LEFT is RIGHT (blogging against The Bush-war) |
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| by mcjoan - Sun Feb 27th, 2005 at 18:54:04 PST Hi. Remember me? I'm a woman. A grown-up woman. I function in daily life with an astonishing degree of autonomy. I manage my household. I pay my bills. I pay my student loans after having put myself through graduate school. I'm a boss. I make decisions affecting the work lives of a dozen or so people on a daily basis. Hell, I can even operate a motor vehicle. I am a fully realized, fully functioning, fully capable human being. I contribute to society, to the economy, and to the lives of my friends and family. I also happen to be capable of growing another human being inside my body. Ah, that's where the trouble starts, isn't it? See, it seems when the subject of that potential life form brewing in my body comes up, that autonomy, that individuality, and self-determination seems to get lost in the public eye. Suddenly, that most private possession--my body, my womb--becomes the ground for public debate. A debate that we're in danger of losing, even within our own party judging by discussion that occurs on this site with alarming regularity. We're losing that debate in large part because we've allowed the discussion to be reframed so that the individual woman and her rights are no longer at the center. What's more, this focus on the fetus has extended far beyond the debate on abortion to become a much larger societal issue. By way of example, here's a question for you. How many women were murdered in the United States this past week? Go ahead and try Googling it. Good luck finding that statistic. But we all know about the story from Texas of the woman who was seven-months pregnant, killed by the would-be father. That story was all over the news this week. Is the murder of that woman, Lisa Underwood, and her son, Jayden more tragic than the murder of the five or six or dozen other women and children who were killed this week? Enough so that we don't even know how many died? Enough so that we don't know any of their names? We know Lisa's name because she was killed while pregnant. And her murderer can be prosecuted for a federal crime, because we now have a federal law that makes it a federal crime to kill or harm a fetus or embryo at any stage after implantation in the womb, giving separate legal status to a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus, even if the woman does not know she is pregnant. Around the country, state prosecutors have relied on a host of criminal laws already on the books to attack prenatal substance abuse. Women across the nation have been arrested and charged with a wide range of crimes, including possession of a controlled substance, delivering drugs to a minor (through the umbilical cord), corruption of a minor, and child abuse and neglect. These are examples of the concerted effort by the far-right to grant equal legal standing, equal rights, equal protections to the unborn. Even to the fertilized egg. And because no one wants to be labelled anti-baby, we've let it happen. We've let them reframe the debate to give the fetus equal standing with the woman whose body it is a part of. I say none of this to suggest that I am anti-child, just as I would hope those inclined to flame me would not like to be called anti-woman. We don't need to continue to put the woman in opposition to the fetus as the far-right would have us do. I say this so that no one forgets what really is a stake in this debate. The most fundamental right of me, my sisters, my friends--all of us citizens of the United States--for self-determination. |
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February 26, 2005
From Knowledge News (subscription req.):
I highly recommend Knowledge News. You receive something like the above every weekday, geared to something important and current in the news. The price is great: a lifetime subscription for around $35. I forward each day's issue to my two youngest sons and they love it.
Shi'ite History Lesson
From Knowledge News (subscription req.):
| Shi'ites are gearing up to govern Iraq. Their main political coalition, the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA), recently won a majority of seats in Iraq's new national assembly. Now, the UIA has nominated 58-year-old doctor Ibrahim al-Jaafari for prime minister, with the endorsement of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's leading Shi'ite cleric. With all this in the news, we wondered, what does it mean to be a Shi'ite? Shi'ism began with an argument. When the Prophet Muhammad died in 632, there was a dispute over who would succeed him to become the caliph, or leader, of the young Muslim community. Shi'ites believe Muhammad had clearly designated Ali, his cousin and son-in-law, as his successor. But a group of Muslim elders gathered and selected Muhammad's father-in-law, Abu Bakr, instead. For a time, Ali stepped out of the public eye, but a small community of Shi'a (Arabic for "followers") soon surrounded him and deferred to him as their imam, or "guide." According to Shi'ite belief, God chose the imams to serve as infallible guides for the community of the faithful. Every imam must descend directly from the Prophet, through Ali and his wife Fatima. Because they emphasize the role of the imam, Shi'ites have often rejected other sources of religious authority, such as community consensus, that are important within majority Sunni Islam. Imam vs. Caliph The caliphs had the allegiance of most Muslims, but they still saw the imams as a threat. Ali actually became caliph in 656, but not for long--in 661 he was killed by a dissident Muslim. Most of the imams who followed tried to keep a low profile, but many still died violently. In 874, the twelfth imam, known as the Mahdi ("divinely guided one"), simply disappeared. Most Shi'ites today, called "Twelvers," believe that he is not dead but hidden, and will return at the end of time to reign over a period of justice and right religion. After the Twelvers, the largest Shi'ite sects are the Zaydis and Ismailis. Generally speaking, Zaydis have a looser definition of who can be imam, while the Ismailis allow for freer interpretation of the Qur'an. As Islam spread, Shi'ism went with it. Sunnis are the majority in most of the Islamic world, but significant Shi'ite communities cropped up practically everywhere Islam went. In a few areas, Shi'ites became the majority sect. In 1501, Shah Ismail I took control of Persia, declared Shi'ism the state religion, and required his subjects to convert. To this day, there are strong Shi'ite majorities in Iran and Iraq. Shi'ite vs. Sunni Shi'ite and Sunni Islam did not split over doctrinal differences, and even today they agree on the fundamentals of both doctrine and practice. Both groups respect the Prophet, the Qur'an, and the oneness of God. Both also hold to the Five Pillars of Islam: shahada, the profession of faith; salat, the daily prayers; zakat, the alms tax; sawm, the Ramadan fast; and hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca. Shi'ites are distinctive in aspects of worship that grow out of their unique history--for instance, commemorating the martyrdom of Husayn, the third imam, or making pilgrimages to the tombs of Fatima and the imams. A pilgrimage to Husayn's tomb in Karbala, Iraq, is believed to cleanse sins. Pilgrims join a procession circling the tomb, some beating their chests and gashing their scalps with swords to commemorate the martyr's suffering. While there is no Islamic clergy, Muslims give a great deal of respect to those who study at religious universities. Shi'ite society invests enormous importance in grand ayatollahs, who through their teaching have gathered followers who look to them for guidance. Shi'ites pay a special religious income tax, called the khums, to their chosen grand ayatollah, and this money funds schools and other community services. The first imam, Ali, is still venerated as the ideal Shi'ite leader--morally uncompromising and pure in both word and deed. Mark Diller - February 25, 2005 |
I highly recommend Knowledge News. You receive something like the above every weekday, geared to something important and current in the news. The price is great: a lifetime subscription for around $35. I forward each day's issue to my two youngest sons and they love it.
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February 25, 2005
Hey, Mr. ass-wipe president-elect, at least we bloggers read, collect facts, think and then give our opinion. You should try it sometime.
Oh, and the last complex text I read cover-to-cover was my upper-division Organic Chemistry, and it wasn't for fun. Although I've read books cover-to-cover on computer programming, psychiatry, politics, physiology, medicine, and so forth, I've never come across a book that supports, in any way, what you claim.
Maybe you should start reading blogs that are not just Right-wing. After all, it's most of those Righties that can't properly process accumulated facts and form reasonable, intellectual opinions.
IRAQ: Ramadi residents flee city after latest US-led attacks
So, are they looking for WMD? No? Then why are we still over there?
The Koufax Awards recognizes the best blogs (okay, the best Liberal blogs, but that's kinda redundant). Here are the winners:
Best Blog – Non-Sponsored Division - Daily Kos
Best Blog – Pro Division - Talking Points Memo
Best Writing - Hullabaloo
Best Post - If American Were Iraq, What Would it be Like
Best Series - The Rise of Pseudo-Fascism and Cheers and Jeers
Best Group Blog - MyDD
Most Humorous Blog - Jesus’ General
Most Humorous Post - Poker with Dick Cheney
Best Expert Blog - Informed Comment
Best Single Issue Blog - Talk Left and Grits for Breakfast
Best New Blog - Mouse Words
Most Deserving of Wider Recongition - Suburban Guerrilla
Best Commenter - Meteor Blades
If you are new to the liberal blogosphere, check these out and see what you've been missing. Once you realize that there is a wealth of real news and opinion out there, you'll find yourself skipping the faux news on TV... and becoming a much better informed person... and it's probably better for your sex life, too.
Remember the NumaNuma video? Here's a class singing along with it.
Map of Springfield, USA (from The Simpsons show)
Four More Years (video)
I Feel Great (video)
How to Destroy the Earth
Pizza Delivery (video)
Top 100 Gadgets Of All Time
A New Side of Porky
Quotes from The lair
Friday Fun (name stolen from yours truly?!)
Answers (to your questions)
Silly Patents
| "It is obvious that the Blog People read what they want to read rather than what is in front of them and judge me to be wrong on the basis of what they think rather than what I actually wrote. Given the quality of the writing in the blogs I have seen, I doubt that many of the Blog People are in the habit of sustained reading of complex texts. It is entirely possible that their intellectual needs are met by an accumulation of random facts and paragraphs. In that case, their rejection of my view is quite understandable." - - - Michael Gorman, president-elect of the American Library Association |
Hey, Mr. ass-wipe president-elect, at least we bloggers read, collect facts, think and then give our opinion. You should try it sometime.
Oh, and the last complex text I read cover-to-cover was my upper-division Organic Chemistry, and it wasn't for fun. Although I've read books cover-to-cover on computer programming, psychiatry, politics, physiology, medicine, and so forth, I've never come across a book that supports, in any way, what you claim.
Maybe you should start reading blogs that are not just Right-wing. After all, it's most of those Righties that can't properly process accumulated facts and form reasonable, intellectual opinions.
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The Next Fallujah
IRAQ: Ramadi residents flee city after latest US-led attacks
| 24 Feb 2005 14:41:07 GMT - Source: IRIN RAMADI, 24 February (IRIN) - Residents of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province some 100 km east of Baghdad, have started to flee the city following the latest offensive launched by US Marines and the Iraqi army. The military have carried out raids in the province over the past few days in an attempt to crack down on insurgents, with the main focus of operations eing Ramadi, a rebel stronghold. Worried that the offensive could proceed as it did in nearby Fallujah, where he majority of the city's population was forced to flee during a near hree-month long campaign, many Ramadi families are taking personal effects and food supplies and heading to relatives' houses in the capital, or to the same camps where residents from Fallujah fled. A number of checkpoints have been set up around the city of 400,000 and a curfew has been established. It runs from 2000 to 0600. Vehicles are being inspecting carefully and any suspect is being taken for further interrogation, Marines' spokesman Lt-Col Paul Brathen told IRIN. "Many insurgents have escaped Fallujah to this area but they won't have time to take the city and our early operation will prevent that. People have started to flee the city but it's too early for that," Brathen added. But citizens, exhausted by ongoing violence, are afraid and are choosing to leave before the situation worsens. "They want to destroy the whole area and build a New York City there, and for that they are tearing down everything. We want to live in peace. We are tired of fighting and bombs. God, please protect us," Muhammad Farhan, a father of five, who was fleeing the city with his family, told IRIN. Government offices and shops have closed and people are having difficulties getting food supplies as the offensive came quickly and without warning, giving them no time to prepare. A government official from the city, who wished to remain anonymous, told IRIN that they expected the situation to get much worse, especially in some areas of Ramadi where insurgents were putting up a strong fight. He added that most government officials had already left the city. Firdous al-Abadi, a spokeswoman for the Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS), told IRIN that many people had been trapped in the university and inside mosques for over 48 hours as fighting raged outside. "The government should take responsibility and provide those people with everything that is required for their survival," al-Abadi added. "People are tired of running from place to place." Al-Abadi also said that the IRCS had sent a supply convoy last weekend to Fallujah, as nearly 100 families were still homeless inside the city after their homes were destroyed. "This fighting should stop to prevent more displaced people in our country. If those already displaced are not receiving any help from the government, what will happen if more people become homeless?" al-Abadi asked. |
So, are they looking for WMD? No? Then why are we still over there?
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2004 Koufax Award Winners
The Koufax Awards recognizes the best blogs (okay, the best Liberal blogs, but that's kinda redundant). Here are the winners:
Best Blog – Non-Sponsored Division - Daily Kos
Best Blog – Pro Division - Talking Points Memo
Best Writing - Hullabaloo
Best Post - If American Were Iraq, What Would it be Like
Best Series - The Rise of Pseudo-Fascism and Cheers and Jeers
Best Group Blog - MyDD
Most Humorous Blog - Jesus’ General
Most Humorous Post - Poker with Dick Cheney
Best Expert Blog - Informed Comment
Best Single Issue Blog - Talk Left and Grits for Breakfast
Best New Blog - Mouse Words
Most Deserving of Wider Recongition - Suburban Guerrilla
Best Commenter - Meteor Blades
If you are new to the liberal blogosphere, check these out and see what you've been missing. Once you realize that there is a wealth of real news and opinion out there, you'll find yourself skipping the faux news on TV... and becoming a much better informed person... and it's probably better for your sex life, too.
[Go to Top] [HOME]
FRIDAY FUN
Remember the NumaNuma video? Here's a class singing along with it.
Map of Springfield, USA (from The Simpsons show)
Four More Years (video)
I Feel Great (video)
How to Destroy the Earth
Pizza Delivery (video)
Top 100 Gadgets Of All Time
A New Side of Porky
Quotes from The lair
Friday Fun (name stolen from yours truly?!)
Answers (to your questions)
Silly Patents
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February 24, 2005
Very effective video tying together Bush-war's endless lies about WMD with the results we see today. (approx. 6 minutes)
Find an anti-war march in your area on March 19 and go protest! Do something!
We had the incredible pleasure of attending a recital by this tenor last night. Sitting in the front row, literally 12 feet away from his on-stage location, it was like having our own personal performance. He's a rapidly rising star and a must-see if you ever get the opportunity. Here's a sample.
"No Tyrant Can Stand Forever"
Very effective video tying together Bush-war's endless lies about WMD with the results we see today. (approx. 6 minutes)
Find an anti-war march in your area on March 19 and go protest! Do something!
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Bruce Sledge
We had the incredible pleasure of attending a recital by this tenor last night. Sitting in the front row, literally 12 feet away from his on-stage location, it was like having our own personal performance. He's a rapidly rising star and a must-see if you ever get the opportunity. Here's a sample.
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February 23, 2005
You can read the complete report HERE.
This (slavery in California) is an abomination in every way. Yet, I'll bet it's not even on Groperzenegger's agenda. It's the elephant in the room here in Los Angeles, because everyone's heard about it, suspects that many of the people we see waiting at bus stops are victims of it, and yet are otherwise apatheic to the whole hideous issue.
Hey, California Progressives: Too burnt out from the 2004 election? Too lazy to get off your butts to protest the Iraq War? Well how about getting up and doing something about this? Or are you really just Republicans in Liberals' clothing?
Steve Gilliard give a case for liberals to stop whining:
Damn optimist, that Steve guy.
Wow, Bush-war has really done a bang-up job on Afghanistan. From the NYT:
And the George W. Bush-war-induced world misery beat goes on...
Homeland Security Department and the CDC should coordinate information distribution and vaccine development with the nation's medical community. Will Bush-war be the leader on this?
Slavery: Alive and Prospering in California
| UC Berkeley law professor releases new report on hidden slavery in California By Janet Gilmore, Media Relations | 23 February 2005 BERKELEY – Laurel Fletcher, a University of California, Berkeley, law professor and researcher with the campus's Human Rights Center, has released a new report from the center on forced labor in California and will testify about the findings Friday (Feb. 25) during a hearing before state lawmakers in Los Angeles. The report, "Freedom Denied: Forced Labor in California," follows an in influential national report that the center released on this issue last fall in Washington. D.C. The new report looks at the nature and scope of the problem in California, finding that such cases take place across the state, although 80 percent of the incidents occur in the just three metropolitan areas -- the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego metro areas. Individuals are forced into prostitution, domestic service, and sweatshop work, often with little or no compensation, according to the report. The report recommends that California legislators enact new criminal laws against forced labor, train law enforcement offers to recognize forced labor situations, and increase critical support services -- such as safe housing and access to legal counsel -- for forced labor victims. The report will be on the Human Rights Center's Web site: http://www.hrcberkeley.org/... |
You can read the complete report HERE.
This (slavery in California) is an abomination in every way. Yet, I'll bet it's not even on Groperzenegger's agenda. It's the elephant in the room here in Los Angeles, because everyone's heard about it, suspects that many of the people we see waiting at bus stops are victims of it, and yet are otherwise apatheic to the whole hideous issue.
Hey, California Progressives: Too burnt out from the 2004 election? Too lazy to get off your butts to protest the Iraq War? Well how about getting up and doing something about this? Or are you really just Republicans in Liberals' clothing?
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On Crazy Gays and Whiners
Steve Gilliard give a case for liberals to stop whining:
| ....The question you have to ask is this: do you think Bush is right or not. I don't mean, right about an issue, but right in his idea of the Americans he won't talk to. I don't and I don't think you should either. Why? Because Bush's support outside his hard core is an inch deep. Kerry came close, but he didn't make the case to enough people . It's not about sheep or stupidity, but belief. People want to believe Bush stands with them, even when he doesn't. He's a human Rorschact test. People believe he's for Kyoto and the environment. Wny? Because they assume he likes what they like. They do not want to believe that he would wage a pointless war, that he is as reckless as he is. But that is not my concern. What we have to do is both fight back, and tell people what we believe, and stop fucking whining. No one likes a whiner. Either you want to do something or not, and if it's not, please keep it to yourself. Look, most of the people who read this blog will do fine regardless of who sits in the White House, they may not like it, but for the most part, their lives will not hang by what is done in Congress. But there are other people who will not. There are people who will starve if Bush has his way. We're not really fighting for ourselves for the most part. We are fighting for both our ideals and those who cannot fight, who are trying to get through the day in one piece. Bush is a bad president and miserable leader, but he and his cronies can and will be stopped. He barely won reelection and we got Howard Dean past the Washington Dems in a way they had to accept, whether they liked it or not. And if you think it's too hard to struggle, let me remind you that the NAACP was established in 1909, a year when 69 blacks were lynched. It would take 55 years for blacks to be accorded basic civil rights. It took until 1973 before being gay was not the same as being crazy. So knowing Bush is gone at the end of 2008 should make things a bit easier, if you put it in perspective, that is. |
Damn optimist, that Steve guy.
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Afghanistan Update
Wow, Bush-war has really done a bang-up job on Afghanistan. From the NYT:
| Afghan Living Standards Among the Lowest, U.N. Finds By CARLOTTA GALL - Published: February 22, 2005 ANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Feb. 21 - Three years after the United States drove the Taliban out of Afghanistan and vowed to rebuild, the war-shattered country ranked 173rd of 178 countries in the United Nations 2004 Human Development Index, according to a new report from the United Nations. It was trailed only by a few countries in sub-Saharan Africa: Burundi, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Sierra Leone. The survey, "National Human Development Report: Security With a Human Face," released Monday in Kabul, is the first comprehensive look at the state of development in Afghanistan in 30 years. In addition to ranking Afghanistan in the development index for the first time, the report warned that Afghanistan could revert to anarchy if its dire poverty, poor health and insecurity were not improved. "The fragile nation could easily tumble back into chaos," concluded the authors of the study, led by Shahrbanou Tadjbakhsh, the report's editor in chief. "The basic human needs and genuine grievances of the people, lack of jobs, health, education, income, dignity and opportunities for participation must be met." Despite the problems, Afghanistan has shown remarkable progress in the three years since the United States-led war in 2001, the report said. More than 54 percent of school-age children are enrolled, including four million high school students. The economy is making great strides, with growth of 16 percent in nondrug gross domestic product in 2003 and predicted growth of 10 to 12 percent annually for the next decade. While there has been rapid progress, said Zphirin Diabr, associate administrator of the United Nations Development Program, the country has a long way to go just to get back to where it was 20 years ago. The figures, as President Hamid Karzai says in the report's introduction, paint a gloomy picture. Average life expectancy for Afghanistan's 28.5 million people is 44.5 years, at least 20 years lower than that of neighboring countries, the report said. Ambassador Christopher Alexander of Canada, whose government helped pay for the report, said that illustrated Afghanistan's post-conflict predicament and the prevalence of poverty. One of two Afghans can be classified as poor, and 20.4 percent of the rural population does not have enough to eat, getting less than the benchmark of 2,070 calories a day. More than half of the population has suffered from the effects of a prolonged drought, the report said. One-quarter of the population has at some time sought refuge outside the country, and 3.6 million remain refugees or displaced people. Most glaring are the inequalities that affect women and children, still some of the worst social indicators in the world today, said Alistair McKechnie, country director of the World Bank, which financed the report along with the Canadians and the United Nations. One woman dies from pregnancy-related causes about every 30 minutes, and maternal mortality rates are 60 times higher than in industrialized countries, the report said. One-fifth of the children die before the age of 5, 80 percent of them from preventable diseases, one of the worst rates in the world. Only 25 percent of the population has access to clean drinking water, and one in eight children die from lack of clean water. Afghanistan now has the worst education system in the world, the report concluded, and one of the lowest adult literacy rates, 28.7 percent. Annual per capita income was $190 and the unemployment rate 25 percent, said Hanif Atmar, the minister of rehabilitation and rural development.... |
And the George W. Bush-war-induced world misery beat goes on...
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Possible Pandemic Next Year?
| Feb 23, 10:03 AM EST Official: Bird flu pandemic is imminent By TINI TRAN - Associated Press Writer HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam (AP) -- World Health Organization officials urged governments on Wednesday to act swiftly to control the spread of the bird flu, warning that the world is in grave danger of a deadly pandemic triggered by the virus. The bird flu has killed 45 people in Asia over the past year, in cases largely traced to contact with sick birds, and experts have warned the H5N1 virus could become far deadlier if it mutates into a form that can be easily transmitted among humans. A global pandemic could kill millions, they say. "We at WHO believe that the world is now in the gravest possible danger of a pandemic," Dr. Shigeru Omi, the WHO's Western Pacific regional director, said Wednesday. He said the world is "now overdue" for an influenza pandemic, since mass epidemics have occurred every 20-30 years. It has been nearly 40 years since the last one. Speaking at the opening of a three-day bird flu conference in Ho Chi Minh City, Omi said it is critical that the international community better coordinate its fight against the virus. In recent outbreaks, bird flu has become more deadly than the strain found in 1997 in Hong Kong, making the situation more urgent, he said. The mortality rate among identified patients who contract the disease from chickens and ducks is about 72 percent, Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said on Monday. She added that her agency was preparing for a possible pandemic next year.... |
Homeland Security Department and the CDC should coordinate information distribution and vaccine development with the nation's medical community. Will Bush-war be the leader on this?
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February 22, 2005
The Gay Virus
HERE is today's racist/bigoted web article of the day. Homosexuality caused by a virus? People, you should have never slept through or ditched so many high school biology classes; your ignorance is overwhelming.
No, really, what's wrong with this picture?
Let's see...
Soldiers/War... BAD
Two guys in love getting married... GOOD
Okay, so these aren't part of the AARP agenda. Would it be so bad if they were?
If Progressives are getting pissed about this picture (which was placed on (and then withdrawn from) the USA Next web site) then they're all hypocrites.
Now, if the verbal content of the accompanying ad (which I haven't seen) makes lies and distortions about the AARP's support of Social Security, then that's another matter entirely. Otherwise, this whole exercise is quite amusing and a lot of people are really overreacting to this childish GOP prank. Why couldn't all these people get this upset about the grossly illegal Ohio vote counting in November? The GOP sure knows how to yank our chains, doesn't it?!
American Progress' Talking Points today had a startling revelation (emphasis added):
That's a lot of people. A lot. That's 75 times the number of people on the planet just last year. Damn hippies and their free sex.
Some Americans ARE selfish and mean. And in power. And ruining our nation. And we continue to sit on our collective asses, while the methodical destruction of our country unfolds ever so slowly before our eyes.
Amazing; truly, truly amazing.
I always enjoyed watching Art Linkletter. Who woulda thought such a seemingly kind and gentle man who made us laugh and smile is actually a spawn of the devil? Excerpt:
Damn...
From ICH:
Scott Ritter has yet, in 3 years, to give a reason for not believing what he tells us.
And in 2000 years we've yet to learn this lesson. Amazing!
From IRIN:
Bush-war has failed miserably in his promises to the Iraqis and Americans who gave their support to his deceit-driven invasion. He has had nearly two years to improve conditions for Iraqi citizens, but instead only makes sure his corporate buddies get their billions, of our income taxes, in military and rebuilding contracts. Despicable, shameful, and downright evil.
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What's Wrong With This Picture?
No, really, what's wrong with this picture?
Let's see...
Soldiers/War... BAD
Two guys in love getting married... GOOD
Okay, so these aren't part of the AARP agenda. Would it be so bad if they were?
If Progressives are getting pissed about this picture (which was placed on (and then withdrawn from) the USA Next web site) then they're all hypocrites.
Now, if the verbal content of the accompanying ad (which I haven't seen) makes lies and distortions about the AARP's support of Social Security, then that's another matter entirely. Otherwise, this whole exercise is quite amusing and a lot of people are really overreacting to this childish GOP prank. Why couldn't all these people get this upset about the grossly illegal Ohio vote counting in November? The GOP sure knows how to yank our chains, doesn't it?!
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"Fastest Growing" used as an understatement
American Progress' Talking Points today had a startling revelation (emphasis added):
| The European Union (EU) is the fastest growing political system in the world. In the last ten years, the EU has grown from 12 countries to 25, and has brought 450 billion people, speaking more than 20 different languages, into a single political system. And it is still growing. Bulgaria, Croatia, and Romania are scheduled to join in 2007, and Turkey has begun the long accession process. Over the next five years, the European Commission will advance efforts to incorporate the Western Balkans (the countries of the former Yugoslavia and Albania). |
That's a lot of people. A lot. That's 75 times the number of people on the planet just last year. Damn hippies and their free sex.
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| "We all have people who are close to us that benefit from the help that Social Security gives us. Social security is far more than a retirement program. It is Americans standing together to honor their past, and Americans standing together to ensure their future. It is the public expression of our collective goodwill. I am very angry that people, who for years have wanted to kill Social Security, now are speaking as if they alone can save it. Social Security is an extension of the goodwill of the American people. It honors the past and promises the future. These people pushing for radical reform intend to bleed dry the goodwill of the American people and replace it with another investment account that starts $2 trillion in the red. It is an amazing display of hubris. In the twilight of our lives or when family tragedy strikes, Social Security is there; you are there extending a helping hand to your fellow Americans, to your family. Asking people to stand alone at these times, in the wealthiest nation in history, is selfish and mean. Americans are not selfish and mean." - - - k9disc |
Some Americans ARE selfish and mean. And in power. And ruining our nation. And we continue to sit on our collective asses, while the methodical destruction of our country unfolds ever so slowly before our eyes.
Amazing; truly, truly amazing.
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Art Less
I always enjoyed watching Art Linkletter. Who woulda thought such a seemingly kind and gentle man who made us laugh and smile is actually a spawn of the devil? Excerpt:
| ...But first, I’d like to ask some blunt questions: Do you want more taxes taken out of your earnings? Do you want more unelected bureaucrats taking over more details of your life and your family’s life? Do you want federal regulators making your health choices, instead of you, your family, and your doctor? Do you want government regulators to control the investment and retirement decisions of your family, instead of you? If you answered “Yes,” then AARP is your group. They continuously work to create high taxes, big, invasive, bloated government, herds of regulators, and dependency of citizens on unelected bureaucrats.... |
Damn...
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June, 2005: Look out, Iran!
From ICH:
| 02/19/05 --United for Peace of Pierce County (WA) - - Scott Ritter, appearing with journalist Dahr Jamail yesterday in Washington State, dropped two shocking bombshells in a talk delivered to a packed house in Olympia’s Capitol Theater. The ex-Marine turned UNSCOM weapons inspector said that George W. Bush has "signed off" on plans to bomb Iran in June 2005, and claimed the U.S. manipulated the results of the recent Jan. 30 elections in Iraq. Olympians like to call the Capitol Theater "historic," but it's doubtful whether the eighty-year-old edifice has ever been the scene of more portentous revelations. The principal theme of Scott Ritter's talk was Americans’ duty to protect the U.S. Constitution by taking action to bring an end to the illegal war in Iraq. But in passing, the former UNSCOM weapons inspector stunned his listeners with two pronouncements. Ritter said plans for a June attack on Iran have been submitted to President George W. Bush, and that the president has approved them. He also asserted that knowledgeable sources say U.S. officials "cooked" the results of the Jan. 30 elections in Iraq. On Iran, Ritter said that President George W. Bush has received and signed off on orders for an aerial attack on Iran planned for June 2005. Its purported goal is the destruction of Iran’s alleged program to develop nuclear weapons, but Ritter said neoconservatives in the administration also expected that the attack would set in motion a chain of events leading to regime change in the oil-rich nation of 70 million -- a possibility Ritter regards with the greatest skepticism. The former Marine also said that the Jan. 30 elections, which George W. Bush has called "a turning point in the history of Iraq, a milestone in the advance of freedom," were not so free after all. Ritter said that U.S. authorities in Iraq had manipulated the results in order to reduce the percentage of the vote received by the United Iraqi Alliance from 56% to 48%. Asked by UFPPC's Ted Nation about this shocker, Ritter said an official involved in the manipulation was the source, and that this would soon be reported by a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist in a major metropolitan magazine -- an obvious allusion to New Yorker reporter Seymour M. Hersh. On Jan. 17, the New Yorker posted an article by Hersh entitled The Coming Wars (New Yorker, January 24-31, 2005). In it, the well-known investigative journalist claimed that for the Bush administration, "The next strategic target [is] Iran." Hersh also reported that "The Administration has been conducting secret reconnaissance missions inside Iran at least since last summer." According to Hersh, "Defense Department civilians, under the leadership of Douglas Feith, have been working with Israeli planners and consultants to develop and refine potential nuclear, chemical-weapons, and missile targets inside Iran. . . . Strategists at the headquarters of the U.S. Central Command, in Tampa, Florida, have been asked to revise the military’s war plan, providing for a maximum ground and air invasion of Iran. . . . The hawks in the Administration believe that it will soon become clear that the Europeans’ negotiated approach [to Iran] cannot succeed, and that at that time the Administration will act." Scott Ritter said that although the peace movement failed to stop the war in Iraq, it had a chance to stop the expansion of the war to other nations like Iran and Syria. He held up the specter of a day when the Iraq war might be remembered as a relatively minor event that preceded an even greater conflagration. Scott Ritter's talk was the culmination of a long evening devoted to discussion of Iraq and U.S. foreign policy. Before Ritter spoke, Dahr Jamail narrated a slide show on Iraq focusing on Fallujah. He showed more than a hundred vivid photographs taken in Iraq, mostly by himself. Many of them showed the horrific slaughter of civilians. Dahr Jamail argued that U.S. mainstream media sources are complicit in the war and help sustain support for it by deliberately downplaying the truth about the devastation and death it is causing. Jamail was, until recently, one of the few unembedded journalists in Iraq and one of the only independent ones. His reports have gained a substantial following and are available online at dahrjamailiraq.com.... |
Scott Ritter has yet, in 3 years, to give a reason for not believing what he tells us.
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| “A man who has in mind an apparent advantage and promptly proceeds to dissociate this from the question of what is right shows himself to be mistaken and immoral. Such a standpoint is the parent of assassinations, poisonings, forged wills, thefts, malversations of public money, and the ruinous exploitation of provincials and ... citizens alike. Another result is passionate desire — desire for excessive wealth, for unendurable tyranny, and ultimately for the despotic seizure of free states. These desires are the most horrible and repulsive things imaginable. The perverted intelligences of men who are animated by such feelings are competent to understand the material rewards, but not the penalties. I do not mean penalties established by law, for these they often escape. I mean the most terrible of all punishments: their own degradation.” - - - Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.) |
And in 2000 years we've yet to learn this lesson. Amazing!
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...they had to use the same needles many times for more than three patients...
From IRIN:
| BAGHDAD, 21 Feb 2005 (IRIN) - The situation in Baghdad's hospitals is critical, particularly in terms of unhygienic and unsafe working conditions, according to a recent survey by the US-based Medicine For Peace (MFP) NGO. The MFP reported that most hospitals were unclean and unhygienic and lacked an infection control programme. The sanitation system was practically non-existent and, according to the survey, as much as 60 percent of toilets were not working. The survey was carried out in 90 percent of the capital's hospitals and 60 percent nationwide. Infective materials could be seen in open boxes, easy for anyone to be in direct contact with them, the survey found. Potable water was rarely seen in hospitals, with most patient's families bringing water to them. Dr Youssef Abdul Kader of Yarmouk Hospital in Baghdad told IRIN that most hospitals in the capital were running low on ways to control the spread of infection and that a disease outbreak could happen at any time. He also complained that most health workers did not have gloves or masks to wear and had become part of the groups at risk. "After the last war the country became open for blood-transmitted diseases such as HIV and the lack of these essential materials for protection can bring unexpected diseases to medical staff. I bring gloves with me because the hospital cannot afford them," Kader added. According to the MFP study, all hospitals were suffering from a sporadic or persistent shortage of essential medicines and disposable supplies, including basics such as detergents, hand washing disinfectants, sterile needles and gloves, masks, antiseptics and soap. The survey added that clinical laboratories and radiology services in the majority of hospitals were unable to support demand, especially because of old and malfunctioning clinical laboratory and imaging equipment, as well as poor instructions on how to use it. Dr Michael Viola, who directed the MFP study, told IRIN that hospitals in Iraq were not nearly as good in terms of providing quality care as they were before the 1991 Gulf War. The hospitals struggled during the 1990s, mainly due to the sanctions implemented following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and bad management by the Baathists, the report said. According to Viola, from 1999 hospitals went into a decline. The former regime stopped putting money into health care at that point. A key point in the report is that the "brain drain" of Iraqi physicians and academics during the 1990s, made worse by the recent violence, has had a devastating effect on the performance of hospitals in Baghdad. "Whether a similar problem exists all over Iraq is difficult to say. Since the Ministry of Health (MoH) has not instituted standards of care for all of Iraq, I would suspect the problem in this case is for all the country. In the past, health care was best in Baghdad," Viola added. A doctor from a public hospital in the capital, who preferred not to be named, told IRIN . "I know that it is something very wrong, but sometimes you want to save a life and you don't have any other choice," the doctor explained. |
Bush-war has failed miserably in his promises to the Iraqis and Americans who gave their support to his deceit-driven invasion. He has had nearly two years to improve conditions for Iraqi citizens, but instead only makes sure his corporate buddies get their billions, of our income taxes, in military and rebuilding contracts. Despicable, shameful, and downright evil.
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February 21, 2005
Kevin Drum rants on a growing problem that will, more likely than not, affect you at some time:
As a victim of Identity Theft (and the subsequent tials and tribulations involved in repairing my illegally stolen credit), I can assure you firsthand that credit agencies are not "user-friendly". Their primary objective, or at least the strong impression they give, is that they are out to make a lot of money from you and me by charging us for information about ourselves, information for which we should not have to beg and pay, but should always be freely or reasonably available to us. And rather than assist us in fixing errors in our reports, they make it one of life's hardest endeavors. Today's credit-reporting agencies are corrupt, corporate-friendly and in desperate need of complete overhaul. So when will that be added to the Democratic Party's agenda?
I've seen this before (1-2 years ago, I think), but I like the point it makes. By Nick Lewis:
If you haven't been keeping up with the venomous filth pouring profusely out of the Right end of the blogosphere, check out the ever-popular Powerline for a refreshing update. LGF is another, even more incendiary and well-read blog. I would never hesitate to support the right of these blogs to exist and publish their opinions. The educated masses of this nation and world can see through the fallacies of their shamelessly corrupt convictions. In fact, their opinions make it much easier to focus on and hone the message of truth and justice, the main values of moderates and liberals (and even many of the true conservatives). We progressive bloggers must make it one of our duties, as objectionable as it may seem, to maintain an awareness of the message(s) emitted incessantly by the Right. Such effort will, in the long run, make our objectives clearer and easier.
Well, at least Kerry gets a reprieve:
Yeah, right. And they have only the best interests of retirees in mind. And the moon is made of cheese.
DailyKOS summarizes nicely:
"The AARP cozied up with Bush last year to pass the fraudulently marketed prescription drug bill. Now, they are about to get a taste of how Bush rewards his allies.... It's shocking how people and groups still haven't learned this lesson -- playing nice with Bush, in the end, is worth nothing more than a knife in the back."
| "The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact, non-Westerners never do." - - - Samuel P. Huntington |
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Credit Reports: Despotic Financial Control by Corporate America
Kevin Drum rants on a growing problem that will, more likely than not, affect you at some time:
| ....The problem with credit reports is that they're strictly under the control of one side of the credit transaction: businesses. If a business requests a report, they get it, no questions asked. If a business reports a problem, it goes on the report, no questions asked. The consumer never knows any of this is happening, and that's the way the credit reporting companies like it. This needs to stop. If a business requests a report, the consumer should be notified — by email, phone, or in writing — and the report should go out only if the consumer authorizes it. If a nonroutine entry is added to a credit report, the consumer should be notified so that she can object immediately if she thinks a mistake has been made. Consumers should be full partners in the creation of credit reports, and any changes or uses of credit reports should be fully transparent to the consumer involved. These aren't just pieces of paper anymore. Credit reports are minutely detailed resumes of your entire life, and credit reporting companies shouldn't be allowed to arrogantly treat your life as if it's their sole property. After all, an improper use of your credit report can do you tremendous damage. It should fundamentally be considered joint property, as much yours as the credit reporting company's.... |
As a victim of Identity Theft (and the subsequent tials and tribulations involved in repairing my illegally stolen credit), I can assure you firsthand that credit agencies are not "user-friendly". Their primary objective, or at least the strong impression they give, is that they are out to make a lot of money from you and me by charging us for information about ourselves, information for which we should not have to beg and pay, but should always be freely or reasonably available to us. And rather than assist us in fixing errors in our reports, they make it one of life's hardest endeavors. Today's credit-reporting agencies are corrupt, corporate-friendly and in desperate need of complete overhaul. So when will that be added to the Democratic Party's agenda?
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Dear God's Favorite President
I've seen this before (1-2 years ago, I think), but I like the point it makes. By Nick Lewis:
| Dear President Bush: Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from you and I too now support a Constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage. As you said "in the eyes of God marriage is based between a man a woman." I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it is an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how we Americans are supposed to follow them. 1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians? 2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her? 3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanness?" Leviticus 15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense at the question. 4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates “…a pleasing odor for the Lord?" Leviticus 1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them? 5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it? 6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Leviticus 11:10" Is it a lesser abomination than homosexuality? I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination? 7. Leviticus 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here? 8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Leviticus 19:27. How should they die? 9. I know from Leviticus 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves? 10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Leviticus19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot, and enjoys listening to Howard Stern on the radio. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Leviticus 24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Leviticus 20:14) I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging. |
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Right, Wrong and the Right
If you haven't been keeping up with the venomous filth pouring profusely out of the Right end of the blogosphere, check out the ever-popular Powerline for a refreshing update. LGF is another, even more incendiary and well-read blog. I would never hesitate to support the right of these blogs to exist and publish their opinions. The educated masses of this nation and world can see through the fallacies of their shamelessly corrupt convictions. In fact, their opinions make it much easier to focus on and hone the message of truth and justice, the main values of moderates and liberals (and even many of the true conservatives). We progressive bloggers must make it one of our duties, as objectionable as it may seem, to maintain an awareness of the message(s) emitted incessantly by the Right. Such effort will, in the long run, make our objectives clearer and easier.
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Swift Boat to the Poorhouse
Well, at least Kerry gets a reprieve:
| A New Target for Advisers to Swift Vets - By GLEN JUSTICE - Published: February 21, 2005 WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 - Taking its cues from the success of last year's Swift boat veterans' campaign in the presidential race, a conservative lobbying organization has hired some of the same consultants to orchestrate attacks on one of President Bush's toughest opponents in the battle to overhaul Social Security. The lobbying group, USA Next, which has poured millions of dollars into Republican policy battles, now says it plans to spend as much as $10 million on commercials and other tactics assailing AARP, the powerhouse lobby opposing the private investment accounts at the center of Mr. Bush's plan. "They are the boulder in the middle of the highway to personal savings accounts," said Charlie Jarvis, president of USA Next and former deputy under secretary of the interior in the Reagan and first Bush administrations. "We will be the dynamite that removes them." Though it is not clear how much money USA Next has in hand for the campaign - Mr. Jarvis will not say, and the group, which claims 1.5 million members, does not have to disclose its donors - officials say that the group's annual budget was more than $28 million last year. The group, a membership organization with no age requirements for joining, has also spent millions in recent years vigorously supporting Bush proposals on tax cuts, energy and the Medicare prescription drug plan. So far, the groups dueling over Social Security have been relatively tame, but the plans by USA Next foreshadow what could be a steep escalation in the war to sway public opinion and members of Congress in the days ahead. Already, AARP is holding dozens of forums on the issue, has sent mailings to its 35 million members and has spent roughly $5 million on print advertisements in major newspapers opposing private accounts. "If we feel like gambling," some advertisements said, "we'll play the slots." AARP is spending another $5 million on a new print advertising campaign beginning this week. To help set USA Next's strategy, the group has hired Chris LaCivita, an enthusiastic former marine who advised Swift Vets and P.O.W.'s for Truth, formerly known as Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, on its media campaign and helped write its potent commercials. He earned more than $30,000 for his work, campaign finance filings show.... ....Swift Vets captured headlines for weeks in last year's presidential race, when it spent millions of dollars on incendiary commercials attacking Senator Kerry's war record. Because federal law prohibits outside groups from coordinating with presidential campaigns during elections, the organization came under fire when it was revealed that a lawyer for Mr. Bush's campaign was also advising Swift Vets. Mr. Bush criticized groups like Swift Vets last year, and his campaign kept its distance from the groups' attacks on Mr. Kerry. In policy battles like the one looming over Social Security, though, there is no prohibition against coordination. Several huge business lobbies, like the Business Roundtable, have become closely linked to Mr. Bush's plans for Social Security and have assembled coalitions to promote the proposals across the country. In the case of USA Next, the group and the White House say they are not working together. Trent Duffy, a White House spokesman, said the administration was familiar with the group and has interacted with it on issues in the past, but said that it had no input on its current efforts. USA Next says it has taken pains to disassociate itself from the administration, even declining to join the large lobbying coalitions the White House is working with to pass Social Security legislation. |
Yeah, right. And they have only the best interests of retirees in mind. And the moon is made of cheese.
DailyKOS summarizes nicely:
"The AARP cozied up with Bush last year to pass the fraudulently marketed prescription drug bill. Now, they are about to get a taste of how Bush rewards his allies.... It's shocking how people and groups still haven't learned this lesson -- playing nice with Bush, in the end, is worth nothing more than a knife in the back."
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February 20, 2005
You can view the entire video HERE. (RealPlayer video).
THIS is a web site that invites soldiers from the U.S. military to send in photos from their tour in Iraq. Some of these pictures are quite gruesome (especially after about page 50). People complain that these kinds of things shouldn't be shown because of their extremely graphic content. Screw that. Look at these photos, and then tell me, again, exactly what it was that these Iraqis did to us that made us send our boys/girls halfway around the world to do THIS to them. We have become a completely insane nation.
Hijacking Catastrophe
You can view the entire video HERE. (RealPlayer video).
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| "When a whole nation is roaring patriotism at the top of its voice, I am fain to explore the cleanness of its hands and purity of its heart." . . . Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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Under Mars
THIS is a web site that invites soldiers from the U.S. military to send in photos from their tour in Iraq. Some of these pictures are quite gruesome (especially after about page 50). People complain that these kinds of things shouldn't be shown because of their extremely graphic content. Screw that. Look at these photos, and then tell me, again, exactly what it was that these Iraqis did to us that made us send our boys/girls halfway around the world to do THIS to them. We have become a completely insane nation.
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February 18, 2005
From the Sacramento Bee (excerpts):
State Senator Joe Dunn is a dynamic and progressive representative from Orange County. I had the priviledge of attending a speech he recently gave and was blown away by his frankness, grasp of political history and his no-holds-barred approach to fighting political criminals. He's running for California Attorney General, an office for which he's eminently qualified, and I wish him the best of luck.
Bush-war methodically destroyed most of this Iraqi city a couple of months ago. Now its residents are literally out in the cold. Intro:
Check out World View of Global Warming. It has a wealth of information and photos that will make you think long and hard about our systematic alteration of the world's climate from excessive CO2 emissions and pollution.
Dancing (video)
Marine Biology (lots of info and pics)
Number Puzzle
Watches of the Future
Best Toys Ever
Quizes
Caught in Mid-jump
Where Does Jeff Go to the Bathroom? (video)
Make Your Own Snowflake
Crossword Puzzles
What You Wish You'd Learned While in High School
Sempra Energy lied, Joe Dunn says
From the Sacramento Bee (excerpts):
| A prominent state senator Wednesday accused San Diego's Sempra Energy of lying to the Legislature about its role in California's energy crisis. Sen. Joe Dunn, D-Santa Ana, sent his allegations and supporting documents to the Sacramento County district attorney for investigation of perjury. Dunn, who chaired a legislative investigation into the causes of the energy crisis, said that officials of Sempra's trading unit lied by insisting the company hadn't engaged in Enron-like "games" in order to manipulate California electricity prices. Officials of Sempra, the parent of San Diego Gas & Electric, denied Dunn's allegations and said the senator "presented a distorted and inaccurate picture" of its testimony. They said they did nothing wrong during the energy crisis and answered the Dunn committee's questions truthfully. Sempra's trading unit agreed in 2003 to pay $7.2 million to settle market-manipulation charges brought by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. But the company continued to deny wrongdoing and said it made the settlement to put the issue behind it. The District Attorney's Office hadn't yet reviewed Dunn's documents, a spokeswoman said. A perjury conviction could carry a prison term of up to four years. Dunn also asked the Senate Energy Committee to investigate Sempra officials for contempt for allegedly lying to legislators during the 2001-2003 investigation. If found guilty of contempt by the full Senate, the San Diego company could be fined or subjected to other penalties. The Dunn allegations revolve around Sempra Energy Trading, a Connecticut-based subsidiary that was actively buying and selling electricity in the California market while sister company SDG&E was getting battered by rising wholesale prices. Under the state's deregulation setup, utilities like SDG&E had to buy much of their power every day from generating firms and trading companies like the Sempra unit. As prices soared, the state's water agency had to step in and begin buying power in early 2001 on behalf of SDG&E, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and Southern California Edison as those companies faltered financially. State officials said market manipulation was a major culprit behind the sky-high prices. Memos uncovered in 2002 showed how trader Enron Corp. manipulated prices through trading strategies with nicknames like "Ricochet," "Fat Boy" and "Death Star." After the release of the Enron memos, Dunn's committee asked officials of every market participant, in writing and under oath, if they had used schemes like Enron's. Dunn said Sempra's denials, signed by the managing director of the energy trading unit, were contradicted by internal e-mails and other evidence. In one March 2001 e-mail Dunn released to reporters, a trader from Sempra discusses a trade that Dunn said was an example of Enron's "Ricochet" strategy. In "Ricochet," companies arranged to have power exported from California and then reimported. Power that was reimported wasn't subject to California price ceilings and could generate a fatter profit.... ....Despite Sempra's $7.2 million settlement with the federal government, state officials think Sempra owes California about $100 million, said Erik Saltmarsh, acting executive director of the state Electricity Oversight Board. The federal settlement "let Sempra off the hook," Saltmarsh said. Dunn said he thinks other companies lied about the gaming activities. "There will be more of these types of referrals" to the district attorney, he said. The energy crisis has spawned a handful of criminal charges. Three former Enron traders have pleaded guilty to criminal charges in connection with "gaming" activities. |
State Senator Joe Dunn is a dynamic and progressive representative from Orange County. I had the priviledge of attending a speech he recently gave and was blown away by his frankness, grasp of political history and his no-holds-barred approach to fighting political criminals. He's running for California Attorney General, an office for which he's eminently qualified, and I wish him the best of luck.
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Fallujah update
Bush-war methodically destroyed most of this Iraqi city a couple of months ago. Now its residents are literally out in the cold. Intro:
| FALLUJAH, 17 Feb 2005 (IRIN) - With a few winter clothes and blankets, Abu Mussab and his family remain encamped outside Fallujah waiting for a decision from the government in relation to their home, which was destroyed during fierce battles between US troops and insurgents in the city some 60 km from the capital, Baghdad. Mussab is just one of hundreds of families displaced after the fighting, which started in November and lasted nearly three months. His home and those of thousands of others were flattened and the city still does not have basic facilities, according to aid agencies. Ahmed Rawi, a spokesman for the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), told IRIN that the situation of internally displaced people (IDPs) from Fallujah was critical, requiring a huge quantity of supplies. He explained that there were also problems in distributing the monthly food ration. Rawi added that they had stopped their work inside Iraq since 14 January, after one of their staff members was killed by insurgents. "We have stopped our work for security reasons and we are evaluating and studying how to work inside Iraq in the midst of poor security. Iraqis should understand that we are neutral people," he said. "When I was in Fallujah I was feeding my family from my work as a gardener. Today I cannot afford anything and have to wait for help from any organisation. My son is sick and I don't even have money to buy medicines. I really don't know what to do," Mustafa al-Alani, a father-of-five camped in Saklawiya, some 7 km from the city, told IRIN. Medical staff from the city complain that only the main hospital in Fallujah and two small medical centres were working properly, but that access was difficult due to its location near the entrance to the city. They said the most common cases reported were of child malnutrition and water-borne diseases. Dr Ammar al-Issauye, who works at one of the medical centres inside Fallujah, told IRIN that the government should make urgent investments in the health sector and that the public works ministry should start to clean up the city as the rubbish littering the streets posed a health hazard. The Ministry of Health (MoH) reported that some services in the IDP areas were overloaded. For instance, consultations in the Saklawiya clinic average between 600 and 800 patients per day, with high incidences of respiratory infections, diarrhoea and scabies reported, due to overcrowded living conditions and poor sanitation. According to Col Peter Smith of the US Marines 1st Division, nearly 8,000 people are now living in the city, but he added that some 100,000 had passed through the checkpoints into the city, which used to have a total population of 280,000. Before and during the battles, two-thirds of the city's population was said to have fled, according to aid agencies. He added that families there were suffering from a lack of electricity, water and many houses needed repairing, but that the situation would soon start to improve. "The Iraqi government is working hard with US troops to soon give safety and adequate conditions for the residents to be back in their homes," Smith told IRIN. Some children can be seen running after the armed Marines who are offering footballs and sweets to them, showing some signs of normality. But families can be seen in the doors of their homes watching the silence of the city,where the only sound heard now is of US tanks rolling past making daily security checks. Very few shops are open and some fruit and vegetables sellers can be seen at street corners. Electricity and water is still not running adequately and families are reliant on support from some NGOs who are filling water tanks distributed throughout the city. Another problem worrying NGOs is the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXOs), as reports suggest that homes and public buildings have not been systematically cleared and demarcated and that public information campaigns have not been effectively disseminated to returnees.... |
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Check out World View of Global Warming. It has a wealth of information and photos that will make you think long and hard about our systematic alteration of the world's climate from excessive CO2 emissions and pollution.
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FRIDAY FUN
Dancing (video)
Marine Biology (lots of info and pics)
Number Puzzle
Watches of the Future
Best Toys Ever
Quizes
Caught in Mid-jump
Where Does Jeff Go to the Bathroom? (video)
Make Your Own Snowflake
Crossword Puzzles
What You Wish You'd Learned While in High School
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February 17, 2005
CNN uses same aerial photo to show nuclear facilities in Iran and North Korea!!
No comment necessary.
I can't vouch for its accuracy, but HERE is a CALCULATOR that compares your Social Security benefit monthly payout under the current program to the one Bush-war is proposing. Just enter your date of birth and your current annual income and click the calculate button.
Recycling Photos
CNN uses same aerial photo to show nuclear facilities in Iran and North Korea!!
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We Are All Terrorists
| What US Citizens Can Do To Stop Terrorism By James Rothenberg 02/17/05 "Information Clearing House" - - President George says we have to go after the terrorists wherever they are -- find them and sniff them out or something like that. A really big clue to finding them is to follow the money, the money trail, so-called. I want to be a good citizen so I've been doing my own sniffing around. And I think I've found something. Like a lot of other things that at first aren't obvious and then you realize it was right under your nose. And do you know who I found at the start of this trail? You! And me! Every year we send off some of our money to Washington. Half a dollar out of every dollar ends up on the nose of a cruise missile, in the stinking exhaust of a B-2 bomber, in the burning heat of an incendiary napalm-equivalent bomb, in the deformities of the not yet born from toxic depleted uranium payloads, in the blown and rotting, pussy flesh of those we did not intentionally "target" with our smart weapons, paid for with our dumb dollars. And that any honest person will tell you is terrorism, pure and simple, because these weapons don't care who they hit and it is understood in advance that they will inevitably hit the old and the young, the first-borns and the last-borns and everyone in between. Everyone under this sophistication of weaponry will be scared stiff -- shocked and awed in the preferred state terminology. But Washington's terrorism does not count. I mean it really does not count! Because our official state definition of terrorism restricts it to the subnational level. So by our definition the US cannot commit terrorist acts, an interesting reversal of the word's original meaning -- Oxford English Dictionary, "government by intimidation". It's as simple as this: terrorism is what "they" do to "us", not what "we" do to "them". In the beginning of the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, there are some interesting thoughts about the signers recognizing the equality of all men and certain unalienable rights that they are endowed with, specifically mentioning Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness, but it is by no means "self-evident" that this government takes this idea seriously. What kind of a Life does a child born into abject poverty have ahead of it? Maybe one without a roof. How much Liberty do you really have when you haven't enough to eat? And what is the right to pursue Happiness worth to an individual without adequate shelter, clothing, food, and healthcare? Is our government securing these unalienable rights for its people when it spends over half of every dollar of its income on weapons of mass destruction, leaving millions upon millions poor and hungry and without healthcare in this the richest country in the world? Our government is not putting its money where its mouth is. Its mouth is always on fine words -- democracy, freedom, peace -- but listen to Peter Tosh sing, "but there will be no peace til man gets equal rights and justice", and even here at home we are nowhere near these things. Our government puts its money into militarism, and justifies it by claiming that it will buy our security. Everything points to the contrary. Look at Israel and the ultra security-state it has become, increasingly becoming less and less secure. Security is an interaction, depending not solely upon what one side does, but on the mutuality of opposing sides. It can't be bought and it can't be bludgeoned. Americans have been frightened into uncritical acceptance of our country's aggressive, militaristic agenda. We were frightened by the looming, Soviet menace for decades. Now, thanks to the Freedom of Information Act and declassified documents, we learn that the threat was intentionally exaggerated to provide support from the home population for our further military buildup. Now the threat is terrorism, international terrorism, Islamic terrorism, again intentionally exaggerated for the usual state purposes. How much safer the world, including us, would be if we began to lay down our weapons! And got our military out of everyone's country! How much safer and better the lives of our own people would be if we put our nation's wealth to those very same ideals that the crafters of the Declaration of Independence thought self-evident! |
No comment necessary.
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Calculate Your Reduced Social Securlty Benefit
I can't vouch for its accuracy, but HERE is a CALCULATOR that compares your Social Security benefit monthly payout under the current program to the one Bush-war is proposing. Just enter your date of birth and your current annual income and click the calculate button.
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February 16, 2005
This video documents some of the ramifications of the American destruction of Fallujah. Sobering and important.
Shocking and Awful: Dance of Death - Unbelievable. Just watch it.
I usually put something like this into my Friday Fun posts. But there is so much depressing news these days, something like this really brings a smile to one's lips. So go and enjoy DANCING by Matt Harding.
Videos
This video documents some of the ramifications of the American destruction of Fallujah. Sobering and important.
Shocking and Awful: Dance of Death - Unbelievable. Just watch it.
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Happy Feet
I usually put something like this into my Friday Fun posts. But there is so much depressing news these days, something like this really brings a smile to one's lips. So go and enjoy DANCING by Matt Harding.
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February 15, 2005
Nearly $82B Iraq War Appropriations Bill? I have a better idea on how to spend that money. How about using all that taxpayer income on solving THESE problems?
Let Freedom Ring
Dear Kids: Here's a photo of me working for President Bush in Iraq, where we went to give the Iraqis their freedom. Notice how I've freed this Iraqi from having to live under the brutal conditions of an occupation force. I and many of your Daddy's buddies freed lots of Iraqis like this. When they finally release me from the Psych ward at the V.A., I'll come home and tell you bunches more freedom stories. (P.S.: Remind Mommy to bring my wheelchair when you come get me.) . . . Love, Dad |
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Better Use
Nearly $82B Iraq War Appropriations Bill? I have a better idea on how to spend that money. How about using all that taxpayer income on solving THESE problems?
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February 14, 2005
Australian former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mamdouh Habib said yesterday that he was beaten and subjected to electric shock torture in Pakistan and Egypt and degraded by US forces in Cuba during his almost three years in detention. I'm guessing that this will be the last vacation to Cuba or the Middle East that Mr. Habib will be taking, at least while Bush-war is in office. Here's the video or transcript of the interview. And here's additional info.
Thanks, Mr. Bush-war. Be sure to add this to your legacy.
Today's Progress Report had this:
As much as I admire Progress Report for bring to light the multitude of the Bush-war Administration's illegal actions, this is a bit of a stretch. It implies that the high oil prices are a result of Bush-war's energy policies. If anything, the B-w policy is keeping energy prices artificially low so that Americans don't buy more energy-efficient products/autos (the normal response to rising prices). As long as we keep purchasing energy-wasting appliances and vehicles, the oil companies can keep raking in the hundreds of billions in short-term profits each time there is an artificial spike in oil prices (remember last year?). So I think the authors of Progress Report should go back and do their homework more thoroughly before tossing around such accusations.
Charles R. Morris has a very nice summary of the true state of Social Security vs. Bush-war's "fix". Here are some samples:
Although not steeped in detail, this article gives you a good sound understanding of the difference between what the Bush-war Administration is telling you and the actual truth.
Club Gitmo
Australian former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mamdouh Habib said yesterday that he was beaten and subjected to electric shock torture in Pakistan and Egypt and degraded by US forces in Cuba during his almost three years in detention. I'm guessing that this will be the last vacation to Cuba or the Middle East that Mr. Habib will be taking, at least while Bush-war is in office. Here's the video or transcript of the interview. And here's additional info.
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Fallujah refugees freezing
| U N I T E D N A T I O N S Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Integrated Regional Information Network [These reports do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations] IRAQ-JORDAN: Refugees on Jordanian border in poor conditions, UNHCR says ANKARA, 14 February (IRIN) - A group of Iranian Kurdish refugees that recently arrived at the Iraq-Jordan border, living in harsh desert-like conditions, have received some aid following calls from the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). There were serious concerns over the welfare of pregnant women, children and sick people among the refugees. "Conditions are atrocious really and there are no facilities. There are scorpions and obviously it is even worse for the vulnerable groups," a spokeswoman for the UNHCR in Geneva, Marie-Helene Verney, told IRIN. With temperatures dropping to minus zero, the refugees have been forced to sleep out in the open since mid January. The Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organisation delivered UNHCR-provided food, plastic sheeting, mattresses, blankets and jerry cans to the refugees who had arrived at the border in three batches over the past four weeks. The group of 102 Iranian Kurds, who arrived from the Al-Tash camp west of Baghdad, are stuck on the Iraqi side of the border after not being given permission to enter Jordan. Verney said that the refugees had left the camp due to fighting in the nearby city of Fallujah where US troops had been trying to flush out insurgents since November 2004. While some went to the north of Iraq, others [m]ade a perilous journey to the border with Jordan. "It is quite hard for us to monitor movements of refugees due to insecurity," she explained.... |
Thanks, Mr. Bush-war. Be sure to add this to your legacy.
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Today's Progress Report had this:
| ....Besides failing to join diplomatic talks, the U.S. may be fueling Iran's nuclear ambitions in one other way: According to the New York Times's Thomas Friedman, high oil prices resulting from the Bush administration's energy policy have bolstered the financial outlook of the mullahs in Tehran, allowing them to be self-sufficient without any help from foreign investment. According to the Wall Street Journal, conservatives in Iran's regime have begun shunning outside investment, "a jolt to a European plan aimed at using diplomacy and the prospect of increased foreign investment to coax Iran to give up a suspected nuclear-arms program." As Friedman points out, "by adamantly refusing to do anything to improve energy conservation in America," President Bush is "financing both sides of the war on terrorism…the U.S. armed forces with our tax dollars, and, through our profligate use of energy," economic insulation for terrorist-supporting regimes in Iran, Saudi Arabia and Sudan.... |
As much as I admire Progress Report for bring to light the multitude of the Bush-war Administration's illegal actions, this is a bit of a stretch. It implies that the high oil prices are a result of Bush-war's energy policies. If anything, the B-w policy is keeping energy prices artificially low so that Americans don't buy more energy-efficient products/autos (the normal response to rising prices). As long as we keep purchasing energy-wasting appliances and vehicles, the oil companies can keep raking in the hundreds of billions in short-term profits each time there is an artificial spike in oil prices (remember last year?). So I think the authors of Progress Report should go back and do their homework more thoroughly before tossing around such accusations.
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Social Insecurity
Charles R. Morris has a very nice summary of the true state of Social Security vs. Bush-war's "fix". Here are some samples:
| ....Social Security was originally designed as a “pay as you go” system. Instead of accumulating assets to pay benefits to future beneficiaries, payroll taxes from current workers were supposed to just cover benefits to retired workers. The deal was that each generation of workers would pay for the benefits of the current generation of retirees, in the expectation that when they retired, a younger generation would pay for them. About twenty years ago, though, payroll taxes were very sharply increased to create what is called a partially funded system. That is, the taxes from current workers cover not only the payments to current beneficiaries, but also contribute to a surplus that will fund part of their own future benefits. In 2003, for example, payroll and other tax receipts were about 14 percent larger than benefit outlays. That surplus is held by the trust funds in interest-bearing Treasury bonds. The value of the trust funds’ bonds is currently about $1.5 trillion, and will rise to about $2.3 trillion (in 2004 dollars) by about 2018.... ....Payroll taxes will fully cover benefits until about 2018. After that, the trust funds will have to start digging into their accumulated surpluses. Those surpluses are expected to run out about 2042, or thirty-seven years from now. From that point, payroll taxes will cover only about 73 percent of promised benefits; by 2078, payroll tax coverage will have declined to only 68 percent of promised benefits. Those projections are not cast in stone. In 1997, the trust funds’ actuaries projected that the insolvency point would be reached in 2029, or thirteen years sooner than their most recent forecast, and there has been considerable variation in the annual estimates, both up and down, since then. The most frequently criticized assumption, perhaps, is the trust funds’ actuaries’ projection of flat 1.8-percent real growth for all years from 2015 on. A recent forecast by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), using slightly different economic assumptions than the trust funds do, showed the insolvency crossover point ten years further out, at 2052. How big a problem is the funding shortfall? There are two standard ways to answer that question. The first is: How much cash would you have to deposit into the trust funds today to ensure that combined payroll taxes and interest earnings would cover promised benefits over the entire seventy-five-year forecast period? The answer is about $3.7 trillion. The second way to answer the question is to ask by what amount the payroll tax would have to be raised now to accomplish the same result. The answer is 1.89 percent. That is, instead of today’s 12.4-percent payroll tax, a 14.29-percent payroll tax would put the current system into balance over the entire forecast period. (The somewhat more optimistic scenario of the CBO, indeed, projects the payroll tax gap at only 1 percent.) In short, while the Social Security funding gap is clearly a problem, it doesn’t quite sound like a crisis.... ....Advocates frequently suggest that the bonds held by the trust funds may not be solid investments. Washington’s Heritage Foundation, one of the strongest voices for the president’s plan, says that the surpluses are just “accounting entries,” and that it is “[m]isleading the public” to claim that “Social Security is secure until 2042 or beyond.” It is true that the trust funds do not have a safe filled with hundred-dollar bills or gold bars. When they need to cash in their bonds, they will show up at the Treasury’s window and ask for their money. And the Treasury will have to find that money either from tax receipts or from borrowing. Suggestions, therefore, that the bonds may not be paid imply that the Treasury may not honor its debts. Repudiating American government bonds would be such a catastrophic financial event, for both the country and the world, that it is usually regarded as unthinkable. But it takes only mild paranoia to imagine that some “conservatives” may speculate that repudiating obligations just to the trust funds may not have such dire consequences-that external investors may somehow consider them a different order of promise; indeed, that Wall Street and other big-asset holders might be relieved to see them dispensed with. And to the mildly paranoid, the administration’s drive to make its tax cuts permanent, even as it raises the alarm over Social Security, seems almost designed to force such an outcome.... |
Although not steeped in detail, this article gives you a good sound understanding of the difference between what the Bush-war Administration is telling you and the actual truth.
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February 11, 2005
I received the following message from the DNC today:
"strengthening our Party"? "remarkable progress"? Exactly to which Party is he referring? The Democratic Party that I know lost a couldn't-lose-if-you-tried election, is run by corporate beltway, wealthy, right-of-center neoliberals who lost all testicular function in 1992. Most of the leading Senators and Congressmen are scared stiff of the Republicans and vote whichever way Bush-war tells them, all while supporting a ghastly illegal war (you'll see that's true when they all once again vote "yes" for the upcoming $80B Iraq War appropriations bill).
So, no, Mr. McAuliffe, I think you have the wrong party. If not, then why haven't you apologized for the Party's utter failures during your 4-year watch?
If that is true, then EVERYBODY please start looking:
HERE
HERE
HERE
HERE
HERE
and HERE
Get your friends and family to look. Hey, if that Pentagon guy is right, then let's get those photos out there! Don't turn away from this. If it hurts you to look at it, then imagine how it hurts the hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi victims who've been attacked and wounded or killed as a result of Bush's completely illegal invasion. Shame on every one of us for doing nothing about this carnage (sorry, voting for Kerry doesn't count, and what have you done since?)
Just imagine the effect if all the progressive bloggers started posting photos of the slaughter in Iraq every day on evey one of their blogs. Would that bring an abrupt end to this war? HELL YES!
Maybe I'll start daily posting of something like the "Iraq Photo of the Day". Will that piss off a lot of people? I sure hope so.
How's this one:
?
Came across this interesting article re cell phone radiation and brain damage:
See, I always knew that cell phones were a Communist conspiracy. Question: Why are such important research findings coming out of such an obscure group? What is wrong with American research? Are the powerful mobile phone companies using their vast wealth and influence to suppress research findings in this country? Hmmm.....
Liberal Oasis summarizes:
Snow Sculptures
Peasant's Quest (video)
PeaNUT
Box Doodle
Bad Costumes at a Star Wars Convention (warning: some profanity)
Journey Through a Jet Engine (animation)
Ahh, to be young again... plus: Chicken Sh*t Bingo
The Antarctica Blog
Early Aerial Photography
Holographic Storage Disks (stores around 40 movies on one disk; video). This one will store over 200 movies.
Creepy Creature (move mouse pointer)
Online Slide Rule
Airline Napkins Collection
State of the Union Parsing Tool (try words like "democracy", "terrorist", etc.)
Big Bunny (cartoons)
Late Addition: George W. Bush, Episode II (video)
Thanks for nothing, Terry
I received the following message from the DNC today:
| Dear Michael, I couldn't let the final days of my four years as Chairman of the Democratic Party go by without offering you one last message of thanks. I have been deeply moved by all the kind words I have heard in recent days about what we have achieved in strengthening our Party. And I am always aware that the praise for the remarkable progress our Party has made is really aimed at people like you - those who have stood by the Democratic Party through thick and thin. On Saturday when I turn the role of Party Chairman over to Howard Dean - and every day for the rest of my life - I will proudly count myself among the rank and file Democrats who are the heart of our Party. Thanks so much for your passion, energy, commitment and support. Sincerely, Terry McAuliffe Chairman |
"strengthening our Party"? "remarkable progress"? Exactly to which Party is he referring? The Democratic Party that I know lost a couldn't-lose-if-you-tried election, is run by corporate beltway, wealthy, right-of-center neoliberals who lost all testicular function in 1992. Most of the leading Senators and Congressmen are scared stiff of the Republicans and vote whichever way Bush-war tells them, all while supporting a ghastly illegal war (you'll see that's true when they all once again vote "yes" for the upcoming $80B Iraq War appropriations bill).
So, no, Mr. McAuliffe, I think you have the wrong party. If not, then why haven't you apologized for the Party's utter failures during your 4-year watch?
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LOOK
| "If we let people see that kind of thing, there would never again be any war." - - - Pentagon official explaining why the U.S. military censored graphic footage from the Gulf War. |
If that is true, then EVERYBODY please start looking:
HERE
HERE
HERE
HERE
HERE
and HERE
Get your friends and family to look. Hey, if that Pentagon guy is right, then let's get those photos out there! Don't turn away from this. If it hurts you to look at it, then imagine how it hurts the hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi victims who've been attacked and wounded or killed as a result of Bush's completely illegal invasion. Shame on every one of us for doing nothing about this carnage (sorry, voting for Kerry doesn't count, and what have you done since?)
Just imagine the effect if all the progressive bloggers started posting photos of the slaughter in Iraq every day on evey one of their blogs. Would that bring an abrupt end to this war? HELL YES!
Maybe I'll start daily posting of something like the "Iraq Photo of the Day". Will that piss off a lot of people? I sure hope so.
How's this one:
?
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First Proof of Brain Damage From Cell Phones?
Came across this interesting article re cell phone radiation and brain damage:
| Proof of mobile health risk By Mark Prigg Science Correspondent, Evening Standard - 9 February 2005 Doctors today claim to have found the first proof of health problems caused by mobile phones. They say up to five per cent of the population could be suffering headaches, mood swings and hearing problems caused by radiation from handsets. Experts are advising people - especially children - to limit their use of phones if they experience headaches or other symptoms. The research, by the Irish Doctors Environmental Association (IDEA), was carried out on 16 people who had complained of symptoms from using mobile phones and were particularly sensitive to electromagnetic radiation. The 16 were studied over several months. They were examined by doctors, filled in detailed questionnaires charting their use of mobile phones, and underwent medical tests including blood and liver analysis. It was found 13 suffered symptoms including nausea, headaches and dizziness which researchers believe are a clear indication of radiation. IDEA chairman Dr Philip Michael said: "This is causing disabilities in a large section of the population. "We are working on funding for a far larger study which will use blind testing to prove beyond doubt that mobile phones are responsible, but we believe the evidence is now overwhelming. These problems can get very difficult to deal with - we had one person in our study who was basically confined to their house because of the symptoms." He advised anyone suffering from the symptoms the study describes to limit the time they spend on their mobile, and to try to stay away from mobile phone masts. The research was this week presented to a select committee of Irish MPs, who, it is hoped, will back plans for further research. Other experts in the field said they were not surprised by the results of the study. Dr Michael Maier of Imperial College said more research was needed, adding: "There is so much anecdotal evidence I think more findings along these lines are inevitable. "The biggest problem is that it is hard to measure any effects as people use their phones so differently. But the brain is an electrical instrument, and the frequency of radiation produced is very close to that used in the brain, so it's no big surprise to find a phone is interfering with that frequency, causing headaches, nausea and the other problems." Last month experts advising the Government warned that children under eight should not be given mobile phones because of the potential health risks. Sir William Stewart, chairman of the Health Protection Agency, said: "I don't think we can put our hands on our hearts and say mobile phones are safe. If there are risks, and we think there may be risks, then the people who are going to be most affected are children." That study, by the National Radiological Protection Board, found no firm conclusion could be reached on the impact of mobile phones. IDEA is made up of 30 leading Irish doctors, and is affiliated with the World Health Organisation. It is part of a group awarded the Nobel prize for physics in 1985. Members include Dr Patrick Hillery, the ex-President of Ireland and an EU commissioner. |
See, I always knew that cell phones were a Communist conspiracy. Question: Why are such important research findings coming out of such an obscure group? What is wrong with American research? Are the powerful mobile phone companies using their vast wealth and influence to suppress research findings in this country? Hmmm.....
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How's Bush-war's War on Terror Going?
Liberal Oasis summarizes:
So in recent days, we have our main War on Terror ally paying off Al Qaeda, while being snubbed by a former prisoner. We have the likelihood that the Administration delayed revealing until after the election what the FAA knew about potential suicide hijackings before 9/11. We have a newly revealed Richard Clarke memo, showing that Condi lied when she said “no Al Qaeda threat was turned over to the new administration” But leaving aside all that, the War on Terror is going just fine. We got 'em on the run. |
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FRIDAY FUN
Snow Sculptures
Peasant's Quest (video)
PeaNUT
Box Doodle
Bad Costumes at a Star Wars Convention (warning: some profanity)
Journey Through a Jet Engine (animation)
Ahh, to be young again... plus: Chicken Sh*t Bingo
The Antarctica Blog
Early Aerial Photography
Holographic Storage Disks (stores around 40 movies on one disk; video). This one will store over 200 movies.
Creepy Creature (move mouse pointer)
Online Slide Rule
Airline Napkins Collection
State of the Union Parsing Tool (try words like "democracy", "terrorist", etc.)
Big Bunny (cartoons)
Late Addition: George W. Bush, Episode II (video)
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February 10, 2005
Here is a comment I left at this site, in response to remarks by stereotypical Republicans about why people should be allowed to have their own savings/investments rather than the government "forcing" them to put aside $ for retirement.
Seraphim has a nice rant, on the AARP message board, about those "CHEAP-LABOR CONSERVATIVES AND THE RUINATION OF AMERICA", and it even includes a comment of Social Security:
The rest is also a good read.
Besides the quote in the previous post, this new "call to action" by Howard Zinn rings so true, yet tiresomely so:
It's normally a slow and steady process. Many of us may not wait for its fruition (e.g. the "Let's move to Canada/New Zealand/France/etc." group). And many of us think that the current Neocon/Fundagelical-driven political policies, designed for preparation for the Rapture, may actually bring about a pseudo-Rapture anyway (so why bother?). Finally, the right-wing control of the media is seemingly intractable, which adds a tremendous hurdle not present in Mr. Zinn's other examples of the American social movements of the past two centuries. And did I mention that the only rational and historical vehicle for progressive change, the Democratic Party, is in shambles?
I admire and take to heart Zinn's commentary, but it's getting harder every day to channel it into any meaningful self-motivation. Are we running after a lost cause?
The Right is seemingly relentless in its attack of the Democrats. This excerpt from The Washington Times is one of the milder criticisms you'll find in the media. Those sections needing correction are italicized:
Forced Savings, My Ass
Here is a comment I left at this site, in response to remarks by stereotypical Republicans about why people should be allowed to have their own savings/investments rather than the government "forcing" them to put aside $ for retirement.
| A comment was made earlier regarding Social Security and a person's right/need/whatever to have their own savings/investment accounts. Well the problem for the majority of Americans, when they retire, is that they will have no savings/investments. I know this is a hard concept for Republicans to fathom since poor Republicans don't actually exist. But a large portion of our working class makes barely enough take-home pay to meet basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. In fact, this portion has been increasing rapidly since 2000 due to cutbacks in federally-subsidized social programs necessitated by tax cuts to the rich with the consequental reduction in tax revenues, and the increased costs of the military and the pre-emptive invasion of a relatively defenseless nation, among other things. Anyway, since so many Americans are unable to save due to lack of disposable income, the Social Security safety net is the only guaranteed source of livelihood for the elderly. After 4 years we sane people realize that virtually anything that Bush wants to fix is going to end up in far worse shape than if he just left it alone. If you need proof, we have those newly-failing causes known as: Iraq, the U.S. economy, the environment, education, civil rights and liberties, foreign relations, nuclear proliferation, national security and homelessness, to name just a few. Now, if we can just get Bush and his neocon cronies to keep their greedy hands out of the Social Security till, maybe we can at least save one of our socially-advanced and successful institutions. |
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Seraphim Rant
Seraphim has a nice rant, on the AARP message board, about those "CHEAP-LABOR CONSERVATIVES AND THE RUINATION OF AMERICA", and it even includes a comment of Social Security:
| ....This administration's unprovoked attack on Social Security needs to be understood in this context. It is not a well-intentioned effort to solve a vexing policy dilemma. It is, instead, an important front in their ideological war on non-market solutions to any social problem. Quite simply, they don't care how well it works. They just don't like it because it doesn't fit into their worldview of corporate feudalism. That's the crux of it: THEY OPPOSE IT ON PRINCIPLE. Well, isn't that just jim-dadny? Their callous ideology, which has reduced us to a state of social regression, has no room in it for beneficial programs which help people and provide a safety net as they were intended to do.... |
The rest is also a good read.
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Left is Right. Or is it?
Besides the quote in the previous post, this new "call to action" by Howard Zinn rings so true, yet tiresomely so:
| ....When the Vietnam War began, two-thirds of the American public supported the war. A few years later, two-thirds opposed the war. While some remained adamantly pro-war, one-third of the population had learned things that overthrew previously held ideas about the essential goodness of the American intervention in Vietnam. The human consequences of the fierce bombing campaigns, the "search and destroy" missions, became clear in the image of the naked young girl, her skin shredded by napalm, running down a road; the women and children huddled in the trenches in My Lai with soldiers pouring rifle fire onto them; Marines setting fire to peasant huts while the occupants stood by, weeping. Those images made it impossible for most Americans to believe President Johnson when he said we were fighting for the freedom of the Vietnamese people, that it was all worthwhile because it was part of the worldwide struggle against Communism. In his inauguration speech, and indeed, through all four years of his presidency, George Bush has insisted that our violence in Afghanistan and Iraq has been in the interest of freedom and democracy, and essential to the "war on terrorism." When the war on Iraq began almost two years ago, about three-fourths of Americans supported the war. Today, the public opinion polls show that at least half of the citizenry believes it was wrong to go to war. What has happened in these two years is clear: a steady erosion of support for the war, as the public has become more and more aware that the Iraqi people, who were supposed to greet the U.S. troops with flowers, are overwhelmingly opposed to the occupation. Despite the reluctance of the major media to show the frightful toll of the war on Iraqi men, women, children, or to show U.S. soldiers with amputated limbs, enough of those images have broken through, joined by the grimly rising death toll, to have an effect. But there is still a large pool of Americans, beyond the hard-core minority who will not be dissuaded by any facts (and it would be a waste of energy to make them the object of our attention), who are open to change. For them, it would be important to measure Bush's grandiose inaugural talk about the "spread of liberty" against the historical record of American expansion. It is a challenge not just for the teachers of the young to give them information they will not get in the standard textbooks, but for everyone else who has an opportunity to speak to friends and neighbors and work associates, to write letters to newspapers, to call in on talk shows. The history is powerful: the story of the lies and massacres that accompanied our national expansion, first across the continent victimizing Native Americans, then overseas as we left death and destruction in our wake in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and especially the Philippines. The long occupations of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the repeated dispatch of Marines into Central America, the deaths of millions of Koreans and Vietnamese, none of them resulting in democracy and liberty for those people. Add to all that the toll of the American young, especially the poor, black and white, a toll measured not only by the corpses and the amputated limbs, but the damaged minds and corrupted sensibilities that result from war. Those truths make their way, against all obstacles, and break down the credibility of the warmakers, juxtaposing what reality teaches against the rhetoric of inaugural addresses and White House briefings. The work of a movement is to enhance that learning, make clear the disconnect between the rhetoric of "liberty" and the photo of a bloodied little girl, weeping. And also to go beyond the depiction of past and present, and suggest an alternative to the paths of greed and violence. All through history, people working for change have been inspired by visions of a different world. It is possible, here in the United States, to point to our enormous wealth and suggest how, once not wasted on war or siphoned off to the super-rich, that wealth can make possible a truly just society. The juxtapositions wait to be made. The recent disaster in Asia, alongside the millions dying of AIDS in Africa, next to the $500 billion military budget, cry out for justice. The words of people from all over the world gathered year after year in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and other places--"a new world is possible"--point to a time when national boundaries are erased, when the natural riches of the world are used for everyone. The false promises of the rich and powerful about "spreading liberty" can be fulfilled, not by them, but by the concerted effort of us all, as the truth comes out, and our numbers grow. |
It's normally a slow and steady process. Many of us may not wait for its fruition (e.g. the "Let's move to Canada/New Zealand/France/etc." group). And many of us think that the current Neocon/Fundagelical-driven political policies, designed for preparation for the Rapture, may actually bring about a pseudo-Rapture anyway (so why bother?). Finally, the right-wing control of the media is seemingly intractable, which adds a tremendous hurdle not present in Mr. Zinn's other examples of the American social movements of the past two centuries. And did I mention that the only rational and historical vehicle for progressive change, the Democratic Party, is in shambles?
I admire and take to heart Zinn's commentary, but it's getting harder every day to channel it into any meaningful self-motivation. Are we running after a lost cause?
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| "There is a hard core of people in the United States who will not be moved, whatever facts you present, from their conviction that this nation means only to do good, and almost always does good, in the world, that it is the beacon of liberty and freedom (words used forty-two times in Bush's inauguration speech). But that core is a minority, as is that core of people who carried signs of protest at the inauguration. In between those two minorities stand a huge number of Americans who have been brought up to believe in the beneficence of our nation, who find it hard to believe otherwise, but who can rethink their beliefs when presented with information new to them. Is that not the history of social movements?" - - - Howard Zinn |
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The Right is seemingly relentless in its attack of the Democrats. This excerpt from The Washington Times is one of the milder criticisms you'll find in the media. Those sections needing correction are italicized:
| ....This is a Democratic comedy of errors. Condoleezza Rice and Alberto Gonzales were selected by Mr. Bush to be his new secretary of state and attorney general, respectively. No one seriously questions their credentials.The Democratic strategy, however, was to hold protracted hearings using the nominees to criticize administration past actions (on which the voters have already passed judgment) and then in the case of Mr. Gonzales, virtually all of the Democrats (except some who have close races in 2006 and, of course, Joe Lieberman, perhaps the most sensible Democrat in the Senate) voted against him. Think of the spectacle of all this. We see the first black woman and the first Hispanic to be nominated for these powerful positions, and the Democrats spend days attacking them and voting against them. Then the president comes forward with his proposals for Social Security reform, including a small initial privitization option for younger Americans. The Democrats' almost universal response has been to attack these proposals as a plan which is too risky for "a problem which is not a crisis." Of course, it is obvious to anyone who has taken basic arithmetic that the Social Security system is permanently unstable and structurally unsound as now constituted. In fact, the whole pension fund institution in the nation, public and private, is an immense crisis about to happen (markets won't wait for the formal bankruptcies). My question is: Whose side are the Democrats on? They oppose accomplished (albeit conservative) blacks and Hispanics for high office. They oppose a plan that will save Social Security for young Americans, and offer no plan of their own. They oppose health savings accounts and market reform of health care. They oppose tax policy that clearly creates jobs. They oppose education reform when the education system, costing more and more, is getting worse and worse. They pretend there is no pension-fund crisis. Their criticism of American policy in the Middle East is based on the ludicrous notion that Arabs and Muslims aren't capable of, nor do they want, democracy. And then, when millions of Afghans, Palestinians and Iraqis turn out to the polls, they clear their collective throat as if nothing happened, and keep on naysaying The only hope for Democrats has been, is now, and will continue to be in the political center. President Bill Clinton, whatever his faults, was successful there. Party leaders allow the minority left wing of the party to hold it hostage by mouthing class warfare and isolationist mumbo jumbo that few listen to, and even fewer vote for. Meanwhile, Mr. Bush has been slowly and methodically moving previously Democratic black, Hispanic, Catholic, Jewish, young and blue-collar voters to his side. The 2004 elections were decisive. The 2006 elections could be the landslide no one now is predicting or expecting. |
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THERE IS NO CRISIS except in the current fiscal management of our government.
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February 9, 2005
In an earlier post I noted a new online mapping product, MAPS24. Well, GoogleMaps also puts out a pretty nifty online location finder. It allows you to drag the map in any direction, plus it has a very nice "Local Search" function where you can type in any words you want and it will point to all the vendors in your area that are related to your words, and, if you click the point, it will list the address and phone. Pretty cool.
She is the Republicans' only comedienne, I guess.
Maps, We've Got Maps
In an earlier post I noted a new online mapping product, MAPS24. Well, GoogleMaps also puts out a pretty nifty online location finder. It allows you to drag the map in any direction, plus it has a very nice "Local Search" function where you can type in any words you want and it will point to all the vendors in your area that are related to your words, and, if you click the point, it will list the address and phone. Pretty cool.
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| "During the gay-marriage debate, these black ministers would come on TV and say things no white conservative would say. 'Sodomy? You're going to burn in hell for that!' And I realized to my delight that if we can get blacks to be conservatives, we have an entire race of Ann Coulters. They do not care about politically correct. It would be so much fun. And they are conservative! I'm going to specifically appeal to them. I decided it's the only free speech I'm willing to give this year. I will go to a black church and talk about gay marriage. The brothers aren't big on queer theory. The four groups most opposed to gay marriage are blacks, Hispanics, old people and blue-collar workers -- i.e., the four pillars of the Democratic Party." - - - Ann Coulter |
She is the Republicans' only comedienne, I guess.
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Gmail
I just received an additional 50 invites for Google's Gmail accounts. If you're a compassionate progressive who so desires this great email service, leave your email address in the comments and I'll zip an invite to you (I'll probably remove your comment after that so that I can keep track of the ones I haven't sent). If you aren't a compassionate progressive, well, that's okay... after I take pity on you I'll send one to you, too. If you're a fundagelical waiting for the rapture, well forget you, I don't want to waste these things, unless you can prove that you'll still have email access while sitting naked next to your god-who-speaks-to-Bush.
There is no tomorrow is a sobering piece by Bill Moyers on the possible end of things as we know it. It's been around the blogosphere for a couple of weeks now, but if you haven't read it you really should take the time to do so. Warning: Have a stiff drink first.
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Time for End Times?
There is no tomorrow is a sobering piece by Bill Moyers on the possible end of things as we know it. It's been around the blogosphere for a couple of weeks now, but if you haven't read it you really should take the time to do so. Warning: Have a stiff drink first.
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February 8, 2005
Today's Daily Talking Points nicely summarizes the gist of Bush-war's 2006 budget:
Now you can contribute to the "Moral" Republican Party by watching Pornography. (It's the hypocracy, people, not the porn.)
Some Californians are acting a bit impatient with Herr Groperzenegger, as you can see in this video.
Money: It's Everywhere Except Where It's Needed
Today's Daily Talking Points nicely summarizes the gist of Bush-war's 2006 budget:
| President Bush's budget should really be called the president's economic program. It is a core statement of conservative values and the best blueprint for understanding the administration's overall economic agenda. Unfortunately for Americans, the president's economic program fails as both a moral statement and as a viable solution to America's long term challenges. The conservative strategy on the economy is clear: aggressively slash taxes for the wealthy on the faulty assumption it will stimulate job creation and wage growth; run up huge budget deficits on the premise that no one cares; and then force massive cuts in critical domestic spending to shrink the overall size of government. Add the president's $2 trillion plan to privatize Social Security to the mix, and the complete illogic and misplaced values of the conservative economic program becomes apparent. The first President Bush understood his son's economic agenda for what it is – "voodoo economics." One simple question for the president and his conservative chums: Why are massive tax cuts for the wealthy off the table but heating oil for the poor and veterans' health care on the table? The president's tax cuts constitute fifty percent of the entire budget deficit. The cuts in the president's budget only make up 6 percent of the deficit. At a time when the president is asking American soldiers and middle class taxpayers to sacrifice for the country, he is telling corporations and the wealthy that they owe nothing and have no obligation to pay down his deficits and support the national interest. Progressives believe that the heart of America has always been its middle class. America should reward individual initiative, ingenuity and hard work and provide people with the economic and social opportunities to make the most of their talents and dreams. We must return to policies that spread the tax burden fairly and require those with sufficient means to pay their fair share. We should not sit by and watch as the rest of the world makes the necessary public investments to remain competitive in the global economy. Our citizens deserve and need this investment and our economy demands it. |
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Now you can contribute to the "Moral" Republican Party by watching Pornography. (It's the hypocracy, people, not the porn.)
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Some Californians are acting a bit impatient with Herr Groperzenegger, as you can see in this video.
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February 7, 2005
Liberal Oasis shrewdly dissects some comments Rumsfeld made on TV this past weekend and shows how the most likely scenario regarding U.S. intervention in Iran is going to be a limited U.S. invasion/strike followed by the local Iranian population overthrowing the consequently destabilized government. Rumsfeld:
I don't know how I missed this gem of an opinion (by a Republican, no less) but if you haven't seen this letter written by Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) and delivered to the House Of Representatives 1/26/05, then stop everything and go read it now. Tiny snippet:
It gets better...
President Bush-war explains how his privatized accounts will "save" Social Security:
There, I hope that clears things up for you. In case you wonndered if you can still have IRA's under his plan, he has a very clear answer:
Now, if you were worried that Wall Street would be gouging us through administrative fees for servicing these privatized accounts, here's Bush-war's comforting, succinct answer to that "fallacy":
There. I hope you're ashamed for thinking that our peace-loving, compassionate Administration has anything but your best interests in mind. Anyone who insists that Bush-war is a f*cking moron who kowtows strictly to the Neocon religious right and corporate America is obviously delusional and spends way too much time searching for the truth.
I've always used maps.yahoo or mapquest for online location searching, but I just came across MAPS24 and it really rocks! Check it out.
Think Progress dissects the syntax of Bush's SOTU and compares it to the "link" between Iraq and 9/11:
Rummy Makes Me Sick to My Tummy
Liberal Oasis shrewdly dissects some comments Rumsfeld made on TV this past weekend and shows how the most likely scenario regarding U.S. intervention in Iran is going to be a limited U.S. invasion/strike followed by the local Iranian population overthrowing the consequently destabilized government. Rumsfeld:
| "..I’ve been amazed in many times in my life. I was amazed at how rapidly the Shah of Iran fell, and the Ayatollahs took over that country. It happened, just seemingly, like that... ...And you look at Romania, when that fell, it was fast. We can’t predict these things...I just don’t know. I do know that there are obviously, young people and women in that country who know what’s going on in the rest of the world. They know how other people live…They have access to the outside world. They can move in and out for vacations. People from our country go in there and talk to them. It’s not as though they’re in North Korea, and don’t have a good sense of what’s taking place in the rest of the world." |
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| "Although George Orwell/ Eric Blair wrote 1984 as an anarcho-syndicalist socialist critique of Stalinism, it is becoming increasingly clear that it was also prophetic about the direction of Late Capitalist societies characterized by corporate media consolidation." - - - Juan Cole |
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The Ron Paul Memo
I don't know how I missed this gem of an opinion (by a Republican, no less) but if you haven't seen this letter written by Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) and delivered to the House Of Representatives 1/26/05, then stop everything and go read it now. Tiny snippet:
| "America's policy of foreign intervention, while still debated in the early 20th century, is today accepted as conventional wisdom by both political parties. But what if the overall policy is a colossal mistake, a major error in judgment? Not just bad judgment regarding when and where to impose ourselves, but the entire premise that we have a moral right to meddle in the affairs of others? Think of the untold harm done by years of fighting - hundreds of thousands of American casualties, hundreds of thousands of foreign civilian casualties, and unbelievable human and economic costs. What if it was all needlessly borne by the American people? If we do conclude that grave foreign policy errors have been made, a very serious question must be asked: What would it take to change our policy to one more compatible with a true republic's goal of peace, commerce, and friendship with all nations? Is it not possible that Washington's admonition to avoid entangling alliances is sound advice even today? In medicine mistakes are made - man is fallible. Misdiagnoses are made, incorrect treatments are given, and experimental trials of medicines are advocated. A good physician understands the imperfections in medical care, advises close follow-ups, and double-checks the diagnosis, treatment, and medication. Adjustments are made to assure the best results. But what if a doctor never checks the success or failure of a treatment, or ignores bad results and assumes his omnipotence - refusing to concede that the initial course of treatment was a mistake? Let me assure you, the results would not be good. Litigation and the loss of reputation in the medical community place restraints on this type of bullheaded behavior. Sadly, though, when governments, politicians, and bureaucrats make mistakes and refuse to reexamine them, there is little the victims can do to correct things. Since the bully pulpit and the media propaganda machine are instrumental in government cover-ups and deception, the final truth emerges slowly, and only after much suffering. The arrogance of some politicians, regulators, and diplomats actually causes them to become even more aggressive and more determined to prove themselves right, to prove their power is not to be messed with by never admitting a mistake. Truly, power corrupts! The unwillingness to ever reconsider our policy of foreign intervention, despite obvious failures and shortcomings over the last 50 years, has brought great harm to our country and our liberty. Historically, financial realities are the ultimate check on nations bent on empire. Economic laws ultimately prevail over bad judgment. But tragically, the greater the wealth of a country, the longer the flawed policy lasts. We'll probably not be any different. We are still a wealthy nation, and our currency is still trusted by the world, yet we are vulnerable to some harsh realities about our true wealth and the burden of our future commitments. Overwhelming debt and the precarious nature of the dollar should serve to restrain our determined leaders, yet they show little concern for deficits. Rest assured, though, the limitations of our endless foreign adventurism and spending will become apparent to everyone at some point in time...." |
It gets better...
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A Certain Sense
President Bush-war explains how his privatized accounts will "save" Social Security:
| "Because the -- all which is on the table begins to address the big cost drivers. For example, how benefits are calculate, for example, is on the table; whether or not benefits rise based upon wage increases or price increases. There's a series of parts of the formula that are being considered. And when you couple that, those different cost drivers, affecting those -- changing those with personal accounts, the idea is to get what has been promised more likely to be -- or closer delivered to what has been promised. "Does that make any sense to you? It's kind of muddled. Look, there's a series of things that cause the -- like, for example, benefits are calculated based upon the increase of wages, as opposed to the increase of prices. Some have suggested that we calculate -- the benefits will rise based upon inflation, as opposed to wage increases. There is a reform that would help solve the red if that were put into effect. In other words, how fast benefits grow, how fast the promised benefits grow, if those -- if that growth is affected, it will help on the red." |
There, I hope that clears things up for you. In case you wonndered if you can still have IRA's under his plan, he has a very clear answer:
| "You can through an IRA, for example. I can't answer that as -- what he's saying is, is that if he has a personal account, can he contribute more beyond that which is being contributed through a part of his payroll taxes. I would think so, yes, but I'm not sure. I do know, however, that you can complement a personal retirement account through the Social Security system with an IRA, which helps to achieve the same objective, basically setting up a personal account. Thank you." |
Now, if you were worried that Wall Street would be gouging us through administrative fees for servicing these privatized accounts, here's Bush-war's comforting, succinct answer to that "fallacy":
| "We don't want the federal government making stocks and bond decisions. (Applause.) They'll be private -- private sector, people who get paid to do this. And the fees, by the way, will be -- we'll make sure that you don't get gouged. I mean, obviously, what we want is people's money going into their personal account, not going into big fee structures. And so there will be a -- it will be regulated to that extent. In other words, there will a certain sense of regulation, you can only invest in certain kinds of stocks and bonds to be -- and the funds will be managed by people whose job it is to manage them, outside of the government." |
There. I hope you're ashamed for thinking that our peace-loving, compassionate Administration has anything but your best interests in mind. Anyone who insists that Bush-war is a f*cking moron who kowtows strictly to the Neocon religious right and corporate America is obviously delusional and spends way too much time searching for the truth.
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I've always used maps.yahoo or mapquest for online location searching, but I just came across MAPS24 and it really rocks! Check it out.
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Fix = Invasion
Think Progress dissects the syntax of Bush's SOTU and compares it to the "link" between Iraq and 9/11:
| The big social security news in yesterday’s papers was that President Bush’s plan for private accounts will have no affect whatsoever on the system’s long-term financial problems. This isn’t a paraphrase or an inference. One Bush aide went so far as to tell the LA Times, “the individual accounts would do nothing to solve the system’s long-term financial problems.” |