Wednesday, February 22, 2006
A Quick Question
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Remember Them
Joe Galloway of Knight Ridder has a story out detaling the loss of equipment in Iraqi. It's getting very expensive to repair and replace all the stuff that is breaking down tilting at windmills in Iraq, but Galloway reminds us of the true cost of George's folly,
Joe Galloway of Knight Ridder has a story out detaling the loss of equipment in Iraqi. It's getting very expensive to repair and replace all the stuff that is breaking down tilting at windmills in Iraq, but Galloway reminds us of the true cost of George's folly,
Equipment can be repaired or replaced. But nothing can replace a father or mother who has been killed in this war, or any war. Nothing can compensate for all the lives shattered when a soldier dies in combat. In Iraq it is estimated that the human toll includes nearly 1,000 spouses who have been left behind, alone, and more than 2,000 children who have lost a parent to the war.Because based on the buget he's submitted to Congress, George Bush sure isn't.
Nor can you repair or replace what has been lost by hundreds of soldiers severely injured by powerful IED blasts and left double or triple amputees, blind or brain damaged, riddled by shrapnel. For them, and those who love them, life suddenly has become an unending struggle.
Remember them.
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Friday, February 17, 2006
New Orleans Apologizes
Breaking News. New Orleans has apologized to President Bush and Vice President Cheney for being located in a hurricane zone and for being built below sea level. According to senior White House officials, both the President and Vice President have accepted the city’s apology, noting that the lack of an apology has troubled and saddened both men. The President is quoted as saying, “Both Dick and I firmly believe in taking responsibility for one’s actions—we like to call it the culture of responsibility—and are gladdened that New Orleans has finally taken responsibility for being built in a hurricane zone and for being built below sea level.” There are also unconfirmed reports that Mother Nature herself is scheduled to appear on a number of Sunday morning news shows and is expected to apologize for such an active and deadly Atlantic hurricane season. Mississippi is also considering whether to offer up an apology for the whole state or just for the Gulf Coast area.
Update: Unnamed senior White House officials have stated that work is underway on a web-based system to allow individual residents of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast to offer up their apologies for living in a hurricane zone and stating that they are taking full personal responsibility for choosing to live in the Gulf Coast region. Apparently, residents will sign a Culture of Personal Responsibility pledge. It is unclear whether those residents who evacuated to the Superdome or to the New Orleans Convention Center will be allowed to apologize, so great was the embarrassment they caused to the President and Vice President. An unnamed aide is quoted as saying, “those folks may be required to perform some kind of national service or have their voting privileges permanently revoked” before the President will consider whether they will be allowed to apologize for their obscene lack of personal responsibility.” The aide added that exile for those residents is being considered as an option. The aide also added that Halliburton has put forward a plan to use these exiles as labor at it various overseas operations, as long as the company receives payment in advance for doing so. A Halliburton spokesman refused to comment on the record, but did indicate that the company will be handling the work on the web-based apology system.
Update 2: According to unnamed senior White House aides, there is a plan for a Culture of Personal Responsibility Commission where those voters who failed to vote for George Bush and Dick Cheney in either 2000 or 2004 will be able to apologize for their actions. Senior aides have said that the President is deeply offended that large numbers (nearly half) of American voters did not vote for him in 2000 or 2004. Some aspects of the Commission may include the signing of loyalty oaths to the President and the Vice President. Aides working on the plan say they are also looking at various designs for Presidential and Vice Presidential Rings that will be placed on replicas of President’s and Vice President’s hands. According to documents obtained by CRANKed, those voters wishing to apologize to the President and Vice President will be required to kiss these rings. For an appropriate donation to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and/or the Bush/Cheney 2008 campaign, voters will be allowed to kiss the Presidential and Vice Presidential rings in person and offer their most solemn apologies to both men in person. While it is unclear who will produce the rings and replica hands, some aides have hinted that the job will go to Halliburton based on language in a no-bid contract dating back to October 28, 2000 signed by Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney. The same aides dismissed any suggestion that the contract was not valid as the President had not yet been appointed by the Supreme Court.
Breaking News. New Orleans has apologized to President Bush and Vice President Cheney for being located in a hurricane zone and for being built below sea level. According to senior White House officials, both the President and Vice President have accepted the city’s apology, noting that the lack of an apology has troubled and saddened both men. The President is quoted as saying, “Both Dick and I firmly believe in taking responsibility for one’s actions—we like to call it the culture of responsibility—and are gladdened that New Orleans has finally taken responsibility for being built in a hurricane zone and for being built below sea level.” There are also unconfirmed reports that Mother Nature herself is scheduled to appear on a number of Sunday morning news shows and is expected to apologize for such an active and deadly Atlantic hurricane season. Mississippi is also considering whether to offer up an apology for the whole state or just for the Gulf Coast area.
Update: Unnamed senior White House officials have stated that work is underway on a web-based system to allow individual residents of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast to offer up their apologies for living in a hurricane zone and stating that they are taking full personal responsibility for choosing to live in the Gulf Coast region. Apparently, residents will sign a Culture of Personal Responsibility pledge. It is unclear whether those residents who evacuated to the Superdome or to the New Orleans Convention Center will be allowed to apologize, so great was the embarrassment they caused to the President and Vice President. An unnamed aide is quoted as saying, “those folks may be required to perform some kind of national service or have their voting privileges permanently revoked” before the President will consider whether they will be allowed to apologize for their obscene lack of personal responsibility.” The aide added that exile for those residents is being considered as an option. The aide also added that Halliburton has put forward a plan to use these exiles as labor at it various overseas operations, as long as the company receives payment in advance for doing so. A Halliburton spokesman refused to comment on the record, but did indicate that the company will be handling the work on the web-based apology system.
Update 2: According to unnamed senior White House aides, there is a plan for a Culture of Personal Responsibility Commission where those voters who failed to vote for George Bush and Dick Cheney in either 2000 or 2004 will be able to apologize for their actions. Senior aides have said that the President is deeply offended that large numbers (nearly half) of American voters did not vote for him in 2000 or 2004. Some aspects of the Commission may include the signing of loyalty oaths to the President and the Vice President. Aides working on the plan say they are also looking at various designs for Presidential and Vice Presidential Rings that will be placed on replicas of President’s and Vice President’s hands. According to documents obtained by CRANKed, those voters wishing to apologize to the President and Vice President will be required to kiss these rings. For an appropriate donation to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and/or the Bush/Cheney 2008 campaign, voters will be allowed to kiss the Presidential and Vice Presidential rings in person and offer their most solemn apologies to both men in person. While it is unclear who will produce the rings and replica hands, some aides have hinted that the job will go to Halliburton based on language in a no-bid contract dating back to October 28, 2000 signed by Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney. The same aides dismissed any suggestion that the contract was not valid as the President had not yet been appointed by the Supreme Court.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Bad Apples?
More images from Abu Ghraib via Australia's Dateline. Be sure to watch the video--warning there is a good bit of blood, nudity, and acts that are stomach turning. I guess the US media has been too busy with Quailgate to worry much about the US military torturing people and forcing the Bush regime to release the images as courts have ordered. If George Bush really believes in accountability as something more than just a talking point to be trotted out every four years or so when there's an election to steal, then he should order the full release of all the images of Abu Ghraib and elsewhere. Let the US public decide who the bad apples are and let us do so with all the facts on the table.
Update: More pictures at Salon.com and the above video in QT.
More images from Abu Ghraib via Australia's Dateline. Be sure to watch the video--warning there is a good bit of blood, nudity, and acts that are stomach turning. I guess the US media has been too busy with Quailgate to worry much about the US military torturing people and forcing the Bush regime to release the images as courts have ordered. If George Bush really believes in accountability as something more than just a talking point to be trotted out every four years or so when there's an election to steal, then he should order the full release of all the images of Abu Ghraib and elsewhere. Let the US public decide who the bad apples are and let us do so with all the facts on the table.
Update: More pictures at Salon.com and the above video in QT.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
The Blood Continues to Spill
While the Cable News Networks and the national media are giving lots of air and screen time to Cheney's little problem (and rightly so), another Marine was killed in Iraq. On Feb. 14, 2006 the AP reports
While the Cable News Networks and the national media are giving lots of air and screen time to Cheney's little problem (and rightly so), another Marine was killed in Iraq. On Feb. 14, 2006 the AP reports
A roadside bomb killed a U.S. Marine in western Baghdad on Tuesday in one of two attacks that also wounded six coalition military personnel, the military said.Strangely, the announcement doesn't show up on the front pages of the NYT, CNN, FOXNews, etc. The death of a US Marine in an unjust war seems to be not worth the time or attention of the national media. It should be. I guess "supporting" the troops means ignoring when they are killed in an unjust war. Marines must only be useful to BushCo and FOXNews when serving as photo op backgrounds. But hey, the Olympics are on.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
In Case You Missed It
amid all the noise about the "inappropriate politicization" of the Coretta Scott King funeral, the latest revelations that Bush was asleep at the wheel while New Orleans flooded, etc., CNN reports
amid all the noise about the "inappropriate politicization" of the Coretta Scott King funeral, the latest revelations that Bush was asleep at the wheel while New Orleans flooded, etc., CNN reports
two U.S. Marines died of wounds Thursday from a roadside bombing while they were on patrol near Falluja, west of Baghdad, the military said Friday.Americans and Iraqis continue to die because of George Bush's leadership. Two dead Marines don't garner much airtime, but let's not forget what those two lost lives mean to their families and friends. We can't let George Bush and his noise machine let the deaths of even one solider, sailor, Marine, or airman drop off the radar screen. Never forget that these men and women are dying becasue George Bush and his cronies lied to the American public and to Congress. Let us never forget that George Bush and we ourselves have blood on our hands. I say ourselves because everytime we let George Bush lie, dissemble, say "awwww...shucks..," fear monger, or wiggle out of being accountable with some fancy pants "legal" excuse we enable his crimes.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Sorry
kid, but when you lie on resume you really don't have much "integrity and credibility" left. The New York Times has a great quote from you,
kid, but when you lie on resume you really don't have much "integrity and credibility" left. The New York Times has a great quote from you,
Mr. Deutsch said he resigned of his own volition because he was unhappy with the negative publicity he and NASA were receiving in the news media. 'I was just sick of it,' he said. 'I was being smeared. My integrity and credibility was being questioned. And as a human being, as a human being, I just could not take it anymore.'And seeing how it wasn't a little lie like saying you graduated in four years when it took you five or something, I don't think anyone really believes that you resigned on your own. And reporting the fact that you claimed to have graduated when you didn't isn't an example of being "smeared." There's nothing wrong with not graduating, just don't claim you did something that you didn't do. It's simple. Maybe that Jack Abramoff guy could use some help in his office. Oh right, sorry.
Trailers, Trailers Everywhere...
but not a one to live in. The New York Times reports that in Louisiana
but not a one to live in. The New York Times reports that in Louisiana
60 percent of the 90,000 requests for manufactured housing have not been met. Of the 21,000 requests in Orleans Parish alone, only about 3,000 have been filled. By comparison, in Mississippi, federal officials say that of about 40,000 such requests, 34,560 have been met. FEMA officials in Louisiana say that at the rate they are going — installing about 500 units a day — it will most likely be an additional 100 days before they are close to reaching their goal.Trailers were supposed to be a stop gap measure, but now after six months the fact that so many still haven't arrived is a scandal. The cost of buying the trailers and storing them while FEMA and local authorities wrangle over where to put them is about $70,000. This Crank isn't so good at math, but thinks you could buy an bit of house for that much. So much for rebuilding the Gulf Coast being a priority or something. Oh...and FEMA is kicking people out of hotel rooms in the next week or so. Wonder where all those folks will end up?
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Making Progress...
or not. So it's been over a year since the election of 2004. You remember the election of 2004, when BushCo. made all those claims for how the Iraqi Army was fast becoming a viable force? Well, it seems that despite billions of dollars, George Bush and his cronies working hard, and a lot of spilt blood the Iraqi Army is pretty much where it was a year ago. Reuters.com reports,
or not. So it's been over a year since the election of 2004. You remember the election of 2004, when BushCo. made all those claims for how the Iraqi Army was fast becoming a viable force? Well, it seems that despite billions of dollars, George Bush and his cronies working hard, and a lot of spilt blood the Iraqi Army is pretty much where it was a year ago. Reuters.com reports,
Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said there still is just one battalion able to operate independently, and 60 capable of taking the lead in operations, with support of U.S. forces.So it seems the Iraqi Army is just like everything George Bush and his merry little band gets involved with, nothing more than a PR pipe dream. Of course, when Congress was voting all that money for Iraqi reconstruction and training, the President resisted any kind of oversight, saying it would hinder operations. What he really meant is he didn't want the magnitude of his incompetence to be evident until he "won" re-election.
Monday, February 06, 2006
The Education President
Or leaving childrens behind. From the New York Times comes news that Bush has decided that tax cuts for his crony pals come before making sure American schools are the best they can be. I guess all the talk about making sure American students are the best educated and prepared to compete with the best from around the globe was just talk.
Or leaving childrens behind. From the New York Times comes news that Bush has decided that tax cuts for his crony pals come before making sure American schools are the best they can be. I guess all the talk about making sure American students are the best educated and prepared to compete with the best from around the globe was just talk.
The Education Department would get $54.4 billion for discretionary spending in the fiscal year starting Oct. 1. That would amount to a cut of $3.7 billion, or 6.4 percent, from this year.That's right, cuts in funding for technology, the very thing Bush said we need to focus on in the years to come.
Bush would eliminate 42 education programs deemed unnecessary or inefficient, including some money for the arts, technology, parent-resource centers and drug-free schools.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Read My Lips
Gerogie Bush hyped the idea that he'd be pumping money and resources into alternative energy. But as the New York Times reports he was, as is usual, full of Bushshit.
Gerogie Bush hyped the idea that he'd be pumping money and resources into alternative energy. But as the New York Times reports he was, as is usual, full of Bushshit.
The Energy Department will begin laying off researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the next week or two because of cuts to its budget.So it would seem Georgie Bush is for alternative energy, except for when he's cutting the budget for it and laying off researchers. I'm sure the magic hand of the market will come up with something real quick. Unless of course Exxon uses some of that record profit to buy up the start ups and mothball their research.
A veteran researcher said the staff had been told that the cuts would be concentrated among researchers in wind and biomass, which includes ethanol. Those are two of the technologies that Mr. Bush cited on Tuesday night as holding the promise to replace part of the nation's oil imports.
The budget for the laboratory, which is just west of Denver, was cut by nearly 15 percent, to $174 million from $202 million, requiring the layoff of about 40 staff members out of a total of 930, said a spokesman, George Douglas. The cut is for the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1.