2 decades of legislative battles. House Bill 1424 proposes to offer full medical coverage, a bill which recently passed the Senate unanimously. That’s why I urge your readers to call their US Congressmen today and ask them to vote Yes on Bill 1424. What a great Christmas gift this would be. We are, after all, our brothers’ keepers.” (Ruth Z. Deming). At Project Vote Smart the names and contact information of your representatives can easily be obtained.

* “We must rapidly begin the shift from a "thing-oriented" society to a "person-oriented" society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 – 1968)

8/21/07

*Don’t get naked in your bathroom – The WSJ reports that satellite data previously available only to NASA and the US Geological Survey, which used the images for scientific and environmental study, will now be available to a wide array of
law enforcement agencies at all levels of government. The move to turn spy satellites on American citizens raises legal questions because the use of such data for law enforcement is "largely uncharted territory." Even the officials behind the move are unsure of its legal implications. Some experts are saying,"Not only is the surveillance they are contemplating intrusive and omnipresent, it's also invisible. And that's what makes this so dangerous."

*Politics is politics when alteration it finds - The Boston Globe ran a summary of Rudy Giuliani’s philosophical reversal on issues as he attempts to seduce the Republican base. His flip flops encompass: ban on partial-birth abortion, funding of abortions for the poor, gun control, gay marriage and civil unions, and illegal immigrants. Mitt Romney, having been outdone in reversing political stances, responded aggressively. He promised to change his tie every four hours.

*Talking bobble head(ache) – CNBC anchor Erin Burnett cautioned viewers that if China made toys without lead or produced food without poisons their cost of production would go up. And that means prices at Wal Mart would go up too. So China is our greatest friend right now. They are keeping prices low. Micro-economist Erin Burnett is giving me a sharp shooting pain behind my left eye. It is fortunate that Wal Mart has a sale this week on generic aspirin. And with each bottle of 500 count I can get a fortune cookie.

*The game of Recall - Unrelated to its recall of 1 million Chinese-made toys earlier this month Mattell, Inc. just issued a recall of 7.3 million play sets and 1.3 million die-cast cars, the dangers being magnets that could be swallowed and lead paint. Perhaps the cost of these recalls will influence toy makers to do better inspections before the toys are imported and distributed. China, which produces 80% of toys sold world-wide, has repeatedly demonstrated that their products cannot be trusted. With no respect to Ms. Burnett, “cheap” is not the sole criterion determining a product’s value unless you are purchasing a parakeet.

*Consumers Union is providing a petition that you can sign to your elected representatives urging them to ensure food and product safety before they enter our borders. The website is: secure.npsite.org/cu/site/Advocacy?JServSessionIdr005=663norllh3.app14b&cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1643

*What’s good for the goose… trickle down theory - The State Department plans to create a new mental care office and require employees to take additional time off to deal with a surge in stress disorders among diplomats in danger posts abroad, particularly Iraq and Afghanistan. The steps were proposed in response to the findings of a survey that found up to 17 percent of diplomats serving at such posts may suffer from post traumatic stress disorder or similar problems. Now if we can only get the same sensitivity for our military serving in Iraq and Afghanistan we will have made progress. Current policy is to re-deploy soldiers in spite of physical and mental injuries as well as serious deficiencies in mental care when they return home.

*Several years ago a Mississippi court took away a woman’s 8 year old child. Two of the judges in the majority went so far as to write and sign an additional opinion, unnecessary to the case's outcome, which stated that the mother must accept the fact that losing her biological child was a possible consequence of her sexual "choice" (the mother being a lesbian). One of those two judges was Leslie Southwick. He is dangerously close to being appointed to the Federal bench by (who else?) President Bush, if confirmed by the Senate. You can sign a petition urging your senators to not confirm this Neanderthal. The link is: www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/southwick/idwkddsrhii337k?

*Karnak incarnate - I just watched a short video of Dick Cheney from 1994 explaining all of the reasons why the U.S. should not have gone into Iraq during the Gulf War. His reasoning was intelligent and cogent. He predicted all that could go wrong. And sure enough he was right as evidenced by the current Iraq war – initiated at his urging. The video can be seen at: pol.moveon.org/donate/cheneyvideo.html?r=2879&id=10983-6021600-W6mBY1

*Pork and Salmon on a skewer, unappetizing – Alaskan Republican Senator Ted Stevens and Representative Don Young are both under investigation for corrupt/criminal practices. One cannot argue, however, with the stellar job they have done for the interests of their state and their associates. Their special project appropriations include; an Alaska Fisheries Marketing Board $500,000 grant that was used partly to paint a Chinook salmon on a Boeing 737, a $450,000 grant to the University of Alaska to formulate baby food with salmon in it, the Alyeska Roundhouse received $450,000 (the building is at the Alyeska ski resort in Girdwood, where Stevens has his home), Alaska Christian College received $435,000 in 2005 (the school had several dozen students at the time), The National Archives and Records Administration received at least $2.25 million toward the purchase of an empty lot in Anchorage from two former Stevens business partners allowing them to more than double their investment.

*Takes your breath away – On Sept 18, 2001, 7 days after the attack on the World Trade Center in NYC, EPA Administrator Christie Whitman announced that results from the Agency's air and drinking water monitoring near the WTC indicate that these vital resources are safe. In August, 2003 the Office of the Inspector General of the EPA reported that some of the EPA's news releases in the weeks after the attack were softened before being released to the public: Reassuring information was added, while cautionary information was deleted. We now learn that a major study by Mount Sinai Medical Center found 70 percent of ground zero workers suffered some form of lung problems and experts there predicted thousands will either remain sick or get sick in coming years. Before Bush 43 we would have attributed such manipulation to the Soviet Union. Can you say Chernobyl? Nyet!

*Speaking of the Soviet model of governance 1 -The U.S. government argued before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that two lawsuits centering on aspects of the secret surveillance effort run by the National Security Agency after September 11, 2001 be thrown out of court for potentially exposing state secrets. Judge McKeown said, “This seems to put us in the 'trust us' category about the government's assertions that its surveillance activities did not violate the law. We don't do it. Trust us. And don't ask us about it." Deputy Solicitor General Gregory G. Garre then argued that courts are not the right forum for complaints about government surveillance, and that "other avenues" are available. Another jurist on the panel, Judge Pregerson, shot back, "What is that? Impeachment?"

*Speaking of the Soviet model of governance 2 – Wikepedia is an online encyclopedia. It recently developed software to trace who makes changes to its entries. People using CIA, FBI and EPA computers were recently tracked when they made changes on topics such as the Iraq War, Guantanamo prison and environmental issues. Pretty soon we will be seeing entries that identify George W. Bush as the greatest president in the history of our nation and Pee Wee Herman as our greatest thespian.

*On the Rove again – Some in the mainstream media as well as right-wing pundits have been praising the presidential advisor who has just resigned. Not I. Karl Rove may be seen as a genius in that he was behind the election of George W. as governor of Texas twice and President of the U.S twice. No small feat. Bill Moyers of PBS noted, ”Greed and God won Rove four elections”. After electoral successes I am hard-pressed to identify any meaningful accomplishments of the Rove-counseled Bush administration. Foreign policy has been one disaster after another. Name a domestic accomplishment of this administration in the 80 months of its tenure. The President’s approval rating is in the 20’s and the Republican party is in disarray and shrinking (only 28% of Americans view it positively). Mr. Rove’s influence was one of divisiveness, confrontation and arrogance. If “genius” is used to describe Rove, “Rembrandt” would describe the graffiti on slum buildings.

*The least shall be first – The Bush/Cheney “thunk” tank has been indicating a desire to engage Iran in war, disregarding the military principles of operating from strength and avoiding unprovoked attacks. One would think that the leading Democratic presidential candidates such as Clinton, Obama and Biden would be out front opposing this dangerous possibility of dragging America into another unnecessary and debilitating war. But it is Dennis Kucinich who is the leading candidate in speaking the truth about such foreign policy debacles. He said, “Our nation is better served by demanding sensible and responsible diplomatic foreign policy initiatives from the Bush Administration." How unfortunate that 21st century American political positions too often amount to glib sound bites delivered with face makeup for the six o’clock news.

*Just a game/Little Drummer Boy - Left Behind: Eternal Forces is a video game inspired by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins' best-selling book series about the battle of Armageddon, in which believers of Jesus Christ fight the Antichrist. The Rev. Timothy Simpson of the Christians Alliance for Progress said "It's a horrible game. You either kill or convert the other side. This is exactly how the Osama bin Ladens of the world have portrayed us”. Operation Start Up Tour, an evangelical entertainment troupe that actively proselytizes among soldiers, intended to put this game in care packages for soldiers in Iraq. The Department of Defense abruptly halted this plan when ABC News inquired about the program. Someone had to inquire before distribution of these games to military personnel was halted? This is reminiscent of the proselytizing scandals at the Air Force Academy in recent years. To what drummer is our military marching? I find it interesting that Orthodox Jewish Independent Senator Joe Lieberman, head cheerleader for the Bush Iraq policy, has been silent on this subject as have the Republican and Democratic leadership. They just don’t get it!

*The Zimmers – Need a smile? A friend sent me a link to a youtube video. It is a remake of the Beatles’ Abbey Road by a group of 40 senior citizens. It is a lot of fun. The link is: youtube.com/watch?v=jNV5bgsv984

*Wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time - As miners and rescuers continue to die from recent mining accidents Mine Safety Czar Richard Stickler will be overseeing investigations. His first two appointments to this position were rejected by the Senate. Ever-clever Bush then appointed him through a loophole in the law that allows certain appointments when the Senate is in recess. Most of Stickler’s career was overseeing mining operations in the private sector where his mine safety record was in serious question. Many Senators and the United Mine Workers of America opposed his appointment because of his history and likely allegiance to corporate mining interests. “Business” as usual.

*Back to School - A company based in Massachusetts has invented a bullet-proof rucksack that will help students protect themselves from guns. The $175 My Child’s Pack claims to be effective against 97% of bullets. One of the inventors cautioned, "There is no guarantee in life for anything. This product is a tool." Not mentioned in the ad copy but probably a bonus feature is that I-pod, cell phone and Game Boy will also be protected. Not currently available in school colors.

*The much anticipated General Patraeus report on the surge in Iraq is due in September, intended to update Americans on the progress of the surge. We learn this week that it will be written by the White House. Since this may be a make-or-break assessment of the Bush war strategy I am not surprised that the administration would allow the report to be based on fact by our top military commander in the theater. What I expect the report to be is Mary Poppins on Ritalin.

*Remarkable numbers:
-Troops training and fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan are firing over 1 billion bullets per year. That would equate to over 114,000 bullets per hour. Such usage has resulted in a shortage of bullets for police departments nationwide and in many cases has limited officers from training with the weapons that they carry. Remarkable violence.
-The National Snow and Ice Data Center reported that on August 17 there was less sea ice (measured in square miles) in the Arctic than ever recorded. Original predictions foresaw a complete melt between 2070 and 2100. Revised predictions are looking at 2030. Global warming deniers - remarkable ignorance.
-In campaign speeches Rudy Giuliani claims that he faced comparable risks as rescue workers following the 9/11 attack. Well, almost comparable. Rescue workers averaged 12 hours per day at ground zero and 400 hours total during their service. The Mayor spent a total of 29 hours during 41 visits to the WTC site in the 3 months following 9/11. Most of the visits were to give tours to officials and foreign dignitaries. Remarkable chutzpah.
-99 Army soldiers committed suicide last year, the highest rate in 26 years. More than a quarter did so while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Failed personal relationships, legal and financial problems and the stress of their jobs were factors motivating the soldiers to take their own lives. Remarkable tragedies.
-According to government statistics 72 miners lost their lives in 2007 and 846 have lost their live in the last 10 years. These stats do not include lives lost in the recent Utah disaster. Remarkable lack of safety oversight and concern for life.
-In the mid 70’s America experienced a serious gasoline shortage with rationing and long waits at the gas pumps. Three decades have passed and the specter of petroleum shortages wreaking havoc on our economy and our lives is as ominous today. Remarkable failure.
-McClatchy Newspapers reports that top Commerce and Treasury department officials appeared with Republican candidates and doled out millions in federal money in battleground congressional districts and states after receiving White House political briefings detailing GOP election strategy. The Hatch Act prohibits such activity. Remarkable politicization. and disdain of law.

*For an excellent explanation of how our federal budget is misguided with respect to the needs of our country and how minor adjustments can make a significant difference I recommended a two minute video at: http://www.truemajorityaction.org/oreos/

*BREAKING NEWS: REPUBLICANS PUSH FOR WELFARE – Free market capitalists, who oppose any welfare for needy Americans, are calling on the federal government to bail out the millionaire banks/corporations facing serious losses/bankruptcy in the sub-prime mortgage fiasco. These questionable lending decisions were performed with an absence of oversight by federal authorities. It is reminiscent of the savings and loan debacle 20 years ago. If you are rich and in trouble the government should provide a golden parachute. If you are poor and in trouble, screw you. Regardless of the government’s involvement in either the S and L or sub-prime mortgage meltdown the average American citizen will bear the brunt of greed-driven financial market machinations.

*Summer Vacations – President Bush is on vacation. The U.S Congress is on vacation. The Iraqi Parliament is on vacation. Our military in Iraq and Afghanistan are not on vacation. Let us offer are thoughts and best wishes for their safety and quick return home. And let us not forget our responsibility to bring pressure on our national leaders to end the debacle we call the Iraq War.

*A conscience is the price of morality, and morality is the price of civilization. From “Patriot Games” by Tom Clancy.