Nobody Could Have Predicted...

Bushed Economy

2008-07-08T14:36:00.000-07:00

After a couple of years of devoting time and energy to this blog, I've found I cannot sustain it without some $ coming in. Now, thanks to the Bush economy, I'm losing my house.

Anybody Know the Rationale Behind the Forced Conversion to Digital TV?

2007-10-19T11:36:00.000-07:00

What's up with this? Has anyone "followed the money" to see what sort of influence was applied to force this conversion. I certainly don't feel like shelling out any $ for new TV or a conversion box gizmo even with the supposed government issued coupons or vouchers.

You Call This Supporting the Troops?

2007-10-11T08:41:00.000-07:00

From WCSH6.com, Minnesota:

When they came home from Iraq, 2,600 members of the Minnesota National Guard had been deployed longer than any other ground combat unit. The tour lasted 22 months and had been extended as part of President Bush's surge.

Casco Bay Ford 1st Lt. Jon Anderson said he never expected to come home to this: A government refusing to pay education benefits he says he should have earned under the GI bill. "It's pretty much a slap in the face," Anderson said. "I think it was a scheme to save money, personally. I think it was a leadership failure by the senior Washington leadership... once again failing the soldiers."

Anderson's orders, and the orders of 1,161 other Minnesota guard members, were written for 729 days.Had they been written for 730 days, just one day more, the soldiers would receive those benefits to pay for school."Which would be allowing the soldiers an extra $500 to $800 a month," Anderson said.

Repost from June, 2006: Rush Limbaugh's Convenient "Bad Back"

2007-10-10T12:28:00.000-07:00

Now that Rush is back in the news with yet another "drug" story, maybe it's time to re-question the original excuses he used to persuade his followers his addiction could have happened to anyone.

Back in 2003, during a golf tournament, Rush claimed he had no physical limitations. Yet, when he admitted to being hooked on pain killers, he claimed it was because of chronic back pain. So, why would he tell an interviewer he had nothing wrong with him physically since this is a built-in excuse for being a shitty golfer. What is more likely is he's being less than honest about his addiction when he claims it's the result of his bad back.

AMERICAN CENTURY CHAMPIONSHIP

July 17, 2003
Pre Round

An interview with:

RUSH LIMBAUGH

Q. How did your game go today?

RUSH LIMBAUGH: Well, this is the third day I've played this week, and it was -- this is nothing to write home about. Last four holes, maybe, I played like I'm capable of. But I was doing things today that I haven't done in two years, topping drives and a number of other things.

But it's good to get a round like this out of the system when it doesn't count. Makes the amateur partners feel really good. So it all turned out for the best.

I mean, my attitude is, I'm just grateful to be here. I'm not a golfer. Thank God I don't make my living at it, and I feel very lucky, very privileged just to be able to participate in something like this.

Q. What was the big bother, was it the number of people watching you?

RUSH LIMBAUGH: You know, I've played the Bob Hope three times and the AT&T twice. It wasn't bad. It's just the game is mental. Once you've mastered the physical aspect, not mastered, but 90 percent of the game, all of the other things being equal is mental, and for some reason, I just was not able to execute my swing today.

And I think it had nothing to do with physical characteristics. There's nothing wrong with me. I think it's just for whatever reason, maybe I was tired, I have no idea what it was. And that's the thing that frustrates me about the game, I'll go play well two rounds, come out and do today and not really know why I did poorly. But that's what makes me an amateur.

Why is it that some blogger with Google can come up with this interview and nobody in the MSM ever mentions it?

Read the Inteview For Yourself

Oddly enough, Rush had a convenient cyst or convenient knee injury to keep him out of the draft during Vietnam. Plus, Rush had convenient excuse for carrying Viagra without a prescription upon his return from the Dominican Republic. Anyone notice a pattern?

One might be wise too to note exactly why the Domincan Republic is a preferred destination by some travelers.

Rush Limbaugh: Phony American

2007-10-10T12:15:00.000-07:00

You don't support your country by trying to divide it!

You don't support your country by putting party over country!

Other than shoot off your mouth, what have you done?

It's Not Rape. It's an Enhanced Intercourse Submission Technique!

2007-10-07T15:55:00.000-07:00

Explaining the SCHIP Veto

2007-10-07T11:13:00.000-07:00

A New Jeff Gannon?

2007-09-20T15:26:00.000-07:00

Lobbing loaded, softball questions to GWB during press conferences was his stock-in-trade along with being a gay, male prostitute. Someone had to fill his shoes, so to speak. Has a new shill been planted in the White House Press Corp?

Here's Gannon's question that made him stand out:

Thank you. Senate Democratic leaders have painted a very bleak picture of the U.S. economy. [Senate Minority Leader] Harry Reid [D-NV] was talking about soup lines. And [Senator] Hillary Clinton [D-NY] was talking about the economy being on the verge of collapse. Yet in the same breath they say that Social Security is rock solid and there's no crisis there. How are you going to work -- you've said you are going to reach out to these people -- how are you going to work with people who seem to have divorced themselves from reality?

Here's the loaded, softball question from today:

What is your reaction to the Moveon.org that mocked General Petraeus as General Betrayus? Said that he cooked the books on Iraq. Secondly, would you like to see democrats, including presidential candidates, repudiate that ad?

Of course, Bush used the opportunity to denigrate the entire democratic party and its members as not supporting the military. What a bunch of whining crybabies the GOP has become. Petraeus is condemned by his own record of rosy projections, political calculation and abject failure. Just how many Iraqi forces are standing up so we can stand down thanks to the training program he was responsible for?

His presentation to Congress should be run through one of those prgrams that professors and teachers use to ferret out plagiarism. It sure would be interesting to see the results.

Not That I Really Care but...

2007-09-18T13:01:00.000-07:00

Way too much reporting on OJ to not have seen some of it. Also, lots of talk about whether he's been treated fairly or given preferential treatment. One thing struck me as odd since it appeared that when taken into custody, OJ hands were not handcuffed together. I've never seen a person whose hands were handcuffed behind his back be able to put one hand in his front pocket. I saw another video where it appeared only one hand was in cuffs, but I can't find it anywhere. Again, not that I care, but it did seem a bit odd.

2007-09-13T10:52:00.000-07:00

And don't you think that it's an affront to capitalism to give away a service that someone else charges for?

Albatross Gonzales Resigns: Can't Recall Why or When

2007-08-27T17:22:00.000-07:00

President Bush said of Gonzales he was a man of integrity, decency and principle. Of course he didn't say competent.

Check the Math

2007-08-27T10:55:00.000-07:00

News report state there is a bullet shortage being experienced by domestic law enforcement due to the U.S. military expending 1 billion rounds per year. Granted, there are two occupations and ongoing training, but 1 billion seems like an awful lot of bullets.

1,000,000,000/365 = 2,739,726 per day
2,739,726/24 = 114,155 per hour
114,155/60 = 1,902 per minute
1902/60 = 31 per second, every second

Seriously, that's a shitload of bullets!

Does This Make Sense?

2007-08-06T11:54:00.000-07:00

Michael Vick arrested for operating dog fighting ring.

On the other hand,

Toughman, Ultimate Fighting, Kage Kombat and other forms of brawling are full of surprises. But the biggest may be that "extreme fighting," a sport once on the verge of being banned, is enjoying increasing regulatory approval and drawing big crowds. USA Today

Yes, I am aware that human fighters have a choice whether to participate which distinguishes the two forms of spectator entertainment but as a matter of perspective...

"You know, they say you can tell a lot about a man by the company he keeps." George W. Bush

2007-07-30T10:28:00.000-07:00

Image 'borrowed' from bartcop.com

LYING FOR DUMMIES

2007-07-28T08:58:00.000-07:00

Check out News For Real for a great primer on how to lie under oath and avoid the consequences.

Why Pelosi and Conyers Are Wrong on Impeachment

2007-07-24T14:22:00.000-07:00

Imagine a prosecutor who has irrefutable evidence of criminal activity refusing to bring charges for fear of jury nullification after trial. That is, after being presented with 'beyond a reasonable doubt' evidence, the jury acquits the accused regardless of proof that the law was broken by the defendant. That is analogous to senate republicans voting to acquit after presentation of the multitude of crimes of the Bush/Cheney criminal enterprise.

The 2008 ad campaign virtually writes itself if the senate republicans vote along party lines to acquit. For example:

On August 15, 2007 the senate was presented with proof that President Bush and Vice-President Cheney, along with various members of the administration, embarked upon a scheme to promote an illegal invasion of the sovereign country of Iraq using lies, falsehoods, half-truths, cherry-picked information and forged documents. So far, this crime has cost the lives of over 3700 American soldiers, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis at a cost of over a ½ trillion dollars.

Yet when presented with this proof, Mitch McConnell (R-Cabbage Patch), voted for his party instead of his country. His partisanship trumps the rule-of-law. He places his loyalty to George Bush above his loyalty to his party. He has in fact violated his own oath of office to protect the Constitution and follow the laws which define us. If you believe no man is above the law or that no political party is above the law, vote for _____.

So for Pelosi and Conyers to say that impeachment is "off the table" because they would not be able to convict in the Senate may be wrong if the republicans in the senate fear the electoral repercussions of acquittal. There is already considerable speculation that the GOP will lose seats in 2008. Imagine incumbents having to answer to an already angry electorate for failing to punish George Bush and Dick Cheney.

Make the republicans prove they love their country more than the liars occupying the highest office in the land. If they don't, hammer the point home again and again that their loyalties are misguided . Especially if they happened to have also voted to convict Bill Clinton for his transgressions.

What Will I Tell My Children?

2007-07-20T09:32:00.000-07:00

Daddy, what's a hooker?

Daddy, what's diaper fetish?

Daddy, is a DC Madam the opposite of an AC Madam.

Daddy, is there any such thing as a AC/DC Madam.

Daddy, who's Lorena Bobbitt and why was that woman in the hideous dress crying?

Daddy, why did a gay, male prostitute visit the White House over 200 times?

Daddy, what's a hippo crit?

Pickup Truck Diplomacy Just Not Everything It's Cracked Up to Be.

2007-07-14T12:51:00.000-07:00

Here's an article from Kathleen Parker in Nov. 2001. I wonder if given the relationship with Russia is at its lowest point since the cold war, she might consider a revision.

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/kathleen/parker050102.asp

Note: I ran across this 'article' when doing a search on Bush's much lauded instincts. You know, the instincts which were substituted for research, contemplation and reasoned decisions. You know, the instincts which George Will gushed were 'normally impeccable.'

So George, Which Is It?

2007-07-10T14:55:00.000-07:00

We were promised, among other things, that your administration would be 'transparent' in its governance. You've stated many times that nations such as North Korea and Iran have non-transparent governments and that poses a problem to the U.S., the world and to the citizens of those countries. You've said that transparency is necessary for a functioning democracy. Now, once again, your administration is trying to keep its operations secret by invoking 'executive privilege' to impede a congressional investigation. Once again, the lame need for 'unfettered advice' talking point is being thrown around by your apologists and spokeswhores.

How do you square what you say with what you do?

CORRUPTION and THE MODERN DAY GOP

2007-07-06T11:48:00.000-07:00

It's not just a "Culture of Corruption," it's a "Confluence of Corruption." As Ambassador Wilson opined, the corruption is "to the core." Nearly every day brings another outrage. Nearly every day there's evidence that self-interested political considerations and not good governance is the norm and not the exception. We've been told so many lies, so often, and by so many different perpetrators that it's difficult to get a handle on just how pervasive this cancer on American society has become. Yet, the media still refuses to call liars, liars. Yet the media still refuses to call thieves, thieves. Yet the media refuses to call traitors, traitors.

2007-04-25T13:33:00.000-07:00

(snark)The war is not lost. In fact, we're making progress. Just give the surge at least one Friedman Unit before declaring the surge ineffective. (/snark)

Micro-Management vs. Mismanagement

2007-04-24T09:25:00.000-07:00

Which do you prefer?

Down Memory Lane

2007-03-20T11:14:00.000-07:00

Do you remember Travelgate. To hear the GOP at the time, it was a major scandal worthy of a congressional committee investigation. Of course, like most scandals during the Clinton era, either it was grossly exaggerated, an outright fabrication or lies by omission but nevertheless producing mountains of feigned outrage. Like the federal prosecutors, the Travel Office staff "serve at the pleasure of the President." How very different the reaction by GOP apologists, however.

To read more and learn some of the facts about the faux scandal go to

http://archives.cjr.org/year/96/2/travelgate.asp

More Loon Hypocrisy

2007-03-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex.): . . . I believe that this nation sits at a crossroads. One direction points to the higher road of the rule of law. Sometimes hard, sometimes unpleasant, this path relies on truth, justice and the rigorous application of the principle that no man is above the law.

Now, the other road is the path of least resistance. This is where we start making exceptions to our laws based on poll numbers and spin control. This is when we pitch the law completely overboard when the mood fits us, when we ignore the facts in order to cover up the truth.

Shall we follow the rule of law and do our constitutional duty no matter unpleasant, or shall we follow the path of least resistance, close our eyes to the potential lawbreaking, forgive and forget, move on and tear an unfixable hole in our legal system? No man is above the law, and no man is below the law. That's the principle that we all hold very dear in this country.

The president has many responsibilities and many privileges. His chief responsibility is to uphold the laws of this land. He does not have the privilege to break the law. . . . October 9, 1998

I guess, unlike federeal prosecutors, the staff at the White House Travel Office under Clinton did not "serve at the pleasure of the President."

Remember the fake outrage about the firings of staff who plan travel itineraries by dolts like Tom Delay who now dispute the seriousness of the politically motivated and likely illegal conspiracy to fire federal prosecutors.

Thanks to Sixty Minutes

2007-03-17T14:22:00.000-07:00

Thankfully, there are no really important issues to deal with so that Sixty Minutes has the opportunity to do a segment tomorrow night on Simon Cowell of American Idol fame. Now that's what I call hard-hitting, investigative journalism that keeps the American electorate informed.

Are we there yet?

2007-03-16T09:42:00.000-07:00

Have we reached that point where there's an 'appearance of impropriety' from the Bush administration? You know, that promise that was made back in 2000-2001 that they would act like adults unlike the previous adminstration, operate with transparency and be so ethical there would not even be an appearance of impropriety!

Secretary of Veteran Affairs: Jim Nicholson

2007-03-09T12:58:00.000-08:00

Anyone who's followed Bush's appointments to critical positions is accutely aware that job qualifications are often overlooked in favor of partisan cronies such as Michael Brown of FEMA infamy. Now, with the scandal at Walter Reed and the deplorable conditions that wounded vets were forced to endure, perhaps it's time to review the qualifications of Jim Nicholson who Bush appointed to as Secretary of Veteran Affairs in 1994.

ABC has a short bio of Nicholson at the time of the appointment and subsequent unanimous confirmation by the Senate. It's important to note that the Department of Veteran Affairs is the second largest department in the federal government with 220,000 employees and provides various levels of health care services to 25 million veterans. One would assume then that anyone slated to head such a department would have significant experience and background in managing such an agency possibly with some medical background as well.

Jim Nicholson has an impressive resume. He graduated from West Point in 1961 and went to Vietnam where as an Army Ranger he was highly decorated. He was on active duty for 8 years and in the reserve for 22 years finally retiring as a full colonel. He received his masters degree in Public Policy and a law degree from the University of Denver. It is unknown to this author whether he ever took or passed a bar exam or practiced law. When it comes to government service, other than in the military, his job experience seems to be limited to being Ambassador to the Vatican. But, he held one position that would seem to make him abundantly qualified for a position in the Bush administration; Chairman of the Republican National Committee.

This resume, while impressive, does not seem to this author to suggest any experience in managing such a large and critically important department. But hey, I could be wrong.

2007-02-27T09:00:00.000-08:00

Yeah, What's Worse?

2007-02-16T13:25:00.000-08:00

what's worse…that the Iranian government does know or that they don't know?

This is one of the new White House talking points about supposed Iranian involvement in supplying IED to Iraqi insurgents. This same logic may be applied to another situation as well. Namely, the Plame Gate scandal.

So, did Bush know that a large contingent of his administration was actively trying to discredit Joseph Wilson for challenging a pre-war assertion about yellow-cake uranium from Niger and exposed Wilson's wife's undercover CIA identity in the process or was all he unaware that all this was happening right under his nose?

Simply stated, was he complicit or feckless?

Impeach the cheerleader. Save the world!

Since when is this okay?

2007-02-14T15:09:00.000-08:00

Q Thank you, Mr. President. Sir, we've now learned through sworn testimony that at least three members of your administration, other than Scooter Libby, leaked Valerie Plame's identity to the media. None of these three is known to be under investigation. Without commenting on the Libby trial, then, can you tell us whether you authorized any of these three to do that, or were they authorized without your permission?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, thanks, Pete. I'm not going to talk about any of it.

Q They're not under investigation, though?

THE PRESIDENT: Peter, I'm not going to talk about any of it.

Q How about pardons, sir? Many people are asking whether you might pardon --

THE PRESIDENT: Not going to talk about it, Peter. (Laughter.) Would you like to think of another question? Being the kind man that I am, I will recycle you. (Laughter.)
John.

Q Thank you --

THE PRESIDENT: You like that one? "Recycling" him. (Laughter.)

Q That took care of one of my questions, as well, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: If that's the case, sit down. Next question. (Laughter.)

Yeah, that's all pretty amusing. A White House Leak Fest of a CIA officer's identity to cover up all the lies about Iraq just makes me want to split a gut. The only thing more disgusting than the president refusing to answer questions is the press tolerance and/or approval of this behavior. These people make me sick!

IMPEACHMENT NOW!!!!!!!

Only the Bad News

2007-02-09T16:02:00.000-08:00

Why is the liberal media only reporting the bad news about Anna Nicole Smith's death?

2007-02-07T12:50:00.000-08:00

For a few good laughs from the biting wit at Ironic Times...

Today's Complaints

2007-01-30T12:48:00.000-08:00

Apparently, there's a news blackout by the major MSM on the Scooter Libby trial. Too bad they didn't show this same 'restraint' when it came the Scott Peterson trial or any, and I mean any, allegation made against Bill Clinton.

Also, February is a 'sweeps' month where advertising revenues are tied to viewership during the month. As has been the practice in the last few years, the networks put on 'better' or more sensational programming than during the rest of the year. Additionally, they employ the deplorable practice of hinting or saying that one of the characters on a show is about to meet his/her untimely demise to appeal to our morbid curiosity of the viewers. This probably bothers me more than it should, but so what.

Ed Naha Cracks Me Up...

2007-01-25T22:21:00.000-08:00

Lizzie Cheney Took An Ax... by Ed Naha

Rhetorical Vomit

2007-01-24T11:29:00.000-08:00

What little I saw of the rhetorical vomit passing itself off as the State of the Union Address reminded me of bad sit-com writing where a punchline if delivered and then the laugh-track inserted. Here, it's the obligatory 'insert applause here' cadence of the speech with the assorted minions obligingly clapping at the appropriate time. Lord, it's difficult to watch.

Office Pool

2007-01-19T12:52:00.000-08:00

The Chinese government successfully destroyed one of their orbiting sattelites with a missile.

What's your guess on how long it will take for the right-wing media machine to erroneously blame this on the sale of missile guidance technology by Bill Clinton?

My guess. They already have, I've just not heard it yet.

A Tale of Two Criminals

2007-01-05T10:42:00.000-08:00

Worth a Read

Line Item Veto

2007-01-03T10:12:00.000-08:00

Bush was on the tube again today promoting the idea that Congress should give him a "line-item veto." Two things struck me about this request:

1. Bush holds himself out as a 'strict constructionist' yet this line-item veto proposal is not found in the Constitution.

2. The Supreme Court has already ruled the line-item veto as unconstitutional.

WHY ONLY BAD NEWS?

2006-12-20T10:19:00.000-08:00

Why is it that we only get the bad news from Mt. Hood? Why not report the good news that the Timberline Lodge is doing a brisk business? Or why not report that the weather cleared and thousands of skiing enthusiasts were enjoying the slopes? Yet, the media, with their thinly veiled bias and ulterior motives, only reports on discovery of the body of one of the unfortunate hikers and the presumed deaths of two more. To paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld, "When flying over Mt. Hood, it's not as though the terrain is littered with the bodies of ill-equipped hikers."

Impeach the Cheerleader, Save the World!

2006-12-11T12:56:00.000-08:00

For a great post regarding this go to:

Impeach the Cheerleader, Save the World!

Rummy's Worst Day: Who Would of Thought It Would Not Be 9/11/2001?

2006-12-10T12:37:00.000-08:00

When asked about his best day and his worst day in office

"Clearly, the worst day was Abu Ghraib, seeing what went on there and feeling so deeply sorry that that happened,"

Rummy felt so badly about seeing the abuses at Abu Ghraib that his first official response was to make sure he and the American people would not see any more disturbing pictures and videos of abuses and crimes by prohibiting the use or possession of cameras which might be used to create a visual record of them.

Common Dreams

I thought his worst day might have been the day 19 fanatics hijacked 4 planes, slammed two of them into two World Trade Center buildings somehow causing 3 of them to collapse. Of course, this event was seen as an opportunity to get the war they wanted, so for him, maybe it wasn't such a bad day after all.

Kind of reminds of the response his boss gave to a question at the end of 2001. "All in all, it's been a pretty good year for Laura and me." If you don't count finding out that the oceans no longer protected us that is.

2006-12-08T10:51:00.000-08:00

Between the four women who wore the same designer dress, they spent $34,000. But of course mentioning the gap between the well-to-do and the working men and women of this country is not to be tolerated. By the well-to-do that is.

2006-12-07T11:17:00.000-08:00

Like peer-reviewed scientific studies which come to conclusions which do not coincide with those held by the adminstration, the ISG report will be spun, discounted and ignored.

IMPEACH THE CHEERLEADER, SAVE THE WORLD!

2006-12-04T13:31:00.000-08:00

Looking for a few "Heroes" in the House of Representatives who won't let crimes go unprosecuted.

Real Fake News

2006-12-04T10:40:00.000-08:00

Not to be confused with Fox News' fake news, the Onion and Ironic Times are the forebearers to The Daily Show and the Colbert Report which feature some very creative minds lampooning just about anybody or anything. Today's Ironic Times had one that made me laugh out loud such that I thought it worthy of repetition here:

Bush Wants $500 Million to
Build His Legacy Library

In the form of gigantic pit.

2006-11-22T09:58:00.000-08:00

So many lies, so little accountability!

2006-11-16T09:07:00.000-08:00

So many crimes, you pick one!

The War Rages On...

2006-11-13T14:13:00.000-08:00

The war on the 'war on Christmas' that is. Last night while channel surfing, I happened upon Jabba Falwell's Liberty University money machine promo. He's asking for 1 million people to sign some petition, no doubt with some request for money to go along with it, to force everyone to say "Merry Chistmas" instead of the generic, cultually sensitive "Happy Holidays." Anyway, last year's 'made up' War on Christmas is being brought to us again by Jabba who's employing this common device to rile people up. Namely, that they, or their beliefs, or their well-being, or whatever is somehow under some perceived threat. This is how you get people motivated and to get them to send you money. It's a shame that this non-existent 'war on Christmas' will be used to further divide our society and help spoil what should be a joyus celebration, a coming together if you will. But they benefit from fabricating these 'threats' just as those in power benefit from keeping people in fear.

POST ELECTION COMMENTARY

2006-11-09T11:11:00.000-08:00

Almost without exception, the mainstream media talking heads have expressed the same notion. That is, that the election was about the unpopular war in Iraq. They are so consistent, it's almost as though they all received the same GOP talking point. Granted, the war was a part of voter discontent, but there are many other reasons to be unhappy with the republicans in charge, not the least of which is the rampant corruption that permeates the party.

I shall not take the time to list the trangressions of the Bush Crime Family, as most everyone is aware of the misdeeds, incompetence, corruption, dishonesty and assault on our Constitution. Why this insistence by the media the election was only about Iraq? Most likely, in hopes everyone will forget and forgive and not demand accountability through the criminal justice system.

In 2004, they said it was "values." Now, they're saying it was about Iraq. Basically, they're full of shit.

2006-11-08T15:02:00.000-08:00

So, now that the lie about Rumsfeld staying has been exposed, does the same hold true for Cheney?

2006-11-06T11:48:00.000-08:00

So George, when you 'peered' into Ted Haggard's soul, what did you see?

2006-11-05T22:37:00.000-08:00

I wonder if any of Jimmy/Jeff's and Ted's visits to the White House overlap, if you know what I mean.

2006-11-05T21:05:00.000-08:00

Dick Cheney let known his outlook for the future of U.S. involvement in the occupation of Iraq, a once sovereign nation.

Rapid Response Team: A Question of Priorites!

2006-11-03T12:01:00.000-08:00

How many people would be alive today if the Bush adminstration had responded to the real threats posed by hurricane Katrina as rapidly and forcefully as they did to the inane misspeak of the junior senator from Massachusetts?

2006-11-03T11:54:00.000-08:00

At the time Cheney had 'other priorities' other than serving his country in Vietnam by getting 5 deferments, he was also racking a few drunk driving arrests. Why hasn't anyone ever questioned Dick about his drinking other than when he shot his friend in the face?

2006-11-03T10:35:00.000-08:00

CONNECT THE DOTS ALREADY!!!

2006-11-01T11:33:00.000-08:00

I wonder if W will be serving up a plastic turkey table decoration to the troops this Thanksgiving.

White House Official Admits Iraq Strategy Based On Politics

2006-10-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

As the October death toll rises, the White House's concern is for the midterm elections and not committing "political suicide." Who supports the troops? It's certainly not these guys who care more about their own political fortunes than the lives of those they maliciously put in harm's way. Follow the link for the CBS report that says it plain as day, there will no significant changes in Iraq policy until after the elections.

SEE CBS VIDEO

2006-10-24T15:41:00.000-07:00

Seriously, this is their new rhetorical strategy????

2006-10-20T09:47:00.000-07:00

Not to mention his numerous comments during the 2000 election that "You can tell the character of a man by the company he keeps."

Victims? I don't think so!

2006-10-13T19:58:00.000-07:00

Gwen Awful, referred to Bob Ney (R-crook) and Susan Ralston as 'victims' of the Jack Abramoff scandal. Since when are willing participants in criminal activity considered victims? Ney pleaded guilty to criminal charges and faces up to 10 years in prison. Ralston resigned quietly, hoping the MSM wouldn't notice and she pretty much got her wish. So, why does Awful refer to them as 'victims'? I just don't get it.

Diplomacy is not Refusing to Negotiate

2006-10-12T11:32:00.000-07:00

This is not a new problem, however, as it has plagued the Bush administration since its beginnings. Bush began his term by suddenly suspending all dialogue with North Korea during a period of policy review, raising alarm and confirming fears of a nation already deeply distrusting and xenophobic. After classifying North Korea, with Iran and Iraq, as part of the Axis of Evil, the Bush administration further provoked ire and distrust by verbally attacking its leader, Kim Jong Il, with absurd, childish insults, even calling him "a pygmy." Similar thoughtless, bullying comments, such as one by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld that the United States was prepared to fight two wars at once if needed, senselessly aggravated the situation."

Link to Article from 2004

GOP: We Own Up to Our Scandals, Unlike the Democrats

2006-10-11T17:06:00.000-07:00

Do you remember hearing this bull shit last week immediately after the Foley Page Scandal broke the headlines? So what happened? Now they're questioning the 'timing,' trying to shift blame to the democratic leadership for the delay in bringing the information forward and Hastert made his "I accept full responsibility even though I did nothing wrong" speech.

If 'character' is an issue, they've proven they have none!

'PLAN B'

2006-10-11T13:40:00.000-07:00

Viewers of the television show The Practice will likely recall a defense technique used by firm which they called "Plan B." When the defense was not going well, they would attempt to place the blame elsewhere, without evidence, but with a mere accusation in order to plant doubt in the minds of the jury. Often, the object of Plan B was innocent of any crime, but the unscrupulous attorneys would still suggest guilt no matter the impact on the him/her, just to get their guilty client set free.

Apparently, the Rove strategy to deal with the Foley cover-up by republican leadership is to suggest that democrats, not republicans sat on the information and timed the revelation of Foley's lapses with a political motivation.

Without any evidence, three republicans have made the same charge. All, evidently recipients of the same FAX from the White House propaganda machine.

Rep. McHenry: Did Rahm Emanuel or Nancy Pelosi have any involvement at the stategic or tactical level...?

Sen. Cornyn: I hope that we don't find out that some people sat on information just so they could leak it here a month before the election to try to have an impact on the outcome.

Newt Gingrich: Why does it surface at the moment to do maximum damage to republicans in a way that's absolutely designed politically...?

McHenry, when pressed by Wolf Blitzer whether he had any proof of the involvement of Emanuel or Pelosi asked Wolf whether he had "any proof that they weren't involved."

My question to Mr. McHenry would be, "Do you have any proof that you don't have sexual relations with animals you find dead on the side of the road?"

By now, we all should be familiar with the republican playbook on how to deal with scandal or dissent. One of the favorite 'defenses' is to question the timing. You may recall this defense was used when Bush's drunk driving arrest became public right before the 2000 election.

McHenry, Cornyn and Gingrich are trying to minimize the political fallout from what appears to be a conspiracy to cover-up Mark Foley's page predilection. It's just one more example of how a political party has become vile and contemptible.

Head of CREW Says FBI is lying!

2006-10-09T14:28:00.000-07:00

Link

Makes one wonder whether someone ordered the FBI to not investigate the questionable e-mails. Were they ordered to stand down like the CIA was ordered to not investigate the House of Saud? Were the emails just plain ignored by an agent much like the reports that suspicious foreigners were taking flying lessons without the critical take off and landing part? Is it just incompetence or is it more sinister?

This whole coverup doesn't get close to passing the smell test. The lame attacks on dems are not even worthy of a high school debate.

2006-10-06T11:04:00.000-07:00

Only $2,000 short of fundraising goal of $2,000

2006-10-05T15:04:00.000-07:00

Prior to this scandal, Mark Foley's seat was safe. Too bad the same can't be said for the teenage, congressional pages.

2006-10-05T12:04:00.000-07:00

Seriously, about those 200+ visits by Jeff Gannon to the White House. How come that got almost no media attention? If a prostitute, whether straight or gay, visited the White House 200+ times when Clinton was president, Limbaugh would still have his Underoos in a bunch over it.

Two Can Play This Game

2006-10-04T13:40:00.000-07:00

Okay, keep on talking about Barney Frank and Gerry Studds. Keep avoiding talking about Jeff Gannon. Avoid talking about this scandal from 1989. Forget about GWB and his proclivity for playing dress-up and his faux macho personna.

Barney Frank's House of Prostitution

2006-10-04T12:28:00.000-07:00

The next time you hear a right-wing, GOP, pundit apologist claim that Barney Frank had a prostitution ring running out of his house, ask yourself which adminstration had a gay, male prostitute masguerading as journalist serving up softball questions to Bush and McClellon who visited the White House over 200 times, apparently over night, judging by the entry and exit logs kept by the Secret Service.

AIRPLANE

2006-10-03T12:04:00.000-07:00

To borrow a phrase from the harried air-traffic controller played by Lloyd Bridges in the movie Airplane, I guess picked the wrong time to give up blogging.

2006-10-02T16:16:00.000-07:00

Liberty is so much latitude as the powerful choose to accord to the weak -- Judge Learned Hand

Fundraising Update:

2006-10-02T16:13:00.000-07:00

Goal for Jan. 2005 through Dec. 2006, $2,000
Received period to date, $0.00

Due to Monetary Constraints, Postings Will Discontinue on 09/30

2006-09-29T10:42:00.000-07:00

In defense of the Bush administration's anti-terrorism efforts before 9/11, Condescenderella Rice said,

"What we did in the eight months [between Bush's inauguration and 9/11] was at least as aggressive as what the Clinton administration did in the preceding years," Rice told the New York Post in comments published Tuesday.

Now, I have a pretty good memory when it comes to the right-wing attacks on Clinton from the time of his becoming the democratic candidate in 1992 till today. He was endlessly derided. Accused of murdering Vince Foster. Basically, the GOP was saying his policies were failures and the draft-dodging commander-in-chief deserved no respect from the American people. They even went so far as to set a 'perjury trap' as a pretext for an impeachment. When he went after Al Queda, it was "wag the dog." When Iraq was bombed, they accused him of bombing an "aspirin factory" not a legitimate target. To the GOP and their media chorus, Clinton could do nothing right.

So, here's the question, "If Clinton did such a poor job on fighting terrorism, why didn't the incoming Bush adminstration take it upon themselves to have a better, more aggressive effort, as their priority, than that of their predecessor?"

It hardly makes sense to say we did as much as they did when you've been denigrating them for over a decade.

While at the same time...

2006-09-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

In California, there's a legal debate whether the application of the death penalty by 'lethal injection' is too painful and thus in violation of the 8th Amendment's prohibition against 'cruel and unusual' punishment.

At the same time, there is legislation at the federal level which permits the use of interrogation techniques that some equate with torture. So, a person who is tried and convicted of a captial crime, who is facing the ultimate penalty enforced by the state, may be having his/her rights violated by the infliction of pain associated with the execution. Yet, a person who has had no trial, no conviction and no chance to defend against the charges, but is suspected of having some knowledge, may be subject to 'compassionate coercion' which may be physically or mentally painful.

The fact that these two issues are being debated at the same time seems a bit odd to me.

2006-09-26T08:38:00.000-07:00

Curious Facts About George Tenet

Close ties to the Saudis
Statements about Iraq pre-war
Failure to kill OBL

2006-09-25T17:15:00.000-07:00

Slow Dancing With the Devil

2006-09-24T16:18:00.000-07:00

In any battle, it's important to not become the thing you detest most about your enemy.

2006-09-20T09:01:00.000-07:00

Adventures in Euphemism

2006-09-18T15:36:00.000-07:00

Stephen Hadley appeared on Face the Nation on Sunday to continue with the 'suasion' that unless the administration's policies are set forth in law, the CIA interrogation program itself cannot go forward. I found in interesting that Hadley referred to the McCain Amendment known as The Detainee Treatment Act as the model for what the administration was trying to do now. Of course, he made no mention of the fact that Bush used one of his infamous 'Signing Statements' to proclaim he would follow the act if he felt like it and not otherwise. Also, there were some amendments the Act which may have weakened the thrust of the legislation. Further, Amnesty International proposes that the Detainee Treatment Act now makes the use of torture as official U.S. policy.

Below is part of the transcript from FTN with Hadley followed by the information from Wikipedia. As you can see, Hadley using the Act as an example seems a little far fetched. It should be noted that Mr. Schieffer did not call him on this.

[SCHIEFFER: So you're going to publish what that means" Is that what you want to do?

MR. HADLEY: You're simply going to – we want to do what the Congress did in December of last yea and say that mean the McCain Amendment, the Detainee Treatment Act, which precluded (sic) cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and defined what those terms meant by reference to U.S. law.

SCIEFFER: But..

MR. HADLY: This is about – it's very simple, Bob – a clear standard recognized under U.S. law that the Congress of the United States adopted in December to great applause, sponsored by Senator McCain, adopting that as our standard so that the men and women in the Central Intelligence Agency can run a program, which is probably the most important tool we have in the war on terror. That's what this is about.]

From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCain_Detainee_Amendment

The McCain Detainee Amendment is an amendment to the United States Senate Department of Defense Authorization bill, commonly referred to as the Amendment on (1) the Army Field Manual and (2) Cruel, Inhumane, Degrading Treatment, amendment #1977 and also known as the McCain Amendment 1977. The amendment prohibits inhumane treatment of prisoners, including prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, by confining interrogations to the techniques in FM 34-52 Intelligence Interrogation.

Contents [hide]
1 Legislative history of the amendment
2 Signing statement by President Bush
3 Criticism
4 See also
5 References

[edit]
Legislative history of the amendment
Amendment 1977 amended the defense appropriations bill for 2005 passed by the United States House of Representatives. The amendment was introduced to the Senate by Senator John McCain (R Arizona) on October 3, 2005 as S.AMDT.1977.

The amendment was co-sponsored by Senators Lindsey Graham, Chuck Hagel, Gordon H. Smith, Susan M. Collins Lamar Alexander, Richard Durbin, Carl Levin, John Warner, Lincoln Chafee, John E. Sununu, and Ken Salazar.

On October 5, 2005, the United States Senate voted 90-9 to support the amendment. [1] The Senators who voted against the amendment were Wayne Allard (R-CO), Christopher Bond (R-MO), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Thad Cochran (R-MS), John Cornyn (R-TX), James Inhofe (R-OK), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), and Ted Stevens (R-AK).

[edit]
Signing statement by President Bush

After approving the bill President Bush issued a signing statement: an official document in which a president lays out his interpretation of a new law.[2] In it Bush said:

"The executive branch shall construe Title X in Division A of the Act, relating to detainees, in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President to supervise the unitary executive branch and as Commander in Chief and consistent with the constitutional limitations on the judicial power, which will assist in achieving the shared objective of the Congress and the President, evidenced in Title X, of protecting the American people from further terrorist attacks."

The Boston Globe quoted an anonymous senior administration official saying, "Of course the president has the obligation to follow this law, (but) he also has the obligation to defend and protect the country as the commander in chief, and he will have to square those two responsibilities in each case. We are not expecting that those two responsibilities will come into conflict, but it's possible that they will." [3]

[edit]
Criticism:

The McCain Amendment cited the U.S. Army's Field Manual on interrogation as the authoritative guide to interrogation techniques. On December 14, the New York times reported that the Army Field Manual had been rewritten by the Pentagon. Previously, the manual's interrogation techniques section could be read freely on the Internet. But the new edition's includes 10 classified pages in the interrogation technique section. [4]

Also, the McCain Amendment's anti-torture provisions were modified by the Graham-Levin Amendment, which was also attached to the $453-billion 2006 Defense Budget Bill. The Graham-Levin Amendment permits the Department of Defense to consider evidence obtained through torture of Guantanamo Bay detainees, and expands the prohibition of habeas corpus for redetainees, which subsequently leaves detainees no legal recourse if they're tortured. [5]

Critics say these two actions deflate the McCain Amendment from having any real power in stopping torture by the United States Government, and these were the true reasons why President Bush "conceded" to McCain's demands. Yet, this was largely ignored by the mainstream media, who instead credited Bush's concession to "overwhelming Congressional support" for the measure. [6] [7]

Amnesty International claims that the amendment's loopholes actually signal that torture is now official US policy. [8]

2006-09-16T14:43:00.000-07:00

39% Approval Rating. Who are these people?

ABC New Special Report: E-Coli Outbreak Traced to Clinton Administration

2006-09-16T09:54:00.000-07:00

As panic over tainted spinach sweeps the nation, ABC News has learned that Sandy Berger had an opportunity to stop the outbreak dead in its tracks but failed to give the order to bombard the killer spinach with massive amounts of clean water when undercover operatives disguised as illegal immigrant farm workers had high-pressure hoses trained on the leafy death merchant. Berger allegedly cited his lack of legal authority as justification for not taking decisive action. Berger, could not be reached for comment, but his spokesman claims the events as set forth by ABC never actually happened.

2006-09-15T18:22:00.000-07:00

And today he told David Gregory that he was beautiful, not that there's anything wrong with that.

2006-09-15T18:08:00.000-07:00

FOR GOD'S SAKE, DON'T EAT THE SPINACH!!!

In their typical overreaction, the media is going on and on and on about e-coli in spinach. See, it's been a while since we've had a food contamination scare. Remember Mad Cow? Apparently, there must always be something to keep us scared. Shit, now I've got killer leafy produce in my refrigerator. Then they get some "expert" to say "if in doubt, throw it out." Why not just cook it?

Irony Alert:

2006-09-14T10:03:00.000-07:00

The Schwarzenegger campaign is upset that the Angelides campaign was able to download and publish what was supposed to be a 'private' conversation by the governor.

So the governor's private conversations should remain private while our conversations should be eavesdropped upon without a warrant because we should not be upset if we have nothing to hide.

Who knew 'privacy rights' were so selective?

Prediction:

2006-09-14T09:53:00.000-07:00

Even though American Airlines was falsely portrayed in Disney's "The Path to 9/11" as allowing Atta to board the plane after alarm bells were ringing at the ticket gate, Amercian Airlines will be "persuaded" not to pursue legal action nor pull their advertising from ABC. They will get a call from some GOP enforcers letting them know in no uncertain terms that they should just shut up and take one for the team. Faced with the reality of an unfriendly GOP legislature and bureaucracy at the FAA, they will become just be another silent victim.

'Suddenly Osama" and "Rainy Day People"

2006-09-07T13:36:00.000-07:00

It's been noticed that Osama Bin Laden was conspicuous in his absence from Bush speeches until just recently. "Suddenly Osama" is back in to strike fear in the voters so they won't cut and run from the current disaster on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Osama has been saved for that 'rainy day' when he's most needed. It's a political calculation that it will instill more fear in the populace than it will contempt for the administration that's failed to bring him to justice for 9/11 and the USS Cole. Apologies to Gordon Lightfoot since he probably didn't conceive of OBL being one of Bush's 'rainy day people."

Rainy day people always seem to know when it's time to call

The last thing in the world this administration wants is a House of Congress that isn't a rubber stamp and which has subpoena power.

John Mark Karr Admits He Wrote "The Path to 9/11"

2006-09-07T12:54:00.000-07:00

John Mark Karr admitted he wrote the soon-to-be-aired by ABC fictionalized account of the decade preceding the attack on September 11, 2001. He conceded that he has a political agenda which is not to be confused with an apolitical agenda. Although his tale is chock full of historical inaccuracies and blatant fabrications, he's sure that it should be used as a learning tool in schools throughout the country.

Karr, who recently gained notoriety such that it became news what he had for dinner, refused to comment on his political affiliations but conceded he'd like to have beer with the Decider and not one of those fake beers, either.

After further inquiry by the otherwise docile press corp, Karr also admitted he had OBL in his gunsights when trekking in Afghanistan but he couldn't get the go ahead from Captain Kirk.

The Tired USS Cole Rhetoric

2006-09-06T21:37:00.000-07:00

I was listening to some former Bush toady on PBS and he made the often made charge that Clinton did nothing after the bombing of the USS Cole in retaliation against Al Queda or the Taliban.

As usual, when the GOP makes some absurd charge, it's wise to examine a few basic facts that they never, ever mention.

For example, the USS Cole was bombed on October 12, 2000 killing 17 sailors. While it was not immediately known who was responsible, the intelligence community had a damn good notion that it was Al Queda. Plans were drawn up to give Al Queda and the Taliban a taste of American justice. These plans were not implemented by the Clinton administration as they felt the action should be taken by the incoming administration. Unlike Somalia where Bush the Smarter left troops in danger which led to Black Hawk Down, Clinton believed the new administration should decide how America should respond. As we know, the Bush administraion did not puruse retaliation. Instead, they gave money to the Taliban to persuade them to consent to a trans-Afghanistan OIL pipeline. Naturally, the GOP liars will not mention these facts.

To Summarize:

On October 12, 2000, the USS Cole was bombed.
Clinton determined the responsible parties and planned a attack on Afghanistan.
The Bush Administration was given the operational plans and did not pursue them to protect pipeline negotiaions.

Only a little over 3 months had elapsed since the bombing and George Walker Bush being inaugurated as president. The bombing of the Cole apparently didn't rise to the level of action by the Bush Administration. The GOP, however, will continue to deny the fact that

BUSH DID NOTHING AFTER COMING INTO OFFICE ABOUT THE BOMBING OF THE USS COLE TO THE TALIBAN, TO AL QUEDA, OR TO AFGHANISTAN FOR THEIR PART IN THE ATTACK ON ONE OF OUR SHIPS WHICH HAD OCCURRED LESS THAN 4 MONTHS EARLIER!!!!

One has to ask oneself, if Clinton left things in such a disastrous state, what did the Bush administration do to correct the situation. As we know, they planned the invasion of Iraq in between trips to Crawford and Kennebunkport. They have a lot to answer for if the compliant media gets off their dead asses and starts asking the questions.

Like, what about that pipeline?

2006-09-06T20:00:00.000-07:00

Tell me this isn't a Cabbage Patch Doll

2006-09-04T21:10:00.000-07:00

Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Cabbage Patch) said today that if we lose in Iraq, they will follow us here. Could their scare tactics be any less transparent? First of all, most the violence in Iraq is not being carried out by Al Queda and it's unlikely that once we leave, these "insurgents" will stop attacking each other of decide to attack the United States. Secondly, how are they going to get here? Isn't that an admission that the administration has failed to correct the problem with our porous borders? Finally, if they come here, we will fight them because we're Americans not a bunch of pansies like McConnell.

Rummy's Make Up Your Own WWII Analogy:

2006-09-03T13:09:00.000-07:00

Make Up Your Own WWII Analogy:

Analogy # 1

On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. The Polish army was defeated within weeks of the invasion.

German forces attack Poland across all frontiers and its planes bomb Polish cities, including the capital, Warsaw

September 1: Germany invades Poland. After creating a series of provocations, Germany attacked Poland on September 1.

Analogy # 2

When he (Hitler) started his political career, he certainly did not want people to know that he was lazy and a poor achiever at school. He fell out with one of his earliest supporters - Eduard Humer - in 1923 over the fact that Humer told people what Hitler had been like at school.

Hitler was certainly gifted in some subjects, but he lacked self-control. He was argumentative and bad-tempered, and unable to submit to school discipline....moreover, he was lazy. He reacted with hostility to advice or criticism. (Humer)

Analogy # 3

Propaganda within Nazi Germany was taken to a new and frequently perverse level. Hitler was very aware of the value of good propaganda and he appointed Joseph Goebbels as head of propaganda.

Analogy # 4

Lien Riefenstahl was a film maker who turned her skills to the promotion of Hitler. Although this author is unaware of the same elaborate staging that takes place whenever George W. Bush appears before the cameras, here is a small glimpse at her devotion to the man.

Now Hitler sought to portray himself as statesman and invent a historical continuity for his party based on a completely distorted portrayal of German history. For her part, Riefenstahl was prepared to assist. No doubt, there was an element of personal infatuation on her part with the figure of Hitler, but such infatuation was bound up with definite political conceptions. In one newspaper interview she declared: “To me Hitler is the greatest man who ever lived. He is really faultless, so simple yet so filled with manly power... He is really beautiful, he is wise. Radiance streams from him. All the great men of Germany—Friedrich, Nietzsche, Bismarck—have all had faults. Hitler’s followers are not spotless. Only he is pure.”

Analogy # 5

Goebbels and his skill at masterminding propaganda is best remembered for his night time displays at Nuremberg.

Analogy # 6

To ensure that everybody thought in the correct manner, Goebbels set up the Reich Chamber of Commerce in 1933.

2006-09-02T12:02:00.000-07:00

Shared Priorities

2006-09-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

At least two of these figures are still reinforcing the validity of the Peter Principle.

"Where Are They Now?" A Discontinued Series

2006-09-02T11:30:00.000-07:00

As you know, Katrina was a disaster of major proportions. Many skilled professionals from throughout the United States made their way to New Orleans to assist those in distress. Fifty of these skilled professionals were assigned to assist one man. That man...

BUSH USES 50 FIREFIGHTERS AS PROPS IN DISASTER AREA PHOTO-OP:

A group of 1,000 firefighters convened in Atlanta to volunteer with the Katrina relief efforts. Of those, “a team of 50 Monday morning quickly was ushered onto a flight headed for Louisiana. The crew’s first assignment: to stand beside President Bush as he tours devastated areas.” [Salt Lake Tribune; Reuters]

Second in A Series That Ended With The Last Entry of "Where Are They Now"

One can only hope that these 50 trained professionals did not suffer any lasting side-effects from this particular assignment. Where are they now? Likely, back doing what there training was designed for, not as propaganda backdrops.

NAZI APPEASERS

2006-09-02T10:40:00.000-07:00

Donald Rumsfeld has recently begun comparing Iraq war critics with persons from 60+ years ago who may have opposed war with Germany. What he failed to mention was the people in this country who actively worked to provide the Nazi war machine with the capital with which to Blitzkrieg Poland, bomb England, occupy France, and murder 6 million persons of the 'wrong' faith. One such person had direct lineage to the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Prescott Bush grandfather of George Walker Bush.

BUSH-NAZI LINK CONFIRMED

Documents in National Archives Prove George W. Bush's Grandfather Traded with Nazis - Even After Pearl Harbor

by John Buchanan (Exclusive to the New Hampshire Gazette)

WASHINGTON - After 60 years of inattention and even denial by the U.S. media, newly-uncovered government documents inThe National Archives and Library of Congress reveal that Prescott Bush, the grandfather of President George W. Bush, served as a business partner of and U.S. banking operative for the financial architect of the Nazi war machine from 1926 until 1942, when Congress took aggressive action against Bush and his "enemy national" partners.

The documents also show that Bush and his colleagues, according to reports from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, tried to conceal their financial alliance with German industrialist Fritz Thyssen, a steel and coal baron who, beginning in the mid-1920s, personally funded Adolf Hitler's rise to power by the subversion of democratic principle and German law.

So, as long as we're going to dredge up false comparisons from 6 decades past, let's be thorough. Rumsfeld chides those who would always "blame America first." He, however, would have us believe that we are blameless. This may make us feel good about ourselves, but it's not how rational people resolve issues. If you never ask yourself, "Is there something I could be doing differently," you likely have limited success in solving problems. Sure, it sounds macho and manly to never compromise, never accept defeat, never change course, to make decisions based on your infallible gut instincts, but this isn't NeverLearned Ranch.

The True Iraq Appeasers

2006-09-01T15:19:00.000-07:00

Boston Globe Article

This little excursion down memory lane should be required reading for anyone who still doesn't have utter contempt for Rumsfeld and Cheney.

First and Last in A Series of "Where Are They Now, A Year Later?"

2006-08-31T15:08:00.000-07:00

First and Last in A Series of "Where Are They Now, A Year Later?"

This is one of my favorite spontaneous photo-ops from a year ago. Somehow, these two manage to get past the legion of Secret Service to give W a big ole' hug for the wonderful job he was doing before, during and after the Katrina disaster. The woman is holding a garbage bag to suggest she's out doing clean-up work. Both the woman and the girl are remarkably clean for people out sorting through debris full of mud and whatever else. This was so obviously staged that the answer as to "where are they now" probably could best be answered by Central Casting.

The Unknown Unnoun

2006-08-29T14:00:00.000-07:00

The Unnoun

As we know,
There are known nouns.
There are nouns we know we know.
We also know there are known unnouns (like suicider and decider).
That is to say, we know there are some things, we do not know (like how to tell the truth).
But there are also unknown unnouns (perhaps war criminaler or torture condoner).
The ones we don't know we don't know (which are likely quite numerous).

The Beginning of the End for FEMA

2006-08-27T11:45:00.001-07:00

George W. Bush at swearing in ceremony for Joseph Allbaugh, March 05, 2001.

We never know where FEMA will be needed next, but we do know what makes this agency so effective, more than 2,000 dedicated employees all across America; 4,000 standby employees, ready if needed; an ethic of professionalism and a willingness to work with state and local officials to help people in need.

As governor, I worked with FEMA officials. Joe and I have great respect for the outgoing director, James Lee Witt, and for the acting director, John McGaw. A lot of change is needed in Washington, but in this agency the standards are already high.

Every year, many thousands of Americans live through floods and hurricanes and fires. They know from personal experience that FEMA is an example of the federal government at its best.

FEMA Announces Organizational and Functional Changes
Release Date: June 18, 2001
Release Number: HQ-01-060

Washington, DC -- Joe M. Allbaugh, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has announced a realignment of functions within the agency and the establishment of the Office of National Preparedness. The realignment is effective immediately and will be fully implemented by August 25, 2001, Allbaugh said.

"After serving as director for several months, I recognized that the existing organization is not the best fit for the evolving mission of the agency, nor does it support President Bush's restructuring and streamlining goals," Allbaugh said. "The structure that I'm announcing is how I see us operating to best maximize our workforce, meet mission requirements and comply with the administration's requirements for workforce planning and restructuring."

A little over 4 months after taking the helm, Allbaugh, with no previous disaster management experience, decides to reorganize the premiere federal agency, which, according to his boss is an example of "federal government at its best.".

And they said Kerry was a flip-flopper! When the GOP talks about privatization of government functions, what they mean as a way to dole out contracts to their cronies, associates and supporters with no regard to competently carrying out that function.

For an example of how this push to grant government contracts based on patronage and not cost or competent completion see my post regarding the private bus debacle after Katrina.

http://nobodycouldhavepredicted.blogspot.com/2005/09/connecting-no-buses-dots-something.html

I've never heard of any reports or investigations of this blatant abuse by FEMA of their contracting apparatus. The trite adage of "follow the money" is unfortuately still appropriate.