I'm having Podcast issues. I don't have my own server, and the site I'm trying to use can't seem to handle my entire show. Hopefully this'll be irnoed out by the time I put tomorrow's show online.
Meanwhile, the last show is now going to be right on your left.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Friday, February 24, 2006
John Perkins
I've been mentioning John Perkins' book Confessions of an Economic Hitman for almost 3 weeks now.
Pick it up.
John will be speaking in Jesey City this Monday at St. Peters College. If you know anyone interested in this kind of thing please forward this to them.
Monday February 27 Saint Peter's College, Jersey City
11 am
McIntyre Hall 2641 Kennedy Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07306
Open to the public
for more information: 201-915-4951 shudik@spc.edu
Pick it up.
John will be speaking in Jesey City this Monday at St. Peters College. If you know anyone interested in this kind of thing please forward this to them.
Monday February 27 Saint Peter's College, Jersey City
11 am
McIntyre Hall 2641 Kennedy Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07306
Open to the public
for more information: 201-915-4951 shudik@spc.edu
Seriously...
SERIOUSLY! WHO MADE THIS DEAL??? DOES ANYONE KNOW? It's like, we're all racists, but no one will take responsibility for it.
This is the administration that became so good at "taking responsibility" and now no one will? Why is that?
This is the administration that became so good at "taking responsibility" and now no one will? Why is that?
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff was not aware a Dubai-owned company was seeking to operate terminals in six U.S. ports and that his agency was leading the review until after the deal's approval, an administration official said yesterday.
Mr. Chertoff's spokesman, Russ Knocke, told The Washington Times the issue rose no higher than the department's assistant secretary for policy, Stewart Baker.
"[Chertoff] was not briefed up to this until after this story started appearing in the newspapers," Mr. Knocke said.
Mr. Chertoff is the third Cabinet official to acknowledge he did not know his agency had signed off on the plan as a member of the interagency Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States (CFIUS). Both Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Treasury Secretary John W. Snow have publicly said they were unaware of the deal. What don't we know about this deal?
RACISTS!
Last night my friend asked me about two issues: Cheney and Dubai Ports.
On the Cheney thing he was saying how "liberal" the media is because it was front page news on Time & Newsweek. I haven't seen either so I can't say that it's true. I'm sure it is.
As I've explained, and everyone else has as well, it's a story because a) the Vice President shot someone b) maybe tried to cover it up c) finally got caught doing something he can't deny d) was probably drinking.
I mean, THE VICE PRESIDENT SHOT A MAN while admitting to having had beer. It's a story. Sorry, shoot me.
If the White House had handled it better it would have been less of one. But because the media has done such a crappy job of taking on Dick Cheney the last 5+ years, this became their moment to say "We got you. How you going to get out of this." It's actually a weird way to point out just how bad the media has been in taking this guy on, rather than him getting caught doing anything that bad. Look, the story's already dead.
Okay, then there's the Dubai Ports issue, which my friend actually claimed, "It's somewhat racist for people to say they can't own these ports..." Seriously, I almost fell out of the chair I wasn't sitting in.
RACISTS!
Listen, I know the White House Messengers have sway over idiots, as does Rush Limbaugh, but this guy is no idiot. Yet here he was puppetting that line. Stunned I tell ya.
RACISTS!
We all know who the racist party is. It's not a secret. RACISTS!
Who in the White House came up with this and figured it was going to work? "Hey, lets just say it's racist"
"Nice call, Kent. There it is, boys. We're going with 'racists'."
They know it's going to work because if the smart ones are willing to be the puppets, the dumb ones certainly are too. They'll do, or say, ANYTHING.
The moment Democrats call the racists racist it's a MONSTER issue. "How dare you!" If Al Gore called George W. Bush a racist, can you imagine the response?
"It's a bit racist, I tell ya," says the Idiot.
It's not racist. In fact, considering Republicans are all for racial profiling it's pretty absurd they'd pretend this was racist in some way. It's not racist, but rather, it's not MORONIC. That's all it is, or isn't. No one thinks that a rushed through deal to give an Arab nation with ties to radical Islamists is a great plan. If that's racist, well, call me a fucking nigger.
I find it incredible that smart people, in an effort just to stay on the winning side of an issue, would really roll with such a stupid White House angle. Seriously, anything to win? All of them? I guess so. Racists, that's what you're going with? Seriously?
This deal has nothing to do with the people in the Middle East at all. It has everything to do with a select few people in the United Arab Emirates, who like all rich people in the region, control everything, and offer nothing to their peoples. The United States is actually helping stratify Arab society, and that's why many every day Arabs hate us. They see where the money flows. They see how they're treated. They see who builds the ports, factories, refineries, roads, and everything else in between. They know whose "white" face is behind it all. It's most likely the face of some conservative RACIST, who doesn't give one shit about a "towel head" trying to eek out a living.
It's racist to not care about all the third world people these scumbags exploit.
I'm not sure where the Bushes and others of the world are exploited white people. Wait, my bad. I can think of one place. It's called HERE.
On the Cheney thing he was saying how "liberal" the media is because it was front page news on Time & Newsweek. I haven't seen either so I can't say that it's true. I'm sure it is.
As I've explained, and everyone else has as well, it's a story because a) the Vice President shot someone b) maybe tried to cover it up c) finally got caught doing something he can't deny d) was probably drinking.
I mean, THE VICE PRESIDENT SHOT A MAN while admitting to having had beer. It's a story. Sorry, shoot me.
If the White House had handled it better it would have been less of one. But because the media has done such a crappy job of taking on Dick Cheney the last 5+ years, this became their moment to say "We got you. How you going to get out of this." It's actually a weird way to point out just how bad the media has been in taking this guy on, rather than him getting caught doing anything that bad. Look, the story's already dead.
Okay, then there's the Dubai Ports issue, which my friend actually claimed, "It's somewhat racist for people to say they can't own these ports..." Seriously, I almost fell out of the chair I wasn't sitting in.
RACISTS!
Listen, I know the White House Messengers have sway over idiots, as does Rush Limbaugh, but this guy is no idiot. Yet here he was puppetting that line. Stunned I tell ya.
RACISTS!
We all know who the racist party is. It's not a secret. RACISTS!
Who in the White House came up with this and figured it was going to work? "Hey, lets just say it's racist"
"Nice call, Kent. There it is, boys. We're going with 'racists'."
They know it's going to work because if the smart ones are willing to be the puppets, the dumb ones certainly are too. They'll do, or say, ANYTHING.
The moment Democrats call the racists racist it's a MONSTER issue. "How dare you!" If Al Gore called George W. Bush a racist, can you imagine the response?
"It's a bit racist, I tell ya," says the Idiot.
It's not racist. In fact, considering Republicans are all for racial profiling it's pretty absurd they'd pretend this was racist in some way. It's not racist, but rather, it's not MORONIC. That's all it is, or isn't. No one thinks that a rushed through deal to give an Arab nation with ties to radical Islamists is a great plan. If that's racist, well, call me a fucking nigger.
I find it incredible that smart people, in an effort just to stay on the winning side of an issue, would really roll with such a stupid White House angle. Seriously, anything to win? All of them? I guess so. Racists, that's what you're going with? Seriously?
This deal has nothing to do with the people in the Middle East at all. It has everything to do with a select few people in the United Arab Emirates, who like all rich people in the region, control everything, and offer nothing to their peoples. The United States is actually helping stratify Arab society, and that's why many every day Arabs hate us. They see where the money flows. They see how they're treated. They see who builds the ports, factories, refineries, roads, and everything else in between. They know whose "white" face is behind it all. It's most likely the face of some conservative RACIST, who doesn't give one shit about a "towel head" trying to eek out a living.
It's racist to not care about all the third world people these scumbags exploit.
I'm not sure where the Bushes and others of the world are exploited white people. Wait, my bad. I can think of one place. It's called HERE.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Then Again
There are people who know a lot more than I do about this whole thing:
So there you have it. A year after Bin Ladin served formal notice of his intention to kill Americans anyhow, anywhere, the CIA appropriately tracked his whereabouts and was prepared to take him out, but was denied the opportunity because of the presence of high-level UAE officials who were socializing with the head of Al Qaeda. Worse, when the United States alerted the UAE of their displeasure with these contacts, the UAE's response was to tip off Bin Ladin and further thwart our efforts to kill him.Someone get me a time machine so I can just go 15 years forward. I'm tired of this already.
What I Know and Don't Know
I don't know jack about port security, the shipping business, who runs what, where, and how. Things are going to transpire in business that will not have an effect on my security one way, or another. Well, at least not in a direct sense. I can make an argument that our corporate business dealings in the Middle East did directly lead to 9/11. It's hard to argue against that.
With regard to the Dubai port deal isn't so much the security of the port, or who runs them. I highly doubt that the turning over of US ports to a Dubai based company is going to come back to haunt us.
If various intelligence agencies cannot monitor our own ports, especially when they're controlled by Arab countries (and don't kid yourself, the countries control the businesses), then we have problems well beyond who runs/owns them.
Putting aside the issue that our government is bought and sold by families like the Bushes, and how these cabinet members and Cheneys step in and out of the private/public sectors, only to set themselves up in the long run, I focus on my main problem: This President has no fucking clue. I don't mean that in the sense that he's a dumb person (he is). I mean it in the sense that he's just not involved much. But should we be surprised? Not at all.
When he was elected we we're supposed to have faith that he'd "delegate" and "choose the right people." Who are these people? Who does he delegate what to? Do they have a free hand to do what they please? How can you tell me he delegating someone to do something if he has no idea what it is that person is doing? These people are closing deals on behalf of the US Government and citizens, but our President has no idea. WHAT IS THAT? Would any other President in history get away with the such stupidity? Would any other Administration ever admit to such negligence? NO CHANCE.
The fact they admitted Bush had no knowledge of the deal, and then acted like, "it's all good...it's been reviewed" is such a joke. Truth is he's probably not involved in most things. He goes around the world, shakes hands, and puppets that same speech in different states and nations. Day to day business? Not his thing, really. He delegates.
It really becomes more embarassing every day. And to think, the man who "doesn't read the news" and most likely books, or the bible, is going to have a fucking library with his name on in.
I think it's time to change the currency of this country in a meaningful way. Considering these people are only about furthering corporate interests, and in the process, their own, it's only fitting there be a piece of currency with this idiot on it. So I hereby announce the George W. Bush penny.
The penny is so fitting for Bush. First off, no one likes pennies. Second, no one picks them up off the ground; they collect dirt. Third, it would serve as reminder of just how dumb we are every time we see his face. A reminder to never make the same mistake again. A pocket full of pennies will take on a new level of annoyance. Finally, the penny is worthless. Need I say more?
With regard to the Dubai port deal isn't so much the security of the port, or who runs them. I highly doubt that the turning over of US ports to a Dubai based company is going to come back to haunt us.
If various intelligence agencies cannot monitor our own ports, especially when they're controlled by Arab countries (and don't kid yourself, the countries control the businesses), then we have problems well beyond who runs/owns them.
Putting aside the issue that our government is bought and sold by families like the Bushes, and how these cabinet members and Cheneys step in and out of the private/public sectors, only to set themselves up in the long run, I focus on my main problem: This President has no fucking clue. I don't mean that in the sense that he's a dumb person (he is). I mean it in the sense that he's just not involved much. But should we be surprised? Not at all.
When he was elected we we're supposed to have faith that he'd "delegate" and "choose the right people." Who are these people? Who does he delegate what to? Do they have a free hand to do what they please? How can you tell me he delegating someone to do something if he has no idea what it is that person is doing? These people are closing deals on behalf of the US Government and citizens, but our President has no idea. WHAT IS THAT? Would any other President in history get away with the such stupidity? Would any other Administration ever admit to such negligence? NO CHANCE.
The fact they admitted Bush had no knowledge of the deal, and then acted like, "it's all good...it's been reviewed" is such a joke. Truth is he's probably not involved in most things. He goes around the world, shakes hands, and puppets that same speech in different states and nations. Day to day business? Not his thing, really. He delegates.
It really becomes more embarassing every day. And to think, the man who "doesn't read the news" and most likely books, or the bible, is going to have a fucking library with his name on in.
I think it's time to change the currency of this country in a meaningful way. Considering these people are only about furthering corporate interests, and in the process, their own, it's only fitting there be a piece of currency with this idiot on it. So I hereby announce the George W. Bush penny.
The penny is so fitting for Bush. First off, no one likes pennies. Second, no one picks them up off the ground; they collect dirt. Third, it would serve as reminder of just how dumb we are every time we see his face. A reminder to never make the same mistake again. A pocket full of pennies will take on a new level of annoyance. Finally, the penny is worthless. Need I say more?
PLEEEEEASE!
If it takes kicking all professional teams out of New Jersey, I'm all for it. I'll goto the same amount of Nets & Devils games a year as I do now, which is zero:
You can gamble on sporting events in Vegas. However, you cannot bet on teams located in Nevada, and cannot bet the field in the NCAA Tournament if either UNLV or Nevada remain alive. Regardless, betting on sports is a HUGE reason people goto Vegas. Sure, there are other factors like the strip clubs, drugs, and restaurants, but sports is such a big factor. You can get drugs anywhere, laws on strip clubs could change (but won't), and restaurants will come if people do.
Why New Jersey allows Indian Reservations, and online outlets to cut into their profits is so beyond me.
Get this done. Give me a place to watch the NCAA Tournament and bet on it, the UFC and bet on it, the Superbowl and bet on it.
TRENTON, N.J. A New Jersey state Assembly panel today is expected to reconsider whether to allow professional sports wagering in Atlantic City's casinos.I spend a good amount of time in Vegas, and people are there for two reasons: a convention, or a sporting event.
The move comes after New Jersey law enforcement officials busted a nationwide gambling ring.
Officials say the ring was run by a state trooper and an assistant coach of the N-H-L's Phoenix Coyotes.
Currently, Nevada is the only state in the country that allows betting on sporting events.
You can gamble on sporting events in Vegas. However, you cannot bet on teams located in Nevada, and cannot bet the field in the NCAA Tournament if either UNLV or Nevada remain alive. Regardless, betting on sports is a HUGE reason people goto Vegas. Sure, there are other factors like the strip clubs, drugs, and restaurants, but sports is such a big factor. You can get drugs anywhere, laws on strip clubs could change (but won't), and restaurants will come if people do.
Why New Jersey allows Indian Reservations, and online outlets to cut into their profits is so beyond me.
Get this done. Give me a place to watch the NCAA Tournament and bet on it, the UFC and bet on it, the Superbowl and bet on it.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Sorta Funny
I just realized the White House and Co. has no response for the ports issue.
See, they can't say that so and so is "soft on terrorism," therefore they HAVE NO RESPONSE!
They're going with, "rest assured, it's been reviewed..."
I feel so much better now. Maybe I'll take a stroll down by the Arab owned docks.
See, they can't say that so and so is "soft on terrorism," therefore they HAVE NO RESPONSE!
They're going with, "rest assured, it's been reviewed..."
I feel so much better now. Maybe I'll take a stroll down by the Arab owned docks.
B & S
Here's a track from the latest B & S.
Sure this isn't the most legal thing to do, but I'll let them stop me from promoting their album if we have to cross that bridge.
Maybe they're back to putting out good music?
Sure this isn't the most legal thing to do, but I'll let them stop me from promoting their album if we have to cross that bridge.
Maybe they're back to putting out good music?
They're Admitting It?
That he has no clue? No involvement? Strong leader? What fucking planet am I on?
Someone said to me the other day, "I can't believe how all these rich people are in politics..." WHAT?!?!?
It's like they just move from boardroom to appointeed position, back to boardroom then back to Washington, and back to the boardroom. All the while using their contacts they've made in and out of both sides, buttering everyone's bread.
They know what's best for America, afterall, they're CORPORATE EXECUTIVES! He's the CEO President (of a miserable failure of a company). Maybe if Bush had a clue what his underlings were doing he wouldn't have failed at business, or as a politician, or as a human being.
The White House said today that President Bush had not been aware of the pending takeover by a state-owned company in Dubai of port terminal operations in several American cities, but that the deal had been thoroughly reviewed by a dozen or more federal agencies.You mean he spoke with all those underneath him and they cleared it? Like John Snow, former head of CSX who has spent a career as a shipping executive? Who is benefitting from this? How bought and sold is this country?
The chief White House spokesman, Scott McClellan, said inaccurate news reports had created the impression that the Dubai company "would be in control of our ports, and that is a false impression."
Nevertheless, Mr. McClellan said, it seems clear in hindsight that, given the widespread hostility to the arrangement, "we probably should have briefed members of Congress about it sooner."
As soon as Mr. Bush became aware of the growing furor, Mr. McClellan said, he interviewed all Cabinet officials whose departments had to review the transaction. "And each and every one expressed that they were comfortable with this transaction going forward," Mr. McClellan said.
Someone said to me the other day, "I can't believe how all these rich people are in politics..." WHAT?!?!?
It's like they just move from boardroom to appointeed position, back to boardroom then back to Washington, and back to the boardroom. All the while using their contacts they've made in and out of both sides, buttering everyone's bread.
They know what's best for America, afterall, they're CORPORATE EXECUTIVES! He's the CEO President (of a miserable failure of a company). Maybe if Bush had a clue what his underlings were doing he wouldn't have failed at business, or as a politician, or as a human being.
Mr. Clueless
My friend Ferl wrote this to me, and since I have no desire to post about the ridiculous UAE Port issue because it's just, well, SO RIDICULOUS, I'll post his words instead:
Yeah, I feel your pain. He's a total moron, and it's more and more clear that the people working for him do what they please, and await the rubber stamp. They all know they're smarter than him. "Brownie, you're doing a good job." Just keep saying that over and over and over because that's his role in this government.
"Brownie, you're doing a good job..."
Remember, he's a DELEGATOR, who surrounds himself with smart people. That's why people elected him. And strong. Very strong. A leader. Courage. Holding up our flag through the night, the fog, the rain, the snow, standing strong! Delegating.
About the ports, my friend who cares hardly about this stuff not only knew about the issue, but said, "Are you fucking kidding me? We're going to turn ports over to an Arab country? Who's to say they'll even be an ally in 5-10 years?"
"Well, if they weren't we'd just claim domain over the ports. End of story," I said.
"Yeah, but that's not the issue. Are we going to allow these people to see just how we actually conduct security? It doesn't matter who's doing it. They'll know how it works."
And I said nothing...
I would have IM'd you but you're not online...I'm just fucking astounded that this guy makes a decision BEFORE HE KNOWS ANYTHING. If you'll recall he said he'd veto ANY bill that delayed the Dubai deal...
Well now the AP is reporting that McClellan admitted the president didn't know ANYTHING about the deal until it was already done...yet he still said he'd veto anything coming along that would interfere with the deal.
And after making his veto statements he:
"The president made sure to check with all the Cabinet secretaries that are part of this process, or whose agencies or departments are part of this process," the spokesman said. "He made sure to check with them - even after this got more attention in the press, to make sure that they were comfortable with the decision that was made."
So he threatens a veto, not knowing what he's supporting really, and THEN GOES BACK AND CHECKS IF HE MADE A MISTAKE? Is this the least informed president ever? (My Answer: C'mon) I mean it's an embarrassment...he flaunts the strongest power the executive branch has over congress like he's trying to look tough and "presidential" yet he's like a bully on the playground that swings first and asks who he was supposed to hit later.
I love that people are becoming less and less afraid of the white house and legislators are already saying fuck him...we've got enough votes to override him. At this point I don't care who's right. I think it's one thing to have a British company running our ports (since they're an "ally") and allowing a middle eastern company to take that over would be a bad idea, but on the other hand I think port security would still be handled by the coast guard so the Dubai company would probably have no role in keeping the ports secure anyways. However, I'm more interested in the shift (albeit slight) against the white house by the entire legislative branch.
Sorry...needed to vent...and you're an informed audience for sure...
Yeah, I feel your pain. He's a total moron, and it's more and more clear that the people working for him do what they please, and await the rubber stamp. They all know they're smarter than him. "Brownie, you're doing a good job." Just keep saying that over and over and over because that's his role in this government.
"Brownie, you're doing a good job..."
Remember, he's a DELEGATOR, who surrounds himself with smart people. That's why people elected him. And strong. Very strong. A leader. Courage. Holding up our flag through the night, the fog, the rain, the snow, standing strong! Delegating.
About the ports, my friend who cares hardly about this stuff not only knew about the issue, but said, "Are you fucking kidding me? We're going to turn ports over to an Arab country? Who's to say they'll even be an ally in 5-10 years?"
"Well, if they weren't we'd just claim domain over the ports. End of story," I said.
"Yeah, but that's not the issue. Are we going to allow these people to see just how we actually conduct security? It doesn't matter who's doing it. They'll know how it works."
And I said nothing...
Yeah, Thanks
This is what just took place on my stoop.
Doorbell rings. I put on a sweatshirt and the hood. Doorbell rings again.
I think, "Can't be UPS because I didn't hear the truck...Maybe someone needs my neighbor..."
So I get to the door and before me stands a silver-haired gentleman around age 45, and an older woman who is bundled to the nines, around age 70.
"Hi there!"
"Hi."
"Louise and I are going around the neighborhood to help talk about this here magazine."
The magazine is called Awake, which coincidentally, I hardly am. Nod my head.
"But it's not just this magazine. Inside here we have another pamphlet which discusses the role of God in your life."
"Sorry. I don't believe in God. Thank you."
Gentleman leans in, "You know, there are a lot of Gods out there. A lot of false Gods."
"Yeah, there are, and that includes yours. Thanks."
Door closes. Louise never once moved or blinked. I'm not even sure she was breathing.
Doorbell rings. I put on a sweatshirt and the hood. Doorbell rings again.
I think, "Can't be UPS because I didn't hear the truck...Maybe someone needs my neighbor..."
So I get to the door and before me stands a silver-haired gentleman around age 45, and an older woman who is bundled to the nines, around age 70.
"Hi there!"
"Hi."
"Louise and I are going around the neighborhood to help talk about this here magazine."
The magazine is called Awake, which coincidentally, I hardly am. Nod my head.
"But it's not just this magazine. Inside here we have another pamphlet which discusses the role of God in your life."
"Sorry. I don't believe in God. Thank you."
Gentleman leans in, "You know, there are a lot of Gods out there. A lot of false Gods."
"Yeah, there are, and that includes yours. Thanks."
Door closes. Louise never once moved or blinked. I'm not even sure she was breathing.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
What Can I Say
I really thought I posted about this whole situation last week, and I'm sure if you wanted/needed a fill you could have found it elsewhere on other dork blog sites, but here it is!
I've already promised it to more people than I'm actually going to give it to, so spend the 10-15 bones and get your own.
Harrison Ford may be starring in the movie based on his book. So be that person who will say, "Oh, totally, I read that book..." because it's that important to have done so.
CONFESSIONS OF AN ECONOMIC HITMAN.
Plus Perkins will make sure the proceeds go towards great causes.
WASHINGTON - The Dubai firm that won Bush administration backing to run six U.S. ports has at least two ties to the White House.All I can say is every person should go out and buy John Perkins' book Confessions of an Economic Hitman.
One is Treasury Secretary John Snow, whose agency heads the federal panel that signed off on the $6.8 billion sale of an English company to government-owned Dubai Ports World - giving it control of Manhattan's cruise ship terminal and Newark's container port.
Snow was chairman of the CSX rail firm that sold its own international port operations to DP World for $1.15 billion in 2004, the year after Snow left for President Bush's cabinet.
The other connection is David Sanborn, who runs DP World's European and Latin American operations and was tapped by Bush last month to head the U.S. Maritime Administration.
The ties raised more concerns about the decision to give port control to a company owned by a nation linked to the 9/11 hijackers.
"The more you look at this deal, the more the deal is called into question," said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who said the deal was rubber-stamped in advance - even before DP World formally agreed to buy London's P&O port company.
I've already promised it to more people than I'm actually going to give it to, so spend the 10-15 bones and get your own.
Harrison Ford may be starring in the movie based on his book. So be that person who will say, "Oh, totally, I read that book..." because it's that important to have done so.
CONFESSIONS OF AN ECONOMIC HITMAN.
Plus Perkins will make sure the proceeds go towards great causes.
Once Again
Technical difficulties have prevented me from podcasting show, but I do hope to iron them out asap.
Meantime, here it is.
Still getting settled :)
Meantime, here it is.
Still getting settled :)
BTW
I'm all about hearing what's good and bad on the show, for those who listened.
So please, do not hold back if you think certain things are bad/good.
Thanks.
So please, do not hold back if you think certain things are bad/good.
Thanks.
Respect
It's hard not to respect a country where 8 men and 1 women decide the fate of how women live their lives. It's almost like Saudi Arabia, except women get one token voter:
The Supreme Court announced today that it will hear a challenge to a federal law outlawing an abortion procedure, reopening the contentious issue on Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.'s first day on the bench.
The law, the Partial Birth Abortion Act, was passed in 2003 but was immediately challenged in court and has never taken effect. It was ruled unconstitutional by three federal appeals courts in the last year, in rulings based on a Supreme Court decision in 2000 striking down a similar law passed in Nebraska.
In that case, Stenberg v. Carhart, a 5-to-4 majority that included the now-retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor found that any abortion ban must include an exception for the health of the woman. Justice Alito was sworn in three weeks ago as Justice O'Connor's successor after a rancorous confirmation process that focused heavily on the question of abortion. The case accepted by the court today does not involve a challenge to the core ruling that established a legal right to abortion, Roe v. Wade. But it is certain to rekindle questions of whether the court in the post-O'Connor era will be more sympathetic to efforts to limit abortion rights.
The Planned Parenthood Federation of America, which has challenged the law, reacted angrily to the news. "The Supreme Court's decision to hear this case is a dangerous act of hostility aimed squarely at women's health and safety," the group's president, Cecile Richards, said in a statement. "Despite 33 years of Supreme Court precedent that women's health matters, the court has decided it will once again take up this issue."
Say Anything
Oh, he will:
He's talking about our nation being held "hostage" by nations his family is closer with than any other Presidential family in US History, i.e., Saudi Arabia.
Is he really going to start talking about "alternative energy" for the next 3 years? And are people really going to buy his speak? I guess if friends and family can find a way to profit within that industry, and they will, then it's worth talking about.
President Bush yesterday said America is on the brink of high-tech breakthroughs that will "startle" most Americans and could soon allow cars to get 100 mpg and reduce dependence on foreign oil.Start picturing what HE'S TALKING ABOUT!
"We're held hostage for energy by foreign nations that may not like us," Bush said as he kicked off a trip to tout new, smaller batteries for hybrid cars, solar power and biofuels made from wood chips to replace gasoline.
"Our nation is on the threshold of some new energy technologies that I think will startle the American people," Bush said as he began his trip at Johnson Controls, a plant outside Milwaukee that makes advanced batteries.
On a tour of the plant, Bush took a gander at two Ford Escape hybrid SUVs — one had the current nickel metal hydride battery that took up almost the entire back while the other had a much smaller lithium-ion battery.
"Start picturing what I'm talking about — you've got your car, you pull in, you plug it right in the wall," Bush said later in his speech.
He's talking about our nation being held "hostage" by nations his family is closer with than any other Presidential family in US History, i.e., Saudi Arabia.
Is he really going to start talking about "alternative energy" for the next 3 years? And are people really going to buy his speak? I guess if friends and family can find a way to profit within that industry, and they will, then it's worth talking about.
Short Term Memory
Once Dick Cheney starting taking people out with his shotgun it seems the Jack Abramoff and Wiretapping stories have just faded from memory. I guess you can add the oh-so-exciting Olympiad as another reason some big news stories have faded away. I'm not surprised by any of this.
I can't speak for individuals in all civilised countries, but Americans are so seemingly interested in what's going to be done for them now. Old news is last week's news. The constant barrage of news with our ridiculous cable news cycle, radio programs, and "internets" makes any news story seem overdone before the details really come out; before we truly know what has gone on, or what was done wrong.
This is the case with the Jack Abramoff scandal. I'm not sure if it's the television news producers, or human nature which has shelved this story in favor of other things. Probably both. Whatever the case is, Congressional Republicans are all about it. Same goes for the White House. They love it when time can be bought in order to make an issue die down.
Of course, the biggest example of this is the WAR! We're so over the war, and it's made for TV coverage. "Shock and Awe" may have been the smartest political move of all time. For the first episode of the war we were entranced. NIGGAS GETTIN BLASTED! Now it's so "whatever."
Lobbying reform will probably go down the same road as everything else. Over time Americans will forget as more and more stories come to the fore. Something has to get done before the midterm elections of '06. But as long as any bill passes those who passed it can say, "We took on ethics reform, and the lobbyists..." regardless of what the bill looks like, or truly does fix. No one is that concerned. People expect their politicians to take money, and engage in behavior that's somewhat unethical. It's sad, but true.
House members, especially Republicans, are not excited about reform. House members aren't making a killing working in government. $158,000 is quite a bit of money, but not to someone from Washington State who has to travel to and from D.C. every week, pay his/her own airfare, maintain two residences, and engage in a host of other activities, such as dinners, trips, etc. You're not obligated to do any of these things except hear your constituents and vote, but if you want to be an effective lawmaker you need to play the game: the lobbyist game.
Senators aren't as concerned, and cannot be as easily bought and sold. There is not a single US Senator who's not a millionaire, except maybe recently elected Barak Obama and newly appointed Bob Menendez, but I can't say for sure. It is called the Millionaire's Club for a reason. Point being, they can afford a life in government much easier than a House member, so they'd likely get behind reform more so than House members. This probably explains why the lobbying issue is much more of a House issue (Tom Delay).
Here's how I see the issue summed up:
Beefing up "disclosure" is a joke. Again, people expect their congressfolk to be bought and sold on some level. It's pretty sad, but as I always say, "No one cares about anything except winning." If the rules are changed, and disclosure is what becomes required, citizens of those who are bought and sold won't care if they are, or not. As long as constituents can say, "Well, he hasn't done anything illegal!" Just make it so my guy wins. That's America. If we can say it's legal, regardless of the ethics, or what we know to be shady, we won't care. This is why we have lawyers. Except, of course, "we hate lawyers!" That's some fucking irony, right?
Reform of lobbyists will be average at best, but will certainly be completed by 2006 so those who abuse the system most can say "We FIXED lobbying!" By that time so many other issues will have overshadowed this one, and Republicans will breath a sigh of relief. For it is the influence of money in politics, and money only that enables them to have their strong grip on power. They're not about to give that away.
I can't speak for individuals in all civilised countries, but Americans are so seemingly interested in what's going to be done for them now. Old news is last week's news. The constant barrage of news with our ridiculous cable news cycle, radio programs, and "internets" makes any news story seem overdone before the details really come out; before we truly know what has gone on, or what was done wrong.
This is the case with the Jack Abramoff scandal. I'm not sure if it's the television news producers, or human nature which has shelved this story in favor of other things. Probably both. Whatever the case is, Congressional Republicans are all about it. Same goes for the White House. They love it when time can be bought in order to make an issue die down.
Of course, the biggest example of this is the WAR! We're so over the war, and it's made for TV coverage. "Shock and Awe" may have been the smartest political move of all time. For the first episode of the war we were entranced. NIGGAS GETTIN BLASTED! Now it's so "whatever."
Lobbying reform will probably go down the same road as everything else. Over time Americans will forget as more and more stories come to the fore. Something has to get done before the midterm elections of '06. But as long as any bill passes those who passed it can say, "We took on ethics reform, and the lobbyists..." regardless of what the bill looks like, or truly does fix. No one is that concerned. People expect their politicians to take money, and engage in behavior that's somewhat unethical. It's sad, but true.
House members, especially Republicans, are not excited about reform. House members aren't making a killing working in government. $158,000 is quite a bit of money, but not to someone from Washington State who has to travel to and from D.C. every week, pay his/her own airfare, maintain two residences, and engage in a host of other activities, such as dinners, trips, etc. You're not obligated to do any of these things except hear your constituents and vote, but if you want to be an effective lawmaker you need to play the game: the lobbyist game.
Senators aren't as concerned, and cannot be as easily bought and sold. There is not a single US Senator who's not a millionaire, except maybe recently elected Barak Obama and newly appointed Bob Menendez, but I can't say for sure. It is called the Millionaire's Club for a reason. Point being, they can afford a life in government much easier than a House member, so they'd likely get behind reform more so than House members. This probably explains why the lobbying issue is much more of a House issue (Tom Delay).
Here's how I see the issue summed up:
In mid-January, Hastert proposed broad new restrictions on lobbying, including a ban on privately funded travel for lawmakers and tight limits on meals and other gifts.Boehner is the new House Majority Leader. Over time his opinion will change. Hastert is the Speaker so he gets as much outside funding as a Senator. He's not rank-and-file, and soon enough Boehner won't be either. But Boehner needs to do what's right by all members, especially now. Plus, his opinions are probably so grounded in the old Boehner that he's not even sure what's best for him at the moment.
But Boehner and many rank-and-file Republicans objected to his recommendations and have said they would prefer beefing up disclosure of lobbyists' activities rather than imposing new restrictions.
Beefing up "disclosure" is a joke. Again, people expect their congressfolk to be bought and sold on some level. It's pretty sad, but as I always say, "No one cares about anything except winning." If the rules are changed, and disclosure is what becomes required, citizens of those who are bought and sold won't care if they are, or not. As long as constituents can say, "Well, he hasn't done anything illegal!" Just make it so my guy wins. That's America. If we can say it's legal, regardless of the ethics, or what we know to be shady, we won't care. This is why we have lawyers. Except, of course, "we hate lawyers!" That's some fucking irony, right?
Reform of lobbyists will be average at best, but will certainly be completed by 2006 so those who abuse the system most can say "We FIXED lobbying!" By that time so many other issues will have overshadowed this one, and Republicans will breath a sigh of relief. For it is the influence of money in politics, and money only that enables them to have their strong grip on power. They're not about to give that away.
Monday, February 20, 2006
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Nice
Ahhh, a good show under my wing.
I will repost the entire podcast tomorrow.
For the listeners, sorry I didn't hit all the stories I said I would, but once I get going it's sometimes too hard to stop.
All the stories missed are certainly written about here on the blog.
I will repost the entire podcast tomorrow.
For the listeners, sorry I didn't hit all the stories I said I would, but once I get going it's sometimes too hard to stop.
All the stories missed are certainly written about here on the blog.
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