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, May 11, 2007
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Did You Know - Promise Pullback
If the Bush Administration is going to make promises they won't keep, why do you suppose they tell their political opponents they are cheating? Is it bragging? You know - sort of like, "We can do whatever we want, no matter what we say." Damn - they are really interesting people. They don't at all play by the same rules as I do in my life.
From the Washington Post...
From the Washington Post...
Senior Bush administration officials told Congress on Tuesday that they could not pledge that the administration would continue to seek warrants from a secret court for a domestic wiretapping program, as it agreed to do in January.
Did You Know - Support Dwindles
Maine Today posts a great editorial about why they were wrong to support the Iraq war. Click here to read the entire article. And click here to link to some Daily Kos discussion on the editorial.
But in supporting this war, we made a tremendous error. We believed the president and his team possessed the skills and judgment needed to make the mission a success. We were wrong.
Video Link - D.C. Madam
Now this is interesting - here's an ABC News clip from the first days of the DC Madam scandal. (She had turned copies of her records over to ABC.) Within days following this report, ABC suddenly started downplaying the names of those in the records. Verrry interesting. Who is now covering up this story and why? ABC is owned by Disney and has shown some very conservative tendencies lately. Have the newsmen been hushed?
Click here to link to the video...
Click here to link to the video...
Did You Know - Julie MacDonald
From Yahoo News...
An Interior Department official accused of pressuring government scientists to make their research fit her policy goals has resigned.
Julie MacDonald, deputy assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and parks, submitted her resignation letter to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, a department spokesman said Tuesday.
MacDonald resigned a week before a House congressional oversight committee was to hold a hearing on accusations that she violated the Endangered Species Act, censored science and mistreated staff of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
When will the party of "family values" come to the conclusion that family values do not include crime, bullying and abuse of power?
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Video - It's In The Bible
Great scene from the West Wing in which President Bartlet argues scripture with Dr. Jacobs.
Did You Know - Offers of Aid Lost
Do you get the impression, sometimes, that Republicans would steal from their own Mom's if they thought they could make decent money from it? It just keeps getting worse and worse.. From the Washington Post - click here to read the entire article...
The Senate homeland security committee plans to hold hearings this summer on the Bush administration's handling of offers of foreign aid after Hurricane Katrina, senators said yesterday.
Of $854 million offered after the storm -- in cash and oil that was to be sold for cash -- only $44 million has gone to disaster victims or reconstruction so far.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Video - Michelle Malkin
This is how the Republicans argue the issues. Hot Air's Michelle Malkin picks up the pom poms to take on Harry Reid and the rest of the Defeatocrats.
Did You Know - Investigate Thyself
From the LA Times...
Now isn't this interesting - the Times is playing this straight, but (forgive my cynical nature) isn't it more than likely this is another ploy to make it look like Republicans are good, clean, fun-loving politicians? I see him clearing Rove (and anyone else he investigates) and then the Republicans holding a big party to celebrate the fact that they've done nothing wrong - ever - anywhere - to anyone. Another cover up.
At first glance, Scott J. Bloch seems to fit the profile of the "loyal Bushie," the kind of person the White House salted through the Washington bureaucracy to make sure federal agencies heeded administration priorities.
But Bloch, 48, is a man who defies expectations.
The lifelong Republican runs an agency — the Office of Special Counsel — that is turning its investigative spotlight on the White House, in particular the political operation headed by Karl Rove.
His office is investigating whether Bush administration personnel violated civil statutes by inserting GOP electoral politics into Cabinet agency meetings, firing at least one U.S. attorney, and discussing some of the activities in private e-mails that are missing.
But Bloch, 48, is a man who defies expectations.
The lifelong Republican runs an agency — the Office of Special Counsel — that is turning its investigative spotlight on the White House, in particular the political operation headed by Karl Rove.
His office is investigating whether Bush administration personnel violated civil statutes by inserting GOP electoral politics into Cabinet agency meetings, firing at least one U.S. attorney, and discussing some of the activities in private e-mails that are missing.
Now isn't this interesting - the Times is playing this straight, but (forgive my cynical nature) isn't it more than likely this is another ploy to make it look like Republicans are good, clean, fun-loving politicians? I see him clearing Rove (and anyone else he investigates) and then the Republicans holding a big party to celebrate the fact that they've done nothing wrong - ever - anywhere - to anyone. Another cover up.
Did You Know - Attorney Probe
Some of the Bush administration shenanigans can be attributed to incompetence, for sure. But how much can be attributed to political partisanship and conscious criminal behavior? Here's a clip and a link to an interesting article from the New York Times a few days ago...
When a jury acquitted Carl J. Marlinga, a former county prosecutor from suburban Detroit, of bribery charges last year, his initial reaction was to write off the episode as a terrible mistake that at least had been corrected.
“Prosecutors can make mistakes for innocent reasons,” Mr. Marlinga
said. “I know that first hand.”But as he looks back at the case, Mr. Marlinga, 60, who was charged while he was a Democratic candidate for Congress, no longer has such confidence in the integrity of the legal system.
“Was there some extra pressure on the United States attorney’s office, whether articulated or tacitly understood, by their superiors in Washington who would not look favorably upon the office if this case was not pursued?” he asked. “I have to wonder.”
That kind of second guessing has surfaced with increasing frequency in recent weeks in states including Alabama, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Since the dismissals of eight United States attorneys, local lawyers, politicians, editorial writers,
members of Congress and defendants are questioning what they say is a pattern of investigating Democrats. They point to inquiries that drag on for years but end with no charges, an acquittal or convictions for relatively modest infractions.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Did You Know - Innocent but Incarcerated
More than a fifth of the approximately 385 prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have been cleared for release but may have to wait months or years for their freedom because U.S. officials are finding it increasingly difficult to line up places to send them, according to Bush administration officials and defense lawyers.
The compassionate Bush administration continues to show it's zeal for protecting innocent human beings, no matter what their nationality. Maybe GWB could save everyone a lot of trouble if we just treated them like other enemy combatants, and turn them loose on the streets of Baghdad! From the Washington Post...
Did You Know - Abandoning Your Friends
In the game of dodge ball, you try to avoid being hit from the front. But you don't expect to be hit from behind.
The longer we live with the Bush administration, the bigger the pile of bodies on the sidelines, stunned by the hit from its own team.
The quote above comes from Mitch Albom on the Detroit Free Press website and he goes on to discuss the lack of ethics displayed by our President as he casts adrift one after another of the loyal Bushies. Included - Pat Tillman, Jessica Lynch, Alberto Gonzales and George Tenet.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Did You Know - Randall Tobias
Fourth post of the day about Bush Administration officials getting caught in criminal or immoral behavior. This guy is even worse - he's a hypocrite. From Think Progress...
Former U.S. AID director Randall Tobias, who resigned yesterday upon admitting that he frequented a Washington escort service, oversaw a controversial policy advocated by the religious right that required any US-based group receiving anti-AIDS funds to take an anti-prostitution “loyalty oath.”
Did You Know - Rebuilding Failures
Seems to me that the big question about GWB is, 'is there anything that he hasn't screwed up?" The following is from the New York Times - click here to read more...
In a troubling sign for the American-financed rebuilding program in
Iraq , inspectors for a federal oversight agency have found that in a sampling of eight projects that the United States had declared successes, seven were no longer operating as designed because of plumbing and electrical failures, lack of proper maintenance, apparent looting and expensive equipment that lay idle.
The United States has previously admitted, sometimes under pressure from federal inspectors, that some of its reconstruction projects have been abandoned, delayed or poorly constructed. But this is the first time inspectors have found that projects officially declared a success - in some cases, as little as six months before the latest inspections — were no longer working properly.
Did You Know - Robert E. Couglin II
This is my third post today on Bush Amdministration officials in deep doo-doo over their possible criminal behavior in screwing the American public. From the McClatchy (formerly Knight-Ridder) chain - click here to read more...
WASHINGTON - A senior Justice Department official has resigned after coming under scrutiny in the Department’s expanding
investigation of convicted super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff, according to a Justice Department official with knowledge of the case.
Making the situation more awkward for the embattled Department, the official, Robert E. Coughlin II, was deputy chief of staff for the criminal division, which is overseeing the Department’s probe of Abramoff.
Did You Know - Johnnie E. Frazier
I just posted one article about an incompetent in the Bush administration - here's another. I'm finding these at the rate of about one a day. This is from the Washington Post - click here to read more...
The inspector general of the Department of Commerce, the watchdog charged with rooting out wrongdoing at the agency, is himself the subject of three separate government investigations into allegations that he misspent his budget and retaliated against employees who raised concerns about his actions.
Last week, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Dingell (D-Mich.); Rep. Joe L. Barton (Tex.), the ranking Republican on the panel; and two other members sent an eight-page letter to the inspector general, Johnnie E. Frazier, demanding scores of records. Investigators from two executive-branch agencies have also been looking into Frazier's conduct.
The inspector general of the Department of Commerce, the watchdog charged with rooting out wrongdoing at the agency, is himself the subject of three separate government investigations into allegations that he misspent his budget and retaliated against employees who raised concerns about his actions.
Last week, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Dingell (D-Mich.); Rep. Joe L. Barton (Tex.), the ranking Republican on the panel; and two other members sent an eight-page letter to the inspector general, Johnnie E. Frazier, demanding scores of records. Investigators from two executive-branch agencies have also been looking into Frazier's conduct.
Did You Know - Julie A. McDonald
The following requires no set-up from me. It is from the Center for American Progress' Progress Report, 5/2/2007.
ETHICS -- CONTROVERSIAL INTERIOR DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL RESIGNS: Julie A. MacDonald, a senior Bush political appointee at the Interior Department, resigned yesterday ahead of her upcoming appearance before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The committee is set to hold a hearing next week "on accusations that she violated the Endangered Species Act, censored science and mistreated staff of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service." A civil engineer with no training in biology, MacDonald, as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks, often overruled and disparaged the findings of scientists on her staff, instead relying on the recommendations of political and industry groups to decide which imperiled animals and plants should be protected under the Endangered Species Act. Under MacDonald and other Bush administration appointees, just 56 species have been listed under the Endangered Species Act as of Nov. 2006, a rate of about 10 a year. Under President Clinton, officials listed 512 species, or 64 a year, and under President George H.W. Bush, the department listed 234, or 59 a year. MacDonald's departure also "came as the agency was discussing plans to demote her," an Interior Department official told the Washington Post. In a report by the inspector general of the Interior Department earlier this year, MacDonald was chastised for "disclosing confidential documents to 'private sector sources' such as the Pacific Legal Foundation and the California Farm Bureau Federation, both of which have challenged endangered-species listings." Environmental groups praised her departure. "Increasing transparency in the decision-making process would make other political appointees think twice before altering or distorting scientific documents," said Francesca Grifo, director of the Scientific Integrity Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists.
ETHICS -- CONTROVERSIAL INTERIOR DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL RESIGNS: Julie A. MacDonald, a senior Bush political appointee at the Interior Department, resigned yesterday ahead of her upcoming appearance before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The committee is set to hold a hearing next week "on accusations that she violated the Endangered Species Act, censored science and mistreated staff of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service." A civil engineer with no training in biology, MacDonald, as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks, often overruled and disparaged the findings of scientists on her staff, instead relying on the recommendations of political and industry groups to decide which imperiled animals and plants should be protected under the Endangered Species Act. Under MacDonald and other Bush administration appointees, just 56 species have been listed under the Endangered Species Act as of Nov. 2006, a rate of about 10 a year. Under President Clinton, officials listed 512 species, or 64 a year, and under President George H.W. Bush, the department listed 234, or 59 a year. MacDonald's departure also "came as the agency was discussing plans to demote her," an Interior Department official told the Washington Post. In a report by the inspector general of the Interior Department earlier this year, MacDonald was chastised for "disclosing confidential documents to 'private sector sources' such as the Pacific Legal Foundation and the California Farm Bureau Federation, both of which have challenged endangered-species listings." Environmental groups praised her departure. "Increasing transparency in the decision-making process would make other political appointees think twice before altering or distorting scientific documents," said Francesca Grifo, director of the Scientific Integrity Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Did You Know - Hypocrites
Bill Clinton lied about his little escapade with Monica - and probably he lied about his escapades with other women as well. He's a handsome guy with a lot of charisma and I'll bet he's attracted women by the busload. I don't respect him for any of that, but it does seem to be human nature for most men to chase, and even catch women.
What I DO respect him for is not being a hypocrite. He did not precede or follow-up his indiscretions by preaching about how moral we all need to be and that we need to pass laws to stop all of the rest of us from doing what he did. Not like so many Republicans.
The following is from Wonkette:
What I DO respect him for is not being a hypocrite. He did not precede or follow-up his indiscretions by preaching about how moral we all need to be and that we need to pass laws to stop all of the rest of us from doing what he did. Not like so many Republicans.
The following is from Wonkette:
So, today, McCain’s got a full-on no-homo agenda going:
While he reiterated his commitment to federalism, Mr. McCain further stated, “If I were a citizen of New Hampshire, I would oppose it. … Anything that impinges or impacts the sanctity of the marriage between men and women, I’m opposed to it.”
While he reiterated his commitment to federalism, Mr. McCain further stated, “If I were a citizen of New Hampshire, I would oppose it. … Anything that impinges or impacts the sanctity of the marriage between men and women, I’m opposed to it.”
But does John McCain have the right to say much about the sanctity of marriage? Nope - he's another asshole hypocrite. The following is from Wikipedia...
McCain has acknowledged engaging in extramarital affairs upon returning from Vietnam. While he was in Vietnam, his wife Carol raised his three children. She was also severely injured in a car accident. Due to the accident, she had become 4 inches shorter, gained weight, and had to use crutches to walk.. He soon began engaging in extramarital affairs and in 1979, he met Cindy Hensley, a 25-year-old. He continued his extramarital affairs while living with his wife. A year later, McCain sought a divorce from Carol and a month after that, he married Cindy. The Hensley family fortune was important in launching his political career.
Did You Know - National Day of Reason
I guess the National Day of Reason makes a statement, but I'm afraid that it's sort of like trying to whistle into the wind - not much noise being made about it. Click here to read the article on the home page for the day, Here's a clip for you...
Many who value the separation of religion and government have sought an appropriate response to the federally-supported National Day of Prayer , an annual abuse of the constitution. Nontheistic Americans (including freethinkers, humanists, atheists, agnostics, and deists), along with many traditionally religious allies, view such government-sanctioned sectarianism as unduly exclusionary.
A consortium of leaders from within the community of reason endorsed the idea of a National Day of Reason. This observance is held in parallel with the National Day of Prayer, on the first Thursday in May (3 May 2007). The goal of this effort is to celebrate reason - a concept all Americans can support - and to raise public awareness about the persistent threat to religious liberty posed by government intrusion into the private sphere of worship.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)