More news blah blah..
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, aka The Mormons, are in a snit this week over the distribution of a tee-shirt that depicts the angel Moroni, mascot of the church, swilling a trumpet full of java. The shirts are distributed by a Utah coffee shop called "Just Add Coffee". The Mormons, traditionally cranky when their symbols are the subject of whimsy, claim that the angel is trademark-protected. Wow! Does the Catholic Church have a registration mark on the crucifix?
At any rate, the spoil-sport attitude of the CJCLDS will certainly have a chilling effect on the follow-up tee-shirts which were expected to feature illustrations of Jesus, Moses, and Muhammad sitting under a fig tree in Jerusalem sharing good talk and a frappacino.
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Calvin Broadus, better known to you fans as Snoop Dogg, has been denied a visa to enter Britain for a series of concerts with P Ditty. The American rap star, who has spent more time in courts than the Bible, was arrested in a brawl at Heathrow Airport last year when several of his posse were denied admittance to the airport's first-class lounge. Go figure!
The Brits, who apparently feel that while they are stuck with Keith Richards and Paul McCartney, don't see the need to import substance abusers. Mr. Dogg is naturally shocked to learn that he is persona-non-grata in a country that freely permits George W. Bush to roam the countryside. Snoop is said to be contacting Willie Nelson for legal assistance.
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Becoming Susan
Attend the tale of Steve Stanton, soon to be reborn as Susan Stanton. Steve had been employed as the well-regarded city manager of Largo, Florida. Sadly, the narrow-minded town fathers have taken issue with one of their favorite sons becoming one of their daughters. In a move that will certainly rock the transgender community, the city commissioners of Largo have sacked Mr./Ms. Stanton.
It is unclear at this time whether Steve/Susan will sue the City of Largo to retain his/her position. If he hasn't exhibited the necessary testicular fortitude for a fight to this point, it appears unlikely that the impending surgery will enhance that situation.
The planned "gender reassignment" (I love that term) was announced at a news conference last month. When the city manager of a town of 76,000 folks in central Florida calls a news conference, the last thing you expect to hear is that the guy is planning to have several of his body parts (and some pretty important ones) pitched into a dumpster behind a hospital in Geneva. (Do you even have to go to Switzerland any more?) Sounds like a lot of trouble to go
through just so you can hit from the red tees.
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Russian police forces arrested hundreds of protesters in the town of Nizhny Novgorod in central Russia. The Kremlin never misses an opportunity to illustrate how democracy is thriving in the once repressive land of the czars. It seems that the demonstrators were protesting, among other things, the lack of free speech and free expression. The Russian police, regardless of who is in power, have always stood ready to beat the crap out of anyone who says that he is not a happy Russian citizen.
The Kremlin is quick to point out that they no longer condemn dissenters to the gulags. Instead, they are locked in a room and forced to watch Dancing with the Stars. Amnesty International has expressed shock at such inhumane treatment.
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It helps if you hear a news story from the beginning. Halfway into a broadcast of today's news, I heard discussion of a delusional, charismatic leader who employed deception and mind control to subjugate his followers. This puppet master relied on isolation and brain washing to keep cult members away from more moderating influences. Ultimately, the followers were led to their destruction.
Naturally I assumed that the story was about the Bush White House. Imagine my shock when I learned that the broadcast concerned the tenth anniversary of the Heaven's Gate mass suicide in Rancho Mirage, Ca. Honest mistake. If you should happen to see any photos of Marshall Applewhite, the leader of the Heaven's Gate folks, pay close attention to his ears. Look like anyone you know? Perhaps another delusional leader?
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Saturday, March 17, 2007
...or should Pope Benedict XVI take a vow of silence?
Isitjustme has stayed away from discussing the Roman Catholic Church at least in part because some of my best friends, etc. However a notice in the paper this week reminded me that it isn't just the right wing Protestant loonies that require watching.
For no particular reason, the Vatican issued a statement this week reinforcing the Church's position on gay marriage. The Holy See indicated that the subject was "non-negotiable" and that Catholic, elected officials should act accordingly. Holy white smoke, Batman. That's a helluva thing!
Way back in 1928 the Democratic party nominated the affable Governor of New York, Al Smith, to run for President. Al was the first Roman Catholic to be so honored. He was thumped by Herbert Hoover partly because much of Southern America believed that if we elected a Catholic, the United States would be run by edicts from Rome. Jack Kennedy would have to overcome the same prejudices 32 years later. Most Catholics at the time found the idea absurd. Why would the Pope be interested in meddling in the affairs of Washington? Well, here we are in 2007 and it turns out that the rednecks of 1928 were right to be concerned.
The delightful irony of this is that American Catholics rarely listen to the doctrines of Rome on any issue. In the U.S. 80% of Catholics practice birth control. (It's probably closer to 99% but some just won't fess up.) About half of the faithful in the U.S. are in favor of leaving Roe v. Wade where it is. The Pope has about as much clout in America as the Dalai Lama or the Archbishop of Canterbury. Perhaps the Vatican will have better luck with the members of Congress.
To be fair, the Catholic Church and many other denominations, view abortion as murder. On that basis the Pope is right to speak out against Catholics in government who support what the Church sees as state sponsored homicide. This really is non-negotiable for Catholics. However, the last time I looked, marriage was a civil matter. While the Church affords marriage sacramental status, priests are licenced by the state to preform what essentially is a secular function. By excoriating legislators to bend to the will of Rome on gay marriage, the Pope is interfering in a non-religious, civil issue. This would be similar to encouraging the owners of Yankee Stadium to prohibit the sale of hot dogs on Friday nights during Lent.
Can you imagine if any other religious leaders attempted to superimpose their doctrines on America? Rabbis could lobby for road closings to discourage travel on Fridays after sundown. Imams could demand the prohibition of liquor sales (again) to conform to Islamic law. The American Congress has managed quite nicely for the last 220 odd years without the infallible interference of the Holy Father. Here's the deal. If the Pope doesn't attempt to tell us how to run America, we won't tell him how to remove Father Chester the Molester from the priesthood.
If Benedict XVI wants to create a better America by having our laws modeled after Church teachings, how about we invoke the Catholic Church's prohibition against suicide and ban smoking? American Catholics might not have clean souls but at least they would go to hell with clean lungs.
For no particular reason, the Vatican issued a statement this week reinforcing the Church's position on gay marriage. The Holy See indicated that the subject was "non-negotiable" and that Catholic, elected officials should act accordingly. Holy white smoke, Batman. That's a helluva thing!
Way back in 1928 the Democratic party nominated the affable Governor of New York, Al Smith, to run for President. Al was the first Roman Catholic to be so honored. He was thumped by Herbert Hoover partly because much of Southern America believed that if we elected a Catholic, the United States would be run by edicts from Rome. Jack Kennedy would have to overcome the same prejudices 32 years later. Most Catholics at the time found the idea absurd. Why would the Pope be interested in meddling in the affairs of Washington? Well, here we are in 2007 and it turns out that the rednecks of 1928 were right to be concerned.
The delightful irony of this is that American Catholics rarely listen to the doctrines of Rome on any issue. In the U.S. 80% of Catholics practice birth control. (It's probably closer to 99% but some just won't fess up.) About half of the faithful in the U.S. are in favor of leaving Roe v. Wade where it is. The Pope has about as much clout in America as the Dalai Lama or the Archbishop of Canterbury. Perhaps the Vatican will have better luck with the members of Congress.
To be fair, the Catholic Church and many other denominations, view abortion as murder. On that basis the Pope is right to speak out against Catholics in government who support what the Church sees as state sponsored homicide. This really is non-negotiable for Catholics. However, the last time I looked, marriage was a civil matter. While the Church affords marriage sacramental status, priests are licenced by the state to preform what essentially is a secular function. By excoriating legislators to bend to the will of Rome on gay marriage, the Pope is interfering in a non-religious, civil issue. This would be similar to encouraging the owners of Yankee Stadium to prohibit the sale of hot dogs on Friday nights during Lent.
Can you imagine if any other religious leaders attempted to superimpose their doctrines on America? Rabbis could lobby for road closings to discourage travel on Fridays after sundown. Imams could demand the prohibition of liquor sales (again) to conform to Islamic law. The American Congress has managed quite nicely for the last 220 odd years without the infallible interference of the Holy Father. Here's the deal. If the Pope doesn't attempt to tell us how to run America, we won't tell him how to remove Father Chester the Molester from the priesthood.
If Benedict XVI wants to create a better America by having our laws modeled after Church teachings, how about we invoke the Catholic Church's prohibition against suicide and ban smoking? American Catholics might not have clean souls but at least they would go to hell with clean lungs.
Friday, March 16, 2007
...or is it time for the Bush team to stop speaking altogether?
Explaining the firing of eight US Attorneys and the attempted cashiering of all 93 of them in 2005, Press Secretary Tony Snow enlightened his audience last Friday as follows:
" This is as far as we can go: we know that [Bush advisor Karl Rove] recollects having raised it and his recollection is that he dismissed it as not a good idea", Snow told reporters. "That's what we know. We don't know motivations...I don't think it's safe to go any further than that."
Well I guess that clears that up! And we let these people lead us into a war?
As expected, Paul Gigot, Editorial Page Editor for The Wall Street Journal, sees this as much ado about nothing. That would be the same Paul Gigot who popped a hemorrhoid when the Clintons fired a few people in the White House Travel Office. What the Rove-Cheney people were contemplating in 2005 was the housecleaning of all 93 US Attorneys. Apparently they were investigating too many of "us" and not enough of "them". There was no thought of investigating their abilities or accomplishments. They serve at the pleasure of the President so off with their heads. Talk about your Nixonian enemies list!
No one is suggesting that George Bush knew anything about this. The President has "plausible deniability". Actually, the President has plausible deniability regarding just about every decision made in the White House over the last six years. It's truly sad that no one in America believes that George W. had any idea what Rove & Co. were contemplating. We assume he's clueless. Do you think that John McCain, had he been elected, would hide behind double-talking aides and cabinet ministers? Congratulations Kansas, you're getting the leadership you elected.
America put these people in office for all the wrong reasons and we are now paying a terrible price. We have a disaster in Iraq. The Katrina rubble remains where the storm left it. Wounded soldiers are returning to be treated with third-world medical care. Why would anyone care if a Presidential candidate memorized, read or even owned a Bible? Who gives a rat's ass where a candidate stands on gay marriage?
We will be suffering through another 20 months of this administration and hopefully, America will use the time to think about the qualities the next President will need. That person will require the positive outlook of Ronald Reagan, the honesty of Harry Truman, the experience of GHW Bush, the intelligence of Jimmy Carter and, the charisma of Bill Clinton (mostly so you can get elected). Whoever it is, let's just make sure that we don't permit two dozen farmers in Iowa and a flock of right wing religious zealots in South Carolina to make the choice. That's the road map that got us where we are today.
" This is as far as we can go: we know that [Bush advisor Karl Rove] recollects having raised it and his recollection is that he dismissed it as not a good idea", Snow told reporters. "That's what we know. We don't know motivations...I don't think it's safe to go any further than that."
Well I guess that clears that up! And we let these people lead us into a war?
As expected, Paul Gigot, Editorial Page Editor for The Wall Street Journal, sees this as much ado about nothing. That would be the same Paul Gigot who popped a hemorrhoid when the Clintons fired a few people in the White House Travel Office. What the Rove-Cheney people were contemplating in 2005 was the housecleaning of all 93 US Attorneys. Apparently they were investigating too many of "us" and not enough of "them". There was no thought of investigating their abilities or accomplishments. They serve at the pleasure of the President so off with their heads. Talk about your Nixonian enemies list!
No one is suggesting that George Bush knew anything about this. The President has "plausible deniability". Actually, the President has plausible deniability regarding just about every decision made in the White House over the last six years. It's truly sad that no one in America believes that George W. had any idea what Rove & Co. were contemplating. We assume he's clueless. Do you think that John McCain, had he been elected, would hide behind double-talking aides and cabinet ministers? Congratulations Kansas, you're getting the leadership you elected.
America put these people in office for all the wrong reasons and we are now paying a terrible price. We have a disaster in Iraq. The Katrina rubble remains where the storm left it. Wounded soldiers are returning to be treated with third-world medical care. Why would anyone care if a Presidential candidate memorized, read or even owned a Bible? Who gives a rat's ass where a candidate stands on gay marriage?
We will be suffering through another 20 months of this administration and hopefully, America will use the time to think about the qualities the next President will need. That person will require the positive outlook of Ronald Reagan, the honesty of Harry Truman, the experience of GHW Bush, the intelligence of Jimmy Carter and, the charisma of Bill Clinton (mostly so you can get elected). Whoever it is, let's just make sure that we don't permit two dozen farmers in Iowa and a flock of right wing religious zealots in South Carolina to make the choice. That's the road map that got us where we are today.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
...or should we not pick Alberto Gonzales to reach the final four?
More news you won't use:
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Attorney General Alberto "I never read a Constitutional Amendment I couldn't violate" Gonzales is standing squarely in the cross hairs of the recent controversy surrounding the firing of eight US Attorneys in 2006. The original game plan back in 2005 from the "take no prisioners" crowd at the White House, was to fire all 93 US Attorneys. The author of this scorched earth approach to law enforcement was none other than Harriet Meirs, then White House Counsel. You may remember Ms. Meirs as the legal giant that Mr. Bush nominated to sit on the highest court in the land. (Actually, George's first choice was Chatsworth "Skip" Osbourne, the President's father's caddy at Kennebunkport Country Club. Sadly Skippy was busy finishing his sophomore year of high school.)
The word out of the AG's office is that the firings were just part of a housecleaning and based on "poor performance". The lawyers in question were apparently particularly poor at listening to Republican Senators and Congressmen who called to offer advise regarding whom to prosecute and whom to cut some slack.
Anyway, fear not, America. Considering Mr. Gonzales' stellar record on civil rights and civil liberties he should have no trouble landing a job at either the Karl Rove Ministry of Fear or as the Attorney General for the Peoples Republic of China.
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Ted Haggard is still straight after six weeks. Praise the lord and pass the methamphetamine.
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Speaking of Constitutional Amendments, the Supreme Court has chosen to hear the case of Morse v. Frederik. In case you haven't been following this most recent assault on the First Amendment, the facts are as follows:
Joseph Frederik, low level delinquent at the Juneau-Douglas High School in Juneau, Alaska was determined to make a statement (for what, he has no idea). Frederik had the idea of holding up a sign that said "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" as the Olympic torch passed his high school in 2002. The school principal, Deborah Morse, horrified that the Juneau school system would be seen on TV in such a disrespectful light, confiscated young Joe's sign. Mr. Frederik sued Ms. Morse for violating his right to free speech. The school board supported Ms. Morse and the game was on.
OK, I know that Joseph Frederik is an obnoxious snot and Alaska might be the best place for him. Still, this case is what we call in America "settled law". In Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, the Court ruled 7-2 that "It can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights of freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse door." (See how much you can learn here at isitjustme).
However, Tinker was written in 1969 when the Court included William O. Douglas and Thurgood Marshall. One can only imagine what will happen when Clarence Thomas and Anton Scalia (the frik-n- frak of jurisprudence) get involved.
Naturally, the Bush Justice Department and all the school boards in America are solidly in favor of silencing any form of free speech. If they had their way, students would all wear ties and skirts (preferably not together) and sit all day with their hands folded. Teachers would rule absolutely and corporal punishment would be the order of the day. The anti-free speech forces have solicited the aid of none other than Ken Starr, the Johnnie Cochrane of the militant right.
Ken didn't have much luck chasing the Clintons but he hopes to do better this time. As always, the ACLU is in the opposing corner. Just the sight of an ACLU lawyer makes Justice Scalia run to the nearest Catholic Church and request an exorcism.
This one promises to be a real nail-bitter boys and girls, because no one knows how the newest Court members, Roberts and Alito, will swing. Should the forces of evil prevail and students are forbidden to express themselves, the fans at Duke basketball games, famous for their ribald banter, will be in jail faster than you can say, "original intent".
Item
Attorney General Alberto "I never read a Constitutional Amendment I couldn't violate" Gonzales is standing squarely in the cross hairs of the recent controversy surrounding the firing of eight US Attorneys in 2006. The original game plan back in 2005 from the "take no prisioners" crowd at the White House, was to fire all 93 US Attorneys. The author of this scorched earth approach to law enforcement was none other than Harriet Meirs, then White House Counsel. You may remember Ms. Meirs as the legal giant that Mr. Bush nominated to sit on the highest court in the land. (Actually, George's first choice was Chatsworth "Skip" Osbourne, the President's father's caddy at Kennebunkport Country Club. Sadly Skippy was busy finishing his sophomore year of high school.)
The word out of the AG's office is that the firings were just part of a housecleaning and based on "poor performance". The lawyers in question were apparently particularly poor at listening to Republican Senators and Congressmen who called to offer advise regarding whom to prosecute and whom to cut some slack.
Anyway, fear not, America. Considering Mr. Gonzales' stellar record on civil rights and civil liberties he should have no trouble landing a job at either the Karl Rove Ministry of Fear or as the Attorney General for the Peoples Republic of China.
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Ted Haggard is still straight after six weeks. Praise the lord and pass the methamphetamine.
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Speaking of Constitutional Amendments, the Supreme Court has chosen to hear the case of Morse v. Frederik. In case you haven't been following this most recent assault on the First Amendment, the facts are as follows:
Joseph Frederik, low level delinquent at the Juneau-Douglas High School in Juneau, Alaska was determined to make a statement (for what, he has no idea). Frederik had the idea of holding up a sign that said "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" as the Olympic torch passed his high school in 2002. The school principal, Deborah Morse, horrified that the Juneau school system would be seen on TV in such a disrespectful light, confiscated young Joe's sign. Mr. Frederik sued Ms. Morse for violating his right to free speech. The school board supported Ms. Morse and the game was on.
OK, I know that Joseph Frederik is an obnoxious snot and Alaska might be the best place for him. Still, this case is what we call in America "settled law". In Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, the Court ruled 7-2 that "It can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights of freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse door." (See how much you can learn here at isitjustme).
However, Tinker was written in 1969 when the Court included William O. Douglas and Thurgood Marshall. One can only imagine what will happen when Clarence Thomas and Anton Scalia (the frik-n- frak of jurisprudence) get involved.
Naturally, the Bush Justice Department and all the school boards in America are solidly in favor of silencing any form of free speech. If they had their way, students would all wear ties and skirts (preferably not together) and sit all day with their hands folded. Teachers would rule absolutely and corporal punishment would be the order of the day. The anti-free speech forces have solicited the aid of none other than Ken Starr, the Johnnie Cochrane of the militant right.
Ken didn't have much luck chasing the Clintons but he hopes to do better this time. As always, the ACLU is in the opposing corner. Just the sight of an ACLU lawyer makes Justice Scalia run to the nearest Catholic Church and request an exorcism.
This one promises to be a real nail-bitter boys and girls, because no one knows how the newest Court members, Roberts and Alito, will swing. Should the forces of evil prevail and students are forbidden to express themselves, the fans at Duke basketball games, famous for their ribald banter, will be in jail faster than you can say, "original intent".
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
or are the Bushies continuing to run plays out of the Nixon playbook?
In the Godfather Part II, Willie Cicci is testifying before the Senate Committee on Racketeering. He's asked if the Corleone Family always had buffers between the senior officers and the "button" men. Willie says, "Oh yeah a buffer. The Family had a lot of buffers". Well so, it would appear, does Dick Cheney and one of them was found guilty yesterday of lying to a grand jury.
As Martha Stewart and Bill Clinton will gladly tell you, playing it cagey with the feds can be a dicey proposition. The underlying cause may or may not matter in the long run but if you play fast and loose with the truth, you could find yourself as a "ripped from the headlines" episode of Law and Order.
The American public has long ago lost interest in this trial. At the beginning, when it looked like Cheney or Rove might make it to the stocks, everyone paid attention. Lewis "Scooter" Libby however is a small fish. Aside from a few political geeks and policy wonks, no one had even heard of the guy. Patrick Fitzgerald, the federal prosecutor, abandoned all hope of any serious press coverage when the trial got scheduled during the new season of American Idol.
There are two things that everyone knows about this case:
1) Scooter Libby is taking the rap for his former boss, Dick Cheney.
2) OK. maybe one thing.
Once again Dick Cheney escapes the clutches of the Federal government. Back in the bad old days of Vietnam, Cheney was too busy with "other priorities" to serve his country in the military. Presumably one of those priorities was not getting shot in a rice paddy some 10,000 miles from dear old Wyoming. Now, once again, someone else will stand in the spot that Cheney should occupy. Once again the Vice President has been moved to a secure location. No one in America wants to think of their vice president as a coward but the evidence is overwhelming. When confronted with the fact that he owes his election to the gay-bashing Christians who would condemn his daughter Mary as a sinner, he attacks the interviewer. This guy is a piece of work!Bring back Spiro Agnew.
The facts in the Libby case are as follows: Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowicz and Rove wanted war with Iraq and they were ready to steamroll anyone who tried to confuse the issue with facts. When Joseph Wilson returned from his fact-finding trip to Africa to report that the Hussein/uranium story was crap, the Cheney team wanted him discredited and, most of all, punished. They intentionally leaked Wilson's wife's CIA position to Robert Novak (I guess Ann Coulter was busy at the American Bigot Awards). When asked if he was involved in the leak, Libby lied to the feds. That's the story. All of the rest of the "Who knew What? When? and Who said What to Whom" is all smoke and mirrors.
You have to love my friends at the Wall Street Journal's Editorial Page. They were headed for the lynching tree when Bill Clinton lied about getting a BJ from ML at the WH but they are offended beyond words that Mr. Libby should be convicted of the exact same offense. The difference is that, when Bill lied to a grand jury, he wasn't taking one for the team. (Why does that sound suggestive?).
Now that Cheney has wriggled off the hook, no one will care if, as a parting shot in 2008, George W. pardons Scooter Libby. He's no more responsible for the crime than Dick Cheney's shotgun was during the hunting accident last year. Like OJ, we can only shake our heads and hope that there is justice down the road. Maybe Cheney will take sick and be rushed to Walter Reed for treatment. He could be ignored, maltreated and forgotten just like the real soldier he never was. Now that would be justice.
As Martha Stewart and Bill Clinton will gladly tell you, playing it cagey with the feds can be a dicey proposition. The underlying cause may or may not matter in the long run but if you play fast and loose with the truth, you could find yourself as a "ripped from the headlines" episode of Law and Order.
The American public has long ago lost interest in this trial. At the beginning, when it looked like Cheney or Rove might make it to the stocks, everyone paid attention. Lewis "Scooter" Libby however is a small fish. Aside from a few political geeks and policy wonks, no one had even heard of the guy. Patrick Fitzgerald, the federal prosecutor, abandoned all hope of any serious press coverage when the trial got scheduled during the new season of American Idol.
There are two things that everyone knows about this case:
1) Scooter Libby is taking the rap for his former boss, Dick Cheney.
2) OK. maybe one thing.
Once again Dick Cheney escapes the clutches of the Federal government. Back in the bad old days of Vietnam, Cheney was too busy with "other priorities" to serve his country in the military. Presumably one of those priorities was not getting shot in a rice paddy some 10,000 miles from dear old Wyoming. Now, once again, someone else will stand in the spot that Cheney should occupy. Once again the Vice President has been moved to a secure location. No one in America wants to think of their vice president as a coward but the evidence is overwhelming. When confronted with the fact that he owes his election to the gay-bashing Christians who would condemn his daughter Mary as a sinner, he attacks the interviewer. This guy is a piece of work!Bring back Spiro Agnew.
The facts in the Libby case are as follows: Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowicz and Rove wanted war with Iraq and they were ready to steamroll anyone who tried to confuse the issue with facts. When Joseph Wilson returned from his fact-finding trip to Africa to report that the Hussein/uranium story was crap, the Cheney team wanted him discredited and, most of all, punished. They intentionally leaked Wilson's wife's CIA position to Robert Novak (I guess Ann Coulter was busy at the American Bigot Awards). When asked if he was involved in the leak, Libby lied to the feds. That's the story. All of the rest of the "Who knew What? When? and Who said What to Whom" is all smoke and mirrors.
You have to love my friends at the Wall Street Journal's Editorial Page. They were headed for the lynching tree when Bill Clinton lied about getting a BJ from ML at the WH but they are offended beyond words that Mr. Libby should be convicted of the exact same offense. The difference is that, when Bill lied to a grand jury, he wasn't taking one for the team. (Why does that sound suggestive?).
Now that Cheney has wriggled off the hook, no one will care if, as a parting shot in 2008, George W. pardons Scooter Libby. He's no more responsible for the crime than Dick Cheney's shotgun was during the hunting accident last year. Like OJ, we can only shake our heads and hope that there is justice down the road. Maybe Cheney will take sick and be rushed to Walter Reed for treatment. He could be ignored, maltreated and forgotten just like the real soldier he never was. Now that would be justice.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
...or was the axis of evil there all along?
Let me see if I have this right.
First, the President fires Donald Rumsfeld as Secretary of State causing the Pentagon to throw the biggest kegger in history. Then Karl Rove is mysteriously removed to an undisclosed location, hopefully a nudist colony in Greenland, and is almost never heard from again. Now, Vice President Dick Cheney (secret service code name, "Dr. Evil") has taken a week vacation to the forward edge of the battle area.
And, now that the cloud of insidous gloom has been lifted, what has happened? The President uses the opportunity to send Condellezza Rice to the Middle East to organize a tea dance with Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iraq; a move that was proposed and apparently rejected by the Administration when the Iraq Study Group Report was released. Also, President Bush visits New Orleans to "listen" to the citizens of that city (those who have managed to return or who never left) and learn of their frustration. Now that the water has cleared from their lungs they are presumably easier to understand. (Granted George has only talked to, and been photographed with, people who have actually been helped; but it's a start.)
Wow! Call William Peter Blatty! There has been another exorcism near Georgetown. George W. has had his demons cast out. He has seen the light. He has been cleansed. Praise Jesus.
We hardly know what to expect next. Perhaps the President will offer Mary Cheney the use of the White House for her wedding. He might invite outed, former NBA player John Amaechi to meet the twins. Or maybe he'll block some TV time and explain to the American people that he really never read any of the intelligence leading up to 9/11 because it was boring and besides, he had a tee time.
He may even admit that the closest he ever came to reading the Bible was watching The Ten Commandments three times. He might 'fess up that he never really liked or trusted the Christian Right. In fact, Jerry Falwell kind of creeps him out. Ultimately, he could confess to hating NASCAR.
Editors note: Reverend Ted Haggard is still straight after four weeks. Praise the Lord.
We all suspected that the President was just a tool of the right wing. Clearly, wanted-poster faces like Rumsfeld and Rove were un-electable so the Republican party needed an empty suit/empty head with a recognizable name to put on the campaign posters. (Posters of Rumsfeld or Cheney were considered too scary for children.)
Once George was elected the real power elite took over. They let Bush take the bows (and the heat) while they ran the country. Rumsfeld, Cheney & Rove had no interest in domestic policy which explains why, in six years of a Republican President and a Republican Congress, no significant domestic legislation has seen the light of day.They also had no use for the kind of real experience that Colin Powell brought to the State Department. No token black man was ever treated so shamefully. What RCR wanted was war with Iraq.
I think it was a wager among them. Rove bet that he could elect a can of Green Giant lima beans if given a free hand. Rumsfeld bet that he could march an undermanned, under-equipped military into war without anyone asking why or who would pay. Cheney bet that he could steal billions using Halliburton as cover. Compared to RCR; Hussein, Ahmadinejadand & 'lil Kim are tyros.
Well, that's all mission accomplished now. The three stooges of American foreign policy have left the building and guess what? George W. Bush is starting to run America. With two years left on his term (actually 22 months & 21 days but who's counting?) the President is beginning to act like the "compassionate conservative" that middle America elected in Nov, 2000. Wouldn't it be refreshing to have this man admit to his mistakes and pledge to do better? It would take the Mayo Clinic of spin doctors to fix his legacy thus far but at least he could attempt to do no more harm.
Give it a try, George. Keep Cheney on the road (there must be a funeral somewhere he can attend). Keep the bigots in Congress busy chasing Mexicans on the border. Keep Rove on ice and try to do some good with the time you have left. Call Jimmy Carter and see if he has an extra hammer.
First, the President fires Donald Rumsfeld as Secretary of State causing the Pentagon to throw the biggest kegger in history. Then Karl Rove is mysteriously removed to an undisclosed location, hopefully a nudist colony in Greenland, and is almost never heard from again. Now, Vice President Dick Cheney (secret service code name, "Dr. Evil") has taken a week vacation to the forward edge of the battle area.
And, now that the cloud of insidous gloom has been lifted, what has happened? The President uses the opportunity to send Condellezza Rice to the Middle East to organize a tea dance with Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iraq; a move that was proposed and apparently rejected by the Administration when the Iraq Study Group Report was released. Also, President Bush visits New Orleans to "listen" to the citizens of that city (those who have managed to return or who never left) and learn of their frustration. Now that the water has cleared from their lungs they are presumably easier to understand. (Granted George has only talked to, and been photographed with, people who have actually been helped; but it's a start.)
Wow! Call William Peter Blatty! There has been another exorcism near Georgetown. George W. has had his demons cast out. He has seen the light. He has been cleansed. Praise Jesus.
We hardly know what to expect next. Perhaps the President will offer Mary Cheney the use of the White House for her wedding. He might invite outed, former NBA player John Amaechi to meet the twins. Or maybe he'll block some TV time and explain to the American people that he really never read any of the intelligence leading up to 9/11 because it was boring and besides, he had a tee time.
He may even admit that the closest he ever came to reading the Bible was watching The Ten Commandments three times. He might 'fess up that he never really liked or trusted the Christian Right. In fact, Jerry Falwell kind of creeps him out. Ultimately, he could confess to hating NASCAR.
Editors note: Reverend Ted Haggard is still straight after four weeks. Praise the Lord.
We all suspected that the President was just a tool of the right wing. Clearly, wanted-poster faces like Rumsfeld and Rove were un-electable so the Republican party needed an empty suit/empty head with a recognizable name to put on the campaign posters. (Posters of Rumsfeld or Cheney were considered too scary for children.)
Once George was elected the real power elite took over. They let Bush take the bows (and the heat) while they ran the country. Rumsfeld, Cheney & Rove had no interest in domestic policy which explains why, in six years of a Republican President and a Republican Congress, no significant domestic legislation has seen the light of day.They also had no use for the kind of real experience that Colin Powell brought to the State Department. No token black man was ever treated so shamefully. What RCR wanted was war with Iraq.
I think it was a wager among them. Rove bet that he could elect a can of Green Giant lima beans if given a free hand. Rumsfeld bet that he could march an undermanned, under-equipped military into war without anyone asking why or who would pay. Cheney bet that he could steal billions using Halliburton as cover. Compared to RCR; Hussein, Ahmadinejadand & 'lil Kim are tyros.
Well, that's all mission accomplished now. The three stooges of American foreign policy have left the building and guess what? George W. Bush is starting to run America. With two years left on his term (actually 22 months & 21 days but who's counting?) the President is beginning to act like the "compassionate conservative" that middle America elected in Nov, 2000. Wouldn't it be refreshing to have this man admit to his mistakes and pledge to do better? It would take the Mayo Clinic of spin doctors to fix his legacy thus far but at least he could attempt to do no more harm.
Give it a try, George. Keep Cheney on the road (there must be a funeral somewhere he can attend). Keep the bigots in Congress busy chasing Mexicans on the border. Keep Rove on ice and try to do some good with the time you have left. Call Jimmy Carter and see if he has an extra hammer.
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