More New Ideas!

The Republicans, always finding new ways to be scumbags:

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt and his relatives have claimed millions of dollars in tax deductions through a type of charitable foundation they created that until recently paid out very little in actual charity, tax records show.

Instead, much of the foundation's money has been invested or lent to the family's business interests and real estate holdings, or contributed to the Leavitt family genealogical society.

The Leavitts used nearly $9 million of their assets to set up the foundation in 2000 under an obscure provision of the federal tax code. But unlike standard private foundations, which are required to give away at least 5 percent of their assets to charitable causes, the Leavitt organization donated less than 1 percent of its assets in 2002, 2003 and 2004. The donations jumped to 6.3 percent of total assets last year, after the sale of family water interests that also allowed the foundation to increase its lending to Leavitt business interests.

Vegas Taking Wagers?

For all the talk of having a missile defense, rogue terrorists with nukes, and the rest of that crap, what country do you think is going to set off the next nuclear bomb?

I'd have to say the odds are with us, in a big way. We can't be far from some Republican saying what I've mentioned before, "Listen, we have no options in the Middle East...it ended World War II, and this is World War III...it has to be on the table..."

Over/Under in years on nuclear detonation? I'll go with 3 because it'll only happen under this jackass.

YAAAAAAY!!!!

First veto ever!!!

He's like the worst joke ever!!!

This bill would support the taking of innocent human life in the hope of finding medical benefits for others," Bush, speaking at the White House, said after he followed through on his promise to veto the bill. "It crosses a moral boundary that our decent society needs to respect. So I vetoed it."

He's not only against science, stem cells, and abortion in general, but just against the word "abort," period. So much so that he has removed it from the military as well.

He's track record remains perfect.

Laugh, Cry, Whatever

Conservatives wake up after 4 years of ignoring everyone but their own think tanks:

At a moment when his conservative coalition is already under strain over domestic policy, President Bush is facing a new and swiftly building backlash on the right over his handling of foreign affairs.

Conservative intellectuals and commentators who once lauded Bush for what they saw as a willingness to aggressively confront threats and advance U.S. interests said in interviews that they perceive timidity and confusion about long-standing problems including Iran and North Korea, as well as urgent new ones such as the latest crisis
between Israel and Hezbollah.

"It is Topic A of every single conversation," said Danielle Pletka, vice president for foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a think tank that has had strong influence in staffing the administration and shaping its ideas. "I don't have a friend in the administration, on Capitol Hill or any part of the conservative foreign policy establishment who is not beside themselves with fury at the administration."

Conservatives complain that the United States is hunkered down in Iraq without enough troops or a strategy to crush the insurgency. They see autocrats in Egypt and Russia cracking down on dissenters with scant comment from Washington, North Korea firing missiles without consequence, and Iran playing for time to develop nuclear weapons while the Bush administration engages in fruitless diplomacy with European allies. They believe that a perception that the administration is weak and without options is emboldening Syria and Iran and the Hezbollah radicals they help sponsor in Lebanon.

It's just too ridiculous already.

The Bush Doctrine

I'm trying to figure where in the Bush Doctrine this whole Israeli Conflict fits in. This must be the part James Baker III spoke about, "Fuck the Jews...they don't vote for us anyway..." In other words, let them take some heat, and whatever happens happens. As long as we stay hands off, can we really be blamed!!! Just let the Jews handle this.

Btw, Jews, if this thing gets really out of hand do you think it's possible to blow up the Iranian nuclear reactors the same way you did the Osirik reactor in Iraq? That'd be extremely helpful. We will certainly provide logistical support because frankly speaking, that's all we have. We can't goto war with Iran even if we wanted to. Afterall, they actually have a military that is in one piece, so we don't have the numbers to do it. I guess we could just leave Iraq since that's never going to work out anyway, and head to Iran, but then the Bush Doctrine would really seem retarded.

Remember that whole thing about flexing our muscle post-Vietnam by fighting the first Iraq war, and it being a cake walk, enough so that this conflict would seem like a breeze? Where are we going to be after these wars? How long will it be before a Republican can declare war on an abstract noun again. The "War on Extremists!" I forgot, it's now the "Global Struggle Against Terrorism" thing.

When Bush, in yet another moment of looking dumb, told "Blair" that "Annan needed to talk to Syria..." it basically laid out one fact: We can't talk to Syria! That's where our policy has brought us. Do you think President, uhhh, Anybody would have brought us to a point where we'd have to rely on only the United Nations to speak to a country when the world is at the brink of a World War? Nice work.

For those who believe this conflict has nothing to do with Bush Doctrine, or the US in general, you're flat out wrong. Without the Iraq War the US would be fully engaged with the surrounding countries. Instead, the US has been doing nothing since Bush took office with regard to Israel, and emboldened both sides. We allowed Israel to use this supposed "disproportionate" power, knowing full well we can't not side with them because of our belief in fighting abstract nouns. Iran can do what it wants because they know we have few cards to play right now. Wait, yes, the conservatives did have something to say about Israel a few years ago. They claimed President Clinton was trying to create his own legacy by forging peace. Oh, and previously, they accused the previous Democratic President Jimmy Carter of trying to do the same thing, as he worked endlessly, all the way up until Reagan was sworn in, to get back hostages and move towards peace. Now they support the Bush Doctrine. Nice. A doctrine that has basically set the world back ages, and America too.

We cannot be too far from a conservative Congressman, whether a Senator or House member, from saying this, "This conflict is out of control. It may be time to discuss further options with Iran...Yes, possibly a nuclear option. It ended World War II, and it may be needed to end World War III..." Afterall, without troops, or threat of ground war, we have few options. I expect to hear such a voice. Strangely enough, I'm not sure it's the worst idea! We went to war in Iraq to show the Middle East that we would attack if provoked. Such iorny. Well, destroying Iran with a nuclear missile would send a message that "Yes, we will nuke you..." Unfortunately that puts Israel at serious risk of retaliation. But then again, conservatives don't truly care about Jews anyway, so I expect you may hear something soon.

If I can digress for one second. For those who say Israel uses disproportionate force, there could be truth in that. But for those commentators who say, "For every Israeli killed that's like 500 Americans..." you're an idiot. I can apply that to Iraq and say, "We didn't kill 20,000 innocent Iraqis...proportionately we killed 200,000 innocent Iraqis!" It's a brutal argument. Whether, or not, Israel uses overwhelming force is irrelevant to me. If the Arabs dropped their weapons nobody would die. If Israel dropped their weapons they'd be wiped off the Earth by Arabs.

Make Something Happen!

Kofi, just get on the phone, and make it happen!

It's stunning someone so dumb can become President. Imagine what Blair must think? It's like dealing with a child.

I cannot wait for Blair's book to come out in 10 years.

Just How Bad?

There's no shortage of on-target anti-Bush Administration articles these days. This somewhat predictable Israeli conflict has just made them look that more ridiculous. Paul Krugman's NYTIMES piece today, which is just the quotes of others, really helps you see the dreamland so many are living in.

This weekend I once again saw first hand the one thing Bush has done for me which is truly amazing. I was watching "Meet the Press" with Tim Russert, and he had on Senator Joe Biden and former House leader Newt Gingrich. I've said this before, but I'll say it again. Bush and his Klan are so awful that I actually sit there thinking to myself, "Wow, this Gingrich guy is alright. I'd consider voting for him!" Yep. Bush is that big of a nightmare that Newt Gingrich and Ronald Reagan remind me of the "good times."

As for Newt, he's like any good Republican in that he'll say, or do, anything to advance his own cause. I would imagine that cause is a run for President. For all the rightwing bashing of Clinton's "triangulation" Gingrich has taken a page out of that book. In fact, he and Senator Hillary Clinton were seen within the year pushing an education initiative together. Newt is moderating himself, writing books, trying to be the middle of the road guy; being left of Bush, all for a run.

If someone like me can even look at Newt and not want to vomit, then someone in the middle will fawn over this guy. Granted, Gingrich would make a better President than any of these jackasses currently in the Administration, or these geese who puppet our President. But still, that's how far we've come that Newt Gingrich now seems like a moderated voice of reason. The man who divorced his cancer-stricken wife while she lay dying in the hospital so he could be with his younger Congressional Aide. All the while, going after President Clinton.

Has this become the middle?