Friday, May 30, 2008

NO SHIT, Scott!!!

This is from yesterday's (5/29/08) Progress Report ... the rethugnicans are going after him already ... now Scott McClellan will feel what it's like to be on the other end of the rethugnican smear machine ... he's NOT telling us anything we don't already know about the current administration:

ADMINISTRATION
Bush's Former Mouthpiece Tells All


In his "scathing" new memoir, which will be released next week, former White House press secretary Scott McClellan accuses his former colleagues in the Bush administration of not being "open and forthright on Iraq," arguing that they engaged in a "political propaganda campaign to sell the war to the American people." President Bush "signed off on a strategy for selling the war that was less than candid and honest," writes McClellan, "not employing out-and-out deception but by shading the truth." McClellan, who is "the first longtime Bush aide to put such harsh criticism between hard covers," also claims in his book that former Bush adviser Karl Rove and former chief of staff to Vice President Cheney Scooter Libby "allowed" and even "encouraged" him to "repeat a lie" about their involvement in the leaking of CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity. In one shocking revelation, McClellan "suggests that Libby and Rove secretly colluded to get their stories straight at a time when federal investigators were hot on the Plame case." The White House reacted with indignation yesterday, calling McClellan "disgruntled about his experience at the White House." Though current White House Press Secretary Dana Perino initially said Bush was not likely to comment on the book, she later told CNN that Bush "didn't recognize the same Scott McClellan that he hired and worked with for so many years." On background, White House aides were even more blunt, telling MSNBC's Kevin Corke that McClellan is a "traitor."

LOYAL BUSHIES STRIKE BACK: Bush was only one voice in a "chorus" of current and former Bush administration officials pushing back against McClellan's explosive allegations, often in very personal terms. "This now strikes me as self-serving, disingenuous and unprofessional," former Homeland Security Adviser Fran Townsend said on CNN. Rove, whom McClellan describes in the book as willing "to push the envelope to the limit of what's permissible ethically or legally," responded on Fox News by calling McClellan "irresponsible," adding that he "sounds like a left-wing blogger." Former White House Counselor Dan Bartlett called allegations in the book "total crap," saying that in hearing McClellan's criticisms, "it's almost like we're witnessing an out-of-body experience." McClellan's predecessor, Ari Fleischer, told NPR that he was "heartbroken" by the harsh tone of the book. Interviewing Fleischer for the CBS Evening News last night, Katie Couric noted that the former Bush administration officials now criticizing McClellan all sound like they "are operating out of the same playbook" by claiming "this doesn't sound like the Scott McClellan they knew."

THE USUAL AUTOMATIC SMEAR RESPONSE: McClellan is experiencing the same automatic smear response the White House deploys against former allies who dare to criticize the administration, including former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan and former head of faith-based initiatives John DiIulio. In 2004, when Bush's first Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill said publicly that "the Bush administration began planning to use U.S. troops to invade Iraq within days" after Bush took office, White House aides pushed back hard with personal attacks. One senior official told CNN that "we didn't listen to [O'Neill's] wacky ideas when he was in the White House, why should we start listening to him now." Last year, Bush's former chief campaign strategist Matthew Dowd publicly broke with the President by claiming that Bush had "become more, in my view, secluded and bubbled in." Bartlett dismissed Dowd's criticisms by saying Dowd had been "going through a lot of personal turmoil." Ironically, before he published his own criticisms, McClellan was often the one responding to critical books as the White House's top spokesperson. In 2004, when former counter-terrorism chief Richard Clarke wrote a book charging that President Bush had "ignored terrorism for months" before 9/11, McClellan led the White House counter-charge, claiming that Clarke was a bitter ex-employee who "wanted to be the deputy secretary of the Homeland Security Department."

MCCLELLAN'S CREDIBILITY CHALLENGE: As ABC News's Jake Tapper pointed out yesterday, "some of the same language now being used to trash McClellan he himself used to trash previous administration authors." For instance, when Clarke published his tell-all book, McClellan claimed he was doing it for money because "he has written a book and he certainly wants to go out there and promote that book." But McClellan's credibility challenge goes beyond the fact that he once attacked people in his current position. McClellan charges the White House with not being "open and forthright on Iraq," which is a drastic shift from his past rhetoric regarding the war. As a White House spokesperson, McClellan repeatedly defended the conduct of the war, justified the case that was made to launch it, and defended Bush's handling of the war. "There were irresponsible and unfounded accusations being made against the administration, suggesting that we had manipulated or misused that intelligence. That was flat-out false," said McClellan in a 2006 press briefing. "We've been very straightforward about where we are, in terms of the theater in Iraq," he claimed in another. In 2004, he insisted, "This President is someone I think the American people recognize as a straight shooter."

Saturday, May 24, 2008

DEBT!!!

This is from yesterday's (5/23/08) Information Clearing House newsletter ... great quotes ... especially the quote from Frank Zappa:

"The level of U.S. household debt has risen consistently over the course of the century, climbing from just 33.2 percent of disposable income in 1949 to 102.2 percent in 2000, and to 131.8 percent in 2005, making it the highest ever measured in our national history." - Nan Mooney, from her book "(Not) Keeping Up with Our Parents," in Utne Reader, 5-6/08, p. 40.

= "Blessed are the young, for they shall inherit the national debt" - Herbert Hoover

="It would be easier to pay off the national debt overnight than to neutralize the long-range effects of our national stupidity" - Frank Zappa

=

"When President Bush took office, he inherited a budget in surplus, by $236 billion in fiscal year 2000. In his first budget message, the President proclaimed that his budget would retire nearly '$1 trillion in debt over the next four years,' an accomplishment he touted as 'the largest debt reduction ever achieved by any nation at any time.' But by the year 2004, the surplus was gone, replaced by a deficit of $413 billion-in nominal terms the largest deficit in American history. And here we are today, in the Administration's final year. Instead of retiring $1 trillion in debt, the Administration's policies will increase the debt by $4 trillion by the time the President steps down. http://budget.house.gov/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1553

Friday, May 23, 2008

Bobby Jindal - DANGEROUS!!!

This is from my favorite atheist site ... Friendly Atheist ... written by Hemant Mehta ... John McBush is meeting with this clown this weekend as a possible VP choice:

QUOTE

Word on the street is that John McCain is meeting with potential running mates this coming weekend.

Among them: Mitt Romney… Governor Charlie Crist of Florida… and Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana.

I’m worried.

Not because I think McCain will have a strong enough ticket to beat Barack Obama. But because of that third option.

Of all the names being mentioned as McCain’s potential running mate, Piyush “Bobby” Jindal, the 36-year-old first-term governor of Louisiana, is not only the youngest and least experienced, but also the only one who is not white. Yet in a year in which Democratic voters have raised few objections to such traditional “obstacles,” Jindal may be especially attractive as Republicans seek a way to offset the “post-racial” and youthful appeal of Senator Barack Obama.

Jindal, who was born in Baton Rouge to a family that had just arrived there from the Punjab area of India, took office in January after serving three years in the House of Representatives. In a race with four candidates, Jindal, who was born a Hindu but converted to Roman Catholicism as a teenager, won 54 percent of the vote after campaigning as a social conservative…

Jindal is young. He’s relatively popular among Republicans. And he’s brown.

The New York Times‘ William Kristol also thinks Jindal would be a solid Vice-Presidential pick.

I hope that doesn’t happen. For purely selfish reasons.

Do you have any idea how annoying it would be to deal with 293,847,293 Indian family members and friends talking about how wonderful it is that a desi has a legitimate shot of going to the White House? You can bet that many Indians will overlook his positions and just look at his skin color.

As one Indian website writes:

To see Jindal just a heartbeat away from the US Presidency should gladden our hearts. If he makes it, it will be a jewel in the crown for Indian Americans. His loyalty will be to his country of adoption, but it will be a dream come true for Indian Americans.

Not a dream. *So* not a dream. It’s not a dream to have another Republican in power who’s going to further ruin this country… and have it be the most famous Indian person in America.
While many Indians will be proud, I’d have to argue how he’s bad for our country every step of the way.

(The analogy isn’t quite the same, but I also wouldn’t want to be a black man telling other black people to vote against Barack Obama.)

Why am I not supporting Bobby Jindal as Vice-President?

He voted against expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines.

He’s completely anti-abortion, even in cases of rape or incest, getting a 100% rating from the National Right to Life Committee.

He is completely opposed to gay rights, earning a 0% rating from the Human Rights Campaign.
Church-state separation? Forget it. Americans United for Separation of Church and State give him a 0% rating.

He thinks “intelligent design as an alternative to evolution may not be out of place in public schools,” so we know his support of real science would be minimal.

Rush Limbaugh called him the “next Ronald Reagan.”

He once wrote about a friend who was possessed by the devil… meaning he believes someone could actually be possessed by a devil.

A little more on his Intelligent Design position.

In a gubernatorial debate that took place on September 27th of last year, this is what went down:

Baton Rouge Advocate columnist Carl Redman: “What about intelligent design? And the issue really is, it’s not what’s on the books, but if this comes up again. Because this state has wrestled with creationism and spent a lot of time and resources. I was covering the legislature for a couple years when they wrestled with the abortion issue. It could come back at any time. What the governor does is very critical [in those fields?].”

Jindal [nodding]: “Sure, and let’s talk about intelligent design. I’m a biology major. That’s my degree. The reality is there are a lot of things that we don’t understand. There’s no theory in science that could explain how, contrary to the laws of entropy, you could create order out of chaos. There’s no scientific theory that explains how you can create organic life out of inorganic matter. I think we owe it to our children to teach them the best possible modern scientific facts and theories. Teach them what different theories are out there for the things that aren’t answerable by science, that aren’t answered by science. Let them decide for themselves. I don’t think we should be scared to do that. Personally, it certainly makes sense to me that when you look at creation, you would believe in a creator. Let’s not be afraid to teach our kids the very best science.”

According to science advocate Barbara Forrest:

Jindal’s remarks, which clearly signal his support for teaching ID, are a study in incoherence. On one hand, this Rhodes scholar wants “the very best science” taught to children. On the other, his assertion that children should be told “what different theories are out there” in order to explain what science cannot is an admission that ID is not science. His inference of a creator from “looking at creation,” while legitimate as a personal religious belief, is at odds with his statement that “our kids” should be taught “the very best science.” Putting the two together in a public school science class violates not only the standards of responsible science teaching but the U.S. Constitution as well.

It’s easy to say I’m dismissing him for simply being a conservative Republican, but it’s more than that.

Despite his success in Louisiana politics, he’s an embarrassment to many Indian people. He doesn’t share the values so many of the rest of us do.

The culture I grew up in encouraged a strong education — especially in the sciences. He throws solid science out the window.

I was taught to respect all people and to stand up for their rights. As a minority, you hope others will do the same for you. Yet, he routinely advocates anti-gay, anti-woman policies in favor of socially conservative, irresponsible positions.

Of course, these values along with many others aren’t limited to just the Indian culture.
But how did it happen that the most prominent politician among us had to be the anomaly?

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UNQUOTE

McBush HATES Vets!!!

This is from today's Progress Report ... why is McCain (who really should change his name to "McBush") so anti-Vet??? ... he has no problem paying government contractors BILLIONS of dollars but doesn't want to help Veterans that want to get a higher education ... it's time for the Democrats to start Swift Boating this Vet hater ... why didn't he show up for this IMPORTANT vote??? ... OBAMA SHOWED UP!!!:

VETERANS
Missing In Action


On Monday, the nation will join its nearly 24 million veterans in remembering the American heroes who have lost their lives in war. Yesterday, the Senate honored U.S. troops by passing a 21st Century GI Bill, expanding educational benefits for veterans who joined the service after Sept. 11, 2001. "Congress today resolutely asserted that it is time for those of us who have been calling on these brave men and women to serve again and again to assist in providing a meaningful chance for a first-class future," said Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), who sponsored the legislation. Seventy-five senators voted to fund veterans yesterday, providing a veto-proof majority. Yet not only did Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) not vote for the bill, he didn't even show up to vote (the only other senators missing were Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-CA), for health reasons, and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), who had to attend a funeral). In the past, McCain has promised to "do everything" in his power to look after the nation's military. But a look at his record on veterans issues shows that he has unfortunately favored conservative pandering instead.

A COMPREHENSIVE NEW GI BILL: Yesterday's vote on the 21st Century GI Bill was 75-22. The legislation garnered wide bipartisan support, including Republican cosponsors Sens. Chuck Hagel (NE) and John Warner (VA). Under the bill, members of the military who have served on active duty since 9/11 are eligible to receive education benefits equaling the highest tuition rate of the most expensive in-state public college or university, along with a monthly stipend for housing determined by geographical area. It would also "create a program in which the government would provide a dollar-for-dollar match to contributions from private educational institutions with higher tuition rates than those covered under the bill." Despite claims by McCain and the White House, Webb's bill would help the military's enlistment rate. The new GI bill "is projected to cost about $2.5 billion per year," roughly the cost of U.S. operations in Iraq for one week.

DASHING HOPES AND DREAMS: McCain, however, opposes these generous benefits for troops' education. He instead signed onto a watered-down, Bush administration-approved version offered by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). This legislation would exclude many servicemembers by reserving the most generous benefits for soldiers who have served at least 12 years. It would also shortchange National Guard and Reserve members, offering them fewer benefits. McCain likes to say that as a former soldier, he understands what is best for veterans. But his version of the GI Bill was opposed by the national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), and the American Legion. More than eight in 10 members of the American public also support a comprehensive GI Bill. Kristofer Goldsmith, who served in Sadr City and was stop-lossed after returning home, testified to Congress on May 15 that he had attempted suicide and was discharged. Because he couldn't serve a second term, he had to forfeit his "one hope and dream" to go to college under the GI Bill. "And currently there is a Senator in Congress currently running for president, who is fighting to kill our Webb GI bill," said Goldsmith. "And I'm one of the soldiers who will never get that money."

FAILING GRADES: McCain's record on supporting veterans is one of the worst in Congress. IAVA has given him a grade of a "D" for voting against veterans' priorities so often between 2000 and 2006. A scorecard of roll call votes compiled by the Disabled American Veterans found that McCain has voted for veterans funding bills only 20 percent of the time. For example, in May 2006, he voted against an amendment providing $20 billion to the Department of Veteran Affairs's (VA) medical facilities. In April 2006, he was one of just 13 senators to vote against providing $430 million to the VA for outpatient care "and treatment for veterans." McCain has railed against comprehensive universal health care and wants to give veterans the "freedom to choose to carry their V.A. dollars to a provider that gives them the timely care at high quality and in the best location." But as New York Times columnist Paul Krugman notes, "[T]he Veterans Health Administration is one of the few clear American success stories in the struggle to contain health care costs. ... [I]t's an integrated system -- a system that takes long-term responsibility for its clients' health -- to deliver an impressive combination of high-quality care and low costs." McCain's plan, however, would "privatize and, in effect, dismantle the V.A." In his narrow-sighted focus on eliminating earmarks, McCain may also cut funding for military housing.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

It's About Time!!!

From today's Progress Report:

GLOBAL WARMING -- POLAR BEAR THREATENED, LISTED AS ENDANGERED SPECIES: Yesterday, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne announced that the polar bear will be placed under the protection of the Endangered Species Act. The polar bear's "summertime Arctic hunting grounds have been greatly reduced by a warming climate," but "Kempthorne also made it clear that it would be 'wholly inappropriate' to use the listing as a tool to reduce greenhouse gases, as environmentalists had intended to do." However, according to an "unprecedented study" by experts including members of the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, "Global warming is disrupting wildlife and the environment on every continent." The experts found that "at least" 90 percent "of environmental damage and disruption around the world could be explained by rising temperatures driven by human activity." Having "examined published reports dating back to 1970," the scientists also found that "[b]ig falls in Antarctic penguin populations, fewer fish in African lakes, shifts in American river flows and earlier flowering and bird migrations in Europe are all likely to be driven by global warming."

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

What an ASSHOLE!!!

Bush: I Gave Up Golf For The Troops

The Huffington Post May 13, 2008 06:30 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/13/bush-i-gave-up-golf-for-t_n_101595.html

As violence in Iraq continues -- clashes today left 11 dead and 19 injured -- President Bush has for the first time revealed the great sacrifice he's made for the sake of our soldiers: he's given up golf.

From an interview with Politico and Yahoo News:

"I don't want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander in chief playing golf," he said. "I feel I owe it to the families to be in solidarity as best as I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal."

Bush said he made that decision after the August 2003 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, which killed Sergio Vieira de Mello, the top U.N. official in Iraq and the organization's high commissioner for human rights.

"I remember when de Mello, who was at the U.N., got killed in Baghdad as a result of these murderers taking this good man's life," he said. "I was playing golf -- I think I was in central Texas -- and they pulled me off the golf course and I said, 'It's just not worth it anymore to do.'"

Monday, May 12, 2008

You Suck Gillette!!!

Today I bought a package of razor blades at Target ... Gillette Mach 3 ... used to be around $8 and change for a package of 5 ... now they're $11.29!!! ... I love the Mach 3 blade ... it's 20+ year old technology and it works for me ... every new fangled blade they've come up with after that I hated (they cut me up ... the Mach 3 never cuts me) ... on the back of the Mach 3 package is an ad for the new Gillette Fusion razor and blades and it says, "Next time, try" and then the ad ... I noticed the Fusion blades are around a buck more for a package ... but, I don't want the Fusion I want the Mach 3 ... for the rest of my life!!!

They had a sale on Mach 3 blades a couple months ago for a little over $4 a package ... I bought a couple ... I should have bought them all!!!

Friday, May 02, 2008

49??? ... YIKES!!!

I made it to 49 years old today ... I will now commence my 50th year.

Whoever put me on the AARP mailing list ... NOT funny!!!