Friday, October 31, 2003
( 4:17 PM )
Happy Spooky Day!
Hope your haunts and howlers are fun and full of spooky goodness! I'm going home to a 2 1/2 foot frog that drools. Enjoy the onset of the autumn holidays and to all my Celtic Friends: Happy Samhain! See you on the other side of Sunday.
( 10:45 AM )
Economy Roars Back (Yea, Right)
In case you got a momentary thrill by the much heralded news yesterday that the economy had its BEST QUARTER EVER!!! and that we ARE NOW IN GREAT RECOVERY!!! - I hope that you are sitting down when you review the facts today. Several bloggers have some good posts up about the reality of the economy - but I thought I'd go straight to the much-stalked source: Paul Krugman. He reminds us that this surge in the GDP happened before with the same lunatic delight eminating from the White House.
That's what happened 18 months ago,
when a preliminary estimate put first-
quarter 2002 growth at 5.8 percent. That
was later revised down to 5.0. More
important, growth in the next quarter
slumped to 1.3 percent, and we now know
that the economy wasn't really on the mend:
after that brief spurt, the nation proceeded
to lose another 600,000 jobs.
The same story unfolded in the third
quarter of 2002, when growth rose to 4
percent, and the economy actually gained
200,000 jobs. But growth slipped back down
to 1.4 percent, and job losses resumed.
Now Krugman isn't trying to rain on everyone's parade - he's just trying to remind us that we are dealing with an administration that will cling to anything in order to have GOOD NEWS delivered. The fact is, the last quarter's GDP growth was boosted by consumer spending, which actually downshifted in the last month of the quarter. It's a trend that couldn't keep up.
This can't go on — in the long run, consumer spending
can't outpace the growth in consumer income.
Stephen Roach of Morgan Stanley has suggested,
plausibly, that much of last quarter's consumer splurge
was "borrowed" from the future: consumers took
advantage of low-interest financing, cash from home
refinancing and tax rebate checks to accelerate
purchases they would otherwise have made later. If
he's right, we'll see below-normal purchases and
slower growth in the months ahead.
The problem is, of course, jobs. People can't keep spending money that they don't have. And whatever any reports say about growth, none of it is in the jobs sector. The problem is that Bush's tax cuts aren't what made last quarter's growth happen. Sure, any sort of tax cut might give a short term stimulus, but the trick is actually getting the economy back for the long term. And with ongoing job losses, I simply can't see how this signifies a true recovery. It would be great if it did.
To put it more bluntly: it would be quite a trick
to run the biggest budget deficit in the history
of the planet, and still end a presidential term
with fewer jobs than when you started. And
despite yesterday's good news, that's a trick
President Bush still seems likely to pull off.
When I look at the real world around me, everyone I know that is out of a job still has no prospects. Here in Oregon, we're still running at 8.0% unemployment - and more layoffs seem to be announced every week. Not to mention the fact that another 600 Reserve and Guard troops left Oregon this week, which will put their families in difficult economic straits as well. Let's face it. The biggest tax cuts went to the richest people in this country - the sorts of people who don't spend on every day consumer goods, they save and invest. The rest of the tax cuts that were received by middle-lower income folks are totally negated by the fact that our state taxes are now having to go up, just so our kids can stay in school. It's not that Bush doesn't care about the working people of this country... then again, all signs point to the fact that he doesn't. And it doesn't seem to bother him that much.
Thursday, October 30, 2003
( 1:50 PM )
Mama's A Little Late to the Solidarity Game
But She Wants to Play Anyway
Forgive me for the redundancy, but since I had a sick day away from the computer yesterday, I now will take my place next to my fellow bloggers in complete and utter disbelief at the ridiculous antics of Donald Luskin (warning: that link leads to a creepy blog). For those of you who don't keep up with the economics columns - Luskin writes for the National Review Online, and has of late taken to expressing what seems to be quite unadulterated psychotic hatred for our pal Paul Krugman- economist extraordinaire and columnist for the New York Times.
Now Luskin has gone off the deep-end, having his lawyer send Atrios a letter threatening to "out" his identity and sue him for calling Luskin a stalker and for the comments left by readers on one of his posts. Mama has a couple of points:
First, any threat to a blogger that his or her identity will be 'outed' is a threat to all bloggers. The protection of privacy is the one aspect of the internet that gives advantage to all. Not only is this kind of threat uncool, it's very criminal in its nature, given the fact that most bloggers depend on anonymity (herself herein included) to be able to express themselves in their blogs.
Second, Luskin's lament that Atrios has committed libel by calling him a stalker of Krugman is so incredibly lame because Luskin called himself a stalker of Krugman! Not only that, but Atrios is far from the only person to have called Luskin this since Luskin began his very obvious stalking of Paul Krugman. For God's sake, he rants on and on about Krugman being evil and dangerous and virtually pants as he describes stalking Krugman at one of his book signings!
Unfortunately for Luskin, he's made the wrong move if he was somehow trying to get vindication from Atrios. He's playing in the wrong field if he thinks he can take on bloggers.
Chiming in have been among others, Kos, Digby, TBogg, Billmon, CalPundit, Tom Tomorrow, BlahBlahBlah, Slacktivist, and of course, Uggabugga has a chart and Tom Burka has the last laugh.
Mama says to Mr. Luskin: I am Atrios.
( 11:17 AM )
A Security Show Worth an Oscar
I heard a pundit on one of the cable news shows a few nights ago talking about the kid who'd been arrested for planting the box cutters and bleach on the Southwest airplanes last week. This pundit was a security expert and basically said that while the TSA and the media were focused on keeping pointy things off the airplanes, there still hadn't been any true evaluation of security issues in airports across the country. Our local columnist-extraordinaire, Steve Duin, found to his surprise that this is all too frighteningly true.
Before the pilot called, I had all the usual
suspicions that airport security is selective,
specious and intended only to ensure that
the "flying public" -- i.e., we sheep -- sleep
well at night.
That the Transportation Security Administration
is still focused on box cutters more than two
years after Sept. 11 shows no respect for the
ingenuity of our enemies in the war on terror.
Most airport screening seems costly, superfluous
and misdirected, not unlike the plans to cap
Portland's reservoirs in the name of national security.
Then the phone rang, and a United Airlines pilot
invited me out to Portland International Airport
to point out one of the more dramatic holes in
the vaunted antiterrorist net.
The pilot invited Duin to go with him to PDX (Portland Airport) and see for himself the gigantic holes in the security apparatus set up by the TSA. As they stand and watch, employees get off a shuttle bus carrying all manner of bags, backpacks and other items, swipe cards through a security door and proceed into the most secure area of the airport without their bags ever being checked.
Once they pass through that door, the pilot
said -- and airport officials confirmed -- these
employees have unrestricted access to the
airplanes, runways and passenger boarding
areas. Yet neither they nor their bags pass
through a screening process or any other
security check.
"This," the man said, "is a scenario that
scares the hell out of pilots."
It's not the pointy objects the TSA is taking away from passengers that are the main cause for alarm - terrorists could use any manner of sharp objects already on the plane (ie, the wine bottles). The pilots are now behind reinforced doors and after 9/11, no passengers are going to sit still if someone were to produce a threatening object in the passenger compartment. The TSA is pretending that playing catch up to the terrorists' last method is good enough. It's not - what is going on is only a symbolic effort with no true security meaning. The pilot explains:
"Getting through a cockpit door would take
an heroic effort," the pilot said. "We're not
going to allow that. We have a crash ax up
there. That's why the most likely scenario we
see developing isn't nail files and box cutters.
It's an employee walking out onto the ramp
with some C-4 in an ice cooler."
In this scenario, an airport employee -- or
someone who jumped him in the employee
parking lot, stripping him of his security badge
and demanding his access number -- would
bring the plastic explosives and automatic
weapons through the unguarded doors. He
would then hide them on a plane, or walk
upstairs and pass the weapons to fellow
terrorists who have already cruised through
security.
Once that gear is carried onto the plane, the
pilot said, the C-4 would be used to blow the
cockpit door and the guns would overwhelm
any federal marshals or co-pilots armed with
the ax.
So the pilots went to the airport hierarchy and complained about this hole in the security. What were they told?
Yet when the United pilot took his concerns
to the chief of security at PDX six months
ago, he said, he was informed that requiring
mechanics, janitors and the ground crew
to pass through screening would
"inconvenience" them.
So basically, the security checks that pilots and passengers are forced to endure do not apply to employees behind the scenes. A simple security pass is all that's needed.
"We need to get the flying public thinking
again," the pilot said. "The human brain has
an alarming capacity to forget. We've been
lulled into a false sense of security." He recalled
those weeks when the National Guard
patrolled the nation's airports, toting guns but
no ammunition. "It was all for show. And that's
what TSA is now. It's a show to make the flying
public think they're safe. And they're not."
Another big show brought to you from the administration-without-substance. Yikes.
( 10:14 AM )
Mama's Helpful Hints No. 82:
If It Smells Poopy, It Most Probably Is Poopy
Thanks to Maru for this link to this page at the Center for American Progress that takes apart Bush's press conference and matches his claims to actual facts - and they even source their stuff! Here are some tidbits:
On "Credibility"
CLAIM: “Credibility comes when you say something is going to happen and then it does happen…You are not credible if you issue resolutions and then nothing happens.” [Source: President Bush, 10/28/03]
FACT: Bush said about his first tax cut that “Tax relief will create new jobs” and the economy proceeded to shed almost 3 million jobs. He said about his second tax cut that “tax relief means new jobs for Americans” and the economy continued to shed jobs. He said about the war in Iraq in May that “major combat operations have ended” and yet more troops have died since that statement than during the war. [Source: President Bush, 4/16/01, 9/5/03 and 5/1/03]
On the War on Terror/Iraq
CLAIM: “The world is more peaceful and more free under my leadership.” [Source: President Bush, 10/28/03]
FACT: According to Amnesty International’s 2003 annual report “The world has become more dangerous, and governments more repressive, since the effort to fight terrorism began after the 9/11, attacks on the United States.” For the U.S. specifically, “Since March, 353 U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq, including 229 in hostile fire.” [Source: NY Times, 5/29/03 and CNN, 10/28/03]
On the Economy
CLAIM: “So I’ve proposed additional measures to keep the economy on the path to greater job creation…by making permanent the tax cuts that have helped our economy.” [Source: President Bush, 10/28/03]
FACT: Since first Bush tax cut took effect in June 2001, the U.S. economy has lost 2.75 million jobs – the unemployment rate has risen from 4.4% to 6.1%. Since the second Bush tax cut took effect in May 2003, the economy has shed 124,000 more jobs. [Source: BLS]
For more factual responses to claims made by Bush, check out MoveOn.org's Misleader effort.
( 9:14 AM )
*Cough* *Sputter*
Home sick yesterday. Baby sick too. We just spent the day lying on the couch lethargically together watching Big Bird. Cuddles heal anything. Even with the coughing and stuffy noses, it was better than any day in my cubicle at work.
Tuesday, October 28, 2003
( 4:06 PM )
Fire Retardent Bloggers
If you're wondering how your fellow bloggers-who-live-near-the-big-fires are doing, check out TBogg and San Diego Soliloquies .
Just a note: From here, it looks like Californians who are eager to have their new governor somehow repeal their car tax might want to take a second look:
Schwarzenegger could repeal the increased
car tax but would have to find $4 billion in the
state's coffers to give back to municipalities
expected to use the money for police, fire and
other local services, said Richard Chivaro, chief
counsel for Westly.
Sure, it might be nice not to have taxes. Then again, it's nice to have firemen when you need them.
( 3:44 PM )
From the "Tell It Like it Is" File
“I think Washington corrupts people,” she said.
“He was a wonderful husband and father, the
best I ever saw, until he went there. I told him
I was trying to get him out of the dark side, all
that power and greed and people kissing up
to them all time. Now he’s one of them. All they
care about is getting reelected. I hate them all.”
The words of the scorned wife of Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio) who was told by her husband on Monday that he wants a divorce because he wants to be with his lobbyist girlfriend. LaTourette promised to limit his time in Congress to ten years, but he is now running for a sixth two year term.
Frankly, if generalized, Mrs. LaTourette's indictment of Washington rings pretty true. Pretty scary. But pretty true.
thanks to Atrios for the link.
( 3:07 PM )
That Other War
Two CIA officers were killed in Afghanistan over the weekend. They were tracking "terrorists" in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Translation: they were tracking groups of Taliban fighters. Yep, they are still there and still active. In fact, they are making it a very dangerous place lately:
More than 350 people, including civilians,
foreign and government soldiers, aid
workers and many rebels have been killed
since August across Afghanistan.
The violence is the worst since U.S.-led
forces toppled the Taliban from power
late in 2001 for harboring Osama bin Laden
and his al Qaeda network.
Funny. I think it was just...oh, TODAY that the President said this:
And the world is safer today because Saddam
Hussein and the Taliban are gone. We're now
working with many nations to make sure
Afghanistan and Iraq are never again a source
of terror and danger for the rest of the world.
It must be nice to live in such a wonderful and positive world as Mr. Bush must surely live in.
I guess I turned away for a second because I missed when they appointed Ren and Stimpy as the official White House speechwriters: "Happy Happy! Joy Joy!"
( 2:31 PM )
Here Comes the Sun
Literally.
One of the most powerful solar flares in years erupted
from giant sunspot 486 this morning at approximately
1110 UT. The blast measured X17 on the Richter scale
of solar flares. As a result of the explosion, a strong
S3-class solar radiation storm is underway.
The explosion also hurled a coronal mass ejection
(CME) toward Earth. When it left the sun, the cloud
was traveling 2125 km/s (almost 5 million mph). This
CME could trigger bright auroras when it sweeps
past our planet perhaps as early as tonight.
I take my solemn duty as Prognosticator of Doom from Space seriously, folks. So when I post something like this, you might just want to pay attention. On a lighter note, we should be in the clear tomorrow; there doesn't appear to be any smackdowns from the Universe coming tomorrow. Yet.
Thanks to Maru for the link.
( 2:05 PM )
A Nation of Idiots
Or so the president must believe. Because if he thought even one of us had a brain in our heads, I don't think he'd give such blatantly untrue and dastardly explanations of things.
Evidently, according to GW this morning at his press conference, he didn't actually say that combat was over after his super duper landing on the aircraft carrier, and it wasn't the white house that put the big sign up on the USS Abraham Lincoln in May that said "Mission Accomplished."
THE PRESIDENT: Nora, I think you ought
to look at my speech. I said, Iraq is a
dangerous place and we've still got hard
work to do, there's still more to be done.
And we had just come off a very successful
military operation. I was there to thank
the troops.
The "Mission Accomplished" sign, of course,
was put up by the members of the USS
Abraham Lincoln, saying that their mission
was accomplished. I know it was attributed
some how to some ingenious advance man
from my staff -- they weren't that ingenious,
by the way.
Uh huh. Well, of course it took about two seconds for intrepid bloggers to find the very quotes of him saying that the mission was "accomplished" and also to note that it indeed WAS the white house that set up the entire spectacle, including the big banner.
See all the gory details over at Dkos.
Once again, it looks like it may have been a mistake to let the president speak for himself. While the nation is clearly used to and accepting of his speech foibles, this whole outright-lying thing may not go over as well. The question is whether the press will actually tell the truth of the matter or just let his words rewrite history. One thing is clear: Bush, the administration and the GOP in general are operating from a platform that believes the citizens of this nation are dupes and that we can be taken for a ride without complaint. I hope this isn't true. I hope people start recognizing that their president thinks they're stupid. Maybe if they do, they'll show him up and respond in kind.
UPDATE: Emma over at Notes on the Atrocities has the best breakdown of the press conference I've seen so far. She includes a section on the new jargon introduced by the President (which today included "suiciders" and "actionable intelligence").
Monday, October 27, 2003
( 1:32 PM )
Let's Review
I have never claimed to be a huge fan of Clinton or his presidency on the policy front - most of the policies he passed were not anywhere near as progressive as I would have hoped - so this post is not a Clinton apologist piece; rather it is my own attempt to put into perspective the current administration's "scandals."
Investigations into Clinton's Presidency:
Travelgate: the firings of White House Travel Office personnel - came to nothing(lives lost: 0)
FBI Filegate: FBI files in the White House - came to nothing (lives lost: 0)
Whitewater: really dumb real estate deal - came to nothing except for a couple of people not associated with the Clintons (lives lost: 0)
Suicide of Vincent Foster: came to nothing in terms of any Clinton involvement (lives lost: 1, but not due to Clinton culpability)
Paula Jones: charges found groundless (lives lost: 0)
Impeachment: lying under oath about extramarital affair, ended with impeachment but not dismissal from office (lives lost: 0)
Investigations into Bush II's Presidency:
9/11 Investigation: so far hitting a brick wall in trying to get documents from the Bush White House (lives lost: +3000)
Valarie Plame Leak: White House compromised identity of undercover CIA officer in revenge ploy (lives lost: 0, intelligence assets compromised: unknown)
False Intelligence Used as Excuse for War: demanded investigation held up by House Republicans (lives lost: +400 coalition forces, unknown thousands of civilians)
There's just a little difference in the types of investigations that have been necessary for this current administration as compared to the ones concocted against the last one. It's time people wake up and realize that Bush II and his administration are costing us more than tax dollars, they are costing us lives across several generations and they are making us pay for their deliberate lies. This isn't about mistakes. This is about knowing how to govern wisely. So far, there hasn't been a shred of evidence that sort of knowledge exists in this administration.
And if the press doesn't start paying as much attention to the investigations of these incidents as they did to the ridiculous investigations into Clinton, then I fail to see how, in any realm of reality, they will be able to look themselves in a mirror and call themselves "journalists."
Friday, October 24, 2003
( 2:19 PM )
Space Invades and Time Travels
It's Friday and I don't really feel like blogging about anything important, I confess. There are a ton of things in the news that are bothering me, but, heck, they'll probably still be there on Monday. Unless the event of the previous post proves to be a little more unpredictable than predicted...so to speak.
At any rate, I feel that the most important issue of the impending weekend is that we get AN EXTRA HOUR OF SLEEP on Saturday night. Now, this would have thrilled me oh, about 2 years ago. Now, it has absolutely no affect on me whatsoever because there is a certain 16-month old in the room next door who has no concept of the brilliance of an extra hour of sleep. Sigh. Good thing he looks cute in that frog outfit he's wearing for halloween - keeps the balance.
Anyway, as my brother, who refuses on principle to ever change his watch forward or backward, says: the reason for daylight savings has long passed into our cultural history. There is truly no reason for us to continue using it. It's like we think that we can somehow arbitrarily change time travel for our own, puny, human purposes, when all along time has just kept trotting along. And so really, I'm thinking it's probably something like 2032, not 2003 like we thought, only we've been fooling ourselves this whole time with this stupid twice-yearly practice.
At some point, the universe is going to have to kick us back on to the correct space-time continuum - oh, now I get it!
( 9:04 AM )
Do Not Panic - It's Only a Space Storm
Looks like we're going to be interacting with space today. A gigantic magnetic sun burst will be hitting earth today, in ..oh, about 2-3 hours from now.
The coronal mass ejection, or CME, is
expected to reach Earth about 3 p.m.
EDT and its effects could last 12 to 18
hours, according to space weather
forecasters.
"Space weather forecasters?" Wow, I wonder how you get a gig like that - cause we sure don't have one on our local tv news channel.
Anyway, this super-magnetic space wave may possibly knock out some cell phone communications, as well as affect power grids and satellite relays.
At any rate, scientists think it will be no big deal...or then, again, it could affect earth and earthlings in major disasterous ways.
"But like anything in nature, sometimes
they don't act like we expect them to,"
Combs said.
Either way, it puts the whole ruling the world thing in perspective, eh, GW?
But most important of all: DO NOT PLAY YOUR THRILLER ALBUM TODAY!!!
The CMEs can also have a biological effect
on humans... For example, it would not be
a good idea to do a space walk when a
solar event is predicted.
I assume this also means no moonwalking either - so be careful. Walk forward at a normal cadence and you should be safe. I only write this to warn you because I care.
For further fantastic and witty discussion along with fabulous pictures, visit DKos (you might want to go before the earth crumbles beneath the wave of magnetic solar energy).
UPDATE: Then again, it could be worse, you might not be on earth:
Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids
In fact it's cold as hell
And there's no one there to raise them if you did
And all this science I don't understand
It's just my job five days a week
A rocket man, a rocket man
And I think it's gonna be a long long time...
Thursday, October 23, 2003
( 4:44 PM )
What? You Mean People Are Getting Hurt In Iraq?
This news popped up on the wire today - "Press Underreports Wounded in Iraq." Until now, the press has been almost completely silent on the subject of the thousands of soldiers wounded in Iraq. Interestingly, at the end of the second week of the White House's push for "GOOD NEWS!!" instead of casualty figures, this story is broaching a subject that should have had a clear airing long ago.
Few newspapers routinely report injuries in
Iraq, beyond references to specific incidents.
Since the war began in March, 1,927 soldiers
have been wounded in Iraq, many quite
severely. (The tally is current as of Oct. 20.)
Of this number, 1,590 were wounded in hostile
action, and 337 from other causes. About 20%
of the injured in Iraq have suffered severe
brain injuries, and as many as 70% "had the
potential for resulting in brain injury," according
to an Oct. 16 article in The Boston Globe.
And to add to that horrifying statistic:
A United Press International investigation,
published Oct. 20, revealed that many
wounded veterans from Iraq, under care at
places such as the Fort Stewart military
base in Georgia, must wait "weeks and
months for proper medical help" and are
being kept in living conditions that are
"unacceptable for sick and injured soldiers."
One officer was quoted as saying, "They're
being treated like dogs." The Army has said
it is attempting to remedy the situation.
This is despicable. The fact that there are thousands of men and women being medically evacuated from Iraq is important, even if just from the mere point that we have so few troops really left. The reality is sobering:
According to an Oct. 3 report by UPI,
nearly 4,000 soldiers had been medically
evacuated from Iraq for non-combat reasons.
That's on top of the 2,000 wounded in combat since March. That's 6,000 people.
I don't think the White House PR program is working so far. If I'm correct, it seems to have had the opposite effect it was intending: News outlets are now looking for and investigating news stories about the realities of the war. This must keep up. The press never should have so easily bowed to the propaganda machine of this administration. And it will only be public pressure and outcry that will bring this government either to its senses or kick it out the door. We cannot continue to laud the "good news that's not being reported" in Iraq when we're not hearing about the truth in the first place.
The truth is, it does matter how many are dying and how many are being evacuated, even if not for combat reasons. Sure, combat deaths and injuries are a way to keep tallies. But really, are we still that dependent on casualty numbers to prove our point? I thought we got over that 30 years ago. Then again...this administration seems mired in the past. More of the truth:
As for the tally of total deaths in Iraq, most
of the media continues to only cite those killed
in hostile action. On Oct. 20, for example, The
New York Times reported: "Since President
Bush declared an end to major hostilities in
Iraq on May 1, 106 American soldiers
have been killed." But this number represents
only those killed in combat by hostile fire. A
total of 200 American troops have been killed in
this time period from all causes, such as vehicle
accidents, drowning, and suicides, a figure that
is rarely mentioned in the press.
The number doubles when we see the truth. The fact is, these soldiers were in a combat arena, they were on combat duty. Whether they died by the bullet of an enemy or because their jeep flipped over and killed them or they drowned or they simply could not bear it any longer and took their own lives - they still died serving our country. Aren't they good enough to recognize too? I think so. It's time we started demanding the true figures about what is happening in Iraq, and it's time we started determining truthfully whether it's worth the cost our men and women and their families are paying.
If you didn't already know, Lunaville has the best sources for these figures.
( 3:34 PM )
Evolution Mama
Just discovered I've made it to being a Flappy Bird in the Ecosystem. Wow, it feels good to enter the world of the upright - and with wings! And hey, I share an evolutionary ladder rung with Paul Krugman. Now, that's what I call a bonus Darwin point.
( 12:27 PM )
Moral Relativism: The New GOP Chic
In a fantastic editorial in today's Miami Herald, Joy-Ann Reid tells it like it is (thanks again to Maru for the link).
The right wing operates its own code
-- a kind of moral Talibanism where the
punishment for sin is death (as in the
death penalty) or if the crime is noncriminal,
ridicule, ouster or impeachment. The
right applies the code to politicians,
ordinary citizens and celebrities with equal
dispassion. And no one gets away
unjudged -- except, of course, for the
right-wingers themselves.
Here is how it works:
Rule: If a small-time drug user
gets caught with a couple of joints or
a few rocks of crack cocaine and is
sentenced to a long prison term under
New York's Draconian, Rockefeller-era drug
laws, that's justice to the Rush Limbaughs
of the world. In fact, Rush would have such
a person thrown under the jail and then
deported, as he has said many times.
Exception: If Limbaugh himself gets caught
copping thousands of mother's-little-helpers
in a Denny's parking lot,this self-admitted
three-time loser gets 30 days in club rehab
and a free pass from the press and the
public, who are supposed to be seized
with Christian understanding. This exception
would not apply to Al Franken. Nor would
it apply to one of those black folk Rush has
admonished to ''take the bone out of their
nose'' before calling his show.
Rule: Gambling is a sin, and the
myriad debaucheries of the entertainment
industry, including wild and woolly
Las Vegas, are to be frowned upon.
Exception: If Bill Bennett bets the
college money at the Tropicana, he gets
a free pass (and probably a couple of
free nights in the boom-boom suite). He
remains the official morality czar of Fox News,
where he is free to comment on the ''death
of outrage'' --including the complex universal
logic by which Bill Clinton is to blame for
Arnold Schwarzenegger's sins.
(I love that: "the death of outrage" --hahahaha!)
She goes on from there. The double standard is pretty obvious to most of us by now who don't see things through the "filter" of the powerful neo-con machine. But maybe, just maybe, it's starting to be come a little more conspicuous to the general public / media? Well, I guess it remains to be seen...
So which is it? Is it right or wrong to
take illegal drugs? Right or wrong to
disrespect women? Right or wrong to
gamble, to cheat on your wife, to drive
drunk (the sin a certain commander in
chief got a pass on during the 2000
election), or for that matter, to lie . . . ?
That, of course, depends on your political party.
I'd like to think these sorts of tactics would end with a new administration. I'd like to think those in power would act like adults sooner or later. But then again, I'd like to think most people in this country actually think about stuff like this - and I know I'm wrong on that one... sigh.
( 12:14 PM )
Where Did the Little Pink Houses Go?
An open letter from John Mellencamp:
The fight for freedom in this country has been
long, painful, and ongoing. It is time to take
back our country. Take it back from political
agendas, corporate greed and overall manipulation.
It is time to take action here in our land, in
our own schools, neighborhoods, farms, and
businesses. We have been lied to and terrorized
by our own government, and it is time to take
action. Now is the time to come together.
Oh, what do those rock and roll, hollywood-types know anyway?
(thanks to Maru for the link)
( 11:54 AM )
Hellloooooo Cuba!
Looks like the Senate got some brains somewhere and just voted with the House to end the 40-year ban on travel to Cuba. I know, I know - I can barely believe it myself. And the amendment to the Transportation funding bill was sponsored by a Republican!
Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, who co-sponsored
the amendment to the spending bill with Dorgan,
said the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign
Asset Control, a key office in the fight against
terrorism and drug trafficking, shouldn't be devoting
resources to American tourists going to Cuba.
What? Was that logic I just saw being used in Congress? Defying a threatened veto, the vote was 59-36. The Reuters article explains further the ramifications:
Travel ban opponents say the fact that both
houses of Congress have the same language
makes it harder to strip out the measure, an
amendment included in a larger Transportation
and Treasury appropriation bill, once it goes
to conference committee.
The White House has vowed to veto the
overall spending bill if it contains language
on Cuba.
Sen. Byron Dorgan, a North Dakota Democrat
and one of the amendment's sponsors, said
the administration should focus on catching
terrorists, not travelers. He cited a Homeland
Security Department memo which said it would
use "intelligence and investigative resources"
to identify travelers to Cuba.
"That's Byzantine. It makes no sense," Dorgan
said during the debate on the Senate floor.
This is a major blow to the George-Jeb Bush powerhouse in Cuban policy. Of course, all logic points to the fact that decades of sanctions and travel restrictions have not meant an end to Castro, or even had any influence on that country except to keep needed supplies from its citizens. In a strange dichotomy, the US governments through the decades have insisted on opening trade with Communist China so that the natural forces of the market would work to break down the totalitarian nature of that country, while at the same time restricting all trade and capitalist influence on Cuba. The political power of the Florida and New Jersey Cubans may be waning, which is good news for everyone. The federal government does not need to be spending millions of dollars on pursuing and prosecuting Americans who visit Cuba, it does not need to be spending millions on that stupid radio broadcast that is blocked by Castro and heard by no one.
Even Republicans in Congress can see what a useless, futile exercise the trade restrictions and travel bans have been. There will be more sunshine shone on that country's dark sides, more western influence than there ever has been since Castro came to power, and there will be more opportunity for meaningful assistance to the people of Cuba, not to mention the ability for their families in the U.S. to visit them. The time for the travel ban AND the trade restrictions is over.
I don't often have cause to applaud Congress. But darn it, they done good today.
( 10:26 AM )
World Youth Congress Learns Major Lesson:
Stop Acting Like Their Parents
I read a fabulous article this morning in Wiretap (just a note: if you don't read Wiretap regularly, I encourage you to do so if you're at all interested in young people who have better brains than the people running this country) by a young woman named Emily Freeburg. She attended the World Congress of Youth in Morocco in August and her article was an honest assesment of what started out as a great experiment in Solidarity turned very, very sour. It's not just a lesson for young people, it's a lesson for all of us. Because when you get down to it, the future our children have is dependent on the resources and the example we give to them.
I'm 23. I'm an idealist. But this summer I
went to a World Congress of Youth, and
beyond learning of a truly universal love
for the 50 Cent "In Da Club" song, I learned
that we carry history in ourselves. We are
more like our parents than we know --
and this is dangerous.
Yikes. Talk about indictment. The article goes on to describe how despite their expectations that they would have the opportunity to work together to solve problems and come up with a declaration to present to the United Nations, it all went downhill starting when the opening paragraph of the Declaration was being drafted. Some participants wanted the language regarding inclusiveness to include sexual orientation.
As soon as the translation went through in
Arabic, many Moroccans and other delegates
from Islamic countries were on their feet
shouting in Arabic, chanting, and heading for
the plenary stage. The arguments against
adding in homosexuality weren't complex;
there was no way homosexuality could be
alluded to, because in Islam it does not exist.
Though it wasn't specifically argued, there
was no way a document could be handed to
the King (who paid for the Congress) with
such a reference.
But it got worse.
The tension hung. Then after a workshop to
fundraise for a youth peace coalition between
Israelis and Palestinians, a Moroccan-led mob
of Palestinians and their supporters stormed
in, ripping apart the posters and t-shirts about
peace, and flaunting their destruction in front
of the watching Moroccan TV cameras. Several
people were hurt in the confrontation, and the
only Israeli girl attending the Congress was
assaulted.
Let it be clear that the mob was not the majority,
the violence was not committed by every
Palestinian there, and many were trying to be
reasonable, but an angry mob is formidable and
not open for rationalization.
It turned out that the Congress did not expel the kids who actually hit the girl. The Moroccan government's reasoning was that they couldn't condemn the attack because Arab nations do not recognize Israel (Israel was not invited to the conference by the sponsor, but by the co-sponsor, a peace group out of the UK). Emily, the author, was devastated by the incident and moreso when she later heard from one of the Moroccan participants that "they could not punish one because they all would have done it." The Congress tried to rectify the situation by having the kids get together and sing "Imagine."
The strength of my reaction surprised me. Was I
really so idealistic that this relatively small act of
violence shattered me? Part of it too, was anger.
This was a youth meeting, youth must be the ones
speaking to work this out, and the adults had sold
us out again by managing this problem, and not
addressing it head on. Youth then, were only allowed
to address problems in the abstract, on paper, but
when something arose that did affect us, we were
not allowed to talk about it.
We live in a world of violence, pain and injustice,
and the world's young people were singing
"Imagine" and holding hands. At that moment I
did not believe that peace was possible because
no one would take responsibility and each country
has alliances that are too large to change. It was
too much to stomach.
The Conference eventually ended up with no true consensus and the final declaration seemed to be all but a farce. Emily was disappointed, and as I read the article to the end, I realized how truly devastating this sort of event could be for someone who had all the hopes and expectations that the next generation could change things. In the end, she didn't feel it was a total failure because she learned lessons she never would have otherwise.
Two weeks after the Congress, the World
Trade Organization talks failed for similar
reasons as we did: mysterious processes
of document creation, politicized leadership,
inability for people to put their concerns on
the table right away, and the blatant ignoring
of certain country's contributions, though
they had every right to contribute.
This generation can be a bridge, but not if we
don't change ourselves. If we keep acting like
our parents do, we're going to end up with a
world that isn't fit for our own children. I wish
I could tell you the answer, I wish I could tell
you Arab and African Muslim youth and Western
youth get along and communicate with ease,
but we don't. One is a culture of endless
individualism, in the other there is a unified
Arab or Muslim identity, which often politically
and culturally lacks self-criticism. Both are changing,
but each side wonders why the other can't be
more like itself.
She comes to some great and challenging conclusions in the end. I was moved by her ability to try and learn and see ways to overcome what she had seen and experienced. But I also read in this article my own responsibility as a parent and as no longer being part of the "youth" generation. I so long took my youth for granted, my activism in my younger days empowered me to feel that I was going to make things happen, cause positive change, all that good and meaningful stuff. In some ways, I'd like to believe it did. But now that I have entered a new season in my life and I find myself with the job description of "parent," I find it a sobering lesson that my activism, my actions, my language and my behavior carry so much more weight because I am raising the Future.
I didn't like to read that this young woman felt that part of the problem was that the kids were just acting like their parents. But what could be more true? If we as the parents don't start breaking the patterns, how can we expect our children to do so? If they have no example, it will be nearly impossible for them. They cannot create positive change out of nothing. Young people are even now carrying out the traditions and same behavior as their parents in all parts of the world - to the destruction of a peaceful community of humanity. Emily's conclusion was that it was up to her generation to stop the cycle. But I find that there is much more responsibility for us to stop it before they have to take it on.
After all, if mankind keeps leaving the cleaning up to the kids...pretty soon there won't be any kids to do the clean up anymore.
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
( 4:16 PM )
New GOP Job Description: God
It's been one of those weeks where blogging has had to take second chair to real life work (blah) - but I did want to at least comment on one issue today. That is the struggle in Florida over the life (or death) of Terri Schiavo. This poor woman has been on feeding tubes for 13 years. She has conclusively been ruled completely brain dead. She clearly stated her wishes to her husband and her friends that if something like this ever happened, she did NOT want to be kept alive by a feeding tube. So when her husband tried to do what she wished and end his own torture of having to see her that way, her parents stepped in and tried to block him.
After a couple of years of legal battle, and courts finding that indeed, she was completely brain dead and she did indeed make clear her wishes not to be kept alive by feeding tubes, the GOP in the Florida legislature and Jeb Bush have now stepped in to play the part of God in this scenario. Instead of following the law, Florida Republicans pushed through legislation specifically regarding Mrs. Schiavo's case which said that her life could not be ended by her husband and per her own wishes:
"Transforming an idea into law often takes
months. This time it took less than 24 hours,"
political editor Adam C. Smith wrote in the
St. Petersburg Times. "It was an impressive
show of force by the conservative wing of
the Republican Party."
Bush's signature was on the bill before the ink of the legislation was dry.
Once again, Republicans' actions speak far louder than their words. Just last week was the first "Sanctity of Marriage" week declared by President Bush (now, of course, this was a blatant move to discriminate against a population of committed couples in this country who don't happen to be heterosexual), but despite the language of the GOP's insistence that marriage is sanctified and that GOD makes marriage and that no one should mess with it, etc, etc, etc.... here they go completely stealing the marital rights of a man who is only trying to do as his wife wishes. The law recognizes him as her next of kin, NOT her parents, and yet the GOP and the Bushes feel that in this case, marriage is pretty much a moot point because the higher issue is .... what??? What is the issue here?
The news reports say that the Republicans who pushed through the legislation against Mr. Schiavo were very powerful right-to-lifers. Well, that's well and fine that they feel strongly about abortion, but this case has nothing to do with that issue. Mrs. Schiavo's right to life is HERS, and she clearly stated that should she be put on feeding machines alone to keep her alive, that she wished to have the machines turned off. The law supports this decision and she should have her wishes. Of course it's terribly difficult for her parents to say goodbye and let her go, of course they don't want to believe she is dead (they think she will be able to feed herself through therapy, despite multiple conclusions that she is in a permanent vegitative state). But she is, technically, dead. The parents insist she knows they are there, and I feel for them, but their emotions do not cancel out the medical fact that there is no brain activity in her head and that it won't come back.
This move by Florida's government is abhorrent to me and I can only hope and pray that Mrs. Schiavo's husband prevails somehow and is able to give her a peaceful passing and put her body and his heart to rest. He is said to be devastated by this turn of events.
Instead of allowing her a death with dignity, instead of fulfilling her wishes, instead of recognizing her husband's right to make the decision, these GOP legislators who egg on the emotionally distraught and misled parents have put themselves and their own selfish interests first. Nice move, you arrogant bastards.
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
( 3:12 PM )
Our Brothers Before Us
I noticed today for the first time on Kamikaze Kumquat's blog that her brother is being deployed to Iraq in less than 2 weeks. I can sort of relate, having just had my own brother return from that conflict in late June, as some of you will remember. I don't know what her brother will be doing or where he will be going in Iraq, but I wanted to send out a blog-pal note to say that we will be thinking of him and hope he comes home soon and safe.
This brings up another note of news today: The Washington Post is reporting that more than 30 soldiers have not reported back from their brief R&R (the two weeks they got off from Iraq). Funny thing about it, though:
[Army Col.] Mack said the soldiers who have
missed their flights are "definitely a concern,"
but she added that the Army had anticipated
that some soldiers would not return, and
that the numbers thus far are small.
It's clear that several of those soldiers simply don't want to go back. They haven't yet been declared AWOL, but the Army is keeping track. Billmon reminds us that perhaps they are only following their Commander-in-Chief's example of not showing up for his Guard duty for an entire year during Vietnam. Not that Bush was serving any sort of actual combat duty like the men and women of today's armed forces. But still, how hard could it have been to show up for drills in Alabama?
It may be that this new idea of giving the soldiers R&R back home in the US is not the way to go for the Army. It is too easy to not go back. And more and more soldiers don't want to go back. Or even be there in the first place. In a year from now, will there still be mounting casualties and troops drawn thin and weary from 18 month deployments with no breaks and no end in site for the rotation? I hope not. But with this president, I fear the worst when it comes to the welfare of the people who serve their country. Amazingly, they still serve their country, even when their country sends them to hell.
( 2:47 PM )
Democracy Burning
Thanks to HyLo for the link to Hesiod who brought up an article today that shows that dissenters are still targets of violence in this country.
Fire officials think an arsonist angry with a
family’s anti-war sentiments likely started a
fire that woke the family from its sleep Monday
morning.
[...]
Fire Chief Larry Shifflett called the fire "suspicious"
and said the blaze probably began when
someone set fire to an anti-war sign hanging on
that side of the porch.
[...]
The family had hung the sign on the porch two
months ago after vandals continued to rip the
same posted sign from their yard.
The sign, now reduced to ashes, told of the
number of Iraqi civilians and coalition forces
killed since the war began in March, Nickels said.
"We’re trying to reflect a concern for people,"
Nickels said. "That war is bad for everybody.
It doesn’t serve us well in the global community."
The couple’s house has also been egged and
just last week, someone ripped down a flag
promoting world peace from their porch, Nickels said.
Only this time, the vandal didn't stop at egging them, he actually set their house on fire and they escaped with their children in tow before the sun was even up. This is absolutely horrifying. The Justice Department is busy busting people selling bongs and nitwits who unwillingly and unknowingly associated with the wrong Arabs while actual would-be murderers will most likely be ignored.
This was a political hate crime - it was not merely some local criminal on a spree. There was a proven pattern of hate-crime actions against this family for their political views, which they were free to express on their own porch. This family could have been killed because someone felt that it was more important to terrorize them for their belief that the war was wrong than it was to merely disagree with them. This is abhorrent. And unfortunately, it's not an isolated event. People who dissent with the government's view are still in danger, especially in communities where conservative isolation is the dominant viewpoint.
What's really sad, though, is that if the people who are lambasting the dissenters would only sit for a moment and think about it, they would realize that indeed, they too are worse off now than they were before Bush took office. They too are in dire economic straits, supporting the majority of the tax burden, which is now going to pay for the ongoing quagmire in Iraq, and they aren't any safer.
Why are there people like this anyway? Whatever happened to looking out for your neighbor? Whatever happened to "I don't agree with you, but I'll defend your right to say what you believe"? Whatever happened to human decency? The signs of fascism are everywhere, and when I hear stories like this, somehow I'm not comforted that we still have a year to go till it's stopped. But at least it's only a year.
( 9:18 AM )
A Conservative Crosses Over
I was amazed by a commentary written into our local paper at the end of last week. I've been anxious to blog about it because, to me, it seemed pretty extraordinary. It was written by Becky Miller, formerly a senior aid to one of this state's most notorious conservative bullies: Bill Sizemore. She always thought she'd been in the right - and even when she saw Sizemore for the criminal that he was, she still felt confident in her ultra-right views. And she was validated by the talk radio and the president and Sean Hannity and all those folks.
But then, she took a chance. She read Al Franken's Lies and The Lying Liars that Tell Them. And it changed her forever.
I read the book in one sitting. It is an amazing book,
and -- if you're a decent, honest, hard-working,
patriotic, true-blue conservative who listens to Rush
Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly and watches Fox News --
an earth-shattering book.
[...]
Until I read this book, I believed the Bill Sizemore/
Oregon Taxpayers United mess was a bit of a fluke.
(In 2002 I testified against him in a civil trial in which
a Multnomah County jury found that his charitable
foundation and political action committee had
committed fraud and forgery, and that Oregon
Taxpayers United had engaged in a pattern of
racketeering to obtain signatures on initiative petitions
for tax measures drafted by Sizemore.) The spin, the
lies, the greed, the disregard for the everyday person
-- I thought it was all just a fluke and really limited to
this one little pustule of filth that had festered in a little
storefront in Clackamas, Oregon. Boy, was I wrong.
I believe Franken is telling the truth in his book
because it meshes perfectly with what I personally
have observed.
She goes on to say that she heard someone call into a talk radio show (the beastly Lars Larson, a local neo-con hate spewer who, I am ashamed to say, has now gone national) the other day and say that even if Rush Limbaugh confessed it himself, this listener would never believe he was a drug addict. But now Ms. Miller sees this incredulous attitude for what it is. Al Franken has cured her!
The leaders we conservatives have trusted have
taken advantage of our trust to line the pockets of
the wealthy and powerful, and it's time we rose up
and drove out these greedy liars. They've hijacked
and distorted our belief system for their own gain,
and in doing so are destroying our credibility.
And if we decent, honest, hard-working, patriotic,
true-blue conservatives of this country neglect the
duty we have to our children and grandchildren, we
will never be able to work with those decent, honest,
hard-working, patriotic, true-blue liberal Americans
that these lying creeps have taught us to despise.
We will never be safe to debate them or, when
warranted, to listen to them and maybe even agree
with them. We will never be safe to work out our
differences or to work together. And we will never be
able to build on the all-American sense of unity that
burst forth following 9/11, only to disappear shortly
thereafter in a cloud of lying, greedy partisan politics.
I'm still a decent, honest, hard-working, patriotic,
true-blue conservative. But Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly,
Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity and the rest of you lying liars
-- I'm through with you! (Read the book, and you'll get
that one, too.)
Amen, sister. Welcome to the Revolution.
Friday, October 17, 2003
( 12:29 PM )
Well, At Least There Was No Barfing
Bush had dinner with Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi tonight (it's already tonight in Japan) and managed to get through it without any regurgitation episodes. So that's one up from his dad. Bush is on an Asian Mission: strong arm the countries into helping us by cripling their own economies. I think it may work - Bush is such a sweet and persuasive guy, after all.
Bush himself made no public comment on
the touchy topic of Tokyo's policy of intervening
in foreign exchange markets to stem the
yen's recent rise against the dollar.
But a senior U.S. administration official told
reporters later: "The president once again
reiterated his support for a strong dollar and
for market-determined exchange rates."
In other words, Bush went over to strong-arm Japan into complying with our economic wishes. It's an interesting tactic, considering Japan is one of the only countries to actually give a LOT of money to our Iraq "problem."
Tokyo spent a record 13.5 trillion yen
($123 billion) in the first nine months of the
year to try to stem the rise of the currency,
which recently hit three-year highs against
the dollar.
U.S. manufacturers say a weak yen threatens
their competitiveness. Japan is worried that a
strong yen could hurt its rebounding economy
by making exports too expensive.
This is unacceptable to Bush. He and his cronies are determined that the "markets" must rule - and so any country that attempts to intervene to protect its own currency is just asking to get on our enemies list right now. Funny thing, how Bush insists that other economies do what we want, even if it means their own struggling countries are hurt by it. Way to make friends and influence people!
"We need a level playing field when it comes
(to) trade and a level playing field will help us
create jobs here in America," Bush said in
California before leaving for Japan on the first
leg of a trip that will also take him to the
Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia
and Australia.
It's all about a "level playing field," which means fair for the U.S., not for anyone else. But this is somewhat confusing. Bush is saying that these countries should make it easier for us to create jobs in our country. But Bush also lauds US corporations that continue to send factories and outsource staff to other countries. So he says one thing but does another? What is this? Oh, wait a minute... this is the Bush administration. It's not about what they do, it's about how well they can obfuscate. Sorry, lost my place on the hymnsheet for a second there.
( 11:32 AM )
Okay, Who's The Wise Guy
This news just on the wire over at Reuters: Two separate Southwest Airlines planes had bags containing boxcutters and bleach in their lavatories last night (in Houston and New Orleans), which were discovered during maintenance today. So now ALL airplanes are going to be searched. What is going on? Here's the cryptic part:
A note in both packages indicated the items
were intended to challenge the TSA checkpoint
security procedures, Southwest said. It
immediately turned over the items to authorities.
Hmmm. Well, in terms of showing the sad state of TSA's "security," the stunt worked. In terms of being stupid and being really, really, REALLY stupid - I wonder if the guy knew enough not to leave fingerprints.
This is just one incident. But it seems like a lot of things are piling up lately to show that all those promises about how we are safer now and that something like 9/11 will never happen again are pretty empty as far as promises go. I just pray something like 9/11 does NOT happen again - and if it does, it better damn well not be something our government could have prevented but for not having enough money to cover all the homeland security needs because of the money needed for Iraq.
( 10:55 AM )
Friday is For Fathers
I know I skipped last Friday - but I'm trying to keep up! I try as much as possible to support the Dad blogs, and especially the Stay-at-Home-Dad blogs since that is a subject close to my heart (and home). I enjoy them all and encourage you to take a look if you get the chance. Here's an update of our Dads-About-Town and what they are up to lately!
Being Daddy celebrates his daughter's first songwriting achievement! And it's a fantastic song! (I especially like it since I always wanted to be on the moon too). Over at Rebel Dad, he's keeping us up with all the links we need - especially regarding how moms in the workplace depend on their stay-at-home hubbies. David, over at Daddy Make a Picture has a fresh new look (and I love his stuff, despite the fact that he's a Yankees fan) - and he has a great post up about the dreadful commercials that I always scream and yell about myself.
One of my favorites, Laid-Off Dad (also a Yankees fan), is enjoying a well-deserved mini-holiday right now. But read his stuff, it's legendary! Over at Frenzied Daddy (also a fellow Oregonian) Russ is dealing with the crap corporate world. But his job as Dad never gets downsized.
Fulltime Father has a great post up about the gender thing - and I like what he has to say, except I think that if a boy wants to wear a dress, well then, a dress it is. Really, can a dress be that much worse than superman tights and a cape?
Over at Fishyshark, our About-To-Be-Dad hasn't posted in a while, but he does have a gorgeous picture of the woman he most likely doesn't deserve (just kidding, Kos!). Elisa looks gorgeous, but I know she's ready to go - I believe the due date is any time now. The next few months are going to be nothing like what Kos expected - but better than he ever dreamed.
Other Blogging Dads that I love to read (that don't necessarily blog about Daddy-dom) are Tom Burka and TBogg.
Finally, a Kudos to my own Dad, who has always been there for me no matter what. He's literally driven thousands of miles to rescue me, he's defended me endlessly, protected me and he even changed his entire life to move across the country and be an on-site Grandad. If you read the post earlier about Dad's fantastic blog (I've taken it down now since it seemed a little negative and I want to be nice - today) you knew how frustrated I was for him earlier, but in the end, it's going to work out (he is now linked from the Blog for America, so that's great), I'm sure. Webpages aside, I'm more proud than anything that he's my Dad. The college kids he teaches, the people he comes into contact with and my entire family are better because of him. I think any political campaign would also be. That's probably why I'm feeling so defensive of him. Well, I'm sure things will work out okay.
Check out these dads - they are awesome, hardworking and very, very cool... In this mama's book anyway.
Thursday, October 16, 2003
( 4:30 PM )
Going Home Early to Torture Myself
At least Dad is coming over to watch the game with me. So I won't be alone in what, based on the karma created last night, will inevitably be misery. Go Sox (sigh).
UPDATE: Yup. I was right. It was the most torturous game ever. Well, on the bright side, Armageddon is on hold for at least a year....
( 3:44 PM )
My Favorite Quote of the Week
...so far:
Bush told his senior aides Tuesday that he
"didn't want to see any stories" quoting
unnamed administration officials in the media
anymore, and that if he did, there would be
consequences, said a senior administration
official who asked that his name not be used.
You can't help but wonder after reading that bit ... Did Tom Burka write that story? (more indepth on the actual story over at Kos.)
( 3:31 PM )
In Case You Couldn't Find Anything
To Make You Angry This Week
Reading one of my favorites today, I came across this article in Guerilla News Network. Looks like while Bush is asking us for $87billion to modernize Iraq's infrastructure, he's once again giving us... the shaft.
Talk about sticker shock. The condition of the country
was far worse than anyone dared imagine. Engineers
released their findings this September and, using a
grammar school grading system, they assigned grades
to describe the state of disrepair they found.
The country's roads got a D+. Aviation infrastructure
got a D. Schools a D minus. Wastewater treatment
facilities, a D. Dams, a D. Hazardous waste storage
a D+. And, even though the nation is a major oil
producer, the energy sector got a D+.
In all, the experts said it would take more than
$1.6 trillion over the next five years to bring the
country's infrastructure up to modern standards.
Oh, wait. I bet you thought I was talking about Iraq.
No. The report I am citing was released this
September by the American Society of Civil Engineers
and it described the condition of America's infrastructure.
In it, the ASCE warned that America's critical
infrastructure was "crumbling" and ongoing neglect
would add $300 billion a year to the repair bill.
Bush made a big deal in his campaign about how it's not our job to fix the problems of the world. He swept into office on what seemed like a very isolationist viewpoint and lots of people thought he would do a lot of work on domestic issues. But that wasn't the PNAC's plan. So here we are. Our government is using taxpayer dollars to award multi-million contracts exclusively to American companies to improve the infrastructure of Iraq:
So, as you bump your way to work today on
pothole-studded streets understand that the
cost of your new suspension is a small price
to pay for the smooth 1,200-kilometer highway
being built in Afghanistan on a $300 million
contract to U.S. engineering firm Louis Berger
Group.
Then there's the $240 million earmarked to
improve Iraq's roads and bridges. And, even
as the Bush administration fights subsidies
for Amtrak, another $303 million in U.S. funds
is going to upgrade Iraq's railroads. Bechtel
will oversee much of this work.
But wait! It's not just roads and bridges where we aren't getting improvement and Iraq is - its in our general safety and security too!
Ten years ago, President Bill Clinton pushed
legislation to put more cops on the street. The
Bush administration has since eliminated all
direct funding for street cops. Now, with money
short and so many military reservists—many of
whom are cops in civilian life—on active duty,
cities and counties find themselves dangerously
short of police, fire and other first responders.
Nevertheless, while American law enforcement
goes begging, the administration has been
generous in letting contracts to rebuild Iraq's civil
and military policing. There is the $2 billion to
build a new Iraqi army and another $470 million to
fund civilian police, judges, courts and related law
enforcement services. U.S.-based DynCorp and its
parent company, Computer Sciences Corp., are the
prime contractors here.
The irony here isn't necessarily that Iraq is getting our money. It's larger than that, this is about the very core issues we as a country are facing right now. Namely, our economy and the basic survival of working people in this nation:
And so we are left to ponder. America's
infrastructure is a mess and getting worse.
Instead of spending the additional $25 billion
needed to repair it, the administration is
handing nearly the same amount in contracts
out to a small number of U.S. companies to
repair Iraq's infrastructure instead. Had that
money been allocated for U.S. infrastructure
the contracts would have been, by law, subject
to open bidding and would therefore have been
divvied up among hundreds of companies, small
and large, across the country. In the old days,
they called that a domestic economic stimulus plan.
So much for this president caring about creating jobs... or caring about this country, period.
( 11:46 AM )
Oregon Fights for Power
...Electrical Power, that is. I've posted on this subject previously, but it's becoming a hotter issue as election day gets closer.
If you're interested, there is a fantastic debate about it on Portland Indymedia . As I've noted before, I am much more inclined towards a publicly owned utility district here for the various reasons that a) I'm basically a socialist, b) Enron has screwed us royally and they're only about to do it again because of the bankruptcy, c) Portlanders will be MUCH better off in terms of rates (PUDs are proven to have lower rates, even here in Oregon), responsivenes, control over their own utility company and in the not-getting-a-corporate-screwing department, and finally, d) I'd just ONCE like the people to win over the corporations!!
Now, all that being said, it's going to be a hard battle. The disinformation swirling around out there about how we're all going to go down in flames if we own our own utility is thick, massive and everywhere. PGE and Pacific Power are spending millions in tv ads (I can't get through an entire episode of Angel without at least two ads per segment from a power company!), print ads, billboards and letters to the editor of the newspaper that are either from PGE executives, or sound like they are from PGE executives. (PGE is going under the astroturf name "Citizens Against the Government Takeover") - funny, huh? The Oregonian's own editorial board (read: "we want to be just like the WSJ Editorial Board!") is against the PUD.
The two biggest arguments from the corporate powers are that: 1) YOUR TAXES WILL GO UP!!! if we own our utility and 2) YOU'LL HAVE TO DEAL WITH ANOTHER CORRUPT LAYER OF GOVERNMENT!!!
Let's review: PGE does not exist anymore - it is a wholly owned subsidiary of Enron. Enron is in bankruptcy and wants to sell off bits and pieces of PGE to the highest (non-regulated) bidder as soon as possible, which will be nice for Enron, but will soak the local customers. Pacific Power is owned by, I think, a Scottish company, so really, they are invested in our local quality of life for sure. The whole argument about taxes going up is about property taxes. PGE screams at us that with a PUD, our property taxes may rise up to "30 percent!" This is a total misrepresentation (a lie). The levy that will be needed to support the PUD will amount to 30 cents on a $100,000 home, 45 cents on a $150,000 home. OUCH! Boy, that's a price to pay for not being under the thumb of Enron or an Enron clone!
Next, that "layer of government" problem. Hmmm. Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver and Eugene all have public utility companies and they all have run well for many years and at a substantially lower rate for their customers than the Enron-owned variety. The PUD is not going to suddenly emerge as some monster beaurocracy that doesn't know what its doing. Obviously, the current employees of PGE and Pacific Power are who will be hired by the PUD and the PUD will take every effort to make it a smooth transition. The entire point of a PUD is that we have a say in it, it is accountable to us through our government. We are not left voiceless and hanging on an electrical wire by a corporation that isn't invested at all in us.
Let's look at some numbers:
$5 million: amount of ratepayer money PGE used to defeat 1992 ballot measure that would have closed the Trojan Nuclear plant at no cost to ratepayers.
1: number of weeks after the measure's defeat that PGE closed Trojan permanently at ratepayer expense.
$569 million: amount PGE has collected from ratepayers for federal and state income tax payments since 1997.
$0.2 million: amount of these collections Enron/PGE has actually paid in income taxes (it kept the other $568.8 million for itself).
$100 million: amount PGE employees lost due to Enron's stock fraud.
$80 million: amount Oregon PERS lost due to Enron's stock fraud.
5: number of pages in Enron reorganization plan needed to list all lawsuits against PGE, most for fraud.
Undetermined: amount these suits may cost PGE ratepayers.
30: number of "restructuring specialists" Enron has hired to help it sell PGE for the best return.
$860,000: amount each "specialist" is paid per year in salary alone.
$300 million: yearly increased cost to ratepayers if sale to an unregulated buyer happens.
0: number of reasons Enron's creditors, the Wall Street banks, have not to dismember PGE in the bankruptcy proceeding.
As someone once said, can you hear me now? Portlanders have a very important decision in their hands this election. PLEASE vote and please consider that voting for a PUD will be better for you and your family in the long run than sticking with the catastrophe of a power system that we now have. We have got to start taking back power out of the hands of greedy corporations that want nothing to do with regulating their outfits to benefit our safety, our pocketbooks or our quality of life. "Free Enterprise" is not at stake here, those of you who worship the Invisible Hand. This is about citizen ownership. You not only have the right to own your own power company, you have a responsibility to do so because otherwise you are ceding your position as a citizen of this city and state and you are not preserving the benefits that are possible for the next generation. That's really what it's all about.
( 8:57 AM )
Regarding the Previous Post
I don't want to talk about it.
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
( 3:51 PM )
Arrgghhh!! I Can't Stand the Tension!!
Come ON Sox!
UPDATE: Darn it - I have to catch the bus home so I'm probably gonna miss the end of the game (I'm only watching the ESPN box scores online and that's stressful enough). As of 4:53 pm pst, the Sox are ahead by one. Maybe it's best I leave now anyway.
--------------------------
~~~~Mama sending pre-game good vibes to Kerry Wood~~~~
Cubs game starts in 1 hour. Mama's warning: Go to the bathroom before it starts, there will be no stops.
( 3:35 PM )
What??!! They LIED??!!
In case you are new to the world, here's a short recap: since George W. Bush was appointed president, almost every word out of his mouth has been a downright lie. Okay, you're caught up. Now you might be forgiven for not realizing this since the American media has done uber-squat to delve into the truth itself. They maybe be picking up speed reporting Bush's falling numbers lately, but I have yet to see ongoing headlines screaming about the misdeeds of this President (which, by the way, don't even require much digging to find). Thus, I'm not feeling all that sorry for them as they go on the defense against the new "GOOD NEWS!" PR assault from the White House this week (see below). Something that might help them is to pay a little attention to this report being circulated by Ambassador Wilson (yes, that guy).
I actually printed out the entire report and read it on my busride home last night (it's an easy 56 pages to get through as most of it is charts and short paragraphs). I will preface my analysis (and sorry if it's a bit long, but the report was pretty detailed) of the report by saying it is HORRIBLY edited. It reads like the first draft of a college paper that hasn't even had its first read-through. It is organized badly and not all that well written - and as I just said, badly needs editing. However, if you can make it through these asthetic issues, I think you might find it very worth reading.
It's called "The Truth from These Podia" and it is written by Retired USAF Col. Sam Gardiner, who has taught strategy and military operations at the National War College, the Air War College and the Naval War College. It is a run-down of the calculated strategy by the US and UK governments to purposefully mislead their citizens in order to gain support for a war they intended to conduct long before they admitted it. Here is a summary of the report from the author:
The United States (and UK) conducted a strategic influence campaign that:
- distorted perceptions of the situation both before and during the conflict
- caused misdirection of portions of the military operation
- was irresponsible in parts
- might have been illegal in some ways
- cost big bucks
- will be even more serious in the future.
He also ads in his summary:
- Clearly the assumption of some in the government is the people of the United States and the United Kingdom will come to a wrong decision if they are given the truth.
- We probably have taken "Information Warfare" too far.
- We allowed strategic psychological operations to become part of public affairs.
- We failed to make adequate distinction between strategic influence stuff and intelligence.
- Message became more important than performance
Gardiner then goes on to show the chain of stories constructed and or molded and then given to the press (who voraciously and unquestioningly devoured them) that made up the molding of the American impression:
• Terrorism and 9/11
• Lt. Commander Speicher
• Drones
• Mohammad Atta meeting with Iraqi
• Ansar al-Salm
• Chemical and biological weapons
– Quantities
– Location
– Delivery readiness
• Weapons labs
• WMD cluster bombs
• Scuds
• Cutting off ears
• Cyber war capability
• Nuclear materials from Niger
• Aluminum tubes
• Nuclear weapons development
• Dirty bombs
• Humanitarian operations
• Attacking the power grid
• Russian punishment
– Signing long term oil
contracts
– Night-vision goggles
– GPS Jamming equipment
– Saddam in embassy
• German punishment
• Surrender of the 507th
He goes on to detail this chain of stories and how the governments of the US and the UK, in almost identical styles and even words, used them to deceive their populations.
In addition to the lies and planted stories, the public statements to the American people were psychological operations themselves. The planning for the entire war came out of several sources, and all built upon one central theme: we must deceive to achieve (thanks, I made that one up myself):
In the Pentagon, in addition to the normal public
affairs structure, the Special Plans Office was deeply
involved in this effort, supported (with information)
by the Iraqi National Congress. There was the
Rendon Group, headed by John Rendon who gave
media advice to OSD, the Joint Staff and the White
House. Finally, there were connections to large
PSYOPS activities.
[...]
The Rendon Group worked for the Government of
Kuwait during the Gulf I. John Rendon proudly
tells that it was he who shipped small American
flags to Kuwait for the citizens to wave as troops
entered Kuwait City. He suggested the same
technique for this war, but the Joint Staff information
operations office turned down the idea.
The Rendon Group worked for both OSD and the Joint
Staff during this war. John Rendon says he was part
of the daily 9:30 phone calls with the key information
players to set themes.
The main thrust of the entire report focuses on this: For the first time in our government and military history, the strategic goal of the military commanders was part and parcel of the government's goal to achieve what it wanted (take over of Iraq) and to manipulate evidence, people's opinions and even the truth in order to achieve that goal:
As far as I am aware, this is the first time a military
commander was given objectives that were about
justifying the war.
And, as I noted earlier, the press was the willing playmate.
I think the materials point to problems in the way
newspapers did their job during the war. Why don’t
they react immediately that they need to do some
self-appraisal? I think one could take the stories
I have highlighted and ask some direct questions. How
was it that the Washington Post took classified
information on the Jessica Lynch story and published
it just the way the individual leaking it in the Pentagon
wanted? Why did the New York Times let itself be
used by “intelligence officials” on stories? Why did the
Washington Times never seem to question a leak they
were given? Why were newspapers in the UK better
than those in the U.S. in raising questions before and
during the war?
I’ve not heard any self-criticism from reporters to
whom I have talked. When I’ve talked to television producers
and reporters my sense is they believe the whole
story is just too complex to tell. That’s sad but probably
true.
We can only conclude that these efforts will be improved on even further by this administration for its next conquest. If anyone stands in its way, watch out.
He (General Gerald Mauer) described a paper called
the Information Operations Roadmap that was being
coordinated in the Pentagon. He said when the paper
was drafted by his office it said that information
operations would be used against an “adversary.”
He went on to say that when the paper got to the
Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
(Feith), it was changed to say that information
operations will attempt to “disrupt, corrupt or usurp
adversarial…decision making.” Adversarial…decision-
making will be disrupted. In other words, we will
even go after friends if they are against what we
are doing or want to do.
Pretty damning report. But will anyone read it? After all, we're just a bunch of idiots that would rather be lied to because we can't handle the truth, and even if we could, we would get in the way of our unelected leaders' plans. Better to just let it go.
Now that's what I call democracy!
( 2:49 PM )
Everything Is Going Great,
They Just Aren't Reporting It
The new WH talking points this week are:
1. There are GOOD THINGS happening in Iraq
2. People don't know about them because the Press isn't reporting them
3. People would be more supportive of the President if they knew how great things really were
It's been repeated so many times in the last few days by pundits that it's obvious they all got the same fax from the White House. The blame is once again being pinned on the messengers because the White House can't find anyone else to throw on the fire to distract news watchers.
The Congressional Republicans are getting in on the act as well.
On returning from a trip to Iraq and
Afghanistan, a group of Senate
Republicans said yesterday that the
Bush administration deserves a lot
more credit for successful reconstruction
efforts in those war-torn nations.
[...]
As Congress prepares to vote on the
administration’s $87 billion supplemental
request for Iraq, Republican Sens. Mitch
McConnell (Ky.), Conrad Burns (Mont.)
and Craig Thomas (Wyo.) renewed the
argument that despite critical Democrats
and what the Republicans view as
excessively negative press, significant
progress has been made. They cited the
smiles, claps and thumbs-up gestures of
Iraqi youth among other indications that
the reconstruction process is gathering
momentum.
But evidently, Democrats aren't allowed to go and see for themselves:
Meanwhile, several Senate Democrats complained
that they were denied access to a plane for a
inspection tour of their own.
“For whatever reason, Sens. [Chris] Dodd [D-Conn.]
and others who requested the opportunity to travel
were prohibited from doing so, and I think that
requires a better explanation that the one I’ve been
given so far,” Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) said.
The new PR plan launced last week by the White House seems to be going forward full-blast. The GOP has joined with its shills in the non-news and is making enemies of the very people ("journalists") who have so far not kicked up a molecule of investigative dust on this presidency. The PR plan isn't so much more speeches to tout the goodness and sweetness of our occupation of Iraq, but more of an attack on those who no longer are falling in line.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT:
Well, Lou, now the White House is on the
offensive about its public relations offensive.
It was just yesterday that President Bush
complained about his story about the progress
in Iraq was not getting out. He also has said
that the Americans are not getting the truth
when it comes to this story. That's why the
White House went around and bypassed what
he called the national media filter to give
exclusive interviews to five reporters of regional
outlets who normally don't cover the White House.
What has happened now, well, it's opened
an active debate whether the blame-the-media
aspect of this White House strategy is going to
be effective. The White House today made no
apologies about it, White House spokesman Scott
McClellan defending the administration, saying
it's absolutely necessary.
[...]
KAREN TUMULTY, "TIME": Well, I must say,
I do find it ironic that the White House was
not complaining about the national media
when they were giving glowing coverage of
our actual -- of our progress during the war itself.
The fact is that the White House laid down
some expectations of what this war would
produce. They suggested we would be in and
out of Iraq within three months. They suggested
that the oil revenues would pay to fix the
damage. None of that has happened. And so I
think the media's doing its job, which is measuring
them against what they, themselves, had promised.
Well, while Bush goes on the offensive against a press that really has hardly done him wrong since he got into office, and the press goes on the defensive trying to 'splain that they are just "reporting the facts, ma'am" -- We can be assured that our elected representatives are getting the story straight for us:
Rep. George Nethercutt said yesterday that
Iraq's reconstruction is going better than is
portrayed by the news media, citing his recent
four-day trip to the country.
"The story of what we've done in the postwar
period is remarkable," Nethercutt, R-Wash.,
told an audience of 65 at a noon meeting at the
University of Washington's Daniel J. Evans
School of Public Affairs.
"It is a better and more important story than
losing a couple of soldiers every day."
Uh, George? Did you seriously mean that? Because if that's how the White House and Republicans in Congress feel, then I think the voters might have something to say about that.
So, in summary: Several soldiers are getting killed per day in Iraq, we don't even know the number of severely wounded there are, bombs are going off every day, and we are making things better by sending Turkish troops in soon. BUT THAT DOESN'T MATTER because people are happy and smiling and they don't even mind that they don't have jobs or money or food - because EVERYTHING is better when the Americans take over!
Did I get that right, Mr. President?
( 2:08 PM )
One for the "We're Making You Safer Every Day!" File
Missing: Secret Information About US Airports
(or "Have You Seen My Laptop?")
Yes, that's right:
The search goes on for a stolen laptop
computer, a computer that contains sensitive
information about security at all the
commercial airports in the U.S. It happened
during an airport security training seminar
at the Embassy Suites near Philadelphia
International.
Police and the FBI have not located that
computer nor have they made any arrests.
I am told it contains sensitive information
about security at the nation's 429 airports.
A source tells Action News they do not believe
this was the job of a professional who knew
what was on the computer, but someone who
thought they might be able to get some
good cash for it at a pawnshop.
Evidently, they were using the computer for training and when they broke for lunch, they left it behind. Nice one. I feel safer already. Thanks, TSA!!
(Thanks to Maru for the link)
( 1:43 PM )
Congratulations
To Daily Kos on his new format - a brilliant switchover, with little pain to the masses and an even more glorious commenting system for all. If only government could be as cool as Kos.
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
( 3:30 PM )
The Supreme Court Pledges its Allegiance
Well, it appears that SCOTUS is set to hear the Ninth Circuit Court case about the "under God" words in the Pledge of Allegiance. But from this article, and from this one as well, it appears they may be specifically planning to rule on the technicality of whether the father even had a legal standing to bring the case in the first place, rather than the substance of the "under God" issue. Also of note, Antonin Scalia has recused himself because of the obviously prejudiced remarks he made earlier this year in a speech where he denounced the Ninth Circuit Court's decision.
So without Scalia, there is a real possibility the Court could rule that the "under God" phrase should be taken out. I personally think that either way it goes will be bad for the Democratic candidate next year. If the Court waits until the June deadline to rule, that will make it especially worse. Either way it is set to be a press bonanza for the GOP conservative right. A ruling for the phrase will set them up as announcing the government being rightfully under a Christian God, and a ruling against the phrase will unleash the dogs of war and the conservative right will pummel democrats and liberals as godless and inhumane. While in my heart of hearts, I hope the court will not uphold the phrase that was not part of the original pledge, I tend to agree with other liberals on this issue: let it lie. It's not a big enough issue for us to chance the presidency over. It does bring up a broader issue though, that I think is important for all parents and people interested in the education of our children.
That there is a "Pledge of Allegiance" at all in our public schools strikes me as a little creepy. And before you go and label me unpatriotic and all that, let's just look at this from a bigger picture. I have several thoughts on this issue:
1. I am not aware of any other free, democratic society that imposes this sort of Pledge or Loyalty Oath on its children. Dictatorships and Theocratic monarchies indeed do impose indoctrination upon their citizens. But a nation that is supposed to be (in theory) run by the people? Does anyone know if other democratic countries impose a pledge? This practice seems more to me like a forced genuflection and not a true representation of what this country is meant to stand for. That being said, public school itself is mostly for indoctrination, so the pledge isn't exactly a non-sequitur there.
2. Why must the children pledge to a flag? If you're going to have an oath of loyalty that children must say, why not to the Constitution? Or better yet, to the first few lines of the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths self-evident, that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights..." The latter seems much closer to a declaration of what this country stands for (and it even has a nod to the Creator, which might satisfy the conservative right). It also puts the rights of humanity at the forefront of the saying, rather than a symbol (the flag). It is loyalty to a nation-state or some other form of theocratic government that has been the cause of so much trouble and strife in our history - putting the rights of humanity at the forefront of our minds can only serve to give us pause when we are urged to heed the call to state-sponsored war.
3. Saying that the pledge is "voluntary" for children belies the fact that it is in practice required in most school districts and that the child must face terrible peer and teacher pressure if he or she chooses to opt out of the pledge to a flag. It is unrealistic to assume that the "volunteerism" of the pledge of allegiance is anything but coordinated social pressure to do what the state wants you to do.
4. The "Under God" phrase was added in 1954, during the McCarthy era of rooting out all the "godless Communists" that were subverting our pure and good American society. (The pledge itself wasn't even officially recognized by the government until 1924, so this is not exactly a founding fathers kind of thing) The "under God" phrase was NOT part of the original pledge and the law that Congress passed putting it into a pledge that was at the time required in public schools itself was unconstitutional. It reminds this blogger of times very close to home right now when our civil rights are being conveniently put aside in the name of "protecting us" from outside evil that has crept into our midst. Whatever your view on what the Constitutional framers intended by the "separation" clause, having a pledge that requires a child to acknowledge a God in a public school in relation to the symbol of the nation-state is the establishment of a religion.
Now, if the Supreme Court were to declare that the "god" in the pledge is only a symbol, that it does not refer to the "God" (ie, the Christian God), then what is the point of it being in there in the first place? The conservative right would not stand for that interpretation either.
The founding fathers recognized non-Christian beliefs and did in fact write about the need to equally protect the rights of those believers. Most of them were deists who did not believe what today's Christian Conservative Right movement believes, and I don't believe they would agree with the not-subtle slide this country is making towards a theocracy.
The pledge itself is dumb, in my estimation. Kids don't pay attention to what they're saying, it's a very ill-conceived form of indoctrination into patriotism, and there is no true allowance for kids who do not wish to participate. It has nothing to do with a person's loyality, it requires a fidelity to one version of what this country is to its citizens, and it puts an emphasis on a symbol that means nothing more than the representation of the separate parts of this nation (states) that have chosen to come together to govern themselves. It does not belong in our public schools.
That being said, don't make a big deal out of it now - this isn't the time, we have bigger fish to fry in the next 13 months.
P.S. In better news, the Supreme Court has chosen to not take up Bush's attempt to imprison doctors who discuss the benefits of medical marijuana with their patients in states where it is legal. Chalk one up to the good side!
( 2:01 PM )
Dean Desertion
I read with interest Billmon's post yesterday about why he is un-endorsing Dean. I also read the comments there. I've heard from several other sources sentiments like Billmon has expressed. I thought I'd just comment on it briefly since I have publicly endorsed Dean on this blog.
As I have explained many times before, my endorsement of Dean isn't so much based on Dean himself, but rather the process he is using to run his campaign and the issues that are being raised because of it. I have said it before, I'll say it again, my vote is with whatever Democrat wins the candidacy. But I do read the position papers of the various candidates, I do watch the debates and I do read the press, what little of real reporting there is out there. My support of Dean also exists because while I acknowledge he is far more centrist than I ever would be personally, I do believe he has taken a stand on some pretty progressive social plans he wants to put into action. I very much like his plan for children, his healthcare plan seems to be the most realistic in terms of having success AND giving at least all children universal health care in the near future. I agree with the banning of assault weapons and closing the loopholes on the trade shows, but after that making the gun issue up to the states. That is probably the one issue I am not as "progressive" on.
But the reason Billmon and others I've spoken with have fallen out of support for Dean is his stance on foreign policy as it applies to the middle east. Dean's quasi-luke-warm response to Judy Woodruff on the Syria question was definitely not an exuberant, progressive stance. It looked and smelled like another Democrat bowing to AIPAC's power. But after a lot of thought, I've considered the broader picture. I saw, like everyone else, how Dean got beat to a pulp the last time he intimated that the US should treat Israel and Palestine as an even-handed mediator. He saw the writing on the wall, and thus his not-so-strident remarks since then. From his past comments, his stance on the war, and from his original response about Israel that he got so much heat for, I don't think that he is suddenly caving or selling out. I think he knows what he has to do to win the presidency, but I also don't think he or any democrat will allow Israel the wide berth that's been handed down from Bush.
I don't agree with all of Dean's stands on things. There isn't a candidate I DO agree with about all the issues. That would be impossible. But I do believe he can win because he's shown a populist approach and appeal, he can be both progressive in plan but centrist in speech and he has also shown an ability to look at the facts when presented to him and change his mind and move forward in his education and opinions. I admire that and I do not fault a politician for learning and growing and changing.
He does terribly in the debate formats so far. He needs to perk up his presentation with the press. I hope he will avoid going negative as the primaries approach, though I'm sure he'll get some of that advice. But I think he would fare much better if he tried to remain above the fray. I think his realistic lead is still strong enough. The press don't like him, and if they are allowed the leeway of lies they were with Gore, then he's done with. But if the popular support he and his campaign has worked so hard over the last 6 months to build proves anything, it's that word of mouth and the mobilization of people who are sick and tired of the status quo DOES mean something. And Gore never had those things, so I think Dean is still ahead of the pack in my opinion. What I most hope is that he will be able to show that a president can acheive that office without the helping hand of corporations that want to control him. Now THAT would be refreshing.
Monday, October 13, 2003
( 2:09 PM )
It's all in the Percentages
I was reading October's Harper's today during lunch. A few items on the Index jumped out at me (unfortunately, October's index isn't available on line yet):
Percentage of Americans that believe George W. Bush was legitimately elected president: 54
Percentage who believed this in March 2001: 56
Percentage of Americans who will save less than $100 on their 2006 federal taxes as a result of this year's tax cut: 88
Average amount these Americans will save: $4
Number of U.S. troops who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq in the last two years: 354
Number who died in Vietnam in 1963 and 1964: 324
Number of states that require energy companies to derive a percentage of their output form alternative sources: 13
Number of U.S. senators last year who voted against creating a similar federal requirement to take effect in 2020: 70
Number of Democratic legislators absent for this year's 213-210 vote restricting workers' overtime-pay eligibility: 7
Number of Virginia Republican Party officials fined this year for eavesdropping on Democratic Party conference calls: 3
Years after the Watergate break-in that deputy campaign director Jeb Magruder admitted hearing President Nixon order it: 30
Year in which Donald Rumsfeld gave Saddam Hussein a pair of golden spurs: 1983
But on the positive side:
Estimated market value of the usable body parts of an adult human: $46,000,000.
( 12:10 PM )
Monday Round Up
I'm having a tough time getting started on everything today. But if you're looking for a good round up of news and comment, and downright great blogging, I recommend you start with Tom Burka (it's always good to get the right perspective before reading the news) and move on to Maru's always unique comments on today's stories. Top that off with a visit to the Vet and his list of sound bites from the Administration (hint: the WH has an ever-decreasing enthusiasm for finding those folks they've lost), Daily Kos' thoughts on the very-near primaries, Josh Marshall at TPM on the identical letters to the editor that are popping up everywhere, and finally, Billmon, who explains in detail why he is now un-endorsing Howard Dean (my reaction later).
Now you should be ready to go!
Friday, October 10, 2003
( 3:30 PM )
Poetry Friday
Maru reminded me that today is National Poetry Day in the UK. To mark the holiday, and because it's Friday, I'm in a rhyming mood:
It's hard to ignore the confession
Of a man with such high moral obsession
But my, poor old Rush;
His brains are such mush;
The pills prob'ly helped his profession
Who leaked the i.d. of Ms. Plame?
Who IS the rascal to blame?
Could it be, maybe
That it was Cheney?
Oh that would be SUCH a shame!
I do, however, recognize that the limerick is not a widely-recognized form of "poetry." So I'll conclude with haiku:
Many men have tried
To lie to me about war
But I am too smart
We are ask'd: believe
We are told: it's true, just wait
Faith does not make truth
This fall seems so sad
Next fall will be much more fun
More than leaves will change
And, just to end the day on a high note:
Roses are red
This week was so bad
Thank God it's Friday
I almost went mad
Oh well, I tried. Have a great weekend.
( 2:09 PM )
Rush Confesses
This just in. Rush announces to his radio audience that he is, indeed, addicted to pain killers. P just called to tell me that maybe it's now been proven:
Stupidity is Painful.
( 11:07 AM )
Celebrating Women in Sports
You GO Casey!!
Thursday, October 09, 2003
( 4:19 PM )
Clear Your Name Now
MoveOn.org has a new campaign that everyone should be aware of - it's the Help President Bush campaign. If we all send in the letters testifying that we were not the source of the highly criminal leak of the name of Ambassador Wilson's wife to the press, then we can help the President to narrow the search. After all, he's declared publicly that he has no idea who in his administration perpetrated the leak. Let's help him out!
It's a simple process and you can pass it on to your friends and family so they can clear their names too!
I, Bohemian Mama, do hereby attest that on or about the dates of June 1, 2003, through July 14, 2003, I did not contact, whether by telephone, facsimile, e-mail, in person, or by any other means, any reporter, correspondent, journalist, or any other member of the media, with the intent to or purpose of naming former Ambassador Joseph Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame, as an operative for the Central Intelligence Agency.
2. I, Bohemian Mama, further attest that on or about the dates of June 1, 2003, through July 30, 2003, I did not have any conversation, whether by telephone, e-mail, in person, or by any other means, with any reporter, correspondent, journalist, or any other member of the media, during which the employment of Valerie Plame was discussed in any way.
I declare, under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing is true and correct.
There. That's done. Now, how else can I help my poor President who can't seem to tell which way is up... oh! I know! Help him find the door and boot his arse out!
( 3:08 PM )
Iraqi Children Lose Head Start
Looks like Bush gives equal time to all children - while our own lose necessary meals from Head Start, he's decided that the children in Iraq are eating too much as well. In truth, the poor Iraqi children who have been benefitting from the food distribution system provided after our invasion are going to have to find their nourishment elsewhere.
A more substantial assault on Saddam's
legacy is under way in the Republican
Palace, where the occupation authority is
making preparations to dismantle the food
distribution system which gave free rations
of flour, rice, cooking oil and other staples
to every Iraqi.
Described by the UN as the world's most
efficient food network, the system still
keeps Iraqis from going hungry. But the US
civilian administrator of Iraq, Paul Bremer,
views it as a dangerous socialist anachronism.
The coalition provisional authority (CPA) is
planning to abolish it in January, despite
warnings from its own technical experts that
this could lead to hunger and riots.
But evidently, that doesn't go far enough. We need to rub in their faces that we're no longer going to feed them after invading their country, killing their family members and causing massive job losses everywhere. Nope. We need to teach them a lesson.
Behind the mosque five American military
vehicles rumbled through a narrow lane,
scattering children and women, and
announcing through loudspeakers that
demonstrations in support of Saddam were
banned. Leaflets fluttered to the ground
behind them. "Freedom = Responsibility",
the headline said.
Beautiful. If that's not patronizing condecension, I don't know what is. It seems, however, that the leaflets aren't working that well:
A man with a baby in his arms stooped to
pick one up and, staring straight at the US
troops, ripped it in half.
I wrote below about this administration's callous treatment of our own children. So I realize my expectations are far too high if I thought it would treat Iraqi children any better. It only follows, I suppose that Bush's people would use some sort of weird neo-con phobia about socialism to justify not feeding children in Iraq, when it is obvious it is one thing we're doing well at this point. They're not even using the excuse of cost. Nope, it's just not "responsible" to allow the Iraqis to think they can just get free food whenever they want it. Who do those moochers think they are anyway?
(Thanks to Billmon for the heads-up on this topic. And also, check out Not in My America for some more good commentary on it)
( 10:51 AM )
The Path of Destruction Includes our Children
I blogged earlier this week about how the Bush Administration is, indeed, leaving children behind. The "reforms" this president intends wreak upon the education system of this country will not help schools or children and will only further chip away at the opportunities for the most vulnerable of our society. In addition to his uber-force-testing, un-funded Leave No Child Behind mandate, he also intends to dismantle Early Head Start.
Why is Head Start so successful and so important? The Nation article by Jennifer Niesslein gives us good insight.
Those familiar with Head Start attribute its
effectiveness to just how comprehensive it is. A
child in Head Start benefits not only from time in
the classroom but also from required parental
involvement, healthcare screenings and follow-ups
(including vaccinations and dental care), nutritious
meals and help with special needs.
This is an incredible need in this country, especially with the amount of children in poor families, and children without health coverage (a crime, in my estimation, that the government should have to pay for by each and every elected official going without health care coverage until all Americans, at least all children, have it). Head Start is unique because it is so well-rounded and prepares children not only for school, but gives them social nurturing, and sometimes their only solid meals in a day. But George Bush thinks that's dumb. What three year olds need is to READ. All this "taking care of their needs" crap has got to go.
Bush isn't giving up the I-love-the-kiddies rhetoric;
in fact, he insists, his heart is downright bursting with
love and hope for them. "We want Head Start to set
higher ambitions for the million children it serves....
There hasn't been a proper focus on the little children,"
he said. "In my line of work, you see a problem, you
address it."
But what problem does George Bush see with Head Start? Could it possibly be a politically motivated bend in the statistics to prove his corporate handlers' case?
John Boehner, chair of the House education
committee, seems to think so. "Head Start's
graduates beginning kindergarten are more than
25 percentile points below in average skills like
recognizing letters, numbers, shapes and colors.
Too many children in Head Start are being left behind."
But if you ask, "Below what? Behind whom?" you'll
find a statistical sleight of hand. While Head Start
grads are not scoring as well as their more affluent
counterparts, they do score higher than kids who
come from the same socioeconomic background
but who didn't participate in Head Start. Simply put,
the program works. And if kids from low-income
families aren't scoring as high as kids in the suburban
middle class, it's because teachers and other services
can only do so much.
The conservatives/republicans in Congress and the White House talk a good game about taking care of this nation's children and finding homes for the homeless kids and food for the hungry kids. But where is the legislation making it easier for homeless families to find homes? Where is the legislation mandating and funding food for all children? Where is the provision for the health care for these vulnerable ones who are our future?
It's double talk at its worst because it hurts the ones who can't fight back. The President has decided unilaterally that it is not the federal government's job to provide services and aid to our children. He has put financial burdens on states until they are almost all bankrupt from the unfunded mandates that have come out of this White House. And yet, he proposes to do the same with Head Start.
A Head Start bill supported by the White House
would essentially do away with comprehensive
services by eliminating the federal role in
administering the program. Through a block grant,
it would give eight states control of running early
childhood programs... Moreover, the language
about what range of services the states need
to provide is vague.
So already struggling states, who are taking away money from the k-12 kids and from the state colleges are going to pay for 3 year olds? Who do you think will get cut first? But all these comprehenisive services and care for children aren't important to Bush. No, what's important is SCHOOL READINESS (translate: STANDARDIZED TEST READINESS). He thinks that three year olds should instead be learning to read and do other educational skills so that they are prepared for kindergarten (where, likely he feels that the 5 year olds should be ready for their first standardized test by then). Literacy for three year olds. That is the goal of dismantling a program for that for years has given children who wouldn't otherwise have had a chance the opportunity to go further than they or their parents could have dreamed. Sure, Head Start like any beaurocratic organization, could use some streamlining and some new and modern operations changes. But do away with it? If this were a logical government or country, we would be doing everything we could to make it better and EXPAND it for all young children who need it (currently it can only support 60% of qualified children).
Niesslein concludes:
The real issue here is that despite all the talk
about accountability, Bush conservatives don't
want the federal government to be accountable
for anything, especially anything related to poverty.
About time we changed that, isn't it? I urge you to write to your congressperson or senator and tell them, plead with them, not to pass this Head Start legislation. It will do so much more harm to our neediest of children. It doesn't take long to write a letter or send an email. We are the only ones who can stand up for this issue. The children have no voice. We have to be the voice for them, or what legacy are we leaving our own children?
( 9:02 AM )
Back at the Podiums
Well, tonight is the first Dem Debate in a while (on CNN), minus one of the candidates. Bob Graham dropped out of the race. In other shake-ups, Clark's campaign manager quit yesterday. I don't know how signficant that is for the Clark campaign, though Kos has some good insight into what it may all be about.
I hope in this debate that the candidates will start to really distinguish themselves as leaders and also creative, thoughtful and inventive people who have new and fresh ideas to share with the country. I'm hoping that some of the stump speech stuff will go away in the debate forum as well. I don't have any sense about whether Dean is still going to be the punching bag, but I think now would be a good time for him to regroup and focus on his goals - sort of less Bush-bashing (though leave some of it in there) and more of what he would do as president. I think that some of the key differences between these candidates are trade, healthcare plans and budget goals. The trade question is an especially interesting one because the AFL/CIO is still withholding its endorsement.
Most of all, it will be nice to get back to REAL politics and debate about issues. I would prefer that focus return to the Dem candidates and the Bush white house screw ups so that the voters in this country can begin to form some cogent opinions and thoughts about next year's election. California can deal with its own mess right now. Let's get back to business.
Wednesday, October 08, 2003
( 3:19 PM )
Lowering the Bar Even Further
Subtitle: Come On, Drink the Kool-Aid!
You thought it couldn't be done - finding an even weaker reason to go to war. But alas, we must do away with our expectations of logic from this administration. We now have the most stupid excuse ever for Iraq, via Condoleeza Rice today:
"And let there be no mistake, right up to the end,
Saddam Hussein continued to harbor ambitions to
threaten the world with weapons of mass
destruction and to hide his illegal weapons activity,"
she told the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations.
He harbored ambitions to threaten the world??!!! THANK GOD we're sacrificing two soldiers a day to maintain the chaos of military occupation in that country! It is SOOOO worth it!
Sigh.
For greater insight and much better commentary on this, please see Billmon and Daily Kos.
( 12:32 PM )
Freeway Blogger
Who needs computers?
( 12:29 PM )
Of Frogs and Ants
Martin turned 16 months last week and to celebrate has decided to enter puberty early. What is going on? He suddenly bursts out into these emotional wailing and drama-filled attacks at the slightest problem. If he is caught suspended from the third shelf of the bookcase on his attempt to scale the entire 12-foot peak and told very firmly "No Ups on the Bookcase!" and is pulled unceremoniously to solid ground, he does not get angry, no - he bursts out crying like his heart will break. If he cannot have "Mo" edamame as a snack, it's like his best friend died. If the "blo flowa" (that's the dandelion) isn't allowed to be blown inside the house, scattering its seeds everywhere, it's like the worst tragedy of humankind. He hardly ever has anger tantrums or that sort of thing, no, his new thing is DRAMA.
He's going to be a frog for halloween. He knows what they are, so will be able to identify himself (maybe). Also, we didn't have to pay for the costume.
We have ants. P read online that a natural way to get rid of ants without using toxic repellants (not helpful when the house contains a child that likes to lick everything) was peppermint, saffron and catnip. I came home last night and our house smelled like a candy cane. Not unpleasant, but somehow sort of sticky feeling. Amazingly it works. The random ant can now be found trying desperately to flee from Martin as he puts his finger down to try to get it to crawl on to him so he can run around yelling "An! An!" as it crawls up his arm.
Oh, and yesterday he looked at the tv and a picture of Bush came on and Martin said "boob!" He didn't even breastfeed. How could one child be so brilliant?
( 10:29 AM )
Meanwhile In Iraq: BYOB (Bring Your Own Body Armor)
Everyone is talking about California, so I thought today I'd let that subject lie and look over to an ongoing little issue known as Iraq. Lost amongst all the star-gazing and media frenzy over Ahnold these last weeks, is the fact that our soldiers are still getting killed on average of two per day. Just yesterday, three soldiers and an Iraqi interpreter were killed, not to mention the others that were injured in those attacks, the two helicopter crashes and other violet upsurges in Baghdad. That was just yesterday.
On Sunday, I read an editorial in our local paper. Its original dateline was September 29. But I haven't seen much mention of this issue - the fact that our soldiers not only have outmoded gear, they are actually buying their own stuff to make up for what they're not being issued. Jonathan Turley wrote the article.
Suzanne Werfelman is a mother and a teacher
who has been shopping for individual body armor.
This is not in response to threats from her
elementary-class students in Sciota, Pa.; it's a
desperate attempt to protect her son in Iraq.
Like many other U.S. service members in Iraq, her
son was given a Vietnam-era flak jacket that cannot
stop the type of weapons used today. It appears
that parents across the country are now purchasers
of body armor because of the failure of the military
to supply soldiers with modern vests.
[...]
The greatest shortfall in vests and plates appear
to be National Guard and reserve units, though full-
time soldiers like Byrd also have reported shortages.
Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff, confirmed last week that it would not be
until December before there were enough plates
for all of our people in Iraq.
Murphy's reserve unit, which initially had no modern
jackets, was eventually given some Interceptor vests
weeks after they arrived in Iraq, but even then the
new vests were missing the essential ceramic plates.
That is when Werfelman went out and bought some
plates for $650 - more than her weekly salary - and
sent them to her son so he'd have basic protection.
Workers at one armor company she called said that
they had been deluged with calls from parents trying
to buy vests and plates for their sons and daughters
overseas.
Of course, many soldiers do not have even empty
Interceptors. When they have received plates from home,
they have reportedly used duct tape to attach them to
the backs of their flak jackets.
Ahem. I was just wondering, where is that $87 billion going? Bush has said time and again that our soldiers are getting the best support possible - yet many of them are not even getting basic protection.
[Bush said] "My attitude is, any time we put one of
our soldiers in harm's way, we're going to spend
whatever is necessary to make sure they have the
best training, the best support and the best possible
equipment." When Bush later taunted gunmen in Iraq
to "bring it on," many GIs must have nervously
tugged at their obsolete flak jackets.
So just what IS this administration spending its defense money on?
the Air Force announced that it had cut a deal with
Boeing to lease airplane tankers for billions more
than it would cost to buy them outright. According to
the Congressional Research Service, the Air Force will
waste almost $6 billion by leasing the planes rather
than buying them. Congress is looking into the deal.
By comparison, outfitting all of the 150,000 soldiers in
Iraq with Interceptor vest plates would cost less than
$97 million at retail prices. Because many have already
been outfitted, the actual cost would be a small fraction
of this amount.
This is frightening and not a little infuriating considering this administration's continued tough-talk. But just a little research shows us that flak jackets aren't our soldiers only liabilities out there in the desert.
Soldiers for the Truth has a long list of equipment that have failed our soldiers. Hackworth's effort to give soldiers voices is providing a new insight for us civilians into what things are really like. It's not so easy for the government to censor the soldiers these days. After action reports coming in list a unconscionable amount of uneccessary dangers that are facing our troops due to inadequate weaponry and provisions. Here are just a few comments from the soldiers on their equipment:
The Army
-- The flip-up sight on the M-4 allowed the soldier to engage targets out to 600 meters. However, the plastic grommet that formed the small aperture was prone to falling out. Soldiers "super-glued" the aperture to the sight.
-- Vehicle crewman purchased hand-held laser pointers to orient the fire of more than one platform weapon.
-- Lubricant: Soldiers provided consistent comments that CLP was not a good choice for weapon's maintenance in this environment. The sand is as fine as talcum powder here. The CLP attracted the sand to the weapon. Soldiers considered a product called MiliTec to be a much better solution for lubricating individual and crew-served weapons.
-- Commercial GPS: As is widely known, many soldiers purchase their own GPS systems rather than use the PLGR. The Rhino was provided to the 82nd as part of the rapid fielding initiative. Overall, soldiers were very appreciative of this addition to their MTOE. The Rhino was a vast improvement over the PLGR because of the weight, volume, power consumption and performance - the Rhino consistently acquired satellites faster than the PLGR.
-- Soldiers have no confidence in the ICOM radios. The range was unsatisfactory. Everyone had a Motorola-type hand-held radio that had vastly better range and power performance. Soldiers purchased handsets and longer antennas for their ICOM radios.
-- Boots: Soldiers were generally dissatisfied with the performance of the Desert Combat Boot. The soles were too soft and were easily damaged by the terrain. This seemed to be more of a problem for the boots manufactured by Altima. Many spent their own money to have the boots resoled with Vibran soles with mixed success.
-- Slings: Soldiers are purchasing their own slings because the issued variant does not provide the flexibility or comfort they require. Soldier purchased or fabricated tactical slings for the M-4/M-203 that allowed the weapon to be slung on their back or hung on their chest so they could respond to contact faster.
-- Desert Camouflage Uniform: The most prevalent comment on the DCU was the need for pockets on the sleeves. Soldiers realize they will wear IBA in almost all environments from now on. The pockets on the front of the DCU are all but useless. Many soldiers have already had a tailor sew pockets on their sleeves. A similar suggestion was made for the pant pockets. The current pockets are frequently blocked by the protective mask carrier and the thigh holster. Soldiers suggested moving the pants pockets to the front of the leg. The durability of the uniform was questioned due to the propensity of the thread to give away especially in the crotch area. Soldiers felt that dirt was to blame for the high failure rate. Soldiers did not receive an opportunity to have their uniforms laundered for over 30 days of combat.
--Socks: A very important item of equipment that generated a good deal of discussion especially among the light fighters. Many received the black wool/poly pro blend which were too hot for this environment. Some received the Wright sock (tan outside/white inside), which shrunk too much after washing. Soldiers within 3ID had received the dark green sock that was selected and continued to judge it as superior. Again, soldiers felt if they could just keep their socks clean they could better protect their feet.
-- Gloves: The nomex gloves provided with the rapid fielding initiative were too thick and warm for this environment. Soldiers preferred the air crewmen or mechanic style nomex. Other popular gloves include moto-cross or batting style gloves. Some soldiers purchased HellStorm gloves from Blackhawk.
-- Neck Gator: Many light soldiers told us that this was the single best piece of gear for the desert environment. Unfortunately, it is not flame retardant so the vehicle crewman cannot use it.
--Magazines: Soldiers carried as many as 15 magazines with them for this operation. They local purchased two items to facilitate their ability to manage this amount of ammunition. They purchased several commercial variants of devices to allow for quick magazine changes...They also purchased commercial bandoleers for wear of additional magazines on the chest and upper leg.
* Survivability: Combat identification still relies on methods and technologies used 10 years ago. Our army is extremely lethal - we rely too greatly on the discipline and skill of our soldiers.
* Sustainment: Soldiers still spend too much of their own money to purchase the quality packs, pouches, belts, underwear, socks and gloves they believe they need for mission success and comfort.
The Marines
-- M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) -- the SAW's are worn out and apparently beyond repair. They have far exceeded their service life. Many Marines are duct taping and zip tying the weapons together.
-- M203 Load Bearing [harness]:Grenade bearing vests don’t hold enough ammunition. Rounds don’t fit into many of the pockets, so grenadiers aren’t able to carry as many rounds as the vest is designed to carry. They aren’t able to fit rounds into all of the pouches. Granadiers are coming up with several different “band-aid” solutions to carry enough ammunition, most of which aren’t working.
-- Drop Holsters and phone dummy chords: Many Marines purchased these items from their own personal funds. Drop holsters …cost approximately $65. Marines would like to see these holsters issued with their pistols. Also, Marines fashioned pistol lanyards from phone chords.
Is this right? As a mother, I probably think about things a little differently sometimes, but come on. Can we truly need $500 million dollars for more weapons inspections when our soldiers can't even get wearable uniforms, workable weapons and dry socks?
Bush and his cronies like to harp on about how pro-military they are, but they are again lying out their teeth. There can be no true support of our soldiers unless we are actually supporting them with the practical items that will help them survive. That they shouldn't have to be in this situation at all seems almost moot to this argument. But if we're going to put them in them in the middle of this dangerous environment, the least we could do is use some of those millions of tax dollars to actually provide for them.
We can talk about getting them practical R&R, not burning them out and actually paying them what they're worth in a different post.
Tuesday, October 07, 2003
( 3:48 PM )
One of Those Days
Ugh. Much posting will be had tomorrow... today, just trying to keep my head above water!
( 12:30 PM )
Politics Catch-Up
Before I begin my ranting and raving today, thought I'd do a bit of catch up on the 2004 campaign.
It looks like the Bush/Cheney Campaign has got a blog! It's a little frightening, and not really a blog, but I suppose times are changing. Here's what the leader of Political Campaign Blogs has to say:
Mr. President, I'm a blogger. I know blogs.
Bloggers are friends of mine. And your site,
sir, is not a blog.
We welcome all readers of this new somewhat
blog-like site to use this as an open thread to
discuss what you think of it, because the Bush
folks aren't interested in letting anyone comment.
In other news, Bob Graham has dropped out of the race. According to Dkos, Graham only had $1 million in the bank. Most figured him for the first drop out. While I'd like to see a leaner field of competition, I also don't want to see the likes of Kucinich, Mosely Braun or Sharpton drop out because they provide a much needed pull to the left for the party. Especially now that the Clintons'/DLC's pick is in the race.
Senator Judd Gregg's (R-NH) wife was a victim of abduction and violent robbery this morning, but it appears she is safe. They haven't caught the suspects yet.
It's up to the Californians now. Please don't let that ever be a phrase that is used with regard to anything actually important to the rest of us (just kidding, Californian friends!!).
And once this Californian thing is over, we can all re-focus on the REAL recall, in 2004. There is a Democratic Debate coming up this Thursday. It will be interesting to see how the dynamics are playing out now.
Monday, October 06, 2003
( 4:18 PM )
Please Let it All End Now!
Pat Robertson, who doesn't understand why what Rush said was so wrong:
"He started off playing a chauffeur in 'Driving Miss Daisy,'
and then they elevated him to head of the CIA, and then
they elevated him to president and in his last role they
made him God. I just wonder, isn't Rush Limbaugh right to
question the fact, is he that good an actor or not?"
-- [uttered] on his "700 Club" television show,
using the example of black actor Morgan Freeman to
defend Limbaugh's jab at Philadelphia Eagles
quarterback Donovan McNabb.
And this is one of the major "moral" influences on our president. Aaaaarrrgggghhh!
( 2:59 PM )
A Leap from Mere Hypocrisy to Outright Repulsiveness
The Bush administration has once again pulled one of its "funny coincidences" in timing again. Just like George W. using Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday to announce his non-support of affirmative action at the University of Michigan earlier this year, just like when George W. announced on Mother's Day a bill that he called "family flex leave," but which actually intended to rob working mothers and fathers of overtime pay, he's gone and done it again.
Per the white house's website, Bush has declared "Marriage Protection Week" to start on October 12.
October 12 is the anniversary of the murder of Matthew Shephard. Coincidence? I don't think so. The white house is clear in its intention:
Marriage is a sacred institution, and its protection
is essential to the continued strength of our society.
Marriage Protection Week provides an opportunity to
focus our efforts on preserving the sanctity of marriage
and on building strong and healthy marriages in America.
Marriage is a union between a man and a woman, and
my Administration is working to support the institution of
marriage by helping couples build successful marriages
and be good parents.
Matthew Shephard's death horrified the country. Most of us asked ourselves: what have we become? But the lesson was short lived for some, I guess.
It is not just an attempt at erasure of Matthew Shephard's memory, but it is an intentional acknowledgment of absolute insensitivity and non-caring toward his parents and family and the community that is most threatened by the exact actions that killed Matthew. And still, some Bush supporters want to go even further.
Bush and his conservative right empowerers have been very blunt about their intention to try to outlaw civil unions for gay couples. They swear upon the holiness and sanctity of marriage and that marriage is only between a man and a woman and it must be protected at all costs.
So my question is simple. If it's that important to the fabric of our society, why isn't divorce outlawed? Over 50% of marriages end in divorce in this country... that's marriages between a man and a woman. Yet, committed gay couples who have shown the same or longer committment and haven't split up are not allowed to adopt children, foster children, visit each other in the hospital, have spousal benefits or any of the same things. Why? Because it offends our sense of sanctity. So why should heterosexual couples be allowed to divorce if marriage is the key ingredient to our society surviving? And, by the way, wouldn't an environment that promoted family commitments for gay couples do more to strengthen a family-oriented society than hurt it?
If Matthew Shephard, RIP, had lived to become an adult, an educated man who contributed to our society and who perhaps loved someone and decided to commit to a lifelong partnership with that person and raise children... he would not have been treated equally in our country. Equality is a standard we proudly claim to the rest of the world, and yet, in truth, it's blatantly ignored when it comes to certain people who evidently don't deserve the same rights. By the terms set by this administration, Matthew's right to marriage, children and family committment would not have been protected. Nor are the rights of any other gay man or woman seeking the same thing.
To start this Marriage Protection Week on the same day as Matthew Shephard's death is like throwing it in the face of all gay people and all gay couples that they are not acceptable. Sort of an oh by the way, we think it's awful when you don't get treated fairly (but not really), or you can't visit your partner of 20 years in the hospital (but not really), or you lose your job in the military that you were really good at (but not really), or that you get beaten to death (but not really) - but god forbid if you try to lead healthy, family-centered lives and think you're going to contribute to our sanctified society!
I don't have words to describe my disgust.
(thanks to Atrios for the heads-up)
UPDATE: Strangechord said more about this a few days ago. And Shock & Awe called it for what it is: National Discriminate Against Gay Couples Week.
A further personal comment: While many people feel strongly in their religious beliefs that homosexuality is unacceptable (and though I disagree, I defend their right to their own beliefs), what I find to be unacceptable is my government is presuming to publicly declare an intolerance of some of my own friends and family, and I have no say in that. This - my - government is also making proclamations in accordance with a set of beliefs adhered to by only some of its constituents, and such proclamations directly discriminate against other of its constituents. This government is taking on the role of the church in this issue, and that is wholly unacceptable. It should be unacceptable to church people because it opens the door to the government being able to dictate the beliefs and moralities of all people, and while they allow this president to do this because he shares their beliefs, what will they do if the next president believes something different? A firm line must be drawn between what the government has the right to interfere in, and it should not be the definition of, or the (meaningless) protection of, its version of what is a "good marriage." I find it utterly reprehensible that some people presume to influence this president in a way that discriminates and insults other American citizens, many of which are just as God-fearing and good, and that, in turn, the president bends to that influence in this way. Okay, I'm done. For now.
Okay, I'm back again: In a further update, I note several people commenting on the article by Jennifer Graham today in the National Review. Pandagon and TBogg get it right - I urge you to read their commentaries. I wish that millions of people didn't read the National Review or listen to Rush Limbaugh, but I know they do. What I find so horrifying is that so many in this nation are willing to allow this subtle form of racist bigotry persist. It's this kind of mentality that makes possible things like proclamations declaring a week that boldly discriminates against citizens of this country. Argghh!!
( 11:03 AM )
Leave No
The Leave No Child Behind Act is terrible in more ways than we can count so far. Here in Oregon, it is hurting our schools far more than it is helping. And now we find out from a teacher who wrote to the paper in yesterday's edition that it's hurting the teachers too:
Last year I was a finalist for Teacher of the Year.
Last year the National Geographic Society awarded
me a $5,000 grant to help build an outdoor classroom
with natural materials. Last year the Portland teachers
association and school board asked me to mentor
new teachers. Last year I trained a group of Portland
teachers in the Tribes process, which nurtures
supportive classroom communities.
Last week letters went home to the parents of my
students telling them I'm not a "highly qualified" teacher.
How can I fall so far in one year? Easy. I've been afflicted
with the No Child Left Behind Curse.
How can a teacher with these kinds of qualifications be labeled as "unqualified"? He explains:
In its push to "leave no child behind" the law disregards
my license, even though it's issued by the state, which
sets some of the toughest standards in the nation. My
'license says I'm qualified to teach English to speakers of
other languages and bilingual education in specified
subjects though grade 12.
But the new law doesn't recognize my qualifications
because I, like other bilingual teachers, was encouraged
to take college courses focusing on bilingual and special
education. That left me without a few teaching methods
courses, but prepared me extremely well for teaching
in both English and Spanish.
As an "under-qualified" teacher I have distinguished
company. One of the few Portland Public School
teachers who reached the highest and most difficult
level of qualification -- a National Teaching Certificate --
also had letters sent home to the parents of her students
informing them of her inadequate qualifications.
This is not even one of the more disturbing aspects of this law. This unfunded mandate, passed with the unthinking bipartisan support of Senate Democrats (who didn't seem to be paying much attention to anything until the last week), is giving schools failing reports based on an arbitrary set of requirements. It forces students to take more standardized (but unequal) tests and labels them as failures too if they don't meet qualifications that have nothing to do with how hard they try, what their potential is and how much they are learning outside of testing questions. And now we find that it's doing the same to our teachers. No wonder the teachers are calling it a Curse.
This is the curse that forces students who haven't
learned to speak and read English as well as students
with severe disabilities to take high-stakes standardized
tests they can't possibly pass. Those scores are then
used to judge school performance.
This is a curse on our public schools. What else can
you call it when arbitrary standards are imposed on
schools, curriculum is twisted and distorted into test
preparation packages, and "failing schools" are subjected
to state takeover and charter status?
The growing emphasis on standardized testing as the measurement of school and student progress and the pin on which school reform turns is not making our schools better or even more accountable. It's in fact hindering true school reform and the ability of teachers to exercise their own, good judgment in teaching their students. In fact, a 1992 study called the Testing in American Schools, done by The Office of Technology Assessment, concluded: "It now appears that the use of these tests misled policymakers and the public about the progress of students, and in many places hindered the implementation of genuine school reforms."
But who continues to push this kind of false "accountability" measures? That's right, the entrenched policy makers and the politicians. Promising a new era for education reform, George W. Bush ushered in the "No Child Left Behind" act, making the motto of the Children's Defense Fund a mockery and hurting, not helping the poorest and most vulnerable schools:
A huge increase in federally mandated testing will not
provide the services and strategies our schools and
students need to improve. Most states and local districts
have already dramatically increased the use of standardized
tests over the past two decades, without solving the
problems of poor schools. Some estimates are that the new
federal law will require states to give more than 200
additional tests at a cost of more than $7 billion.
Not only is the test-obsessed doctrine of Bush harmful, but he's lied to us all with his appointment of Rod Paige as the National director of it all:
He's the Texas miracle man who President Bush
brags turned the Houston schools into a model of
public accountability. The rave was based on the
claim that the dropout rate had fallen to 1.5 percent
in Houston's high schools.
Since Paige became secretary of education, a state
audit of the Houston Public Schools found the school
district under superintendent Paige swapped thousands
of students who should have been listed as dropouts
into other categories such as "transferred" or "moved."
The real dropout rate was nearly 40 percent, which would
have been among the highest in the nation. A New York
Times editorial called this "the educational equivalent of
Enron's accounting results."
It seems this president hasn't just lied to us about national security issues or war. He's made it a habit to mislead us and double talk us regarding our economy, our jobs and the education of our children. I hope that all parents of publicly-educated children will educate themselves about the travesty being wreaked upon our children by the government and not fall prey to the hollow and false calls for fake reform, like vouchers and more testing. Perhaps the accountability for the success of public schools should be on the shoulders of the politicians, not the children. Just an idea.
Friday, October 03, 2003
( 1:55 PM )
She Was a CIA Operative?
OHHHHH! I thought they were all talking about the President's Analyst! Then again, I can't expect the likes of news cable pundits or half-baked journalists to get the facts straight, even about a cult flick ...or a revenge hit ... or hitting the brakes... or yellow cakes....
( 12:41 PM )
Oregon National Guard Called Up
700 members of the Oregon National Guard have been called up for duty in Iraq. Besides the fact that I didn't think we had 700 of them left in the state, this is bad news for them, their families and our state.
The soldiers will depart for training in Fort Hood,
Texas, before likely being deployed to Iraq in
March. The soldiers will likely serve in Iraq through
March 2005, said Major Gen. Alexander H. Burgin,
Oregon's adjunct general.
That means that starting this week, these folks won't likely see their families for a good 18 months. It is a crock that the Guard and Reserves are being called on for year-long duty. That year only starts once they are in-country in Iraq. These families not only have to deal with the sudden call-up, but the fact that they are going to have to fend for a year and a half - at the minimum - without the regular salary of the spouse or parent who must go to Iraq. The other problem is that most of these troops are being called up from our smaller cities and towns (I guess the other ones have already been cleaned out), communities that are more likely to hurt from their absences:
Many of those leaving are public safety officers,
and their departures leave gaps in local police
forces and sheriff's departments.
Philomath High School principal Nels Thompson
said he's hoping that someone will be able to
fill in for one of the mobilized officers, Jeff Hanke,
who has been working as the school's resource
office.
I don't know how many more Guard and Reserves there are in Oregon to call up, but there can't be many (maybe some of my fellow Oregon bloggers might know this number - I can't seem to find a definitive Oregon tally). We hear daily about our various battalions that are over there already. We've had our share of KIA's, and though so far I haven't seen a count, I'm sure our state's wounded sons and daughters number very high as well, considering the average in Iraq lately.
This is going to keep happening across this country. The longer we have to go without international assistance (translated: the longer Bush remains the arrogant snob that he is), more of our own troops are going to have to go over there.
Just a question here: Are we going to run out of back up troops at some point? If there is another major domestic calamaty, the equal of 9/11, will we have sufficient Guard and Reserves here to help, or will that duty then fall in total to our "first responders" and then to us, everyday citizens, who will undoubtedly volunteer to fill spaces that are left empty by our back up troops, which are now in Iraq? Just wondering.
Maybe I'll make a stop at the surplus store this weekend. Never hurts to be prepared in case Oregon has to form its own State Guard to deal with emergencies here at home, and all able bodied folks will have to enlist. Never say that the Mama was hesitant to serve her fellow citizens in times of need.
Of course, this is all hypothetical... situations of such dire circumstance could never happen...
( 9:58 AM )
Why Does Bush Hate America?
"Free nations don't develop weapons of mass destruction."
-Bush, just now.
Nice catch, Atrios.
( 9:43 AM )
Dear Mr. Kay, I Found Your WMDs...
Oct 2, 2003
HERMISTON, Ore. -- Monitoring crews at the
Umatilla Chemical Depot detected a small leak
of vaporized sarin inside a concrete bunker
that stores 750-pound chemical bombs, a depot
spokesman said Thursday.
It was the second leak detected in three days.
Crews found a leak of sarin Monday in a bunker
used to store 155 mm projectiles.
Did you need to read that again? Go ahead, I'll give you some time.
Yep, that's right - in Hermiston, Oregon (that's about 3 hours from Portland), sarin gas is leaking in the Umatilla Chemical Weapons Depot. But not to worry! It didn't escape the bunker this time!
"It's at such low levels. It's very
routine for us," he said.
Now THAT'S comforting! Along with other chemical weapons plants that have been in use in this country since the World Wars, Umatilla is set to have its contents incinerated starting next year. The process is expected to take six years. In 2002, the Depot had to shut down its incineration tests because it was emitting illegal levels of toxins into the air. (Despite the government's insistence, incineration isn't the only way to get rid of these WMDs hiding amongst us. Other states are successfully using a process called neutralization to eliminate their stock of chemical weapons.)
So, in conclusion, Mr. Kay, if you find that you're getting bored in Iraq and you simply can't find enough to keep you busy over there, you're always welcome in Oregon! I'm sure we'd all like to know the full extent of the destructive weapons that are sitting, silently leaking, on our doorsteps. Then again, as our fearless leader proves to us daily, isn't ignorance bliss?
( 9:26 AM )
Double Standards
Drugs. Said to be the biggest criminal problem in this country. There's even a War on Drugs. Attorney General Ashcroft makes it his business to expend millions of dollars and the time of many agents of the Justice Dept. to track down people who sell bongs. Poor people who are caught in the possession of small amounts of marijuana go to jail for years on end. And yet, very rich people who posess and engage in the trade of drugs manage to go free every time.
Example 1. Here in Portland we have the very shameful Portland Trailblazer basketball team - known more for its members' criminal activities off the court than for it skill as a team on the court. A member of that team, Damon Stoudamire, was caught in an Arizona airport in July with a pack of marijuana wrapped in tin foil. Now, if the tin foil thing going through a metal detector isn't stupid enough for you, it was literally his third strike (last year, a pound of it was found in his home, and then last November, he was caught speeding on a Washington highway, high as kite). But he swears he's reformed, and since he went through a program and the team was fined, all should be well and good (not to mention, his attorneys are arguing that TSA didn't have the right to search his packet of tinfoil at the airport). So he's still going to play this season (though he promises to pee in a cup every week).
Example 2. Rush Limbaugh, who has railed for years against drug addicts and thinks they should all be locked up, is now caught up in his own drug scandal. This time it's the illegal trade of prescription drugs (often just as addictive). Limbaugh is being investigated as part of a drug ring in southern Florida. But he will be able to keep his hands clean because
People in these two men's respective audiences will continue to defend them and claim that they are the victims, yadda yadda yadda. Yet poor people remain the true victims of our disproportionate drug laws. Poor people and people of color are most likely to be arrested, convicted and imprisoned for minor drug misdemeanors while rich, influential people can continue to abuse and traffic drugs at their will. Until this country faces up to the sham that is the War on Drugs and the way that our government continues to allow ridiculous laws to imprison the most vulnerable in our society and set free those most likely to have a bad influence on large numbers of people, then things are going to be upside down, as in Texas:
Of the 58,000 drug convictions won by local prosecutors
over the past five years, 77 percent involved less than 1
gram, according to a Chronicle analysis of district court
data. Harris County sent 35,000 of the small-time offenders
to jail or prison.
(1 gram is about the size of an Equal packet of fake sugar)
Drug addiction is terrible and it should be dealt with in an understanding and effective way - so why can't poor people get the same access to treatment and job help and supervision as rich people can? Because when you live in a society where the class division is ignored by those who make the rules, then those in the lower classes will always be fighting to tread water while those in the upper classes will float on by. I hope whomever is the next president (it won't be Bush, I'm confident) will address this subject in a serious and thoughtful way and make decisions with real results for the people of this country and not continue the sham of fake righteousness and maniacal laws that is the "War on Drugs."
Thursday, October 02, 2003
( 2:46 PM )
Boy Scouts Try on Visciousness and Hypocricy for Size
I have not been a supporter of the national Boy Scout organization since it enacted its very short-sighted and, in my view, faulty, decision to not allow gay men to be Scout leaders. The organization allowed itself to fall victim to the ridiculous and insulting assumption that gay men are pedophiles or that they would somehow wrongly influence or hurt the boys they lead. At any rate, the organization has now sunk to the lowest possible level of decision making skill - otherwise known as WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?
The Boy Scouts of America’s American Freedom Rally was held as a fundraiser in Georgia on Saturday and the invited guest speakers included traitor, cheat and liar Oliver North and bile-mouthed ranting lunatic Ann Coulter. To a group of boys and their parents, these two paraded their cheap brand of pseudo-Americanism and the Boy Scouts of America condoned the entire event.
I can't understand for the life of me why North is a roll-model parents want their scouting boys to admire and emulate. The man undermined the US government, assisted in the killings of thousands of people in Nicaragua, lied to Congress, was caught lying to Congress, and wore his uniform while lying to Congress. This is NOT a man I would EVER exalt to my son. If my son ever wanted to be in the Boy Scouts, I would have to think twice about allowing him to go if this is the kind of person that that organization would want my son to admire. As for Coulter:
Conservative author and attorney Ann Coulter blasted
liberals during her speech, specifically with regards to
their positions regarding the war in Iraq.
“Let’s just say that this was a war just for oil,” Coulter
told the crowd of about 300. “Why not go to war for oil?
We need oil. What do Hollywood celebrities think fuels
their jets? How do they think their cocaine is delivered?"
This is not only disgusting, it is totally ridiculous! What does a woman like Coulter have to do with Boy Scouts and their ideals anyway? The last time I checked, the Boy Scouts swear an oath to be kind, courteous, trustworthy and brave. How are the likes of Coulter adding any sort of positive perspective on those character traits?
North is neither brave or trustworthy and Coulter is neither kind or courteous or helpful. Not to make too fine a point of it. But these character traits they insist their Scouts uphold in their personal lives didn't seem to matter to the BSA in the planning of this event:
“We thought it was a great idea to bring in people
who are patriotic,” said Cooper. “We had contacts
for Col. North, Ann Coulter and (radio personalities)
Rick (Burgess) and (Bill) Bubba (Bussey) and it kind of
snowballed. We wanted just a really patriotic night.”
If this is how the Boy Scouts of America define patriotic, then something has gone terribly wrong with that organization. It is definitely not a group I would ever encourage my son to be a part of at this point. I want my son to learn about and admire people who are truly brave and truly patriotic. Shame on the Boy Scouts.
( 12:31 PM )
Nope, Still Not There
This is what it's all about... all the lies, all the leaks, all the dirty tricks. All the hubris of this administration may finally lead to its ultimate destruction. And here is one more straw to add: the big search for WMDs in Iraq has officially come up with nothing.
One possibility was that Iraq may have destroyed
many of its weapons before the 1991 Gulf war. More
weaponry and facilities were destroyed by the UN in
the 1990s, after the war.
However, the ISG's lack of any significant discoveries
so far has undermined the credibility of the US and
British governments, which based their arguments for
an invasion of Iraq on the belief that Saddam's regime
possessed illegal WMDs.
The administration may try to deflect attention away from this story now that people are distracted by the California election and other crimes and misdemeanors coming out of the White House. But the fact remains: George Bush lied, Dick Cheney lied, Colin Powell lied, Condoleeza Rice lied, Donald Rumsfeld lied... there is no one in this administration is not personally culpable or responsible for the lives being lost in Iraq this year. And a note to the administration: don't pretend you were fooled by Saddam playing hide and seek with his WMD's. If you can be fooled by Saddam Hussein then we're all in a LOT of trouble because you sure as hell won't be able to protect us. Get your act together and start making like you're actually leading this country. Or get out. Better yet, just get out.
( 12:05 PM )
And on the Other Front...
Digby dissects Novak's role in the whole affair with his usual on-target analysis.
( 11:45 AM )
Do All Signs Point to Libby?
DKos had a bit on Larry Johnson, the former associate of Mrs. Wilson at the CIA. Calpundit also caught his comments when he appeared on The News Hour, and then I saw a tidbit of him on Buchanan & Press yesterday (while I was home sick) - the transcript isn't out yet, but he plainly and clearly pointed to Dick Cheney's staff, and more specifically Scooter Libby as at least one of the sources of the leak. Johnson appears really miffed that this happened and he doesn't want the WH to get away with it, even though he himself is a Republican - on B&P, he seemed very confident that he knew who it was who had tipped off Novak - and then Buchanan got out of him that it was Libby.
Who is Scooter Libby? He is Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Cheney's Chief of Staff (formerly the attorney for billionaire Mark Rich, who won a last-minute pardon from Clinton). All signs are beginning to point to him as the leaker of Mrs. Wilson's name and occupation to the media. Not only that, but back in July, Slate guessed that Libby was the one who originally insisted the yellow cake lie be kept in the State of the Union address:
Libby is a red-meat Iraq hawk who, according to
U.S. News & World Report, pushed Secretary of
State Colin Powell very hard when Powell was
preparing his speech to the U.N. Security Council
laying out the evidence against Iraq:
The first draft of Powell's speech was written by
Cheney's staff and the National Security Council.
Days before the team first gathered at the CIA, a
group of officials assembled in the White House
Situation Room to hear Cheney's chief of staff, Lewis
"Scooter" Libby, lay out an indictment of the Iraqi
regime—"a Chinese menu" of charges, one participant
recalls, that Powell might use in his U.N. speech. Not
everyone in the administration was impressed, however.
"It was over the top and ran the gamut from al Qaeda
to human rights to weapons of mass destruction," says
a senior official. "They were unsubstantiated assertions,
in my view."
Total Disinformation Awareness seems to think Libby's the guy too.
And it hasn't gone unnoticed that Sen. Chuck Hagel (R) pointed in the direction of the Vice President's office as well. Billmon caught the nod as well. In addition to Johnson, another CIA officer has pointed towards Libby as well.
What does this mean? Well, I'm no political insider, nor do I claim a vast knowledge of understanding - but as an everyday citizen, very interested in politics and what is going on in Washington, it seems to me that this is the top of the house of cards that this administration has been balancing on for a long time. It has been obvious that there has not only been conflict between State and DoD, but there has also been a lot of tension between the WH and the CIA. If Cheney was looking to consolidate his power, then it seems that he wouldn't have had many qualms about overriding CIA recommendations regarding Iraq intelligence. The CIA now appears ready to fight back and not lay on its sword anymore. What remains to be seen, in my opinion, is whether Bush will finally clean house or if he'll just go on as always and pretend that all's well in his little universe that no one else inhabits.
But let's not fool ourselves. This isn't just one little scandal surrounding a leak. This entire episode of revealing Mrs. Wilson as an act of revenge because Ambassador Wilson dared to publicly accuse the White House of using false information as a pretense to war and knowingly using that false information to convince the American public of the righteousness of that war. That false information was one of the cornerstone reasons for invading Iraq. It's not enough to say that this leak is bad (it's horrible- not only a crime but a threat to national security in a very real sense), we have to take it back to the original crime: the Bush Doctrine.
What's really slimy is the continued bashing of Wilson himself. He is not the problem. He didn't start this because of politics. It was the administraiton that made this go bad and they are going to have to stand up for what has happened in the end. This president has knowingly led our country into war on false pretenses, which has lead to the deaths of hundreds of US soldiers, thousands of injuries and maimings, and thousands of civilian deaths in Iraq. The leak was a very poor judgment call based on the desire for revenge. It's not even a cover-up. It's a flat out dirty trick that has gone bad. Accountability HAS to be the name of the game for any of this to ever be righted.
( 9:41 AM )
Sickly Absence
Apologies to my few and far between readers (how grateful I am to you!) - I have been down and out the last couple of days. Am slowly getting back on my feet, though I have a lot at work I have to catch up - I shall soon be back in my regular bloggotific form. Thanks for sticking with me!
"An Owie to One
is an Owie to All"
- as modeled by
Mama's Little Activist
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"The point of revolution is to get away with it."
--Abbie Hoffman
"If you tremble with indignation at every injustice then you are a comrade of mine."
--Che Guevara
"Democracy is not a state in which people act like sheep." - Gandhi
"Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty."
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