If I were Santa Claus I would have delivered the following stocking stuffers:
* A brain for Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. While appearing on Face the Nation he said of the economic meltdown: "Unfortunately, it was allowed to be portrayed that this was a result of deregulation, when in fact it was a result of overregulation."
* A jar of jalapeño Vaseline for the SEC employees who watched porn rather than "protecting investors and maintaining fair, orderly, and efficient markets," as is their mission.
* A rasher of humility for Stephen Views the News to embrace reader comments such as, “You sir are masterfully demonstrating your own ignorance.”
* An imported deluxe kerosene heater for Wal-Mart’s heart. On Tuesday the company said it would pay between $352 million and $640 million to settle lawsuits across the country claiming that it forced employees to work off the clock.
* The 2009 Sarah Palin Calendar for John McCain, even though he is setting land speed records running from his former running mate.
* A shiny house-arrest ankle bracelet for Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich for auctioning the senate seat vacated by Barack Obama.
* A bar of mouth soap and truck driver’s license for Mrs. Blagojevich for her picante comments recorded during a federal wiretap investigation of her husband the governor.
* A yuletide apology to truck drivers for associating them with the First Lady of Illinois.
* A basket of experience for Caroline Kennedy seeking to inherit Hillary Clinton’s senate seat in New York.
* A ride on Santa’s sleigh for the auto executives embarrassed into abandoning their private jets.
* A sleigh full of Pepcid for president-elect Barack Obama as he embarks on the journey of leading a country beset with a multitude of serious challenges.
* A duly elected Senator for the citizens of Minnesota and preferably not the candidate under federal investigation.
* A time-out for the Obama administration before deciding to commit tens of thousands of U.S. troops to Afghanistan. The complexity of that country’s politics and the corruption of its leadership demand extreme caution.
* Harvey the imaginary rabbit for Malia and Sasha Obama as they seek solitude from the harsh world of celebrity they will encounter over at least the next four years.
* Fifty billion days of homelessness on the streets of New York City for Bernard “Bernie” Madoff. He is one of the all-time goniffs (crooks) of the investment world. His soulless greed wreaked economic havoc and, in some cases destruction, on schools, charities, pension funds and so much more.
* A punch bowl of common sense for Madoff’s Ponzied investors who believed that Madoff was Santa Claus.
* A wake up call for the inhabitants of planet Earth to not be misled by low gasoline prices. Santa cannot reverse limited oil reserves or a debilitated environment that is ignored.
* A revised mission statement for the IRS whose audits of large companies declined for the third year in a row. Santa’s trust of business and government also declined for the third year in a row.
* A slightly used and toxic post-Katrina mobile home to transport departing Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff to a lucrative book signing deal. In America incompetence has its rewards.
* A mega-warehouse for the U.S. Department of the Navy to store $7.5 billion in UNNEEDED parts. One of the factors contributing to the unnecessary purchases was “inefficiency in the Navy's inventory management.” No surprise to Santa who understands “overstocked” with a North Pole laden with unsafe toys outsourced from Asia.
* Light-blocking window drapes for American banks accepting billions of dollars of bailout money sans accountability. Santa does not blame the banks – at least on this account. He does have queries for the little elves on Ritalin running the Bush administration and running around the halls of Congress.
* A cruise on the Titanic for the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). This conservative “think” tank spawned much of the neocon nonsense and “free” market malarkey that dominated Bush administration strategy.
* A set of barbells to put more muscle into credit card reform regulations scheduled to go into effect in 2010.
* A chapel for the gay citizens that Pastor Rick Warren suddenly “loves” but is not likely to welcome to his church.
* Public financing of elections legislation to improve an electoral process that has become the antithesis of democratic principles.
* A frontal lobotomy for Rush Limbaugh for positing his conspiracy theory that the economic crisis was created by Democrats to generate a financial panic and ensure the election of Obama.
* Thorazine prescriptions for Bill O’Reilly and Karl Rove. They have suggested the conspiracy theory that journalists deliberately manufactured the financial crisis so that Obama would be elected.
* A lump of coal for the energy interests spending millions of dollars to convince the American public that there is such a thing as “clean coal.” Perhaps they can donate some of this money to residents in Tennessee to recover from the flood of sludge that broke through a dike at TVA's Kingston coal-fired plant Monday. This could prove to be an environmental disaster of very significant proportions. Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection and the “Reality” coalition have a new ad about the myth of “clean coal.”
* For those that can, websites to help those in need:
~ Feeding America is a network of over 200 food banks covering all 50 states.
~ Operation USO Care Package provides care packages of needed and requested items for our troops overseas
These websites are noted in Michelle Obama’s Holiday Greetings.
* Peace, goodwill and wisdom for a world on multiple brinks.
* 2009 hugs and best wishes for the New Year to readers of Stephen Views the News.
* “I don't make jokes... I just watch the government and report the facts.”
Will Rogers (1879 – 1935) Cherokee-American cowboy, comedian, humorist, social commentator, vaudeville performer and actor.
Showing posts with label Limbaugh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Limbaugh. Show all posts
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Thursday, October 4, 2007
10/4/07
*Civics Class 101 – A recent poll found that 55 percent of Americans believe the U.S. Constitution establishes a Christian nation. When John McCain was asked, “What do you think”, he responded, “I would probably have to say yes, that the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation.” This from a U.S. Senator and presidential candidate!
Article IV of the U. S. Constitution:
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.
The First Amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
The founders of our country did not establish a Christian or any other religious nation. The founders established a secular nation. They were aware that many of the Europeans who first settled America were fleeing religious persecution, Christians fleeing Christians. The founders specifically required the separation of church and state to avoid such miscarriages in “the name of God”. And yes, I take offense to anyone who would undermine the bedrock of our freedoms.
*The Christian Right has announced it is considering forming a political party that would launch a presidential candidate. Perhaps they have come to the conclusion that in the foreseeable future they will not own another president as they did George W. Bush - lock, stock and bible.
*Don’t touch that dial – Free speech is “free speech” whether it is a Fourth of July parade, the Skinheads marching, the Ku Klux Klan prancing or Rush Limbaugh frothing. Under our system of democracy an individual or group has the freedom to express their point of view even if a minority or majority of citizens deem the message offensive or mindless. Many are now calling for Limbaugh to be removed from his very successful radio program. His recent remark that Iraq war vets who feel we should get out of Iraq were phony soldiers was offensive and mindless. Our Constitution and democratic tradition provide Mr. Limbaugh the right and freedom to speak his mind. We have the freedom to not listen.
*Words of wisdom - When you open your mouth your mind is on parade.
*A transmission with no “reverse” - For the first time I heard a reasonable explanation of why Bush and Cheney did not have an exit strategy for Iraq. Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) explains that they did not intend to leave. I guess this also explains the permanent huge military bases we have built in Iraq as well as the largest and most expensive embassy the U. S. has ever built. The State Department refused comment when I asked if the embassy included an Exxon/Mobil wing.
*Legislative Masturbation - Congress has extended funding for a core abstinence-education program established by the Bush administration. As I previously noted, the program is a demonstrable failure. "Their actions defy logic and common sense," said James Wagoner, president of Advocates for Youth. First, Congress funds what Mr. Wagoner called unproven abstinence programs. Then it commissions a study that shows they don't work, but lawmakers ignore those results and continue to fund the programs.” I was optimistic that the new Democratic congress, at a minimum, would not continue ineffective, counter-productive and wasteful programs established by a Republican-led legislature that was unfettered during Bush’s first six years. My disappointment is palpable.
*How do you want your burger? – Hold the E-Coli. Topps Meat Co. has recalled 22 million pounds or the equivalent of over 80,000,000 frozen hamburgers. The USDA said that 25 illnesses are under investigation in 8 states. I would suggest that the time to investigate is before product is shipped. U.S. regulatory agencies in recent years have been hampered by under-funding and a federal government philosophy of under-investigating. It will probably take 25 deaths before congressmen trip over each other calling for greater inspection of America’s food supply. Perhaps Joe Lieberman will introduce a resolution in the Senate condemning the E-Coli bacteria as a threat to the American people. This threat we know is real.
*Last minute holiday shopping - On September 30th, with only 86 days left until Christmas, Wal-Mart began cutting prices in its toy department. One game in particular caught my eye and I decided to rush over to my nearest neighborhood temple of shopping. With the price reduced from $18.96 to $10.00 I knew that “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” would not stay on the shelves for long. I was sure that the 535 senators and representatives in Congress would not pass up the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities, especially if the price is right. I ignored the sale on imported toothpaste.
*Can’t wait for the Olympics - A Philadelphia Inquirer editorial discussed the lack of management and the mismanagement of China’s environment. The devastating health implications for the world’s most populous country is daunting. It points out how government leadership is vital to a people’s well-being. The environmental degradation cited in the editorial leads a reasonable person to question the wisdom of consuming any edible product originating in China. If you plan on attending the Olympics in China next year it would be prudent to pack a large quantity of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Never mind. A large quantity of U.S. produced peanut butter was recently recalled for botulism infection. Go with jelly sandwiches.
*Speaking of environmental hazards - The number of environmental cases brought by the EPA between 2002 and 2006 is down 70% from that of the mid-nineties. This must be a good sign for our environment. No. The agency now employs only 85% of the minimum number of investigators required by law. Compounding the problem is the laissez faire approach the Bush administration has employed as a watch-dog of the environment and industry. This deficiency in oversight exacerbates the problem because polluters are emboldened to ignore anti-pollution laws. Can you say “perfect storm”?
A pro-environment Bush official – It has taken almost seven years to hear those words but DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff went on the record. He was defending the building of a wall along the Mexican border to keep out illegal immigrants. He said, "Illegal migrants really degrade the environment. I've seen pictures of human waste, garbage, discarded bottles and other human artifact in pristine areas. And believe me, that is the worst thing you can do to the environment." Mr. Chertoff did not comment on “lesser” things you can do to the environment such as greenhouse gasses, chemical waste being dumped into rivers and lakes, strip mining or not inspecting cargo from foreign countries that potentially contain nuclear, chemical or biological hazards.
~In a related story, the mayors of 4 Texas cities bordering Mexico object to the government’s building of the wall and have refused permits and access necessary to begin construction. This should make for some very interesting court cases.
*Don’t Be a Litter “Bug” – While Dept. of Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff is busy fighting trash I wonder if he saw the AP article about vulnerable germ research labs. “Federal terror-fighting agencies can't identify all the American research laboratories that could become targets of attackers, congressional investigators have found”. At least 409 facilities work with 72 of the world’s deadliest organisms and poisons “The Government Accountability Office asked a dozen agencies whether they kept track of all the labs handling dangerous germs and toxins, or knew the number. All responded negatively.” And please remember to pick up your human artifact when visiting a pristine area.
*Friends in high places policy - Last week I noted the higher cost of Blackwater contractors in Iraq performing the security job a soldier used to do. Some specifics: “A single Blackwater security contractor costs the government $1,222 per day to guard U.S. civilian personnel, or $445,000 per year. That's six times the cost than a U.S. Army soldier performing the same function.” Since 2003 Blackwater no-bid contracts have totaled $1,000,000,000 (billion). The CEO of Blackwater is Erik Prince. He has strong ties to the White House and his family is very influential in the Republican Party. His company employs many prominent Republicans including Joseph Schmitz. He was appointed by Bush in 2002 to "oversee and police the Pentagon's military contracts as the Defense Department's Inspector General." Can you say “cozy”?
*Society Page ~ Rudy and Bo hanging out - Rudy Giuliani did not attend the presidential debate addressing the concerns of Black America (he had also skipped the Latino Americans debate). His alibi was a scheduling issue. His “issue” was a fundraiser with Bo Derek at the Santa Barbara Biltmore. A West Coast party with the beautiful star of the movie “10”! Who could blame him? Well, any citizen looking for a presidential candidate that is serious about understanding their needs and problems.
*Flash Observations:
~ In the 2008 elections for the Senate, Democrats will be defending 12 seats while Republicans will have to defend 22. This could prove to be the Catch 22 that will minimize the GOP influence in Congress.
~In another Mea Culpa Post Factum Newt Gingerich says that the Republicans ran a cheap and nasty campaign against John Kerry in 2004. Ya think?
~The U.S. debt is approaching $10,000,000,000,000 (TRILLION). The amount equates to $30,000 for every citizen in this country. Allowing congress to continually raise the debt ceiling is akin to hiring Mel Gibson to be the bartender at a Bar Mitzvah.
~Australia has been steadfast in its support of the U.S. military action in Iraq. It has announced that it will not participate in any military action against Iran. It is alleged that Bush is contacting allies to gain support for his Iran policies. I believe that the disrespect that Bush has garnered internationally will leave him isolated on his Iran quest.
*Children of God - I have listened to all of the reasons that President Bush spewed in justifying his veto of health insurance for 10 million uninsured children. As usual, his narrow and myopic reasoning did not account for the future cost and misery that poor health for these youngsters and soon-to-be-adults will bring. He and his brethren stand upon their respective pulpits sermonizing about the sanctity of unborn babes. Once they navigate the womb, screw them.
*Republican strategy ~ subtle and practical – Thomas B. Edsall at the Huffington Post offered an interesting explanation as to why the Republican Party is doing everything it can to lose the presidential election in 2008.
“Perhaps Republican kingpins consider the best possible long-term strategy letting Democrats take over responsibility for the extraordinary mess Bush will leave behind. The next president will have to deal with Iraq, Iran with the bomb, biological and chemical threats, $8.98 trillion in national debt, global warming, rising gas prices, a Mideast on fire, overstretched troops, a legion of returning wounded soldiers, a country unprepared for its aging population, North Korea's supply of nuclear technology to Syria, a steadily eroding dollar, a surging China, and an exponential increase in the number of those who wish America ill.”
Bush believes that history will see him as another Winston Churchill. His successor best have the ability to part the Red Sea and turn water into wine.
*Friends of Mr. Clean – Mitt Romney recently said, "our numbers have shown that we are able to raise the money." While Hillary Clinton has been rightfully criticized for accepting money from fugitive Norman Hsu one hears little about Romney’s sugar daddies. Meet Alan Fabian, one of Mitt’s largest fundraisers. He is currently under indictment on 23 charges including fraud, money laundering, perjury, and obstruction of justice. Meet Robert Lichfield. Founder of Worldwide Association of Specialty Schools, Lichfield is named in a federal lawsuit charging that students of the "behavior modification" schools … were subjected to "physical abuse, emotional abuse and sexual abuse." The suit had 140 defendants at last count. Lichfield has been asked to resign his spot on the Romney finance team. Imagine the turpitude of the person Romney would appoint as Secretary of the Treasury. Also of interest is that 25% of the money raised by the Romney campaign has come from Mitt Romney. I guess there is something to be said for a self-starter.
*"Be not intimidated... nor suffer yourselves to be wheedled out of your liberties by any pretense of politeness, delicacy, or decency. These, as they are often used, are but three different namesfor hypocrisy, chicanery and cowardice."
John Adams (1735 – 1826), Founding Father, 2nd US President
Article IV of the U. S. Constitution:
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.
The First Amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
The founders of our country did not establish a Christian or any other religious nation. The founders established a secular nation. They were aware that many of the Europeans who first settled America were fleeing religious persecution, Christians fleeing Christians. The founders specifically required the separation of church and state to avoid such miscarriages in “the name of God”. And yes, I take offense to anyone who would undermine the bedrock of our freedoms.
*The Christian Right has announced it is considering forming a political party that would launch a presidential candidate. Perhaps they have come to the conclusion that in the foreseeable future they will not own another president as they did George W. Bush - lock, stock and bible.
*Don’t touch that dial – Free speech is “free speech” whether it is a Fourth of July parade, the Skinheads marching, the Ku Klux Klan prancing or Rush Limbaugh frothing. Under our system of democracy an individual or group has the freedom to express their point of view even if a minority or majority of citizens deem the message offensive or mindless. Many are now calling for Limbaugh to be removed from his very successful radio program. His recent remark that Iraq war vets who feel we should get out of Iraq were phony soldiers was offensive and mindless. Our Constitution and democratic tradition provide Mr. Limbaugh the right and freedom to speak his mind. We have the freedom to not listen.
*Words of wisdom - When you open your mouth your mind is on parade.
*A transmission with no “reverse” - For the first time I heard a reasonable explanation of why Bush and Cheney did not have an exit strategy for Iraq. Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) explains that they did not intend to leave. I guess this also explains the permanent huge military bases we have built in Iraq as well as the largest and most expensive embassy the U. S. has ever built. The State Department refused comment when I asked if the embassy included an Exxon/Mobil wing.
*Legislative Masturbation - Congress has extended funding for a core abstinence-education program established by the Bush administration. As I previously noted, the program is a demonstrable failure. "Their actions defy logic and common sense," said James Wagoner, president of Advocates for Youth. First, Congress funds what Mr. Wagoner called unproven abstinence programs. Then it commissions a study that shows they don't work, but lawmakers ignore those results and continue to fund the programs.” I was optimistic that the new Democratic congress, at a minimum, would not continue ineffective, counter-productive and wasteful programs established by a Republican-led legislature that was unfettered during Bush’s first six years. My disappointment is palpable.
*How do you want your burger? – Hold the E-Coli. Topps Meat Co. has recalled 22 million pounds or the equivalent of over 80,000,000 frozen hamburgers. The USDA said that 25 illnesses are under investigation in 8 states. I would suggest that the time to investigate is before product is shipped. U.S. regulatory agencies in recent years have been hampered by under-funding and a federal government philosophy of under-investigating. It will probably take 25 deaths before congressmen trip over each other calling for greater inspection of America’s food supply. Perhaps Joe Lieberman will introduce a resolution in the Senate condemning the E-Coli bacteria as a threat to the American people. This threat we know is real.
*Last minute holiday shopping - On September 30th, with only 86 days left until Christmas, Wal-Mart began cutting prices in its toy department. One game in particular caught my eye and I decided to rush over to my nearest neighborhood temple of shopping. With the price reduced from $18.96 to $10.00 I knew that “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” would not stay on the shelves for long. I was sure that the 535 senators and representatives in Congress would not pass up the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities, especially if the price is right. I ignored the sale on imported toothpaste.
*Can’t wait for the Olympics - A Philadelphia Inquirer editorial discussed the lack of management and the mismanagement of China’s environment. The devastating health implications for the world’s most populous country is daunting. It points out how government leadership is vital to a people’s well-being. The environmental degradation cited in the editorial leads a reasonable person to question the wisdom of consuming any edible product originating in China. If you plan on attending the Olympics in China next year it would be prudent to pack a large quantity of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Never mind. A large quantity of U.S. produced peanut butter was recently recalled for botulism infection. Go with jelly sandwiches.
*Speaking of environmental hazards - The number of environmental cases brought by the EPA between 2002 and 2006 is down 70% from that of the mid-nineties. This must be a good sign for our environment. No. The agency now employs only 85% of the minimum number of investigators required by law. Compounding the problem is the laissez faire approach the Bush administration has employed as a watch-dog of the environment and industry. This deficiency in oversight exacerbates the problem because polluters are emboldened to ignore anti-pollution laws. Can you say “perfect storm”?
A pro-environment Bush official – It has taken almost seven years to hear those words but DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff went on the record. He was defending the building of a wall along the Mexican border to keep out illegal immigrants. He said, "Illegal migrants really degrade the environment. I've seen pictures of human waste, garbage, discarded bottles and other human artifact in pristine areas. And believe me, that is the worst thing you can do to the environment." Mr. Chertoff did not comment on “lesser” things you can do to the environment such as greenhouse gasses, chemical waste being dumped into rivers and lakes, strip mining or not inspecting cargo from foreign countries that potentially contain nuclear, chemical or biological hazards.
~In a related story, the mayors of 4 Texas cities bordering Mexico object to the government’s building of the wall and have refused permits and access necessary to begin construction. This should make for some very interesting court cases.
*Don’t Be a Litter “Bug” – While Dept. of Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff is busy fighting trash I wonder if he saw the AP article about vulnerable germ research labs. “Federal terror-fighting agencies can't identify all the American research laboratories that could become targets of attackers, congressional investigators have found”. At least 409 facilities work with 72 of the world’s deadliest organisms and poisons “The Government Accountability Office asked a dozen agencies whether they kept track of all the labs handling dangerous germs and toxins, or knew the number. All responded negatively.” And please remember to pick up your human artifact when visiting a pristine area.
*Friends in high places policy - Last week I noted the higher cost of Blackwater contractors in Iraq performing the security job a soldier used to do. Some specifics: “A single Blackwater security contractor costs the government $1,222 per day to guard U.S. civilian personnel, or $445,000 per year. That's six times the cost than a U.S. Army soldier performing the same function.” Since 2003 Blackwater no-bid contracts have totaled $1,000,000,000 (billion). The CEO of Blackwater is Erik Prince. He has strong ties to the White House and his family is very influential in the Republican Party. His company employs many prominent Republicans including Joseph Schmitz. He was appointed by Bush in 2002 to "oversee and police the Pentagon's military contracts as the Defense Department's Inspector General." Can you say “cozy”?
*Society Page ~ Rudy and Bo hanging out - Rudy Giuliani did not attend the presidential debate addressing the concerns of Black America (he had also skipped the Latino Americans debate). His alibi was a scheduling issue. His “issue” was a fundraiser with Bo Derek at the Santa Barbara Biltmore. A West Coast party with the beautiful star of the movie “10”! Who could blame him? Well, any citizen looking for a presidential candidate that is serious about understanding their needs and problems.
*Flash Observations:
~ In the 2008 elections for the Senate, Democrats will be defending 12 seats while Republicans will have to defend 22. This could prove to be the Catch 22 that will minimize the GOP influence in Congress.
~In another Mea Culpa Post Factum Newt Gingerich says that the Republicans ran a cheap and nasty campaign against John Kerry in 2004. Ya think?
~The U.S. debt is approaching $10,000,000,000,000 (TRILLION). The amount equates to $30,000 for every citizen in this country. Allowing congress to continually raise the debt ceiling is akin to hiring Mel Gibson to be the bartender at a Bar Mitzvah.
~Australia has been steadfast in its support of the U.S. military action in Iraq. It has announced that it will not participate in any military action against Iran. It is alleged that Bush is contacting allies to gain support for his Iran policies. I believe that the disrespect that Bush has garnered internationally will leave him isolated on his Iran quest.
*Children of God - I have listened to all of the reasons that President Bush spewed in justifying his veto of health insurance for 10 million uninsured children. As usual, his narrow and myopic reasoning did not account for the future cost and misery that poor health for these youngsters and soon-to-be-adults will bring. He and his brethren stand upon their respective pulpits sermonizing about the sanctity of unborn babes. Once they navigate the womb, screw them.
*Republican strategy ~ subtle and practical – Thomas B. Edsall at the Huffington Post offered an interesting explanation as to why the Republican Party is doing everything it can to lose the presidential election in 2008.
“Perhaps Republican kingpins consider the best possible long-term strategy letting Democrats take over responsibility for the extraordinary mess Bush will leave behind. The next president will have to deal with Iraq, Iran with the bomb, biological and chemical threats, $8.98 trillion in national debt, global warming, rising gas prices, a Mideast on fire, overstretched troops, a legion of returning wounded soldiers, a country unprepared for its aging population, North Korea's supply of nuclear technology to Syria, a steadily eroding dollar, a surging China, and an exponential increase in the number of those who wish America ill.”
Bush believes that history will see him as another Winston Churchill. His successor best have the ability to part the Red Sea and turn water into wine.
*Friends of Mr. Clean – Mitt Romney recently said, "our numbers have shown that we are able to raise the money." While Hillary Clinton has been rightfully criticized for accepting money from fugitive Norman Hsu one hears little about Romney’s sugar daddies. Meet Alan Fabian, one of Mitt’s largest fundraisers. He is currently under indictment on 23 charges including fraud, money laundering, perjury, and obstruction of justice. Meet Robert Lichfield. Founder of Worldwide Association of Specialty Schools, Lichfield is named in a federal lawsuit charging that students of the "behavior modification" schools … were subjected to "physical abuse, emotional abuse and sexual abuse." The suit had 140 defendants at last count. Lichfield has been asked to resign his spot on the Romney finance team. Imagine the turpitude of the person Romney would appoint as Secretary of the Treasury. Also of interest is that 25% of the money raised by the Romney campaign has come from Mitt Romney. I guess there is something to be said for a self-starter.
*"Be not intimidated... nor suffer yourselves to be wheedled out of your liberties by any pretense of politeness, delicacy, or decency. These, as they are often used, are but three different namesfor hypocrisy, chicanery and cowardice."
John Adams (1735 – 1826), Founding Father, 2nd US President
Saturday, September 29, 2007
9/29/07
*Celebrating Bono – Heroes can be as scarce as truth. This week the Constitution Center in Philadelphia awarded the Liberty Medal to an unlikely Irish rock star of U2 fame. It is important that we learn about the accomplishments of this amazing individual. He is a symbol of how the human spirit can be channeled to benefit tens of millions of human beings suffering from poverty, disease, lack of education and miniscule opportunity. The organization that Bono helped found only 5 years ago, DATA, has brought together world leaders, countries and average citizens to make a major impact on Africa. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of DATA said these efforts “have supported Africans to support themselves.” When the honor roll of remarkable people of the 21st century is assembled, You Too, Bono, will be so remembered.
*Celebrating America – I just returned from horseback riding with a very close friend. It is one of the most beautiful days of the year. It reminded me that although it is too easy to criticize many of the things occurring in our country, there is not a better place to live in the world. Given the safety, freedoms and standard of living that most of us enjoy I at times wonder if there has ever been a better time and place to have existed on this planet. It is because of this special gift that we share that we must be vigilant and proactive. What we have inherited must not be intentionally or unintentionally dissipated and deprived from our children and their children.
*An interesting question – The droll comedian Steven Wright once posed the question, “What do you add to powdered water?” It came to mind when I pondered what our country will do about Iraq. President Bush will retire having bequeathed this debacle to the next administration and the country. Then what?
*Those damn kids! - Bush plans to ask congress for $200 billion more for the Iraq war. He is also planning to veto bipartisan legislation that would provide health insurance for 10 million children. The insurance would cost $12 billion annually, an amount equal to 41 days of Iraq funding. One day of Iraq funding would insure 246,000 children. One hour would insure over 10,000 children. One minute of Iraq war funding, sixty seconds, would insure 166 children.
*Louisiana gumbo – Recall Senator David Vitter (R-LA) the married “family values” guy exposed for multiple involvement with prostitutes. The New Orleans Times Picayune reports that he recently placed an earmark in a spending bill that gave $100,000 to a creationist group in Louisiana to push creationism in public schools. The recipient of the earmark is Louisiana Family Forum (LFF). Among their core values ...”life-long, faithful marriage is the first Human institution ordained by God and therefore, the basic, irreducible building block of society. We believe the value of marriage in a community will determine that community’s health, happiness, productivity and safety.” Politics and money sure make strange bedfellows. Attention LFF, “bedfellow” is not an accusation of homosexuality, it is an accusation of hypocrisy. (credit to dailykos.com for the background on this topic).
*Waterloo 3, The God gap – Last week I noted 2 developments that indicate the Republican future is not especially bright. Here is another interesting one. The so-called “God gap”—the 20-point advantage Republicans have held for a decade among Americans who attend religious services once a week or more—has been virtually cut in half, down from 22 points in 2004 to 12 points in 2006, according to the National Election Pool exit polls covering U.S. House races nationwide. Republican presidential candidates have decided to ignore Blacks and Latinos and concentrate on their perceived base. It appears that there are a lot of empty seats in the pews.
*The irony surrounding Nader - I found John Aravosis’ observations (americablog.com) concerning Ralph Nader running for President as an independent most interesting. Many feel that George W. Bush won the presidency because of the Democratic votes that Nader garnered instead of the votes going to Al Gore. As a result, many of the issues that Nader has spent his career trying to improve, product safety, the environment and the excessive influence of corporations have all deteriorated under the Bush administration. The topic has arisen because Nader is considering another presidential run. I understand the fact that he is unhappy with both political parties. Who isn’t? However, with absolutely no chance of winning a presidential election Mr. Nader must address what is the greater good. Diluting the Democratic vote possibly resulted in a Republican administration that trashed his goals. Will he chance it again?
*Oil industry oversight is an oil slick – I have been commenting on the failure of the federal government in its policing and oversight responsibilities. No better example is the Interior Department and its mission to collect billions of dollars annually from gas and oil companies that drill on federal land. An independent inspector’s report found that the Minerals Management Service “is troubled by mismanagement, ethical lapses and fears of retaliation against whistle-blowers. ...investigators found a “profound failure” in the agency’s technology for monitoring oil and gas payments”. This report brings to mind an event at the beginning of the Bush administration when VP Cheney held secret meetings with oil company executives to develop a U.S. energy policy. Secret. The Bush-Cheney-Republican-Oil Industry cabal represents as great a concern for Americans as does OPEC. The primary difference is that the OPEC cartel functions more in the public view.
*Mr. Potato Head – The man from Idaho, Senator Larry Craig (R), is an interesting study. In spite of being arrested recently for homosexual solicitation, this week he voted against the Matthew Shepard Act. The legislation expands federal hate crimes laws to include violence based on a victim's sexual orientation, gender, disability, and other factors. He voted against protecting himself.
*Not even a band aid - The Walter Reed Army Medical Center scandal in the spring revealed how ill-prepared our country is to take care of wounded military. Bush and members of congress promised to fix the problem. A new report by the Government Accountability Office found “the response to shoddy outpatient treatment at Walter Reed has been woefully inadequate….there has been little progress in rectifying staffing shortfalls, facilitating VA/DoD data sharing, and streamlining disability evaluation systems. Processing disability payments still takes an average of 177 days.” Seven months have passed and there has been little improvement. The President is what he is but the new Congress is a big disappointment. Regardless of one’s stance on the Iraq war caring for wounded military is not a political issue. It has become an issue of shame.
*Derriere Orifice of the Week ~ fools Rush in - Conservative radio talk show host and egomaniacal blowhard Rush Limbaugh said that those troops who come home and want to get America out of the middle of the religious civil war in Iraq are "phony soldiers" On tomorrow’s show Limbaugh will probably state that these brave men and women deserve the phony medical care they receive at Walter Reed.
*Chasing windmills ~ A Resolution– The Senate just condemned MoveOn for an advertisement. On Monday a resolution will be introduced in the House condemning Limbaugh for the “phony soldiers” remark. Today I submit the following resolution: We the people condemn the Senate and the House for taking the time to discuss and vote on meaningless resolutions that ignore free speech and that have absolutely nothing to do with addressing the problems confronting the United States of America.
*Flash observations:
~President Bush told a NYC school class, "Childrens do learn." It seems that adults dunt.
~President Bush’s nominee for General Counsel for the CIA, John Rizzo, has withdrawn his name from nomination. He is the man who wrote the memo “acceptable” interrogation techniques or, as sentient human beings would say, “torture”. We can hope that in the next administration his memo will have a similar demise.
~ A new trend in beauty-conscious Venezuela is to give girls breast implants for their 15th birthday. What ever happened to charm bracelets?
~If you are concerned with the dominant role the right and the religious right have had on the national discourse you may want to visit the web site People for the American Way. Their area of emphasis includes; independent judiciary, constitutional liberties, civil rights and equal rights; religious freedom.
~Bill Maher has very interesting comments at the Huffington Post. New Rule: Stop saying Iraq is another Vietnam, it is another Enron. He details some of the whistleblowers of Iraq mis-spending and their vilification.
~If Republican Senator Ted Stevens is to be given credit it is for fortitude and consistency. His Alaskan “bridge to nowhere” linking two little populated areas at a cost of $452 million has been scrapped. His solution is a high-speed ferry at a cost of $83 million, twice what the Navy estimated the cost to be. Of course the Navy did not budget kickbacks and payoffs to family, friends, lobbyists and political supporters.
~A House Oversight hearing found that a key reason why six nuclear warheads were loaded onto a cross-country military flight was a simple error: the Air Force base of departure stored its fake nuclear warheads with its real nuclear warheads. I would say simple and effective. A plan so stealth it fooled themselves.
~In June the House passed a bill that would strengthen background checks on gun buyers. The Sensate version, National Instant Check System (NICS) Improvement Act has been put on “hold” by Republican (surprise?) Senator Tom Coburn (OK). You can send emails to your senators from the Brady Campaign web site urging them to pass this important legislation.
*Some idealism and accountability would not hurt - The law requires candidates for the White House and members and candidates for the House of Representatives to file their campaign finance reports electronically. The Senate has attempted to pass a similar law. Each time it is brought up for consideration Republicans block it. If an elected official is not for transparency they should not be in office.
*Gung ho Genghis Khans - Republican senators Kyl (R-AZ) and Lieberman (R-at-large) have offered an amendment to a defense bill that would escalate the possibility of a military attack on Iran. These armchair warriors join Bush and Cheney to demonstrate who has the biggest trigger. Our aggressive militarism and impotent diplomacy have failed miserably. Solution – stay the course and kick it up a notch. In a mind-boggling vote 75% of the Senate voted for the amendment. Have they learned nothing from earlier votes that enabled the Bush-Neocon juggernaut? Please do not send emails telling me that Lieberman is not a Republican.
*Fantasia? - The Bush administration has made many accusations against Iran over the past year concerning its involvement with and weapons supply of Iraq Shiite militia. The media, almost joyously, repeat these claims. Less-mainstream media and a variety of experts have questioned the accuracy of such statements. Recall that claims about Iraq in 2002 were a crock of material scooped from the bull pen at the Crawford ranch. I do not doubt that the Iranian leadership presents a real danger to the Middle East and the world. I question whether our government is providing the truth. Tinker Bell and a government looking out for our best interests are both fantasies in the first decade of the 21st Century in America.
*Another corner, another shell game - We are 4 years into the Iraq war and Defense Secretary Gates tells congress that he has ordered U.S. military commanders in Iraq to crack down on any abuses they uncover by private security contractors. One of the primary functions of the contractors is to provide security for U.S. officials. No one leaves the Green Zone without a full security force. These contractors have operated with impunity and were suspected of abuses well before the most recent Blackwater incident. The abuses have been ignored because the US operation in Iraq cannot function without these contractors, mercenaries making more money than U.S. military personnel. In most cases they are former military and Gates admits that they lure soldiers with the higher wages. The Pentagon claims to have 180,000 U.S. troops on the ground but the Iraq operation is actually using a total of 350,000 people between military and contractors. The real surge began over 3 years ago when these contractors were authorized.
*Go global, go private, gone – Although little publicized, Blackwater (yes, that Blackwater), Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Arinc were recently awarded a collective $15 billion from the Pentagon to conduct global counter-narcotics operations. Yes, 15 followed by nine zeroes. Whatever happened to our army, our police force, our federal agents? Answer - the same thing that happened to U.S. domestic manufacturing – outsourced.
*Guantanamo Bay is an anathema to democratic principles and American tradition. It is symbolic of America’s deteriorating moral position and leadership position in the world community. It is symbolic of the misguided, poorly managed and amoral approach the Bush administration has taken to “protect” America. Our President is fond of pontificating about the “evil” governments of Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, Syria and most recently Myanmar. These are in fact dangerous regimes. However, our President has not looked in the mirror. Some of what he accuses these governments of doing are also being committed by himself under the banner “fighting terrorism.” While Mr. Bush is “defending” America he is also seriously damaging its heart – democracy. Amnesty International has a web site Tearitdown.org where you can sign a petition promoting human rights and advocating the elimination of Guantanamo and its practices.
*”You do not have to become a monster to defeat a monster.”
Bono, in remarks accepting the Liberty Medal on September 27, 2007
*Celebrating America – I just returned from horseback riding with a very close friend. It is one of the most beautiful days of the year. It reminded me that although it is too easy to criticize many of the things occurring in our country, there is not a better place to live in the world. Given the safety, freedoms and standard of living that most of us enjoy I at times wonder if there has ever been a better time and place to have existed on this planet. It is because of this special gift that we share that we must be vigilant and proactive. What we have inherited must not be intentionally or unintentionally dissipated and deprived from our children and their children.
*An interesting question – The droll comedian Steven Wright once posed the question, “What do you add to powdered water?” It came to mind when I pondered what our country will do about Iraq. President Bush will retire having bequeathed this debacle to the next administration and the country. Then what?
*Those damn kids! - Bush plans to ask congress for $200 billion more for the Iraq war. He is also planning to veto bipartisan legislation that would provide health insurance for 10 million children. The insurance would cost $12 billion annually, an amount equal to 41 days of Iraq funding. One day of Iraq funding would insure 246,000 children. One hour would insure over 10,000 children. One minute of Iraq war funding, sixty seconds, would insure 166 children.
*Louisiana gumbo – Recall Senator David Vitter (R-LA) the married “family values” guy exposed for multiple involvement with prostitutes. The New Orleans Times Picayune reports that he recently placed an earmark in a spending bill that gave $100,000 to a creationist group in Louisiana to push creationism in public schools. The recipient of the earmark is Louisiana Family Forum (LFF). Among their core values ...”life-long, faithful marriage is the first Human institution ordained by God and therefore, the basic, irreducible building block of society. We believe the value of marriage in a community will determine that community’s health, happiness, productivity and safety.” Politics and money sure make strange bedfellows. Attention LFF, “bedfellow” is not an accusation of homosexuality, it is an accusation of hypocrisy. (credit to dailykos.com for the background on this topic).
*Waterloo 3, The God gap – Last week I noted 2 developments that indicate the Republican future is not especially bright. Here is another interesting one. The so-called “God gap”—the 20-point advantage Republicans have held for a decade among Americans who attend religious services once a week or more—has been virtually cut in half, down from 22 points in 2004 to 12 points in 2006, according to the National Election Pool exit polls covering U.S. House races nationwide. Republican presidential candidates have decided to ignore Blacks and Latinos and concentrate on their perceived base. It appears that there are a lot of empty seats in the pews.
*The irony surrounding Nader - I found John Aravosis’ observations (americablog.com) concerning Ralph Nader running for President as an independent most interesting. Many feel that George W. Bush won the presidency because of the Democratic votes that Nader garnered instead of the votes going to Al Gore. As a result, many of the issues that Nader has spent his career trying to improve, product safety, the environment and the excessive influence of corporations have all deteriorated under the Bush administration. The topic has arisen because Nader is considering another presidential run. I understand the fact that he is unhappy with both political parties. Who isn’t? However, with absolutely no chance of winning a presidential election Mr. Nader must address what is the greater good. Diluting the Democratic vote possibly resulted in a Republican administration that trashed his goals. Will he chance it again?
*Oil industry oversight is an oil slick – I have been commenting on the failure of the federal government in its policing and oversight responsibilities. No better example is the Interior Department and its mission to collect billions of dollars annually from gas and oil companies that drill on federal land. An independent inspector’s report found that the Minerals Management Service “is troubled by mismanagement, ethical lapses and fears of retaliation against whistle-blowers. ...investigators found a “profound failure” in the agency’s technology for monitoring oil and gas payments”. This report brings to mind an event at the beginning of the Bush administration when VP Cheney held secret meetings with oil company executives to develop a U.S. energy policy. Secret. The Bush-Cheney-Republican-Oil Industry cabal represents as great a concern for Americans as does OPEC. The primary difference is that the OPEC cartel functions more in the public view.
*Mr. Potato Head – The man from Idaho, Senator Larry Craig (R), is an interesting study. In spite of being arrested recently for homosexual solicitation, this week he voted against the Matthew Shepard Act. The legislation expands federal hate crimes laws to include violence based on a victim's sexual orientation, gender, disability, and other factors. He voted against protecting himself.
*Not even a band aid - The Walter Reed Army Medical Center scandal in the spring revealed how ill-prepared our country is to take care of wounded military. Bush and members of congress promised to fix the problem. A new report by the Government Accountability Office found “the response to shoddy outpatient treatment at Walter Reed has been woefully inadequate….there has been little progress in rectifying staffing shortfalls, facilitating VA/DoD data sharing, and streamlining disability evaluation systems. Processing disability payments still takes an average of 177 days.” Seven months have passed and there has been little improvement. The President is what he is but the new Congress is a big disappointment. Regardless of one’s stance on the Iraq war caring for wounded military is not a political issue. It has become an issue of shame.
*Derriere Orifice of the Week ~ fools Rush in - Conservative radio talk show host and egomaniacal blowhard Rush Limbaugh said that those troops who come home and want to get America out of the middle of the religious civil war in Iraq are "phony soldiers" On tomorrow’s show Limbaugh will probably state that these brave men and women deserve the phony medical care they receive at Walter Reed.
*Chasing windmills ~ A Resolution– The Senate just condemned MoveOn for an advertisement. On Monday a resolution will be introduced in the House condemning Limbaugh for the “phony soldiers” remark. Today I submit the following resolution: We the people condemn the Senate and the House for taking the time to discuss and vote on meaningless resolutions that ignore free speech and that have absolutely nothing to do with addressing the problems confronting the United States of America.
*Flash observations:
~President Bush told a NYC school class, "Childrens do learn." It seems that adults dunt.
~President Bush’s nominee for General Counsel for the CIA, John Rizzo, has withdrawn his name from nomination. He is the man who wrote the memo “acceptable” interrogation techniques or, as sentient human beings would say, “torture”. We can hope that in the next administration his memo will have a similar demise.
~ A new trend in beauty-conscious Venezuela is to give girls breast implants for their 15th birthday. What ever happened to charm bracelets?
~If you are concerned with the dominant role the right and the religious right have had on the national discourse you may want to visit the web site People for the American Way. Their area of emphasis includes; independent judiciary, constitutional liberties, civil rights and equal rights; religious freedom.
~Bill Maher has very interesting comments at the Huffington Post. New Rule: Stop saying Iraq is another Vietnam, it is another Enron. He details some of the whistleblowers of Iraq mis-spending and their vilification.
~If Republican Senator Ted Stevens is to be given credit it is for fortitude and consistency. His Alaskan “bridge to nowhere” linking two little populated areas at a cost of $452 million has been scrapped. His solution is a high-speed ferry at a cost of $83 million, twice what the Navy estimated the cost to be. Of course the Navy did not budget kickbacks and payoffs to family, friends, lobbyists and political supporters.
~A House Oversight hearing found that a key reason why six nuclear warheads were loaded onto a cross-country military flight was a simple error: the Air Force base of departure stored its fake nuclear warheads with its real nuclear warheads. I would say simple and effective. A plan so stealth it fooled themselves.
~In June the House passed a bill that would strengthen background checks on gun buyers. The Sensate version, National Instant Check System (NICS) Improvement Act has been put on “hold” by Republican (surprise?) Senator Tom Coburn (OK). You can send emails to your senators from the Brady Campaign web site urging them to pass this important legislation.
*Some idealism and accountability would not hurt - The law requires candidates for the White House and members and candidates for the House of Representatives to file their campaign finance reports electronically. The Senate has attempted to pass a similar law. Each time it is brought up for consideration Republicans block it. If an elected official is not for transparency they should not be in office.
*Gung ho Genghis Khans - Republican senators Kyl (R-AZ) and Lieberman (R-at-large) have offered an amendment to a defense bill that would escalate the possibility of a military attack on Iran. These armchair warriors join Bush and Cheney to demonstrate who has the biggest trigger. Our aggressive militarism and impotent diplomacy have failed miserably. Solution – stay the course and kick it up a notch. In a mind-boggling vote 75% of the Senate voted for the amendment. Have they learned nothing from earlier votes that enabled the Bush-Neocon juggernaut? Please do not send emails telling me that Lieberman is not a Republican.
*Fantasia? - The Bush administration has made many accusations against Iran over the past year concerning its involvement with and weapons supply of Iraq Shiite militia. The media, almost joyously, repeat these claims. Less-mainstream media and a variety of experts have questioned the accuracy of such statements. Recall that claims about Iraq in 2002 were a crock of material scooped from the bull pen at the Crawford ranch. I do not doubt that the Iranian leadership presents a real danger to the Middle East and the world. I question whether our government is providing the truth. Tinker Bell and a government looking out for our best interests are both fantasies in the first decade of the 21st Century in America.
*Another corner, another shell game - We are 4 years into the Iraq war and Defense Secretary Gates tells congress that he has ordered U.S. military commanders in Iraq to crack down on any abuses they uncover by private security contractors. One of the primary functions of the contractors is to provide security for U.S. officials. No one leaves the Green Zone without a full security force. These contractors have operated with impunity and were suspected of abuses well before the most recent Blackwater incident. The abuses have been ignored because the US operation in Iraq cannot function without these contractors, mercenaries making more money than U.S. military personnel. In most cases they are former military and Gates admits that they lure soldiers with the higher wages. The Pentagon claims to have 180,000 U.S. troops on the ground but the Iraq operation is actually using a total of 350,000 people between military and contractors. The real surge began over 3 years ago when these contractors were authorized.
*Go global, go private, gone – Although little publicized, Blackwater (yes, that Blackwater), Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Arinc were recently awarded a collective $15 billion from the Pentagon to conduct global counter-narcotics operations. Yes, 15 followed by nine zeroes. Whatever happened to our army, our police force, our federal agents? Answer - the same thing that happened to U.S. domestic manufacturing – outsourced.
*Guantanamo Bay is an anathema to democratic principles and American tradition. It is symbolic of America’s deteriorating moral position and leadership position in the world community. It is symbolic of the misguided, poorly managed and amoral approach the Bush administration has taken to “protect” America. Our President is fond of pontificating about the “evil” governments of Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, Syria and most recently Myanmar. These are in fact dangerous regimes. However, our President has not looked in the mirror. Some of what he accuses these governments of doing are also being committed by himself under the banner “fighting terrorism.” While Mr. Bush is “defending” America he is also seriously damaging its heart – democracy. Amnesty International has a web site Tearitdown.org where you can sign a petition promoting human rights and advocating the elimination of Guantanamo and its practices.
*”You do not have to become a monster to defeat a monster.”
Bono, in remarks accepting the Liberty Medal on September 27, 2007
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