Big Brother or Uncle Sam: Look Alikes

The face of George Orwell's Big Brother and that of the bearded Uncle Sam are morphing into each other at an accelerated rate. Soon, we can take the composite of both as the new face of America, and plaster it on high technology high definition digital Ad Displays from Times Square to the Golden Gate with the caption, "Uncle Sam is Watching You".

A.G. Gonzalez Resigns

Just months ago, defiance by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and President Bush, in the face of critic's calls for the A.G.'s resignation, was frustrating for them. The frustration ends today.

Bush: 58,196 U.S. Dead in Viet Nam Not Enough

President Bush displayed enormous ignorance and simple minded thinking before thousands of Veterans in his speech in Kansas City, today. He said: "the legacy of Viet Nam was that our withdrawal cost large human suffering in Viet Nam and Cambodia after our departure." Meaning, had he then been president, the U.S. death toll would have grown far larger, since he would not have withdrawn. But, there's much more.

Big Brother or Uncle Sam: Look Alikes

The face of George Orwell's Big Brother and that of the bearded Uncle Sam are morphing into each other at an accelerated rate. Soon, we can take the composite of both as the new face of America, and plaster it on high technology high definition digital Ad Displays from Times Square to the Golden Gate with the caption, "Uncle Sam is Watching You".

The Incredibly 2 Faced Cheney

This YouTube video of Dick Cheney on invading Iraq in 1994 is absolutely unbelievable considering his diametrically opposite lies and deceptions after becoming Vice President. His defenders say his 1994 views on how invading Iraq would be the greatest of mistakes and lead us to a quagmire with no exit, was altered by 9/11. But, that is both false and illogical. Iraq had NOTHING to do with 9/11.

America's Authoritarian Government

In a dictatorship, no one else in government has power to halt the authoritarian who authors and enforces his own laws. George W. Bush is acting the role, and getting away with it, because our judicial system is incapable of responding with speed or efficiency to the Constitutional crises being raised by the President's incredible expansion of the power of the executive branch.

Bush To Deny Troops Funding

The President said today he would veto a bill providing for his request for funding continuing Iraq and Afghanistan operations. The Congress is about to give the President all he asked for and more, including a deadline for scaling back troop deployments and redefining the mission to one of support, as opposed to occupation. This poker hand between the Congress and the President is becoming a high stakes political game.

While Democrats may not know it, they are sitting on a winning bluff with the White House. However, as all poker players know, it requires skill, knowledge, and some intestinal fortitude to win on a bluff. Here is the deal.

Iraq Misses First Benchmark - Bush Hits His

Secretary of Defense Gates said in a briefing today that the first benchmark is to see if Iraqi forces show up on time and in the numbers they were supposed to. Gen. Pace then said two brigades showed up for duty in Baghdad this last week, but only about 60%, (actually 55% according to reports), of the soldiers in each brigade showed up. The first benchmark has not been met.

Then Sec'y. of Defense Gates flat out lied to the American people; likely his first since taking his new role. When asked about our making war on Iran, he said we are not planning...er, well, er, we are not planning for war with Iran. That of course, is a complete and total lie.

State of the Union - Bankrupt the Nation!

The President, once again, displayed a horrible lack of knowledge and inability to lead the country in the right direction in his State of the Union Speech this evening. He recited a long list of new foreign and domestic spending programs without once uttering a word as to how they would be paid for. Glaringly, the President proposed, no new taxes, spend, spend, spend, and almost in the same breath, let's balance the budget after he leaves office.

Since, the President said up front there should be no tax increases, we can set that aside as a given. Also, we can set aside as a given his proposal to balance the budget in 5 years. Now for the rest of the speech full of new and more spending.

Bush Speech: Constitutional Crisis !

There was nothing new in President Bush's speech. Nothing! He is still contradicting his previous self. He still refuses to represent the American people, 7 out of 10 of whom, want our part in this Civil War to end. He is still replacing experience which disagrees with him, with new Generals who won't, for awhile. He is still committed to staying in Iraq until he leaves office. He is still willing to spend soldier's lives for his legacy. The only thing new is the constitutional crisis.

About two years ago Pres. Bush said increasing troops would make the Iraqis more dependent on Americans. A direct contradiction to his speech last night in which he calls for an escalation of our troops involvement while saying it will help the Iraqis get independent control.

Is This A New Political Dawn?

Turned on the news this morning and I thought for a moment I was in the wrong decade. Republicans and Democrats, shoulder to shoulder, standing toe to toe against President Bush? Did I awake in a parallel universe by mistake?

Senators Feinstein (D), Hatch (R), Harkin (D), and Spectre (R), all at the same lectern on C-Span calling for the President to put away his veto pen on stem cell research? Had to be a dream. No, checked my TIVO, and sure enough, there it is again. No mistake. Unbelievable.

Rumsfeld: Farewell to a Misapplied Ideology

In parting remarks, exiting Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld warned of weakness being provocative. What he was saying is that perception of weakness invites war. Regretfully, that ideology was grossly misapplied in this new age of terrorist enemies.

Rumsfeld's argument is that it is not enough to sit atop the world's largest nuclear arsenal or the most advanced military capacity the world has ever witnessed. His argument implies one must use it to prove one is not weak. But, I would argue that Rumsfeld is wrong. As a Lt. Cmdr. in the movie Crimson Tide says, "You don't put on a condom if you aren't going to screw". In other words, contrary to Rumsfeld's argument, having invested in the largest, most capable military on the face of the earth, is in fact, sufficient evidence to all reasonable persons, that one is willing to use it if attacked.

No End to Wasted Tax Dollars

"This strongly suggests that we're buying the wrong stuff, the wrong way, possibly from the wrong contractors, and failing to check before, during or after," said Charles Tiefer, an expert on government contracting who teaches at the University of Baltimore School of Law.

This quote is from a Washington Post article yesterday, covering Dept. of Homeland Defense contracting procedures which leave contracts unenforceable due to their not even being able to find the contracts for which billions of our tax dollars were doled out. 33 of 72 contracts selected for review could not be found.

Put On a Happy Face

Bush's government is trying to put a happier face on the report that 35 million Americans had trouble putting food on the table this last year. In all previous years, this was referred to as the Hunger Report. This year, the White House's creative agents decided to put a happier face on this report calling it instead, "the very low food security" report.

Border Fence: Yes!

The Bush administration got this one right! President Bush, in signing the bill authorizing 700 miles of border fence along our border with Mexico, took the first step toward fulfilling a responsibility our government has failed for decades. I congratulate President Bush. He wanted much more than just the fence, but, he took what he could get, and what America needs.

Bush Admin. and Reality, Don't Mix

The latest White House spokesman, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, revealed the essential nature of current foreign and domestic security policy yesterday in a speech before the American Legion's national convention, yesterday. His central theme was terrorists, and his strategy was to invoke fear. Secretary Rumsfeld likened our war against terrorists and in Iraq to that of WWII, alluding to the prospect of Islamic Fascism seeking to take over the world and subjecting freedom loving people's everywhere to their fascist regimes. This was quite illuminating for its glaring falsehood and overreaching.

One huge glaring error was comparing Islamic terrorists today to the fascist regimes of Germany and Italy and to Imperial Japan of the 1930's. These were nation states which sought to overpower the militaries and the people of other nation states and incorporate them, subjugating their people's to their expanded nation state's regime. Terrorists today are nation less, and lack military power and might to annex other nations and subjugate their peoples. So, why do Rumsfeld, Cheney, and Rice, all of whom have made similar arguments this week, create this false image for public consumption? There are at least two reasons, military expansion, and fear of the American population.

Stem Cells - Right Veto, Wrong Reason

In five and one half years as President, GW Bush, could not find his veto pen to curb record deficits and national debt, an issue, which an overwhelming majority of Americans want addressed. In similar fashion, Pres. Bush is disappointing the majority of Americans again on federal funding of stem cell research, by vowing to make it his first veto as President. The President's action is right, the wrong reasons.

Bush: Will of the People is Meaningless

In the clearest statement yet by the White House that the will of the people is meaningless when it comes to his policies, Tony Snow, the White House spokesperson, said yesterday: "President Bush understands there is growing U.S. concern over his handling of the Iraq war but will not rely on polls to determine when to withdraw troops". Given the House resolution last week to avoid even providing a time frame for withdrawal, it is clear that for the time being the White House and Republican Party are not even considering withdrawal from Iraq at all.

Palestinians to Join American Welfare Rolls

Reuter's reports:"It serves key U.S. national interests to continue providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people but Washington will not give any financial help to a Hamas-led government, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday."

This is a classic Bush administration idiocy move. He is going to put the Palestinians on the American welfare system in order to spite the democratically elected government, which these new welfare recipients voted in. Any tax payers out there have an objection to our government taking care of Palestinians instead of the Hamas government taking care of them? I raise my hand!!! Bush wins yet another idiocy award. I mean, what part of the 900 Billion Dollar deficit for 2006 does he not understand?

Repackaging the President Won't Work

Tonight's TV airs a day with the President as shown through interviews with Nightly News anchor and managing editor Brian Williams. Apparently, in response to criticisms of the President living in a bubble and being out of touch with the people and the world, an unprecedented sequence of videotaped interviews were granted throughout Monday by the President to Brian Williams. Unfortunately, for this viewer, it backfired, as the President in his own words admitted he is not in charge, has no policy for Iraq, and does indeed receive his information about the world 2nd and 3rd hand via his handlers leaving him out of touch and living in a bubble.

Bush's Katrina Speech

Bush showed up ready for work. Blue collar, unbuttoned, and sleeves rolled up. The symbolism of a blue collar worker showing up ready for work, was unmistakable. But, like a blue collar worker who shows up for work a week late, he should be fired. While the President focuses on remedying his poll numbers and Katrina's devastation, it was obvious the far greater threat to America, total debt, is not even on his radar scope.

Bush Playing Blame Game

President Bush said this morning, that he will lead the investigation, when it is time to do so, to find out what went right, and what went wrong with government's preparations and response to Katrina. He said we must know what went wrong so we can be ready if another catastrophe, WMD or natural occurs.

There are a number of problems with the Presidents thinking revealed by his statements this morning. The president is making a huge mistake assuming that there is time to put off the investigation before the next catastrophe occurs. With the CIA saying, al-Queda are in the U.S., the President must demonstrate the ability and willingness to do more than one thing at a time.

More Bush Non-Sense

The President is hitting the airwaves with the most stupid and illogical statements yet. Let's examine a few.

1) President Bush said on Wednesday terrorists had converged on Iraq. Duh! Is this news? Did this just happen? Is anyone briefing the President on the fact that terrorists have been coming into Iraq since we declared Victory there? Now, Mr. President, have all the terrorists converged on Iraq? Is it a convention? Apparently not, since London has some terrorists who decided not to show up in Iraq. Turkey has a few who decided not to attend. Egypt has quite a few who aren't converging. Malaysian terrorists apparently declined the invitation. Austrailia is on to a few who chose not to come. And our own government says there are cells here in the USA who apparently have not been drawn like moths to flame to the convergence on Iraq.

Bush's Cheap Talk of Freedom!

By giving to government officials our comings and goings and submitting to body and baggage checks, and failing to halt Congress on extending the Patriot Act for another decade, we are submitting to the 'cowering leadership' of this country which has a desperate craving for ever more information about us and foreigners alike. And their cravings will continue to grow with their fear. The American public is offering up its freedom and liberties in precisely the same manner the German people offered up theirs to Hitler and his henchman, in the name of patriotism and security.

Pres. Bush said on July 11:

As Prime Minister Blair said after the attacks in London, 'Our determination to defend our values and our way of life is greater than their determination to cause death and destruction to innocent people.' The attack in London was an attack on the civilized world. And the civilized world is united in its resolve: We will not yield. We will defend our freedom."

Commentary on Important Political News

There's been such a large number of important and disturbing news stories this last week, I couldn't decide which to choose from. But, they need discussion and to be noticed on the political radar screen. So, here is a list of what appears to be the major bogey's coming in to view.

Dick Cheney and Condoleeza Rice win the incredible award for stories this week, as a new poll shows: While Cheney said in an interview in late May that it's "in its last throes," only a quarter of Americans agree. And while Rice said success in Iraq "will be a death knell for terrorism as we know it," again only about a quarter of the public believes that defeating the insurgents in Iraq would do a great deal to defeat terrorism more generally, beyond Iraq's borders. Perhaps Americans aren't as gullible as I and many others here have given them discredit for. It is just too bad the American people lost their faith in the Administration after the November elections. I won't call Americans gullible anymore, just slow!

Does Bush Need Glasses or a Brain Transplant?

President Bush this last week states Social Security Privatization must come to pass. He also said he sees progress in the war on terrorism. And for all his criticism of activist judges, he pledges to Congress to consult with them on judicial nominees but litmus tests will remain in his selections. So, is he going blind or is it brain atrophy in need of a transplant?

Social Security:
Practically speaking, Pres. Bush has all but guaranteed by his refusal to take privatization of Social Security off the table, that Soc. Sec. reform will not happen on his watch. When all is said and done, that will likely be a good thing. As long as privatization remains on the table, Congress will lack sufficient votes to pass reform prior to next years Congressional elections.

The UN and the Bolton Nomination

As I see it we have 3 choices regarding reforming the UN.

Choice 1 - tell them to change or we will withdraw support. That is a false choice since that will leave a UN in greater hands of those who would oppose our interests. Also sets a dangerous precedent for our allies. The last thing the US and freedom loving people need is a United Nations Against The US (UNATUS), despite the fact that it 3/5 of the way already exists.

Choice 2 - Go in demanding changes and backing those demands up with threat. In the end, this choice has the same outcome as choice 1 above.

Choice 3 - Send a representative to the UN who will demonstrate to the world that the US will lead by example, doing what we ask others to do, and promising only what we can back up with integrity and actions. Also send a representative who is as much like PT Barnum as we can find.

Should Bush/Congress Harm Americans to Save Face?

Quality of life and even life itself depends directly in America upon money. President Bush's tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans are going to cost other Americans dearly in terms of quality of life and even life itself. Whenever an administration puts foreign affairs ahead of domestic priorities, it will increase tax payer dollar spending in foreign lands and decrease the services and benefits to the tax payers here at home. This is in fact an accurate depiction of the President's 2006 Budget which again will set a new record deficit.

According to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing this morning, the President's budget seeks to cut Veteran's benefits in some ways to include a two year limit on eligibility for health care and reducing VA health workers by 3700 even as patient load is expected to increase. Long term care Veterans will be booted from the system by the President's Budget as the per diem funding to states is reduced at the same time most states are scrambling desperately to keep their budgets from sinking. Should the wealthy keep their tax cuts while Veteran's go without?

Bush's GOP: Save The World, Screw Americans

(Reuters) - The White House estimated on Tuesday that the U.S. budget deficit for 2005, including an extra $80 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan operations, will total $427 billion.

"In the 2006 budget that we release on Feb. 7, OMB will estimate that the 2005 deficit, including the outlay effects from the supplemental we are discussing today, will be 3.5 percent of GDP or in nominal terms $427 billion," said a senior administration official in a news briefing.

In The Name Of Good: Evil May Come

The President's Inaugural Speech was not specific on foreign policy plans. It was full of promise for liberating oppressed peoples in the world using the words freedom and liberty numerous times to describe America's foreign policy goals. The Constitution of the U.S. does not contain any such mandates to liberate peoples of other nations.

The Constitution does not outline war as a virtue in the name of freeing people from their governments. The Constitution of the U.S. does outline the duties and responsibilities of our government to protect and defend our nation and to engage in international trade and trade regulation. So, where does the President get his mandate for liberating the world's peoples and mirroring their governments, cultures, and societies to reflect our own?

Disturbing Political News 2

The amount of disturbing news this last week has been a bit overwhelming. Water, Inaugural, Money, and Reform were all key stories that deserve more scrutiny and should be raising alarms. Water - President Clinton is seeking $45 million to provide clean, safe drinking water to Tsunami victims in the Indian Ocean region. That should is good news. But, this week also saw our government pooh pooh reports of airline diesel fuel in American drinking water nationwide.

Here is a quote from the Washington Post article:

Perchlorate has been found in at least 35 states, and more than 11 million people have significant levels in their drinking water. The Food and Drug Administration also recently found the substance in milk and lettuce.
At high doses, perchlorate can interfere with the thyroid gland, which helps regulate many bodily functions. Animal studies have suggested it could cause thyroid tumors. In children, the thyroid plays a major role in development, raising fears that exposure to perchlorate by pregnant women and young children could cause brain damage.

Russia proving error of voting for Bush

The U.S. opened a Pandora's Box when it developed and used nuclear weapons in WWII and then utterly failed in its nuclear non-proliferation efforts. President Bush is bankrupting America with a "star wars" defense system which has seen billions wasted on basic tests of the system which failed. Now, Russia has made the "star wars" defense system obsolete before we can even get a defensive missile to even marginally work the way it is supposed to.

The "star wars" (National Missile Defense NMD) system has been criticized as a horrible investment of tax dollars by scientists and experts since its introduction in the Reagan years. Now, will Bush finally give it up and stop this hemorrhage of wasteful tax spending?

Bush Selling S.S. Same as Iraq War

If you felt the premises for, and the trumped up fears to support, Bush's invasion of Iraq were regrettable, be advised the very same huckster salesmanship is being applied to privatizing Social Security. Yesterday, President Bush completed his two day staged, no contest, no debate, summit for American economic policy. Using the exact same tactics to sell the invasion of Iraq to the American people, he made his pitch for privatizing Social Security. The tactics were clear and simple. Start with false premises and statements, add a huge layer of fear, and then push the sale for the transfer of tax dollars into the deep pockets of his corporate buddies who supported his election.

Let me say up front, this is not a simple issue, nor one that can be understood in a few sentences. I hope you will trust me when I say that you will have a much clearer picture of what is taking place with the Social Security issue by following this article to its end.

President Bush Is Planting Another Lie

Reuters reports the following in an article entitled, Bush Says No Payroll Tax Hike for Social Security:

President Bush ruled out raising payroll taxes to help pay for Social Security reform on Thursday, leaving him few options other than a sharp increase in government borrowing to bankroll transition costs estimated at up to $2 trillion.

"We will not raise payroll taxes to solve this problem," said Bush, rejecting a solution advocated by some experts and Republican lawmakers.

The grand lie is very easy to detect. If the reform adds up to $2 trillion dollars to the national debt, the taxpayers will see an increase in their payroll taxes, just not this year. The current national debt is over 7.5 trillion dollars. This reform will bump that number to 9 or 9.5 trillion. If the President and his GOP led Congress hold to his promise of cutting the deficit in half over the next 5 years, the deficits each of those years will still amount to at least an additional 2 trillion dollars added to the national debt. That puts our national debt at 11 to 11.5 trillion dollars. A trillion dollars is 1,000 billion dollars, so we are talking 11 to 11.5 thousand billions of dollars of national debt.

Bribing Good Behavior

Child psychologists warn against it. Psychiatrists warn against it. President Bush criticized Clinton for it with N. Korea. So, why has bribing good behavior become the Bush administration's central foreign policy theme?

The President said this week he will send more aid to Colombia as a reward and assistance for its anti-drug efforts. The Administration has funneled billions of dollars into dictator Musharraf's regime in Pakistan for its assistance. Could Afghani's be far from the American handout? Soldiers on the ground in Iraq hand out 100's of thousands of dollars a month for good or helpful behavior. The U.S. has offered to reinstate monetary incentives to N. Korea in return for their backing off nuclear weapon development and proliferation.