Friday, December 26, 2003
Attention, Long Blue Line Shoppers...
Company's Bulletproof Vests Are Questioned0 comments
Second Chance Body Armor discontinued the Ultima and Ultimax models in September. It offered to upgrade those in circulation by supplying extra padding or to give a steep discount on new vests with different fibers.
... steep discount...??!?
"Stuff with cotton what Zylon has forgotten"??
Is a deadly vest a better deal and less deadly at $400 a pop, rather than $815 ea.?
Brother...
These are bullet-proof vests we're talking about here. Very black/white. Either it works or it doesn't. You're either alive or you're dead.
It's not an old radio, where you can pick it up cheaply, and maybe you can tinker with it and get some use out of it.
My lord...
posted by Gotham 1:40 PM
The Bush Truth Initiative
The New York Times today has an interesting couple of graphs buried in an otherwise routine article about Karl Rove's developing campaign strategies to cover his boss's ass for 2004. Most of this (Rove's gonna say that Howard Dean is Karl Marx; he's copying down everything the other Dems throw at Dean so he can use it, too; etc., etc.) is pretty much what you'd expect:0 comments
Bush Advisers, With Eye on Dean, Formulate '04 Plans
These graphs, buried deep in the article, however, cracked me up:
But Mr. Bush, some of his own strategists and advisers said, has a long way to go if he wants to avoid being portrayed as a divisive figure who motivates Democrats to vote against him. As a result, the White House is considering using the State of the Union address to propose a big new national goal that would not be partisan or ideological and would help rally the country behind Mr. Bush's leadership, an outside adviser to the administration said. The possibilities floated by the White House include a major initiative for the space program or an ambitious health care goal like increasing life expectancies.
"They want to have the president talk about an important national goal that is big and a unifying theme," the adviser said.
The "What's the Difference?" president will be looking to expand our collective national consciousness.
With something like, "Truth In Our Time."
That's the new George W. Bush Initiative.
Not "Truth If We Have Time," as some critics have scoffed.
From current polling, folks in the White House are firmly convinced that the American people would respond well to a major wave of truth-telling, and that it could be advanced as a unifying force and an important national goal.
Lying has worked for us very well during the president's first term, Rove seemed to be saying, but added, perhaps it's time for us to try something different to stay in front of the wave.
He went on to allude to the fact that large segments of the country already assume that everything President Bush or members of his administration says is a bold-faced lie, so some of the advantages sought with these lies is diminished. To an extent, anyway.
There's still large segments of the population besides our base who buy this stuff, he implied. But, maybe it's time to catch the Democrats napping and be able to develop the Republican brand as the leaders in "Seeking the Truth in All Matters."
We feel that's something that would be forward-looking, and could really excite the electorate. But after a moment, Rove seemed to add: We will, however, be out across the country, assuring our base that "Seeking" won't necessarily mean "Finding." We feel it's very important our base knows we haven't left it behind.
posted by Gotham 11:28 AM
Wednesday, December 24, 2003
Moo-o! Boo!
U.S.: Food Supply Is Safe Despite Mad Cow0 comments
Happy Holidays to you, too!
"We are in an abundance of caution," Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman told NBC's "Today" show.
That's administration-speak for "Ya'll're in deep poop."
Frankly, for this Christmas season, with Mad Cow afoot, I'd settle for Slightly Miffed Cow.
Mmmmmm, good burger.
posted by Gotham 10:58 AM
Tuesday, December 23, 2003
If You're Thinking About...
...voting Republican in any time soon, please consider these items before you pull that lever:0 comments
In Texas:
Texas Republican Legislator Threatens Democratic Legislator with Racial Slur
In Connecticut:
Connecticut's GOP Gov. John Rowland Faces Talk of Impeachment
In Alaska:
Alaska's Republican Senator Ted Stevens says no to resigning Senate post over infulence peddling scandal
In Missouri:
Enron's Contributions to Attorney General John Ashcroft's GOP Senate Re-election Bid, in the Race He Lost to a Dead Man
In California:
Arnold's Special Interest Contributions, Received After He Swore He'd Never Take Special Interest Contributions
On the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives:
Watchdog Group Urges Attorney General John Ashcroft and House Ethics Committee to Investigate Bribery Attempt in House Vote
The GOP's having a bad day. A real bad day.
Everett Dirkson must be rolling in his grave.
There's more, obviously, but that's all I have the stomach for, for now.
posted by Gotham 4:18 PM
Losing in Iraq
These guys are amazing.0 comments
Group in Charge of Iraq Blamed for Woes
The polls may be up a bit for George W. Bush today, but as I've said in the past, they're just a snapshot of the day they're taken.
The way this occupation is proceeding, the handover comes in July, and Iraq should dissolve fully into armageddon by September.
Let's check back then and see where the poll numbers are.
It's good to be thinking long-term on this stuff.
posted by Gotham 3:29 PM
Maybe There Is a God...
Pataki Pardons Lenny Bruce Posthumously0 comments
Lenny, we thank you and we miss you.
Perhaps, George Pataki is something more than just a coatholder for Rudy Giuliani.
(Beat...)
(Beat...)
Nyaaahhhhh...!
posted by Gotham 3:01 PM
Outrage!
The story below is a moral outrage on every level, and based on every criterion by which we measure ourselves as a society.0 comments
A Federal Case for a Teenager: Family Sees Tie to Ex-President
Jodi Hilton, reporting in The New York Times, uncovers a nasty truth about the decision by Former President George W. H. "Daddy" Bush--who has gotten a great deal of positive press in comparisons to his seemingly more vicious offspring--to allow underlings to literally make a federal case out of the dopey indiscretions of a young Maine teen, callously ruining the lad's life.
This from the same man who twice used his pull to squash drunk driving cases involving his screw-up son, allowed this son to abuse alcohol and cocaine, repeatedly set up insider business relationships for him and turned his back on his duty when this same son decided to simply pass on the end of the cushy National Guard position his father had obtained for him while American soldiers were dying in Vietnam. THIS BOY gets to slide in scenarios which threatened the very lives of many people. THIS BOY gets groomed to front a takeover of the White House.
The poor lad in Maine made the major mistake of ruining the 41st President's boat motor when he and a pal panicked and burned down a boathouse in Kennebunk during a small heist gone awry.
But, as the article shows, it's not THAT major a mistake. The boy was even prepared to plead guilty.
I doubt that Bush gave word on how the federal agencies involved should approach this case. However, at any time, "41" could have stepped in and said, "No, this rightfully belongs in state juvenile court."
But, he never did.
This smacks of every paranoic terror fantasy we have of an unyielding, faceless government run amok. Government functionaries with no souls.
Led by this man who led the CIA and who was instrumental in giving us Saddam Hussein. A man who turned his back as Saddam asked for permission to invade Kuwait and later murdered thousands of Shiites who were encouraged by Bush to revolt against Saddam.
Disgusting.
It's no wonder Shrub has no moral compass.
posted by Gotham 1:36 PM
Glass Jaw
One thing keeps coming up over and again:0 comments
Guys on the Right can sure dish it out, but they sure can't take it.
Palm Beach Circuit Judge Jeffrey A. Winikoff quiets the most recent whining from The Gang That Couldn't Live Straight:
Rush Judgment: Prosecutors Get Limbaugh Med Records
My only question: Where was Judge Winikoff for gambling guru Bill Bennett or Connecticut
Governor John Rowland or Alaska Senator Ted Stevens?
If the flesh is truly weak, and your status or position lends itself to dipping into the perqs of power, it's probably best to just enjoy it, keep your mouth shut and not openly moralize about the behavior of other people. It's not the action that opens public figures to ridicule, it's the hypocricy.
posted by Gotham 12:40 PM
Et tu, Shrub?
The New York Post has the latest on Trickle-Down Economics, George W. Bush-style:0 comments
RED INK DROWNS CITY TAX CUTS
In essence, Bush gets to have all of the tax cut mojo. As the economic fall-out from that works its way down, everyone else is on their own.
Even Republican leaders of states and major cities are denied political cover, and are stuck making the hard budget decisions that Shrub can blissfully avoid.
Pop Quiz:
When's the last time that your representative in Congress,
or your Senator represented YOUR interests?
Get Angry! Have your say. Write your elected officials now!
Here's the Realtime Iraq Invasion Cost Clock!
posted by Gotham 12:12 PM
Monday, December 22, 2003
'Tis the Season to Be Wealthy
Terrible reporting job here from the AP:0 comments
Nation's Retailers Have Glum Weekend
The lede rolls right over the obvious, with only a passing nod:
NEW YORK - The nation's retailers spent a glum weekend before Christmas after a much-hoped for sales bonanza failed to materialize, though business at discounters and luxury stores appeared to be brisk, according to analysts.
... though business at discounters and luxury stores appeared to be brisk ...
This describes the full power of Bush's tax cuts. THAT is the story here.
There is no "recovery" below the Labor Dept./Wall St. level. People are still out of work and broke. Therefore, the shopping delays and the extreme bargain hunting.
Mid-level retailers are becoming extinct.
Meanwhile, the top level of tax cuts have now fully kicked in, and it's flush times again for the market's luxury item sector as the wealthy have more free cash for baubles.
As the man said, we could see this one coming, boys and girls.
The anecdotes have caught up with the theories.
Pop Quiz:
When's the last time that your representative in Congress,
or your Senator represented YOUR interests?
Get Angry! Have your say. Write your elected officials now!
Here's the Realtime Iraq Invasion Cost Clock!
posted by Gotham 9:38 AM
Sunday, December 21, 2003
Bill & the DLC
By his pounding away at the DLC message, Sen. Joe Lieberman—unwittingly, I'm sure—brings up an intriguing issue:0 comments
Which is the chicken and which is the egg in the relationship between President Bill Clinton and the Democratic Leadership Council?
Just what caused the successes of the Clinton administration?
Was it:
a.) People just wanted a Democratic president;
b.) The soaring, powerful personal charisma of Bill Clinton;
c.) The moderately conservative policies of the Democratic Leaders Conference;
d.) Some combination of b. & c.;
e.) Just the right time and place for all the factors above to combine and succeed—a phenomenon of this particular set of unrepeatable circumstances?
Is the centrist Dem view of "Republican Lite" appealing to the American people on its own merits, without Clinton's sizable charm, extreme hands-on wonkiness and personal empathy behind it?
Is it a successful philisophy all by itself, which any other Democrat can easily run on and expect to win with?
Aren't DLC Dems what used to be referred to as "Moderate Republicans"? Is that where the country is, politically? Or, is that where the country was, politically?
Just how utterly has the philosophical self-image of the country evolved during three years of a Bush administration?
And considering his personal popularity, could Bill Clinton have been as successful had he stayed further to the left? Was his ability to connect viscerally with the public strong enough to support a more traditional Democratic view and philosophy?
I have a strong hunch that centrist Dems will find to their dismay that large chunks of the national Democratic party were fairly unsatisfied with much of what Clinton did during his two terms, while giving its support and allegiance to him personally.
The party's base was tossed over as being passe. The new love was the great expanse of the Middle, as Clinton and the DLC slowly slid the country to the right.
In 2000, it wasn't all that much of a stretch—it seemed at the time—for folks in the Middle to merely slide over to the next handsome, charming guy with a sweet, goofy smile and moderately conservative views in George W. Bush. Besides, Al Gore seemed a stick compared to either Clinton or Bush, so, since times were good, people just stayed with the charm they were used to.
But the world is utterly different now. We have learned that George Bush was a Trojan Horse, and that America finds itself in a fight for its very soul.
Engaging that fight, the core liberal base of the Democratic party is now awake, angry, motivated and, most importantly, financed.
It is lashing out at DLC positions and proponents—positioning the DLC as mere coatholders and toadies for the administration. Recent votes on an array of bills in the Congress seem to give this argument credence and emotional fuel.
The centrist Dems may follow Clinton's lead, but without Clinton's massive presence at its core, do they do so at their peril? Is it as moribund a world view as liberalism seemed in 2000?
Can the DLC go it alone? We'll see. It may be they who are passe.
posted by Gotham 2:51 PM
Progress
The Center for American Progress points out the squabbling between our favorite zanies on the Right—Matt Drudge and Bill O'Reilly.0 comments
And no, it wasn't about O'Reilly's excessive use of eye liner.
It seems Matt was struck by O'Reilly's claim that his current book was "running against Hillary [Clinton] for most copies of nonfiction books sold this year!"
So, Sludge happened to release information about the comparatively dismal sales of Bill's book, which shows him to be a mere 654,113 copies behind the New York Senator's book.
Oh, and roughly a quarter million copies behind Al Franken's Lies and The Lying Liars Who Tell Them, as well. [It must be noted here that Bill is mentioned prominently in Franken's book. So, perhaps people would rather read something about Bill than by Bill.]
And being the emotionally balanced man we know Bill to be, he took this intra-conservative goshing with typical conservative grace and good humor when he referred to Drudge's report on his Fox News show:
Responding to an exclusive yearender DRUDGE dispatch, which presented NIELSEN's Top 20 BOOKSCAN list of 2003 sales, O'Reilly called the DRUDGE REPORT a "threat to democracy."
"I mean you can't believe a word Matt Drudge says," O'Reilly told the cameras. "Now you've got the Matt Drudges of the world and these other people, Michael Moore and all of these crazies, all right, no responsibility... that is a threat to democracy, I think." O'Reilly warned: "They'll just spin it and twist it and take it out of proportion every which way."
Hmmmm....Moore, I'm sure will be glad to know that he and Drudge are now soul brothers.
For those who are hellbent on catching Bill's epic tome, here's an Amazon link to it, where it's fallen to the exorbitant price of $11.95 USD, marked down from $24.95. (Personally, I'm waiting for it to come down some.)
In the meantime, since Bill has already tried Ann Coulter's eye makeup, I guess the next approach would be the hair. But, he may never get the plastic part down right. But, check out Bill's new training kit!
Overall, boys, please stop the squabbling! Think of the Neo-Con movement as a Big Tent. Where all the beasts and children can get along in peace and safety. Just like Siegfried & Roy.
posted by Gotham 1:12 PM
Salon.com: What did Bush Know and When Did He Know It?0 comments
In their coverage of the 9/11 Commission and chairman Thomas Kean's comments to CBS, Salon asks the proper question.
Make note also of the later paragraph describing Kean's quickly changing story after the CBS interview.
The people involved, both in and out of the administration, will not sit idly by and let some joker from New Jersey bring them down.
Kean now has a massive day-glo target painted squarely on his back.
For the time being, it's not overly wise to stand next to him, any member of his family or his dog. I wouldn't start his car any time soon, either.
But, if Kean has truly uncovered materials which back his public comments, then—if he can hold firm under the massive pressure coming his way, and can come through this somewhat unscathed—he might just enter history as one of those storied patriots of lore. Those heroes by whom this country has traditionally marked its compass.
Pop Quiz:
When's the last time that your representative in Congress,
or your Senator represented YOUR interests?
Get Angry! Have your say. Write your elected officials now!
Here's the Realtime Iraq Invasion Cost Clock!
posted by Gotham 12:07 PM
Friday, December 19, 2003
Breaking Story: Pots Lash Out At Kettle, Claim It's Black
Dean Is a Divisive Force Within Democratic Party, Lieberman Says Divisively.0 comments
Ohhhh. Brother...!
Sen. Joe, as you're no doubt well aware, comes from the "If I can't have it, then NO ONE can have it!" school of social discourse, national governance and intraparty discipline.
He is quickly becoming a national joke. A thoroughly selfish, mean-spirited joke.
No one seems to be snatching the Democratic mantle so far, but through their actions and inactions, candidates keep pushing it away as if it were a burning hunk of coal.
It truly is beyond me now how any self-respecting American can bring themselves to consider voting for Joe Lieberman. And judging from how Sen. Joe (who entered the race as the front runner, then—first slowly, then quickly—fell out of favor with the American electorate) is turning people off, that seems to be a national consensus. In the polls, name recongnition alone is keeping him from falling far behind the Rev. Al Sharpton.
Just what cabinet post in a new Bush administration is Sen. Joe talking to White House aides about, anyway, in return for this attempt to slow Howard Dean down for George W. Bush?
posted by Gotham 6:51 PM
Evolution at Work
MSNBC - Labor's McEntee Powers Dean0 comments
This is the graph that stands out, I believe:
Why is AFSCME backing [Howard] Dean, instead of [Rep. Richard] Gephardt, whose voting record on labor issues is well-nigh impeccable?
“It was much more than Iraq,” [AFSCME President Gerald] McEntee said. “It was Dean’s stand—it was his stand,” he repeats, emphasizing the word “stand.”
“He would stand up to Bush. Our people have been disappointed in Democrats in leadership, particularly in 2002. Our activists believe they just gave Bush almost whatever he wanted, for example, on the tax bill. On all of these issues, on Iraq, on the economy, on health care, on education, Dean has been willing to stand up against Bush, stand up straight and talk against them.”
...stand up straight...?!
That, ladies and gentlemen, seems to be what this entire election season is coming down to in a nutshell. Who among us can stand up straight in this time of constitutional peril?
That also seems to be the basis of Dean's whole appeal.
Spine.
Dean, to this juncture, seems the ONLY candidate with even the appearance of giving a damn about anything other than himself. And he obviously cares mightily for himself.
I don't see Dean pulling ahead, necessarily. Rather, I see the others falling further behind, becoming more flabby and inconsequential with each passing day.
I look at the other Democratic candidates, and keep looking for the bedrock concern for the state of and future of the American people. Or even a charismatic sense of leadership. I keep seeing instead: basic core ambition. No vision; just lust for another shining trophy for the resume. A cap for the career. A higher profile for the future. An acknowledgement that it's "my turn." A hunger for the most powerful job on the planet. In essence, a whole lot of whining and precious little leadership.
The core message so far from them all is: "Look how badly Bush has done. How could I be any worse? Just give me the job; I'll figure out what to do with it later."
Which apes the message that's come from George W. Bush since 2000, and is the basis of his re-election campaign: "Just give us time; we're still working on it; everybody else would be worse. We're almost there..."
These violent attacks on Dean have nothing at all to do with Dean or his record, policies or agendas. It has nothing at all to do with his being "too left." He is not "too left."
He is, basically, "too far in front."
If former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun or Sen. Joseph Leiberman or any other derby entrant were to be this far in front, they would face the same level of outraged attack.
The remaining candidates have so far refused to acknowledge the facts: that they have been out-manuevered, out-thought, out-spent and, what's most telling, out-worked. Period. Dean's machine has been better—so far—than their's. That's all there is to this. The yowling from the tar pits seems to bear this out.
Dean has built a better mousetrap, and people seem to be responding. So, the others must re-tool, compete and become better, right? Nahhhh...
A centerpiece plank of the established centrist DLC is the ongoing support of business interests and the free marketplace. Well, this primary season is turning into a microcosm of that free marketplace. Politically, everyone has been comfortable doing business in a certain way for quite some time. But an innovator comes along, trying new ideas, and lo and behold, those ideas seem to resonate with the consumer.
So, in traditional business fashion, instead of seeing the public wants this new mousetrap and revamping to serve the needs of the public and competing for their attention, the established players do everything they can to hobble and destroy the newcomer. If done early enough, this can succeed. If the innovation is allowed time to root, the established companies become unable to compete, are bypassed and usually face extinction.
This is the scenario we see acted out before us currently.
The danger of this intraparty lashing out at Dean was pointed out in yesterday's New York Times poll which reported that 25% of Americans already have a negative impression of Howard Dean.
Gee, I wonder where that came from? The Republicans haven't really even started yet.
And someone please tell me, how can muddying the face of anyone who tries to climb out of the tar pits possibly help the effort to defeat Bush next November?
Pop Quiz:
When's the last time that your representative in Congress,
or your Senator represented YOUR interests?
Get Angry! Have your say. Write your elected officials now!
Here's the Realtime Iraq Invasion Cost Clock!
posted by Gotham 12:51 PM
Progress in Iraq
It's a relief to know that we've actually been able to bring American free enterprise and morality to Iraq.0 comments
posted by Gotham 10:44 AM
Thursday, December 18, 2003
0 comments
A Baghdad Turkey's Lingering Aftertaste
Let's see...
For Thanksgiving, our president-for-life created a potentially deadly crash scenario in the skies over Great Britain when the pilot of Air Force One lied to the British air traffic controllers; he donned an official vestment of men and women who have died for their country; he ran around with a specially designed rubber-chicken/turkey-on-a-platter prop looking for a cameraman, any cameraman; then he collected his sizable entourage, he turned around and he came home. Where they all proceeded to lie to the American people about everything they had just done. Sweet.
Oh. By the way, it's not just the Navy which is fair game for the PhotoOp-er-in-Chief any longer; he's now turned our brave soldiers into a backdrop for photo ops as well. That was the Army's 1st Armored Division you saw there, standing in behind Shrub. They're mission was to look as much like the banner that administration aides draped across the USS Abraham Lincoln as they could. The 1st AD was thoroughly pre-screened, and were hand-picked to be the "Official 'Mission Accomplished' Brigade" in the photo-ops.
Notice all the photos with the young African American soldier? In Iraq, Bush has put guys like him in Harm's Way; back in Texas, Bush put guys like him on Death Row.
By the way, the regular, non-photo-opable grunts, the ones who've been shot at every day since March, had to stand outside and wait until the Flight Suit Tour passed through before they could get close enough to sniff any Thanksgiving festivities.
Re-Elect this man, I say!
posted by Gotham 3:31 AM
A Lay-a-Way Plan for Politicians
From the Chicago Tribune:0 comments
Former Gov. George Ryan (R-IL) indicted
Here's a taste:
Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan was charged today in a federal racketeering indictment with conspiracy and fraud while he was governor and secretary of state.
Ryan allegedly engaged in a pattern of corruption that included performing official government acts, awarding lucrative government contracts and leases and using the State of Illinois for his own benefit, members of his family, his campaign organization and certain associates, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's office.
And this:
The indictment alleges that for more than a decade Ryan let his friends wield great influence in state government and profit from his positions as secretary of state and later, governor. Ryan allowed some of his friends, who were not state employees, to steer state contracts in return for bribes and gave others insider information that they could profit from, while ignoring complaints of wrongdoing from employees and others.
In return, the indictment alleges, Ryan and his family received illegal cash payments, gifts, vacations and personal services from his friends and associates. The indictment did not list a dollar figure for Ryan but said members of his family got cash loans and gifts totaling $167,000.
The 91-page indictment charges that lobbyist Larry Warner, a close friend of Ryan's, collected cash from state vendors and landlords and funneled it to Ryan and another lobbyist. Warner already has been charged in the case and has pleaded not guilty.
The indictment also charges that Ryan himself directed payments totaling more than $300,000 to prominent lobbyist Donald Udstuen, who earlier pleaded guilty to corruption charges.
"It was cronyism, where contracts were given to people acting on inside information," U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said.
Hell, if they're gonna start sending people to jail for picky stuff like this, there won't be a Republican left in office anywhere. (Ohhhh, OK... And not all that many Democrats, either.)
posted by Gotham 3:04 AM
Wednesday, December 17, 2003
More Fuzzy Poll Math
NYT: Bush's Approval Ratings Climb in Days After Hussein's Capture0 comments
Another "bump-ette" story.
[As way of a disclaimer, I must say that I spent 18 years working for one of the major polling organizations. Many of those years were spent as the division head responsible for all of the company's data collection. Basically, from questionnaire creation review to interviewing to final presentation, it was my job to make sure our operation produced the correct numbers. Then, the gentleman whose name was on the door told the world what the numbers meant. —EJD]
Here is the main graph from the link above:
But even in the glow of Mr. Hussein's capture, Americans worry that United States forces will be mired in Iraq for years, are concerned that the attacks on American troops will continue and say that President Bush has no plan to extricate the United States from Iraq, the poll found. And 60 percent of Americans said the United States was as vulnerable to a terrorist attack as it was before Mr. Hussein was pulled from a hole in Ad Dwar.
As I said yesterday, you expect a great deal of volitility around an event such as this. My point, though, is that with an event of this importance for the administration, you'd just expect the bump to be more dramatic.
Again, from The New York Times on volitility:
Times/CBS News polls spanned the days before and after Mr. Hussein's capture, offering a vivid demonstration of the extent to which public opinion can shift in reaction to a momentous event. From Saturday night to Sunday night, Americans' view of the success of the war soared, as did their opinion about whether the nation is on the right track and their approval of Mr. Bush.
Be aware, most of all, that any poll is merely a snapshot of THAT DAY. In and of itself, it is not a sign of any movement. You need to look at the numbers from the results of that question over a period of time to weed out spikes and to see what the real movement is—the same way stock analysts look beyond today's market numbers to the YTD, 1-yr., and 3-yr. results to get a clearer picture.
A qualified pollster will tell you that any swing in the numbers is only as good as the next day's headlines.
Even with this swing, you can see the confusion of the American populace.
Nearly half the respondents said that they now believed that the United States, with the capturing of Mr. Hussein, had won the war.
But:
A majority said that the war was not over yet and that they expected troops to stay in place for years, rather than months.
And:
Most of those polled said they believed that Mr. Hussein had orchestrated the attacks on American soldiers, but a majority also expected those attacks to continue.
Much of the American populace currently has no idea what to make out of all of this. Too many of them are still trying to figure out how they are going to scrape together the mortgage payment, and pay for Christmas.
And there's actual bad news in this "bump-ette" for George W. Bush:
There was also clear public disapproval about some ways that Mr. Bush has responded to the war at home. For example, two-thirds of Americans, including most Republicans, said they disagreed with the White House policy of prohibiting news photographers from ceremonies where the coffins of Americans troops are brought home.
The White House says that the policy is intended to protect the privacy of the families of the deceased; Democrats and some critics of the White House say it is intended to avoid the publication of emotionally charged photographs that might harden opposition to the war.
And in good news for Dr. Howard Dean:
Democratic presidential candidates have been stepping up their attacks on Mr. Bush's policies on terrorism and Iraq, in the face of some criticism by Republicans who suggest that such attacks are improper at a time of war. But a clear majority of respondents, 64 percent, said such criticism was appropriate.
So, stay tuned. It's only going to change.
Pop Quiz:
When's the last time that your representative in Congress,
or your Senator represented YOUR interests?
Get Angry! Have your say. Write your elected officials now!
Here's the Realtime Iraq Invasion Cost Clock!
posted by Gotham 12:55 PM
Tuesday, December 16, 2003
More Fuzzy Math from the Right
This from today's The Wall Street Journal:0 comments
Bush reaped a quick political benefit from Hussein's capture as a new poll showed increased approval of the president's leadership and the nation's direction overall.
Now, you fully expect these numbers to be highly volatile, with huge initial jumps, as this story has been the emotional core of the president's term in office.
This from MSNBC First Read's Mark Murray and Huma Zaidi, quoting from the Journal's story:
which has numbers from both the Saturday before Saddam's capture and the Sunday after it. The Wall Street Journal's Harwood and Schlesinger write: "Mr. Bush's job-approval rating bumped up to 58% after Mr. Hussein was taken into custody from 52% [the Saturday] before. At the same time, some 76% of Americans interviewed after the capture said the U.S. is likely to succeed in Iraq, up from 72% before the weekend's events."
"The results suggested that the end of Mr. Hussein's eight months on the run could also have policy ramifications by strengthening public support for pushing ahead with Iraq's reconstruction. In the wake of the capture, Americans said by a 53%-to-37% margin that removing Mr. Hussein from power was worth the human and financial costs; in November, a 46% plurality said it wasn't worth those costs."
"Perhaps more significant for Mr. Bush's re-election prospects, Americans said by a 62%-to-32% majority Sunday that the war in Iraq has made the U.S. more secure -- contrary to Mr. Dean's assertions -- up from a 52%-to-43% margin in September. And though Democrats have argued that the quest for Mr. Hussein represents a diversion from the global war on terrorism, 57% said his capture will make that broader war easier to win."
They're joking.
There must be a misprint.
The singular event of the administration of George W. Bush finally falls squarely in his lap and all he can get out of this is a 7 - 8 point bump?
This man is in serious trouble.
Forget the chest-pounding nonsense from the Journal. This is a BIG negative for Bush's re-election campaign.
The hallmark effort of his last two years in office has gained him a job approval bump of six points? This has been his rallying cry, for Pete's sake. His raison d'etre. And all it gets him is six points? A decent farm bill, with moderate-to-heavy spin could have netted him five.
He could only pick up four points on "the U.S. is likely to succeed in Iraq" question.
And this I find most telling; the best he could do on the most emotionally charged question (the spilling of American blood) was to pick up seven points:
In the wake of the capture, Americans said by a 53%-to-37% margin that removing Mr. Hussein from power was worth the human and financial costs; in November, a 46% plurality said it wasn't worth those costs."
This is the type of signature, linchpin event that must have all these numbers bouncing in double-digits. Even if the bumps don't hold or last very long at all. The initial bounce needs to be mighty to reward the emotional, political, military and financial investment this president has made in toppling and capturing this despot.
The lack of emotionality on the part of the American people after worldwide wall-to-wall coverage for two days means that The Journal and the rest of the Right can tart this pig up any way they want to, but these remain bad numbers for the administration.
And do the Democrats understand this? Of course not.
This may just be a major "Beltway Story" after all. There's this (again, from First Read):
On Day Three of the Saddam-is-now-behind-bars story, Kerry gives a national security speech in Iowa, while Lieberman does the same in New Hampshire. Dean, meanwhile, campaigns in Arizona, and Gephardt fundraises in Pennsylvania and Florida.
As we and the rest of the press continue to play up the Saddam news, however, we'd like to mention this anecdote: Perhaps it's a geographical quirk of voters in the heartland, away from the coasts, or more specifically in economically hurting Ohio, but one of us watched a Peter Hart-conducted focus group of Democrat and Democrat-leaning independent voters from Ohio and Michigan last night who barely mentioned Hussein or the war against terror. They spent the bulk of two hours voicing their concerns about jobs and having enough money to get by and pay for education and health care.
Across America you hear:
Mel: "Hey, honey, this says they got that Iraq guy!"
Alice: "That's nice, dear. Any word in there on jobs, at all?"
Mel: "Not that I see."
Alice: "Oh. ok. Are you picking the kids up after practice, or am I?"
Pop Quiz:
When's the last time that your representative in Congress,
or your Senator represented YOUR interests?
Get Angry! Have your say. Write your elected officials now!
Here's the Realtime Iraq Invasion Cost Clock!
posted by Gotham 11:50 AM
Monday, December 15, 2003
Dallas Redux?
Legal Process: Iraqis Just Recently Set Rules to Govern Tribunal0 comments
The real question, currently, is:
"Who gets chosen to play the part of Jack Ruby?"
Three main points make it dubious that Saddam Hussein will ever see a courtroom, rather than catching a bullet from a carefully chosen and well paid "Shiite madman" somewhere along the line.
- First, the U.S. military and CIA will pump him for every bit of information they can before letting him out of their hands. Iraqis will have to wait until he is sqeezed dry by the U.S. At that juncture, he will no longer be of any use to the administration.
- Second, the U.S. is extremely upset at the use of the open Hague trial forum by Slobodan Miloscevic to put forth all of his political views. Saddam can easily use the trial to call for the continued destruction of the occupying U.S. force.
- Third, the U.S. faces public embarrassment by what Saddam would most likely expose at his trial. There is waaaay too much dirty U.S. diplomatic, military and intelligence involvement twisted up in the last thirty years of Iraqi history. Saddam knows where all of the U.S.'s bodies are buried as well. We know where his physical mass graves are; he knows where our political mass graves are.
No.
There simply is no way the United States will possibly allow a "fair and open trial" of Saddam Hussein.
There is a simple gain to be had.
But it threatens the position of certain powerful interests within the U.S.
So, prepare the headlines; measure him for his coffin. And don't bother ordering any extra chairs for the courtroom—they won't be needed.
Case closed.
Now, how 'bout those jobs numbers?
Pop Quiz:
When's the last time that your representative in Congress,
or your Senator represented YOUR interests?
Get Angry! Have your say. Write your elected officials now!
Here's the Realtime Iraq Invasion Cost Clock!
posted by Gotham 12:26 PM
Friday, December 12, 2003
Rot: Surface or Systemic?
AlterNet: The Age of Oil Is Over0 comments
This article was sent to me by a friend. The "end of oil on earth" is an interesting concept, if true. But, it leaves us merely with the "things of power," the trappings of it, which most of us can agree on, while we're fighting over them. But there's so much more to this administration.
So, this post is about the administration's true philisophical motivator.
Is it:
Power? or World View?
Power, because it feels so good personally and we all understand the "things of power" and want them, so we immediately recognize who has them—and who doesn't?
-or-
The total retro-fitting of the globe to fit the confines of a particular viewpoint? Because it's ONLY RIGHT to do it that way, and nothing else is comprehensible.
This article would make a modicum of sense if we're talking about Shadow President Dick Cheney and the operation working out of his bunker with him. Greed, power and privilege are major motivators there in the bunker.
However, it misses a major element of where we find ourselves today.
When we get to the Pentagon, and the Neo-Cons who have encamped there, we step through the Looking Glass.
National punditry has tried valiantly to figure out just what goes through the minds of the Neo-Cons who have seized the core of power here in the U.S.
Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, the philosophical mastermind behind all things Neo-Connish; Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Douglas J. Feith, the department's No. 3 official, and Wolfowitz's Mr. Two; and Neo-Con gadfly and Influence Peddler Extraordinare Richard Perle, strike me as being above petty concerns with actual "things"—like oil or money or power. They are "True Believers." They have "a vision"—one often backed by God—and are, thereby, infinitely more dangerous to the interests and well being of the United States.
Also, have you experienced recurring whiplash from reading quotes, where one of these three is saying the EXACT SAME THING they said three years ago as if it's new, although it's long since been widely refuted, discredited and forgotten? It's Groundhog Day with these men. The world never disagrees with them, and fully embraces their world view. Always. Just like the zombies in another rip-off of a George Romero movie, they NEVER stop. They can't be killed. As I wrote months ago, we are all on the set of "The Night of the Living Neo-Con." If a powerful, major fixer like James Baker can't kill them, we may all be doomed.
You can take cameras away from National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice and, most likely, she would disappear from human consciousness. Take the podium away from Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, and he's just another charming blowhard at the cocktail party. Take power away from Cheney and he slides back into being another work-a-day, self-important CEO bully.
But the engine for the whole Wolfowitz machinery runs on ideas. Ideas which have been allowed to take hold. As such, they will be much harder to uproot than any other aspect of this group.
These other Senior Administration Officials will all wander off, melting back into their smaller areas of influence when George Bush's term is finally over.
The Wolfowitz Believers will only go covert.
Republicans continue to look to find ways to capture hearts and minds.
The Neo-Cons, blood dripping from their chins, can only blindly chant: "MORE BRAINS... ."
posted by Gotham 12:15 PM
Thursday, December 11, 2003
They Only Eat Their Young...
Our upstate friend0 comments
I love this one.
This time, Our Man Vito's even getting it from the conservative press. From the New York Daily News:
Call John Sweeney New York City's go-to guy in Washington. Call Vito Fossella the city's run-from guy in D.C.
That about sums up the difference between these two Republican congressmen. What makes it odd is that while Fossella's district covers Staten Island and a slice of Brooklyn, Sweeney's runs from Poughkeepsie to Lake Placid. Yet the upstater is the man who time and again brings home the bacon for the five boroughs.
Ow! That hurts. But it gets better.
Sweeney played a major role in securing a pledge for $21 billion in post-9/11 aid from the feds. He got millions for the city in federal counterterror funds over the objections of Gov. [George] Pataki, who wanted the money for the state. Now he's trying to pry loose millions more for the city from the miserly Department of Homeland Security.
As for Fossella, he last surfaced as the shill for House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's capsized proposal to house GOP delegates on a luxury cruise ship during next year's Republican convention here.
"Absolutely mind-boggling," is how hotel workers' union head Peter Ward termed Fossella's desertion of the city.
"If we had a dozen John Sweeneys in Congress, Washington wouldn't be a problem for the city," says Mayor Bloomberg's spokesman, Bill Cunningham.
Y'See, Vito, when you put yourself into a spot where you're highly visible—like becoming The Official Traitor of the City of New York—everyone sorta takes a step back and forgets to return your phone calls, y'know?
Maybe it boils down to how the two won their posts. Sweeney, 48, had to battle his way to Capitol Hill. For Fossella, 38, it was almost a birthright.
Sweeney, whose father ran a shirt-cutters union in upstate Troy, worked his way through college and law school. He spent years toiling for the state Republican Party, then became Pataki's labor commissioner before winning his House seat in 1998 in a tough race.
Fossella hasn't had to fight for much more than a good parking space. Great-grandson of a congressman, nephew of a City Councilman, son of a former Staten Island ferry chief, the photogenic but unknown Vito was picked at age 29 by Staten Island GOP boss Guy Molinari to fill a vacant Council seat. In 1997, Molinari tapped him for an opening in Congress, where he fast gained a reputation as a Newt Gingrich toady.
"... a Newt Gingrich toady"?
"... a good parking space."?
Yee-ow!
These are your friends, Vito. And, presumably, Newt's as well.
This one you can't blame on the Democrats.
Here's hoping you and Tom have fun on the yacht.
posted by Gotham 8:17 PM
Does DeLay Own the Courts, Too?
Redistricting Case Opens Today0 comments
Fasten your seatbelts, ladies and gentlemen, we're in for a bumpy ride.
posted by Gotham 12:51 PM
Bringing the War Home
Marines Deny Killing Sailor in San Diego0 comments
What Bush hath wrought.
posted by Gotham 11:22 AM
"Mr. Baker, Meet Mr. Wolfowitz..."
* Baker to Seek Iraq Relief Among Allies0 comments
* UN, Europe Denounce U.S. - Iraq Contracts
* NYT Editorial: Bidding for Isolation
"Oh, and by the way, the Old Man is on Paul's side."
Bush Defends Iraq Recontruction Policy
The only quagmire we need fear is at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
posted by Gotham 11:13 AM
Wednesday, December 10, 2003
Boom!
Boston, New Hampshire Announce Plans to Begin Buying Prescription Drugs from Canada0 comments
We've come to this.
Millions of Americans are now planning open revolt.
There's no getting around it. Consider the recently signed Medicare Bill as being officially renamed: the 2003 Bush Viagra Bill.
Because George W. Bush has reinvigorated millions of middle-aged and senior Americans. They've regained the passion, the emotional fire, the disrespect for authority they haven't felt since their teenage years!
In a word: they're pissed.
Boston (MA) Mayor Thomas M. Menino, New Hampshire Gov. Craig Benson, Burlington (VT) Mayor Peter Clavelle and outgoing Springfield (MA) Mayor Michael Albano are all to be congratulated for re-establishing the principle of a government "of, by and for the people." The people who don't happen to be corporate officers of major Republican campaign contributors, that is.
These are American heroes.
***********************
And in the losers lockerroom:
I love "spokespeople." And people on the payroll who offer themselves to media outlets as qualified "talking heads / experts." These are the morons who willingly allow themselves to appear clueless in public, defending the powerful interests they work for, or who fund them. Of course, these corporations would jettison them happily in a heartbeat.
There are two of these fools in this aritcle.
Wanda Moebius, a spokeswoman for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, said municipal leaders would do better to tell employees about programs for people who cannot afford prescription drugs.
"People's safety shouldn't take a back seat to savings," she said. "There are probably ways to save money, through competitively bid pharmaceutical benefit managers that don't open up the risks that importation does."
Wanda, come home to us, dear.
Someone please inform poor Wanda that the programs she's referring to are the very programs her employers lobbied so hard to eliminate from this bill. The federal government can now no longer negotiate lower drug prices for Medicare.
Oops.
Might there be anyone sadder than some poor flack who's trying to sound convincing while she's saying the sun really does appear to rise in the west?
Perhaps it might be an industry apologist, carrying the whining chores for the drug corporations:
But Ira Loss, executive vice president of Washington Analysis, which conducts research for institutional investors, said Menino is making a mistake.
"This is not an approach that is going to win this guy any favors, any friends in Washington," Loss said. "It's breaking the rule of law."
Whoa, big fella!
The drug industry has already bought all the "friends in Washington" who were possibly for sale, so these mayors and the governor needn't fret any.
Plus, Ira, you may not be aware that those "friends in Washington" are now facing federal bribery and extortion allegations. No matter how much money corporations give to their many campaigns, your "friends in Washington" can't browbeat, bribe and threaten their colleagues on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Do be a tad careful here, Ira, about throwing around moral highground words like "the rule of law," before you've checked on whether you actually HAVE the moral highground.
So—Ira and Wanda—I ask that you please be careful. I wouldn't want to see you swell kids get run over and trampled when the American public show up with the torches and the pitchforks.
They're just going to want to get at the people inside the doors behind you. I suggest letting them pass.
posted by Gotham 7:17 PM
The 2004 Results Are Beginning to Come In...
Florida won't require printouts of touch-screen votes0 comments
You can now place Florida squarely in the RIGGED column.
Pop Quiz:
When's the last time that your representative in Congress,
or your Senator represented YOUR interests?
Get Angry! Have your say. Write your elected officials now!
Here's the Realtime Iraq Invasion Cost Clock!
posted by Gotham 2:31 AM
Tuesday, December 09, 2003
A Liberal Amount of Tears
Paul Simon, Retired Senator From Illinois, Dies at 750 comments
This is a sad day for America.
One of our most eloquent voices has been stilled.
Former Senator Paul Simon spoke to what was best in us, as a people and as a country. And if we had to pay a bit more in taxes for the privilege, well then, so be it.
Upon announcing his campaign for the presidency in 1988, Sen. Simon addressed the Democratic slide to the middle of the political spectrum. His statement at the time stands as an excellent rebuff of today's Sen. Joe Leiberman and the rest of the centrist Democratic Leadership Council (DLC).
``I'm glad there is a Republican Party,'' he declared, ``but one Republican Party is enough.''
RIP, Senator.
You'll be missed.
posted by Gotham 9:28 PM
The People vs. Arrogance
S. Dakota Lawmaker to Quit0 comments
This is one of the amazing stories of the year.
One of the Republican Party's most arrogantly powerful icons was convicted last night by a true jury of his peers. "His people." His actual people, that is.
In a South Dakota town of approximately 4,000 people, many in the jury knew Bill Janklow and his family personally, and some even shook his hand as they left the courtroom.
Still, they rebuffed their long-time political leader's looney diabetes defense and convicted him of manslaughter.
Who knows how they would have reacted if Janklow had committed this crime elsewhere, or committed some other crime.
But the fact they couldn't get over was that he had killed one of their own: he killed "Randy" [Scott].
Let the powerful among us take this to heart. The American people do have limits. Exceed them at your peril.
posted by Gotham 8:04 PM
"Nyeah! Nyah!"
U.S. Bars Iraq Contracts for Nations That Opposed War0 comments
This is OUR failure, dammit! And anyone who couldn't see their way clear to helping us screw this all up last March just doesn't get a place at the greed table for our continuing debacle."
--Deputy Defense Secretary, Paul D. Wolfowitz
Again it's proven that Neo-Cons NEVER stray off message. No matter how "Eleventh Century" that message might be. There does seem to be an odd Battle of Hastings element to this Iraq mess.
posted by Gotham 6:54 PM
Endgame
U.S. Eyeing Israeli Tactics for Iraq Insurgents0 comments
This is a final admission from the Bush administration that they have no idea of what they are doing.
And Israel is the worst conceivable role model.
An army that will plow under women and children while still alive has a tenuous grasp on the moral high ground.
posted by Gotham 2:18 PM
Terminator Terminates Inquiry
Governor Drops Plan for Groping Inquiry0 comments
Arnold is learning quickly. This is how politicians enter a Guilty plea.
posted by Gotham 12:49 PM
Bush Campaign Begins New Nickname Search
Estimates on Medicare hit $2 trillion0 comments
RIP "Compassionate Conservative."
OK, well, they lost the use of "compassionate" a goodly while ago. Thousands of men, arrested without charges; a tight handle on the trickle of federal funds promised to help rebuild New York City after the World Trade Center attacks; the destruction of most Americans' retirement accounts; the privatization of Medicare; the attempts to rescind Title IX when school budgets dried up; and the deaths of thousands of Iraqi civilians and hundreds of American men and women in uniform while trying to fulfill a Neo-Con wish list, etc., etc., have tended to put a dent in that one.
But now, according to the right-wing press, the "conservative" part is officially shot to hell as well. Misguided politics will do that to you.
They were very proud of themselves, pulling "a Clinton" by taking a simple Democratic proposal and running with it, thereby making it their own election-year accomplishment.
But, making it their own accomplishment necessitated distorting the Democratic plan, which included price controls on drug companies and insurance companies, and the allowance of drugs to be imported from Canada to keep costs down.
The Bush administration and the Republican Guard in Congress quickly turned that one entitlement—which would have been costly enough, but doable—into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to completely deconstruct the whole Medicare machinery and remake it to their liking. And pick up a number of campaign chips along the way.
As a result, we now are faced with the most bloated corporate windfall in the history of the United States. Which has now effectively created cracks in one of the most unified, ongoing political movements this country has ever seen.
George W. Bush has been unflatteringly compared by some on the left to Adolf Hitler. I think this unfair and unwise. Once he created his unified political force, Hitler was wise enough never to piss off his rabid supporters in the SS.
So, forward any new nicknames you can come up with to Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie at the Republican National Committee.
posted by Gotham 12:22 PM
From the Caves...
First Read0 comments
This nugget was buried down into today's MSNBC's First Read.
Not to be overlooked: The Wall Street Journal, which reported earlier on Karl Rove’s meetings with federal agency officials, has Vice President [Dick] Cheney calling an Interior Department lawyer to urge the department to act on allowing “more water to be diverted from” Oregon’s Klamath River for farmers, because a “prominent Oregon Republican” had lobbied him for it. “The water eventually got released. But Mr. Cheney’s role in the seemingly small-time drama never came to light, underscoring the way he prefers to do business: far behind the scenes.”
The Shadow President, working hard for all of his constituents.
posted by Gotham 11:33 AM
Saturday, December 06, 2003
Just a Horseman Short of an Apocalypse...
We often skoffed at our uncles and grandmothers when they would whine and moan about the state of the world.0 comments
Well, now it's official.
The world officially is going to hell in a handbasket.
The administration of George W. Bush has been compared often to the administration of Herbert Hoover.
I believe this is unfair.
To Mr. Hoover.
The administration this group most resembles is that of Warren G. Harding, the most corrupt, greedy and dangerous administration this country has ever endured until now.
This most recent legislative push by the Bush administration, and its hired help in Congress, has taken away any pretense as to where we find ourselves.
And, believe me, it's not pretty, folks.
- Sen. Max Baucus at work.
Here's a clipping from the Congressional Record. Sen. Baucus, one of the leading Republi-crats, along with Sens. Zell Miller of Georgia and John Breaux of Louisiana, is reported in it to have brazenly stated in the House/Senate conference while working on the Medicare bill, that he was there to do the bidding of the drug companies. As far as he was concerned: End of story.
- "ATTENTION, MEDICARE SHOPPERS!"
It's amazing, isn't it, that so many great men could fit into a single hip pocket?
- McClellan Urged To Decline Honor from Drug Industry Front Group
Just so you don't think think that it's merely some grubby politicians oink-ing up the place, you should know that our loyal, hardworking administrators throughout our governmental agencies are doing their part as well. Bush's FDA Commissioner Mark McClellan is also running around looking for a comfy hip pocket to call his own.
- But, most darkly, along with the ever-humorous Pork Roast in all three of the main bills the administration has pounded away on this month (again, see: Can Congress Be Embarrassed into Ending Wasteful Pork-Barrel Spending?), comes a series of episodes that are profoundly evil, and threaten our republic to its very core.
The overall pattern of this shows an unprecedented dismissal of the rule of law and/or tradition in how our government operates. The Republican hierarchy has given us a Vince Lombardi world: "Winning is the ONLY thing."
- On two core issues (eliminating Overtime Pay and the FCC Deregulation of Multi-Media Companies, both of which were trounced by overwhelming, bipartisan votes after massive public outcries), the administration and Republican Congressional leadership have been able to quietly ressurrect them in House/Senate Conference by slipping them into the Appropriations Bill, where they're hidden among all the Pork expenditures.
- Who Tried To Bribe Rep. Smith? and Robert Novak: GOP pulled no punches in struggle for Medicare bill
I have seen much in my lifetime. But never could I dream that I'd live to see members of Congress openly committing crimes on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.
We now have the Republican Congressional Leadership's willingness to break the U.S. Penal Code, as well as break their stated Oaths of Office to get the vote that they felt they damned well had to have. Stealing bread to feed your children can get you shot. But, crime on the floor of the House is "just government," in their eyes.
A line we heard often during the Impeachment hearings against President Bill Clinton was, "How can I ever explain to my children that lying is bad when the president lied?" accompanied by much eye-rolling and mournful tones.
Today's updating is: "How can we teach our children the principles of the rule of law, when the very people making those laws rely on Felony Bribery and Felony Extortion to get their way?"
Umm, have you noticed by the way, that Bob Novack always seems to pop up just as the Republicans are breaking some federal law, or other? He also knows which "senior administration officials" broke federal law in outing a working CIA operative and putting this country and its brave covert agents in immediate, grave peril—all for political gain.
At the same time, Attorney General John Ashcroft refuses to either investigate the Smith Affair or recuse himself from the Palme Affair, and thereby fulfill his sworn duty to uphold the law as written for ALL the people of this country. Seeing merely to the interests of his cronies seems to be sufficient. If Janet Reno, Elliot Richardson, Ramsey Clark, or even John Mitchell tried to get away with this kind of political, self-serving hooey at the Justice Dept., they'd be run out of town on a rail. OK, well..., Mitchell did do this kind of self-serving hooey, and was run out of town on a rail. So, perhaps there's hope.
But, at what point does Trust become immutably broken?
When does the horrific concept of "If they can do it, then we can do it, too!" kick in? How long until we dissolve into chaos?
How long do they bully the American people, loot the U.S. Treasury and stifle public dissent until they have the very class warfare on their hands that they constantly accuse their critics of trying to forment?
How long will it be before that last Horseman shows up to make a foursome for Apocalypse Bridge?
In the name of our Founding Fathers, we must throw the bastards out!
Pop Quiz:
When's the last time that your representative in Congress,
or your Senator represented YOUR interests?
Get Angry! Have your say. Write your elected officials now!
Here's the Realtime Iraq Invasion Cost Clock!
posted by Gotham 12:59 PM
"Politics? What Politics?"
Clark testimony to be censored in Milosevic trial0 comments
This administration thinks every aspect of the human condition, for good or for ill, is merely a photo op to be exploited or crushed.
C'mon...What's a little genocide, when there are bigger political fish to fry?
posted by Gotham 12:53 PM
"What I Really Want to Do Is... the Weather!"
John Stossel: Prime-time propagandist0 comments
How this man can go from being the Consumer Advocate reporter on New York's channel 7 local news to producing right wing propaganda for school children is waaay beyond me.
There's a book in there somewhere...
posted by Gotham 12:47 PM
E.T. Says: Elliot! Elliot!
New York AG Spitzer flattered by vice presidential buzz0 comments
NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, who is considering running for governor, may have loftier political goals.
Gen. Wesley Clark earlier this week mentioned Spitzer as a possible vice presidential running mate. Clark, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, made the remarks on C-SPAN television Wednesday while discussing corporate regulation.
Clark was asked if he would consider the New York attorney general for the role of vice president, according to Clark's press office.
"Certainly I would consider it," Clark said. "He's a very smart, capable guy and he's multi-dimensional."
Earlier this week, Washington Post syndicated columnist Mark Shields called Spitzer the "inevitable vice presidential nominee."
Spitzer has gained national prominence for his battles with Wall Street and the mutual fund industry.
It's truly amazing how far you can go in this world when you merely do the job you were hired to do.
posted by Gotham 12:25 AM
Friday, December 05, 2003
Update
I apologize for the simple links for the series of rather important stories below.0 comments
I listed them for myself, thinking I'd have the time today to get back to them.
Obviously, that didn't happen.
Check back tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll be snowed in and will have the time to re-do them.
Thanks!
posted by Gotham 11:57 PM
The Omnibus Oink-Oink
Appropriations Bill
I'm as amazed as you might be to see a link (below) to an article from The Heritage Foundation on Gotham Notes. But, while researching another story, I stumbled across this article from a year and a half ago that I thought applied very well to today.0 comments
Can Congress Be Embarrassed into Ending Wasteful Pork-Barrel Spending?
I assume the answer is, "No."
I was especially struck by the description ot the work of highly paid lobbyists on even the smallest Congressional pork chop. Instead of learning to write grant proposals, good folks are just hiring lobbyists. Add in campaign cash liberally, and VOILA! A Pork Roast!
Grant seekers can no longer simply submit a persuasive grant proposal to an unbiased agency. Now, they must master the Washington influence game and hire a lobbyist to pursue their interest.
Predictably, an entire lobbying industry has emerged to secure pork projects for those willing to pay for their services. Organizations and local governments seeking federal money can choose between dozens of powerful lobbying firms who effectively trade campaign contributions for earmarks.
Auctioning pork projects to the highest bidder reduces the number of merit-based grants for distribution by federal agencies, governors and mayors. These shortages induce Congress to expand these programs – and then earmark those new funds as well. Consequently, the number of pork projects skyrocketed from under 2,000 five years ago to 9,362 in the 2003 budget. Total spending on pork projects has correspondingly increased to over $23 billion.
Here's a rather decent list of what are about to become federally funded projects.
And here are some of my favorites from the AP.
- $200,000 for improvements to the privately financed Permian Basin Petroleum Museum in Midland, Texas [Tom DeLay (R-TX) - Note the word "privately." Federal funds for the upkeep on the Bugman's friend's private toy. It's a wonderful life!].
- $150,000 for restoring buildings in the Port of LaSalle project in LaSalle, Ill., including a lock tender's house, an interpretive center and a replica mule barn (Replica mules sold separately.).
- More than $190 million in projects for the Tampa Bay area, home of House Appropriations Committee Chairman Bill Young (R-FL).
- More than $150 million in projects for Alaska [Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK)], including $10 million to help market the state's seafood [whatever happened to free enterprise?] and $150,000 to try to stabilize the beluga whale population in Cook Inlet [the Christian Right isn't going to go for this one.].
- $40 million to build a military cargo terminal for the port of Philadelphia [awarded to Sen. Arlen Spector (R-PA) after he changed his vote on the Medicare Bill—we can't say "bribe" because, of course, that would then be a federal crime. So, we'll just say, "swap," or "ol' fashioned horse trade," OK?].
- $50 million to construct an indoor rain forest and aquarium in Coralville, Iowa, heated by renewable energy sources [Cornfield as rainforest. Cool. "If you build it, they will pay for it." Federal money for a private project. Always a good deal for the the taxpayer.].
Now, of course, the interesting part of all this is that these are all Republican Pork Projects. Yes, you read correctly. Although pork has long been a Democratic arena, this is all Republican Pork! I thought that Republicans were supposed to save us from the horrors of Pork. Seems the Heritage Foundation thought the same. But, I'm just perplexed; they're turning purple.
So, it seems, when it comes to not leaving money lying on the table, there really are no ideologies. Greed and self-interest really are the only bipartisan Congressional arenas we have left.
It's funny how purity of vision blurs when the subject becomes holding onto your job and enjoying its many fine perks.
Actually, my favorite Pork Rind this year comes from the Energy (Company Subsidy) Bill—which, while currently stalled, is sure to be back bigger and stronger in January. In it, Sen. John Breaux of Louisiana was able to twist some arms and wring some sorely needed federal funds for his pet project in Louisiana. And I'm sure the state's residents will look at Breaux's new, alternatively powered Hooters restaurant in a strip mall in Shreveport with pride and patriotism.
Pop Quiz:
When's the last time that your representative in Congress,
or your Senator represented YOUR interests?
Or even tossed you a couple of federal bucks?
Get Angry! Have your say. Write your elected officials now! Be sure to ask them for some of that cash that's flying around!
Here's the Realtime Iraq Invasion Cost Clock!
posted by Gotham 11:49 PM
Clark testimony to be censored in Milosevic trial
The Seattle Times: Nation & World: Clark testimony to be censored in Milosevic trial0 comments
posted by Gotham 10:08 AM
Congressional Record
Sen. Max Baucus0 comments
posted by Gotham 10:07 AM
McClellan Urged To Decline Honor from Industry Front Group
McClellan Urged To Decline Honor from Industry Front Group ~ Newsroom ~ News from CSPI0 comments
posted by Gotham 10:03 AM
GOP pulled no punches in struggle for Medicare bill
GOP pulled no punches in struggle for Medicare bill0 comments
posted by Gotham 10:02 AM
Who Tried To Bribe Rep. Smith?
Who Tried To Bribe Rep. Smith? - Stop protecting him, Congressman. By Timothy Noah0 comments
posted by Gotham 9:59 AM
PICTURE.JPG 650x488 pixels0 comments
posted by Gotham 9:54 AM
salon : John Stossel: Prime-time propagandist0 comments
posted by Gotham 9:48 AM
Notes from the Salad Bar
Catholics in America have long since gotten used to taking a "salad bar" approach to their religion. Millions have shaken their heads at proscriptions from Pope and Bishop and decided on their own to first pick a little bit of this policy, and then a little bit of that theology, and, basically, make it all fit their lives as they've needed to.0 comments
So, now, taking time out from fondling young boys and watching their Catholic School roles plummet, American Bishops have decided to reassert themselves. Ooooh, so powerful.
"Hell, if the Christian Fundamentalists can jerk the country back to the Nineteenth Century, we can jerk it back to the Twelfth Century! HAH! Take THAT, 700 Club!"
Bishops to Pressure Catholic Politicians
These guys are starting to sound eerily like the brilliant comic actor Joe Flarhety"s "Count" vampire character from the old SCTV comedy series.
"Oooooo, we're scary! V-e-e-e-e-ry scary! We're going to excommunicate you if you don't do our bidding! Oooooo, we're scary! V-e-e-e-e-ry scary! Scared yet?"
U.S. Catholics to American Bishops:
"Yeah, well, whatever."
posted by Gotham 1:33 AM
Thursday, December 04, 2003
"First You Say You Do,
And Then You Don't...
... Then you say you will,
And then you won't ..."
—Undecided (Sydney Robin & Charles Shavers / Universal MCA Music Publishing)
U.S. Rejects Iraqi Plan to Hold Census by Summer
We've said we wanted elections. But you need voter roles for an election. For that, you need a census. It turns out that Iraq has a functioning Census Dept. But we don't want them to take a census, since that would lead to elections. We just want a series of caucuses. Because they're not ready for elections. Because they don't have any voter roles.
Oh.
Research shows that no one ever went broke by betting on there being duplicity, double-dealing, obsfucation, arrogance and plain ol' American lying in the actions of an Occupation Force.
posted by Gotham 2:36 PM
0 comments
Foggy Bottom Rising
Powell Seeks Expanded NATO Role in Iraq0 comments
In purely diplomatic terms, Secretary of State Colin Powell outlines the U.S. call to NATO:
"Hel-l-l-l-l-lp!"
posted by Gotham 2:25 PM
The Cowboy Blinks after Rove Steps In
E.U. Drops Threat of Trade War After Bush Lifts Steel Tariffs0 comments
Despite all the time George W. Bush just spent in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio on damage control, it's clear that Karl Rove sat him down and showed him the states where his political bread was buttered.
Pop Quiz:
When's the last time that your representative in Congress,
or your Senator represented YOUR interests?
Get Angry! Have your say. Write your elected officials now!
Here's the Realtime Iraq Invasion Cost Clock!
posted by Gotham 2:14 PM
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
Flying Over the No-Truth Zone
Pilots Didn't Radio Air Force One, Airline Says0 comments
Who were those guys, hunh?
If it wasn't British Airways, then maybe it might have been Air Hussein.
Makes you think...
And, tell me, is "just making stuff up out of thin air for no reason" as compulsive for White House staffers as gambling is for Bill Bennett, say, or drugs are for Rush Limbaugh and infidelity is for Newt Gingrich?
Just wondering...
posted by Gotham 12:43 AM
Monday, December 01, 2003
More Photo-Ops Lined Up for Bush & Co.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!0 comments
G.O.P. Option at Convention: Luxury Liner
Sad to say, the Achille Lauro is no longer available.
I guess this shows the Republican Yacht Crowd to be, well, the Yacht Crowd.
And, yep, the Yacht Crowd is just what millions of long-term unemployed Americans need to see in connection with the start of the Republican Presidential Campaign.
Personally, I'm having my topsiders re-deck-soled even as we speak. You don't want to dally with this one.
Most NYers, in this heavily Democratic town, have been embarrassed enough by the Republicans holding their 2004 Shrub-a-thon in our fair, but battered, city. And now our beloved House Majority Leader Tom (Bugman) DeLay wants not to sully his dainty foot on any New York City soil that does not contain the ashes of victims of the World Trade Center.
Go, big fella. This is classically bad public relations, even by your standards.
Plus, at a time when almost every other New York State Republican is making themselves scarce on this issue, let's have a moment of silence for the now-defunct political career of Rep. Vito J. Fossella (R-Staten Island) for allowing himself to be turned into the Official Traitor of the City of New York, in order to curry favor with the Bugman, a/k/a "the Hammer" in the U.S. House of Representatives. Even the heavily Republican sections of Staten Island will have problems swallowing this one, Vito.
"Oh, Vito! Do be a sport and go ask Mumsy to send down some more martinis. I love the name of his district, don't you? Satin Island. Sounds so luxurious, don't you think?"
I love these guys.
posted by Gotham 3:21 PM
It's Good to Have Friends (and a Job; and a Checkbook)
ALBANY: NEW RACING OFFICER IS PATAKI BACKER0 comments
The new security director for the New York Racing Association, which has been the subject of an inquiry into illegal employee activity, contributed $10,000 to Gov. George E. Pataki's political campaign last year. The new director, Kenneth Cook, 53, a former deputy superintendent in the state police, was named the association's director of security starting Dec. 8. The N.Y.R.A., a private nonprofit corporation, holds the state franchise to operate the Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga thoroughbred race tracks. Joseph Conway, a spokesman for Governor Pataki, told The Times Union of Albany that questions about whether Mr. Pataki influenced Mr. Cook's hiring "are absurd and don't merit a response." (AP)
Oh, sure they do, Mr. Conway; you and we can all agree on that. You're just being paid to say they don't. We all know that. And a fine job you're doing, too.
And isn't having a job in George W. Bush's economy a wonderful thing to have?
Pop Quiz:
When's the last time that your representative in Congress,
or your Senator represented YOUR interests?
Get Angry! Have your say. Write your elected officials now!
Here's the Realtime Iraq Invasion Cost Clock!
posted by Gotham 2:41 PM
Tuesday, November 25, 2003
"Can't Anybody Here Legistate This Game?"
Anti-Spam Bill Draws Mixed Reaction0 comments
Let's see...
Here is an anti-spam law that will not reduce the level of spam and, like any good Republican bill, it actually gives the green light to hordes of companies who've avoided spamming up to now. And to paraphrase the gun lobbyists who extol their weapon of choice: when you criminalize the use of spam, only criminals will have spam.
Next, the Republicans have given us an energy bill that is supposed to fix our electicity demands for years to come, except that most of the money is to be funneled into the Energy Companies, who will then raise rates to consumers.
Then, there's the Medicare bill, which is trying to save seniors money by, ultimately, having them pay more for drugs and all their other costs, while the drug and health sector firms pocket the cash, and generations of Americans pay the tab.
Also, there's the popular "No Child Left Behind" school bill—which remains unfunded—which forces school districts to both jettison their lowest, most-at-risk, fringe students to the arms of the street, and to cook the books so that the numbers of school assaults—a verifying number for Federal support—will appear normal, even though the number of assaults on students and teachers has mushroomed.
This warm and fuzzy session of Congress has exelled at keeping everyone focused on the bauble part of each of these bills. But NYers know that were there to be any real meat in these bills, conservatives would lose their current image as the "get tough" guy and the "get it done" guy.
This is really dumb-show. And we really can't afford to keep these guys past 2004.
posted by Gotham 3:45 AM
The New Golden Parachute
Sprint to Cut 2,000 Jobs to Cut Costs0 comments
But, at least they now get to transfer their phone extensions with them!
posted by Gotham 3:22 AM
Monday, November 24, 2003
How to Restore the Lost Value of Your 401(k) Account
Medicare Bill Would Enrich Companies0 comments
This is time-sensitive; there's only a small window of opportunity for this, but here's how:
Take all the money George W. Bush's Crash has left you in your 401(k) and IRA Retirement Accounts and switch it to Health Sector funds and/or stocks.
Take every dollar you can scrape up or borrow and plunk it into those same accounts.
Billions of dollars are going to be flowing to those companies, just like the lobbyists and Republicans planned, and the general public might just as well benefit and get a bounce-back from all the dollars they're going to be throwing directly at the drug companies, the HMO- and PPO-based insurance companies and hospital corporations.
AMERICA! GET YOUR FAIR SHARE! BUY DRUG AND HEALTH STOCKS TODAY!
Then, as a shareholder, look to vote your proxies in such a way as to wreak havoc at the stockholders' meetings, and to generally make life miserable for the company's Officers and Board.
America. The Land of Opportunity.
Pop Quiz:
When's the last time that your representative in Congress,
or your Senator represented YOUR interests?
Get Angry! Have your say. Write your elected officials now!
Here's the Realtime Iraq Invasion Cost Clock!
posted by Gotham 2:18 PM
The Angels of Our Better Nature
Boxes, Greetings From N.Y. Reach Ill.0 comments
Since links to Associated Press stories tend to have short shelf lives, I'll paste the entire story about the actions of some residents of a New York City suburb here, since I feel it is that important.
This story touched me deeply. To me, this story contains the true meaning of "Christian values," no matter what your Faith is—even if you don't adhere to one. This is a core, human issue moment.
I challenge President George W. Bush to live the principles in this story, in order to show to the world that he truly is a strong man of caring, spiritual fiber—instead of the lying scumbag that half the Western world, and most of the rest of the world, currently perceives him to be.
I challenge Vice President Dick Cheney to do the same, and actually come to the assistance of someone who isn't Halliburton or an oil company.
I challenge everyone on the right to suspend the hateful rhetoric for a few moments, and become involved in this type of effort. I challenge Rep. Tom DeLay to do this. And Malcolm Forbes; and Sen. Dr. Bill "I killed Medicare" Frist; and Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz; columnist Robert Novak and smarmy über-prig Tucker Carlson; and Pentagon adviser Richard Perle.
This is the type of compassion Americans thought Bush has been talking about, from the 2000 campaign to now. We didn't realize back then that he was merely refering to basic priggishness and hate.
Here's your chance to change some opinions, George. A chance to attone for your sins of the last three years, and make things right again with your Maker. Grab a pen, George, and take some notes:
Boxes, Greetings From N.Y. Reach Ill.
By JIM FITZGERALD
Associated Press Writer
November 23, 2003, 4:48 PM EST
HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. -- When you're pinching pennies and husbanding food stamps, the end of the month is always the leanest time. In November, that tough time also brings the added burden of Thanksgiving.
"At the end of the month the food stamps are stretched out, the food is diminished and even the pantry at our church is very low," says Ron Walker, outreach minister for the Church of the Cross in Pembroke Township, Ill.
It can make for a grim holiday in Pembroke Township, where the average yearly income is $9,642 and hundreds of families struggle "without running water, or with dirt floors, or torn-down roofs," Walker says.
But just in time, "the boxes" arrive -- the food boxes from New York. Every month, 60 or more families in and around the village of Hastings-on-Hudson each pack up a week's worth of groceries for a family in Pembroke, timing the delivery to the last week of the month.
They follow a shopping list drawn up by the program's founder, Pam Koner, and often toss in extras like linens or treats for the kids. They also include a letter, from one family to the other.
"We're not sending money and it's not a one-shot," says Koner. "We're sending food and we're offering friendship. We don't just do Thanksgiving and Christmas. We all send a box every month and we pack the food ourselves and we send a letter that says, 'How are you?'"
Pembroke is a rural community of about 3,000 residents, just one hour south of Chicago, and has no industry. According to the latest census data, more than half of the town's families with children under the age of 5 live below the poverty level.
It's not easy to bridge the gulf between Pembroke and Hastings, a leafy well-to-do New York City suburb on the Hudson River, where the average annual income is $50,000. Koner was sitting on her deck last year when she read a description of Pembroke Township in a newspaper story.
The story, detailing hungry children and ramshackle homes and faded hopes, moved Koner to action.
"I had to do something," she says.
Because she runs day care and afterschool programs, Koner knows many families in Hastings. She talked to a few of them, got their support and telephoned the church mentioned in the Pembroke story.
"She said, 'What can I do?'" Walker recalls, "And I said we always need food out here."
They called it Family to Family and it grew from seven Hastings families to more than 60, which results in scores of heavy boxes being lugged by neighbors to the back door of Koner's house during the third week of each month. FedEx delivers them to the church in Pembroke Township for free, and Walker manages the distribution at that end.
On a recent "box day" at Koner's house, Jenny Ambrozek came by to drop off her parcel and said, "I think the program's extraordinary ... It makes you appreciate what you have."
Isaac Shimsky-Agosto, 9, whose family participates in the program, said of his Pembroke family, "They don't have electricity, they don't have running water. Hardly any of them have cars. We thought it sounded like a nice thing to do."
Many Pembroke families send letters of thanks.
"I am so grateful for the food," one recipient wrote. "It always seems to come just on time."
Word of the program is spreading. Groups in Plano, Texas, and Birmingham, Ala., are planning to start Family to Family programs with needy communities. Students at a high school in Evanston, Ill., held bake sales to raise money to buy 60 turkeys, which were handed out Sunday in Pembroke. An inmate at the state prison in Attica sent Koner a $25 check, "since I am unable to shop."
Family to Family isn't the only effort under way to help Pembroke. Besides the food pantry at the Church of the Cross, which serves up to 500 families a month, there's a soup kitchen and clothing giveaway, Walker says. The state of Illinois is trying to improve the infrastructure, but, "We have no grocery stores, no gas stations, no Laundromats. That's the reality here," Walker says.
But the boxes from New York -- and the letters -- do make a difference, he says.
"It gives our people a chance to know that somebody cares enough to send a box out every month to them and to drop them a line," he says. "It's not going to solve all our problems but it does help."
* __
On the Net:
Family to Family
posted by Gotham 11:23 AM
