Nobody Could Have Predicted...

STILL BASHING KERRY

Mark Hyman (GOP Attack Weasel), used his New Year’s Eve “The Point” propaganda commentary to take another potshot at John Kerry. Apparently, there was a bill being voted on in the Senate to extend unemployment benefits to victims of the Bush Recovery which failed to pass by one vote. Hyman went on to state that Kerry had supported the bill yet was absent from the voting and suggested that Kerry should have been there to vote if he seriously supported the legislation. Of course he doesn’t say who voted against the bill. Any guesses? He doesn’t say when this bill was before the Senate. I checked the recent roll call votes and could not find it. If it wasn’t a roll call vote, why does Hyman have such an interest in how Kerry voted; a personal vendetta perhaps. Finally, he doesn’t say what the vote count was, only that it lost by one vote. In that case, Kerry’s vote would have made it a tie and therefore inconsequential knowing who breaks the ties in the Senate. The bigger story is who opposed extending the benefits. Further, since Mr. Hyman did not provide the actual vote count, it is not possible to determine from his ranting whether any other absent Senators could have provided the deciding vote margin.

Why waste any energy in belittling Kerry as the election is over unless there’s a miracle in the outcome of the disputed Ohio vote? We know that Hyman and Sinclair Broadcasting will use the public airways to promote the GOP agenda. Is it possible that they will also use the public airways for what could be considered a personal assault with personal motivations? Maybe they’re worried that the public has buyer’s remorse with gwb and want to boost junior by deriding Kerry. Or, just another diversion to keep the focus off of Bush's handling of the Asian disaster.

Opinion: Some commentators have suggested that the Bush administration has squandered a good opportunity to “mend bridges” with the Muslim world by not coming out with a bold, steadfast plan of action to aid the victims of the tsunami. The administration has sent Colin Powell (lame duck) out to try to quell the criticism and defend Bush’s action, or inaction, as the case may be. Even with his diminished credibility, Powell is still the most credible spokesperson in the administration. The point I want to make here is that I don’t believe they care one bit about “mending bridges” any more than they want to find bi-partisan solutions to our nation’s problems. Their actions to date show a contempt for compromise and diplomacy and likely consider them signs of weakness. Foreign policy seems to be a new “manifest destiny” with help from BALCO.

Observation: After much criticism about the delay in speaking out about the devastation caused by the tsunami, gwb has now personally appeared twice and the amount of relief aid pledged has increased to $350 million. The main stream media (MSM) reports that I’ve seen then go on to list the pledges of other nations such as Great Britain, Japan, Germany and France. Not once has the list included a Muslim nation. Not once has the list included Russia, China or North Korea. Not once has the list included our good friends the Saudis. So what gives? Are these nations not joining in the world-wide relief effort or is their contribution just not being reported? If it’s the latter, is this to prevent further embarrassment? Would the MSM slant the news to protect gwb? Caveat: It’s quite possible I just haven’t seen the reports naming all the countries providing assistance. I guess it’s one of those known unknowns which Rummy likes to talk about.

Other Thoughts: Instead of sending Jeb to view the destruction, gwb should go himself because from the pictures I've seen so far, they could really use his "brush clearing" prowess.

Other Points to Ponder: Why is Colin Powell the face of the administration in dealing with the tsunami tragedy? Why haven't we been seeing much of Condoleeza Rice's lying mug much lately? Will Kerry stand up for America one more time and contest the electors from Ohio? Is Tucker Carlson light in the loafers? Will there ever be any justice in the Valerie Plame affair? What's going on in the Katrina Leung case? Why is Robert Novak a free man?