This blog will focus on political images I have found all around the Internet, though I will intersperse some commentary and quotes that I find interesting.
Friday, February 09, 2007
Did You Know? Robert Bauman.
In 1980, Robert Bauman, A republican Congressman from Maryland and the original sponsor of a proposal to bar gay people from holding teaching jobs or receiving public benefits, is charged with soliciting sex from a 16-year-old at a gay bar. "I understand human weakness now, better than ever," he said, while declining to discuss the 'clinical details' of his 'compulsion.' The charge was dropped after Bauman agreed to be treated for alcoholism, but his wife left him.
Interesting, isn't it, that he admitted himself for alcohol treatment instead of immersion therapy for his sexual proclivities? As I said in my piece about Strom Thurmond yesterday, it seems that those who feel guilty about their own behavior scream the loudest about other people's behavior. If you wonder who the folks are that want gay marriage banned in the U.S., look to those who are unhappiest in their own marriage, for whatever reason.
Interesting, isn't it, that he admitted himself for alcohol treatment instead of immersion therapy for his sexual proclivities? As I said in my piece about Strom Thurmond yesterday, it seems that those who feel guilty about their own behavior scream the loudest about other people's behavior. If you wonder who the folks are that want gay marriage banned in the U.S., look to those who are unhappiest in their own marriage, for whatever reason.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Did You Know? Strom Thurmond.
In 1954, Strom Thurmond (who served over the years as both Democrat and Republican) was elected to the U.S. Senate running on a platform opposing the mixing of the Caucasian and Black races (he was a segregationist). At one point, he spoke on the Senate floor for 24 hours straight, filibustering against the Civil Rights Act (1957). Shortly after his death (2003), it was confirmed that he had fathered a black daughter in 1925 with his black maid. Just one example of how often those who must yell the loudest on an issue of morality are probably doing so over feelings of guilt.
News - Last on Nixon Doctrine
The original Nixon Doctrine didn't turn out that well either. When American troops left, South Vietnam crumbled. The Shah of Iran, America's bulwark against Soviet meddling in the Persian Gulf, used the threat of communist subversion to establish a dictatorship. A few years later, the ayatollahs were in power.
In the short run, we may have little choice but to outsource parts of our foreign policy. But in the longer term, America will pay dearly for its inability to lead. The return of the Nixon Doctrine is one of the hidden costs of the war in Iraq. And it is another reason that, unless Iraq's leaders quickly forge a political compact across sectarian lines, America must leave. When that happens, U.S. policymakers will be able to scan the globe anew, with more time and resources at their command. Then the U.S. can abandon the Nixon Doctrine once and for all.
Peter Beinart
Time Magazine, 1/15/2007
In the short run, we may have little choice but to outsource parts of our foreign policy. But in the longer term, America will pay dearly for its inability to lead. The return of the Nixon Doctrine is one of the hidden costs of the war in Iraq. And it is another reason that, unless Iraq's leaders quickly forge a political compact across sectarian lines, America must leave. When that happens, U.S. policymakers will be able to scan the globe anew, with more time and resources at their command. Then the U.S. can abandon the Nixon Doctrine once and for all.
Peter Beinart
Time Magazine, 1/15/2007
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
News - Arms Shortage
More stuff the mainstream media hasn't been focused on in their reporting. Again, from the Center for American Progress...
MILITARY -- PACE ADMITS MILITARY LACKS EQUIPMENT TO SUPPORT BUSH'S ESCALATION: In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Peter Pace admitted that finding enough equipment to support President Bush's escalation plan to send an addition 21,500 combat troops to Iraq would be a "problem." He said further that the "41,000 armored vehicles in Iraq" would be "fewer than will be needed to cover all the the troops that are deploying." One senior Army official suggested to the Washington Post last week that five brigades of Humveess would have to "fall out of the sky" to meet the shortfalls. Last year, the chief of the Pentagon's National Guard Bureau expressed similar sentiments, telling Congress that "at least two-thirds of his units in the United States are not combat-ready." Such shortages are not new. Indeed, the Post reported last week that Guard units have "on average, 40 percent of their required equipment," and according to Army data, "the Guard as a whole is not expected to return to minimum equipment levels until 2013." Reports of cascading supply failures are not likely to end soon. Last week the Pentagon's Inspector General told Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) that two ongoing audits of the procurement of armored vehicles and body armor for American soldiers would be forthcoming in July and October 2007.
MILITARY -- PACE ADMITS MILITARY LACKS EQUIPMENT TO SUPPORT BUSH'S ESCALATION: In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Peter Pace admitted that finding enough equipment to support President Bush's escalation plan to send an addition 21,500 combat troops to Iraq would be a "problem." He said further that the "41,000 armored vehicles in Iraq" would be "fewer than will be needed to cover all the the troops that are deploying." One senior Army official suggested to the Washington Post last week that five brigades of Humveess would have to "fall out of the sky" to meet the shortfalls. Last year, the chief of the Pentagon's National Guard Bureau expressed similar sentiments, telling Congress that "at least two-thirds of his units in the United States are not combat-ready." Such shortages are not new. Indeed, the Post reported last week that Guard units have "on average, 40 percent of their required equipment," and according to Army data, "the Guard as a whole is not expected to return to minimum equipment levels until 2013." Reports of cascading supply failures are not likely to end soon. Last week the Pentagon's Inspector General told Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) that two ongoing audits of the procurement of armored vehicles and body armor for American soldiers would be forthcoming in July and October 2007.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Photos - President Bush
Today the morning news is focusing on the President's unrealistic proposed budget. Tax cuts for the wealthy, big (make that HUGE) money for the military and nothing for the middle/lower class except the heartache of a war we don't want. It amazes me that the President's advisors must be okay with his ridiculous proposals. Hard to believe there are that many stupid people in D.C.
News - More On Nixon Doctrine
As promised several days ago, here is a little more of the Time article regarding President Bush adopting the Nixon Doctrine on foreign affairs...
In Afghanistan, the U.S. has handed over much of the anti-Taliban fight to NATO, on North Korea, America works largely through China. On Darfur, we have banked on peacekeepers from the African Union, this past summer the Bush administration briefly put Israel in charge of our Iran policy, supporting Jerusalem’s war against Hezbollah in hopes of crippling Tehran's powerful Lebanese ally. And in Iraq the U.S. is relying more and more on Nouri al-Maliki to defeat the insurgents, disarm the militias and give us a way out.
All this outsourcing makes some sense. Bogged down in Iraq, America simply can't intervene as aggressively—militarily or even diplomatically—as we could a few years ago. But there are costs too. When America relies on other countries to do our bidding, they often end up doing their own instead. Ethiopia may capture some terrorists, but it is also making a play for dominance in Africa's horn. Somali Islamists have already vowed to wage guerrilla war against the country's new occupiers. If Ethiopia tries to make Somalia its puppet, it could spur a nationalist insurgency backed by archrival Eritrea. And that could spark a regional war.
Outsourcing has created problems elsewhere as well. Some of America's NATO partners won't send their troops to Afghanistan's dangerous south. On North Korea, China has put enough pressure on Pyongyang to make it resume talks on its nuclear program but not nearly enough to make those talks go anywhere. Finally, while the Bush Administration cheered on Israel last summer as it destroyed Hezbollah encampments from the air, the bombing campaign virtually destroyed Lebanon's pro-Western government as well—wrecking what was once a crown jewel in Bush's campaign for Middle East democracy.
Peter Beinart
Time Magazine, 1/15/2007
In Afghanistan, the U.S. has handed over much of the anti-Taliban fight to NATO, on North Korea, America works largely through China. On Darfur, we have banked on peacekeepers from the African Union, this past summer the Bush administration briefly put Israel in charge of our Iran policy, supporting Jerusalem’s war against Hezbollah in hopes of crippling Tehran's powerful Lebanese ally. And in Iraq the U.S. is relying more and more on Nouri al-Maliki to defeat the insurgents, disarm the militias and give us a way out.
All this outsourcing makes some sense. Bogged down in Iraq, America simply can't intervene as aggressively—militarily or even diplomatically—as we could a few years ago. But there are costs too. When America relies on other countries to do our bidding, they often end up doing their own instead. Ethiopia may capture some terrorists, but it is also making a play for dominance in Africa's horn. Somali Islamists have already vowed to wage guerrilla war against the country's new occupiers. If Ethiopia tries to make Somalia its puppet, it could spur a nationalist insurgency backed by archrival Eritrea. And that could spark a regional war.
Outsourcing has created problems elsewhere as well. Some of America's NATO partners won't send their troops to Afghanistan's dangerous south. On North Korea, China has put enough pressure on Pyongyang to make it resume talks on its nuclear program but not nearly enough to make those talks go anywhere. Finally, while the Bush Administration cheered on Israel last summer as it destroyed Hezbollah encampments from the air, the bombing campaign virtually destroyed Lebanon's pro-Western government as well—wrecking what was once a crown jewel in Bush's campaign for Middle East democracy.
Peter Beinart
Time Magazine, 1/15/2007
News - Provoking Iran
Once again I quote from the American Progress Report. They do some terrific research and writing over there and often uncover stories that aren't in the mainstream news.
"President Bush's tough new stance on Iran and his military buildup in the Persian Gulf recall some of the drumbeats that preceded the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003," the AP reports. "As then, the Bush administration is making allegations about Iran without providing proof. It is suggesting Iran is sending weapons to Iraq, yet offering no evidence the supplies can be traced to Tehran." Sen. John Rockefeller (D-WV), the new chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has warned that Vice President Dick Cheney and other ideologues within the Bush administration are trying to provoke a military conflict with Iran. "I don't think that policy makers in this administration particularly understand Iran," said Rockefeller. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who came to power with an agenda to eradicate poverty and tackle unemployment, "is now facing increasingly fierce criticism for his failure to meet those promises." There has been talk of his impeachment in Iran. At the same time, he has aggressively pushed ahead Iran's nuclear program, shrugging off U.N. demands that the country halt uranium enrichment. As a result, the United Nations in December imposed sanctions on Iran. Rather than capitalize on Ahmadinejad's weak political circumstances, the Bush administration's bellicose rhetoric and repeated threats -- which Ahmadinejad is more than happy to reciprocate -- serve to perpetuate his grasp on power by providing him with Iranian popular support for his confrontation with the international community. Ali Ansari, director of the Institute of Iranian Studies at St. Andrews University in Scotland, writes, "The reality is that while Ahmadinejad has been his own worst enemy, the U.S. hawks are his best friends."
"President Bush's tough new stance on Iran and his military buildup in the Persian Gulf recall some of the drumbeats that preceded the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003," the AP reports. "As then, the Bush administration is making allegations about Iran without providing proof. It is suggesting Iran is sending weapons to Iraq, yet offering no evidence the supplies can be traced to Tehran." Sen. John Rockefeller (D-WV), the new chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has warned that Vice President Dick Cheney and other ideologues within the Bush administration are trying to provoke a military conflict with Iran. "I don't think that policy makers in this administration particularly understand Iran," said Rockefeller. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who came to power with an agenda to eradicate poverty and tackle unemployment, "is now facing increasingly fierce criticism for his failure to meet those promises." There has been talk of his impeachment in Iran. At the same time, he has aggressively pushed ahead Iran's nuclear program, shrugging off U.N. demands that the country halt uranium enrichment. As a result, the United Nations in December imposed sanctions on Iran. Rather than capitalize on Ahmadinejad's weak political circumstances, the Bush administration's bellicose rhetoric and repeated threats -- which Ahmadinejad is more than happy to reciprocate -- serve to perpetuate his grasp on power by providing him with Iranian popular support for his confrontation with the international community. Ali Ansari, director of the Institute of Iranian Studies at St. Andrews University in Scotland, writes, "The reality is that while Ahmadinejad has been his own worst enemy, the U.S. hawks are his best friends."
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Fun Photos - President Bush
This might explain a lot about his delusions of grandeur.
I think one of the issues that upsets so many Iraqis about the behavior of the U.S. is our plan to set up permanent bases in Iraq.
At long last - good advice from the White House!
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Bush Fun Photos
Twenty Die In Florida Attack - Bush Declares War!
In a sneak attack conducted under cover of night, several terrorist tornados swooped down on parts of Florida yesterday. Almost immediately, President Bush went on TV to announce that he was sending all remaining (5) U.S. troops into Florida to combat these terrorist attacks.
For more detailed information, tune into your favorite cable news channel (Faux News is our favorite.)
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Thursday, February 01, 2007
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