Saturday, December 01, 2007
Yep, the Surge is Working
All those American lives and limbs seem to be paying dividends. Iraq is on it's way to peace and democracy. Oh, wait....
All those American lives and limbs seem to be paying dividends. Iraq is on it's way to peace and democracy. Oh, wait....
Sunni lawmakers walked out of Iraq's parliament Saturday, protesting what they called the house arrest of a prominent Sunni politician.Well, maybe with the New Year just around the corner we'll see some political progress to justify the lives and limbs sacrificed. Of course, we still have to wait for Halliburton to pour the concrete for the recently relocated goal posts.
Monday, February 26, 2007
The Right to Question
Glen Greenwald has some thoughts for Joe Lieberman and the other snake oil hucksters who claim to know something about anything.
Oh, and Joe, if things are improving in Iraq, why has FOX News issued its reporters gas masks? But, of course, before you answer, please explain why I should listen to anything you have to say based on your past history of lying and being wrong.
Glen Greenwald has some thoughts for Joe Lieberman and the other snake oil hucksters who claim to know something about anything.
Everywhere Joe Lieberman goes, he should be asked by journalists why anyone should listen to anything he says, or believe anything he says, in light of his history of deceitful statements and tragically wrong assertions, beginning with his 2005 Op-Ed which today he completely repudiates while pretending he never said any of it.It's not only Lieberman who should be asked why should we trust you. We should ask George Bush, Dick Cheney, Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle, and the entire Republican leadership the same question. Every press conference. Every off the record briefing, every exclusive interview should start with the question, "why should I listen to anything you say about anything, or believe anything you say, in light of your history of deceit, wrong assertions, and outright lies?" Oh, and "you've been wrong about so much, why should I believe you are right about this?" The press conference, off the record briefing, exclusive sit down interview, or whatever should not go onto other questions until the above have been answered. If Bush and his gang are unwilling to submit to such questions, then the press briefing, the off the record briefing, the exclusive sit down interview should stop or journalists should refuse to participate. I want George Bush and his gang to stand up before the world, without notes, without teleprompters and take questions from real people. Not people who have been vetted. Not people who feel like their jobs depend on their ability to access to movers and shakers, but real people who deserve an answer to why should we believe anything you say? You're not children. You don't get a free pass to lie because you didn't know any better. Transparency, it's the bedrock of freedom and democracy. If Congress, if people, can't voice their opinions and ask the difficult questions of our elected leaders, then we have neither freedom nor democracy.
These are people who are completely bereft of judgment and integrity, and their behavior has wreaked incalculable and arguably unprecedented damage on our country. Holding them accountable, and recognizing them for what they are, is critical not only for cleansing our deeply poisoned political system, but also for averting identical, or worse, tragedies in the very near future.
Oh, and Joe, if things are improving in Iraq, why has FOX News issued its reporters gas masks? But, of course, before you answer, please explain why I should listen to anything you have to say based on your past history of lying and being wrong.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Fear, Inc. Or, When Cartoons Attack Boston
After the cartoon induced hysteria in Boston on January 31, 2007, I think a reading of Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1933 Inaugural Address is in order.
After the cartoon induced hysteria in Boston on January 31, 2007, I think a reading of Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1933 Inaugural Address is in order.
This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and of vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory.We, unfortunately have George W. Bush as President.
Monday, January 29, 2007
The Bush Coup
It must now be apparent to even the most blind among us that George Bush is the biggest threat to the U.S. Constitution, American Democracy, and good government in existence today. The NYT reports,
The debacles of Iraq and Katrina, created or exacerbated by unqualified political appointees will become a regular feature of American life. While most sane and rational observers understood that the lessons of Katrina (and school is still very much in session) is that qualified civil servants and professionals are desperately needed in government and that decisions affecting the health and safety of Americans should be non-political, the Bush regime in its hubris has decided to increase the role of political appointees in the day to day running of the government. I suspect that many of the whiz kids sent to Iraq in 2003 will now be in charge of vetting new regulations to ensure the regulations pass ideological muster (or benefit whichever corporation or group of corporations ponies up the biggest bribe).
In the order Bush has banished the use of words like "‘shall,’ ‘must,’ ‘required’ or ‘requirement.’” The thought police are now only an Executive Order away. Ideology now reigns supreme. I, for one, now wonder if Bush will respect the 2008 elections or will he issue an Executive Order nullifying them? Where does George Bush's lust for power end? Or rather, where does the lust for power of Dick Cheney and the rest of the former Nixon staffers end?
It must now be apparent to even the most blind among us that George Bush is the biggest threat to the U.S. Constitution, American Democracy, and good government in existence today. The NYT reports,
President Bush has signed a directive that gives the White House much greater control over the rules and policy statements that the government develops to protect public health, safety, the environment, civil rights and privacy.Bush and his gang are longer even concerned with the facade of good government. Every decision will now be openly political. Thus the lack of an updated NIE prior to rolling out the "surge" plan for Iraq. Political ideology will be the litmus against which all decisions will be tested. Strangely enough this comes from a President who claims he doesn't govern by polls. With political operatives in charge any residual lip service to transparency is now gone.
In an executive order published last week in the Federal Register, Mr. Bush said that each agency must have a regulatory policy office run by a political appointee, to supervise the development of rules and documents providing guidance to regulated industries. The White House will thus have a gatekeeper in each agency to analyze the costs and the benefits of new rules and to make sure the agencies carry out the president’s priorities.
This strengthens the hand of the White House in shaping rules that have, in the past, often been generated by civil servants and scientific experts.
The debacles of Iraq and Katrina, created or exacerbated by unqualified political appointees will become a regular feature of American life. While most sane and rational observers understood that the lessons of Katrina (and school is still very much in session) is that qualified civil servants and professionals are desperately needed in government and that decisions affecting the health and safety of Americans should be non-political, the Bush regime in its hubris has decided to increase the role of political appointees in the day to day running of the government. I suspect that many of the whiz kids sent to Iraq in 2003 will now be in charge of vetting new regulations to ensure the regulations pass ideological muster (or benefit whichever corporation or group of corporations ponies up the biggest bribe).
In the order Bush has banished the use of words like "‘shall,’ ‘must,’ ‘required’ or ‘requirement.’” The thought police are now only an Executive Order away. Ideology now reigns supreme. I, for one, now wonder if Bush will respect the 2008 elections or will he issue an Executive Order nullifying them? Where does George Bush's lust for power end? Or rather, where does the lust for power of Dick Cheney and the rest of the former Nixon staffers end?
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Republican Values and Rudy Giuliani
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani spoke in New Hampshire and
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani spoke in New Hampshire and
told state GOP leaders that to take back the state, they must embrace Republican principles and not apologize for them.Since ol' Rudy is or was for gun control, opposed the Republican position on banning gay marriage, is pro-choice, and opposes or opposed the ban on so called "partial birth abortions," it's not altogether clear that Giuliani understands what Republican principles are. In fact, on December 2, 1999 Rudy told CNN
“I’m pro-choice. I’m pro-gay rights,” Giuliani said. He was then asked whether he supports a ban on what critics call partial-birth abortions. “No, I have not supported that, and I don’t see my position on that changing."So when Rudy Giuliani talks about embracing Republican principles, I'm at a bit of loss. What does ol' Rudy think Republican principles are? Maybe he means greed, corruption, race baiting, scapegoat politics, hypocrisy, and abuse of power?
Thursday, January 25, 2007
The Battle for Baghdad, Iraqis No Shows, Redux
From the NYT lede on the new American offensive to re-take Baghdad comes this gem of just how ill-thought President Bush's "new" policy is,
Impeach George Bush Now! Impeach Dick Cheney Now!
From the NYT lede on the new American offensive to re-take Baghdad comes this gem of just how ill-thought President Bush's "new" policy is,
Many of the Iraqi Army units who were supposed to help secure Haifa Street in Baghdad on Wednesday did not arrive on time, forcing the Americans to start the job on their own.The article makes clear that despite all the propaganda the Bush regime and its lackeys push, it is American troops bearing the brunt of re-taking Baghdad.
Many of the Iraqi units that showed up late never seemed to take the task seriously, searching haphazardly, breaking dishes and rifling through personal CD collections in the apartments. Eventually the Americans realized that the Iraqis were searching no more than half of the apartments; at one point the Iraqis completely disappeared, leaving the American unit working with them flabbergasted.If this represents the best George Bush, Dick Cheney, and the rest of the Republican lackeys can coax out of the Iraqis, then it's going to be a long winter and even longer spring and then the summer with its searing temperatures and then...?
Impeach George Bush Now! Impeach Dick Cheney Now!
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Bush Apporval Rating at 28%
Bushy is doing a heck of a job according to CBS.
On a more serious note, it's a bit disturbing that only 7% of the folks polled thought health care was the country's number one problem and only 8% thought the economy was the country's biggest issue. It appears Uncle Rove's shell game of bloody carnage in Iraq is distracting Americans from the very serious problems the Republicans have ignored (I'm being generous here as the policies enacted by the Republicans have made those problems worse in many cases) over the past six years, namely access to health care and economic growth that is shared by all Americans, just not the corporate fat cats and trust fund babies that are George Bush's base.
Bushy is doing a heck of a job according to CBS.
On a more serious note, it's a bit disturbing that only 7% of the folks polled thought health care was the country's number one problem and only 8% thought the economy was the country's biggest issue. It appears Uncle Rove's shell game of bloody carnage in Iraq is distracting Americans from the very serious problems the Republicans have ignored (I'm being generous here as the policies enacted by the Republicans have made those problems worse in many cases) over the past six years, namely access to health care and economic growth that is shared by all Americans, just not the corporate fat cats and trust fund babies that are George Bush's base.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Kurds Prepare for Baghdad Deployment
Hey George, you got anymore gasoline we can throw on this thing?
Hey George, you got anymore gasoline we can throw on this thing?
A Kurdish army brigade in northern Iraq is undergoing intensive urban combat training as it readies for deployment in the latest Baghdad security operation and is expected to take on the capital's Mehdi Army Shiite militia, its commander said Saturday.NO, no, put away that lighter fluid and get me the GASOLINE! Condi said we need to slash and burn in order for the flower of freedom and democracy to bloom in Iraq.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
