"Bud Lite" will be served at the Peace Picnic of the 21 Century to be convened by Obama, with Gates and Sgt. J. Crowley in attendance. If this is a "teachable moment" it should teach the White House to offer a decent domestic beer. Jesus Christ, a Sam Adams would have been a nice gesture: a brew from Massachusetts that does not make one gag as does Bud lite.
This is what passes for leadership from the President as the Congress is being sodomized by the health industry lobbyists and the military-industrial complex is stuffing its pockets through no bid contracts introduced in the House, defense appropriations bill. To say that these are obscenities is just too kind a description. As the "Blue Dog Dems" rail about spending for heath care, they mostly remain supine over the defense over runs and corruption of the political process that is the earmarks process that allows for pork barrel projects to bloat the defense bill.
Perhaps, the Congress is suffering under the illusion that the financial press is creating that the markets have been rebounding and that the worst is over; so, business as usual. This is too bad for all of us. For the average guy who's pension has lost 40% of its value over the last year, the next downturn will just leave him on the mat where he is already. The banks are hugely exposed to mortgage ARM resets that are coming do over the next two years and the commercial real estate market is sliding off a cliff.
So, sipping lousy beer in the garden with Skip and Jim just doesn't cut it...this country has weigh bigger stuff to deal with than the contra-temp of the Affaire Gates. I can just see how young Black Men are going feel safer because Skip Gates has gotten his pound of flesh from the Cambridge Police Department. Yeah, this is a teachable moment all right...smoke and mirror anyone?
http://www.washingtonpost.com
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Beers and Understanding, A Latin Beat
While Gates and his police officer partner, will be sipping beer at the White House, a NYT editorial put La Affaire Gates in perspective. The Immigration and Custom's Enforcement Agents have been trashing the Constitutional rights of Latinos and violating due process and search and seizure laws. The Cardozo Law Clinic has produced a report on hundreds of cases of ICE agents in violation of basic rules of law. trampling over the lives of defenseless immigrants and non-citizens and citizens. Just reading the few details of the report mentioned in the NYTimes editorial is revolting.
It makes me laugh that Obama has so much time for Skip Gates and his troubles while this outrage got zip comment from the Oracle on Pennsylvania Avenue. The report showed a systemic and long standing program of criminal behavior on the part of gangsters with badges and loaded weapons. This report should produce a wave of firings and arrests of ICE agents for crimes under official cover of the law. Of course, this type of report gets written about every twenty years. I wonder where the Latino politicians and media are when something like this should produce mass protest....? The faceless, the poor, with limited English, and no power....perfect as a punching bag for the agents of the state...who was in charge? Who let this happen?
Meanwhile, the papers are reporting the undoing of the el-Presidente's health care fantasy. He has been swallowed up and spit out by his own party....Of course, he can say, " Well, who else do they have to vote for." The said truth is that Obama and the Democrats are set themselves up for a backlash from independent voters who rightly feel they have been defrauded. And so it goes.
Http://nytimes.com
It makes me laugh that Obama has so much time for Skip Gates and his troubles while this outrage got zip comment from the Oracle on Pennsylvania Avenue. The report showed a systemic and long standing program of criminal behavior on the part of gangsters with badges and loaded weapons. This report should produce a wave of firings and arrests of ICE agents for crimes under official cover of the law. Of course, this type of report gets written about every twenty years. I wonder where the Latino politicians and media are when something like this should produce mass protest....? The faceless, the poor, with limited English, and no power....perfect as a punching bag for the agents of the state...who was in charge? Who let this happen?
Meanwhile, the papers are reporting the undoing of the el-Presidente's health care fantasy. He has been swallowed up and spit out by his own party....Of course, he can say, " Well, who else do they have to vote for." The said truth is that Obama and the Democrats are set themselves up for a backlash from independent voters who rightly feel they have been defrauded. And so it goes.
Http://nytimes.com
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Bad Seeds and Other Hilarity
I saw a heart warming advertisement for a film called, " Orphan." Suffice it to say that it looked like a pile of Bat Guano. But, a story about "bad seed" movies got me thinking, not always a good thing. It appears that preteen and junior high kids are a new horror type...This may be believable to anyone who has been out on the street when a junior high has been emptied upon a street at dismissal time. But, to call the little tykes demon seed is, perhaps, stretching it a bit. This there is a long tradition in literature and film that portrays children as perverse or possessed....I have found that to be true only with the onset of puberty....One institution in America has consistently demonized children and made money doing so...the Catholic church. See our blog entry on the Ryan Report and it's implications for the United States July 7, 2009.
Political corruption and you: perfect in New Jersey! You got to love love the theatrics around the commentary concerning the recent commotion about play to play politics in New Jersey. When ha sit been any different? And, does it make things work or is there actually a problem here? What yo ask? A very simple question. Does corruption lessen the efficiency of the political process or make it work. It is a wonderful question for poli sci classes and bar room conversations. Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney in New Jersey gets to posture about money corrupting politics....gee, josh Opie!
The best part of the corruption story is the rabbi connection. After the scandals of the Catholic Church's cover up of pedophilia, this looks like mere parking ticket violations by independent contractors...some exotic Syrian sect...how interesting.
California apologizes to the Chinese. The story of the exploitation of Chinese laborers and it correlative racism is not just a California story. The United States Government turned a blind eye to it; happily, it was just a part of the exploitation of cheap labor on a global basis: Chinese, southern European Slavic groups. The needs of industrial capitalism and robber baron greed were a symphony of misery, death and humiliation for tens of millions of contract labors in from the late 18th Century to the present....yes, my dears, we have our undocumented aliens and white slave trade still going on under our noses. Still, it was nice that Arnold acknowledged how Leland Stanford got the money to build his university.
Political corruption and you: perfect in New Jersey! You got to love love the theatrics around the commentary concerning the recent commotion about play to play politics in New Jersey. When ha sit been any different? And, does it make things work or is there actually a problem here? What yo ask? A very simple question. Does corruption lessen the efficiency of the political process or make it work. It is a wonderful question for poli sci classes and bar room conversations. Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney in New Jersey gets to posture about money corrupting politics....gee, josh Opie!
The best part of the corruption story is the rabbi connection. After the scandals of the Catholic Church's cover up of pedophilia, this looks like mere parking ticket violations by independent contractors...some exotic Syrian sect...how interesting.
California apologizes to the Chinese. The story of the exploitation of Chinese laborers and it correlative racism is not just a California story. The United States Government turned a blind eye to it; happily, it was just a part of the exploitation of cheap labor on a global basis: Chinese, southern European Slavic groups. The needs of industrial capitalism and robber baron greed were a symphony of misery, death and humiliation for tens of millions of contract labors in from the late 18th Century to the present....yes, my dears, we have our undocumented aliens and white slave trade still going on under our noses. Still, it was nice that Arnold acknowledged how Leland Stanford got the money to build his university.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Gates Soap Opera Now on the Air!
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. continues to provide his followers with more entertaining rhetoric about his harrowing encounters with The Leviathan of state power...cop in Cambridge. America is a twitter over this comedy of errors.
According Yahoo News 22 July 2009, Boston is in a food fight over the Affaire Gates. We remain a yawing. The Obama is supposed to have said that the cop was stupid. Not the best move from a far. Oh well, the show must go on...I am reminded of Fred Sanford, clutching his heart and calling to Elizabeth. But, I liked Red Fox's performance...more authentic and well played.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/2009722
According Yahoo News 22 July 2009, Boston is in a food fight over the Affaire Gates. We remain a yawing. The Obama is supposed to have said that the cop was stupid. Not the best move from a far. Oh well, the show must go on...I am reminded of Fred Sanford, clutching his heart and calling to Elizabeth. But, I liked Red Fox's performance...more authentic and well played.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/2009722
A Gastro-Intestinal View of the Legislative Process
We have been amazed by the similarity of the functioning of the intestinal tract and the legislative system of the House and Senate. In the end, the results are the same for both systems, a steaming pile of offal.
Many years ago, before most of you could read, Walter Karp wrote a book, Indispensable Enemies: The Politics of Misrule in America. This book makes my point in a somewhat more genteel fashion. Karp was a friend of the divine Lewis of Lapham, one of the finest chroniclers of the decline of the American Imperium. Lapham has kept Karp's work alive through the journal Harpers' Magazine. those of you have had the joy of reading Lapham rip the imperial jesters another one, understand that he does not recommend political writing that is light weight. So, go and find Karp and clutch his book to your bosom and then, read it. It is as timely now as it was when it came out decades ago. It removes the mystery of how the two party system is actually a one party plutocracy and explains how it got that way.
As the health care "reform" legislation is mangled in Congress, You will understand the silliness of this exercise in democratic appearances and be able to see the ugliness of the real process.
By the way, we recommend a posting on the Daily Kos by Edgar concerning Canadian health care. Apparently, poor Edgar was subjected to "socialized medicine" and it worked and saved his life for a grand total of $18 dollars out of pocket and a $40 monthly premium. Those poor bastards up north.
Http://dailykos.com
Many years ago, before most of you could read, Walter Karp wrote a book, Indispensable Enemies: The Politics of Misrule in America. This book makes my point in a somewhat more genteel fashion. Karp was a friend of the divine Lewis of Lapham, one of the finest chroniclers of the decline of the American Imperium. Lapham has kept Karp's work alive through the journal Harpers' Magazine. those of you have had the joy of reading Lapham rip the imperial jesters another one, understand that he does not recommend political writing that is light weight. So, go and find Karp and clutch his book to your bosom and then, read it. It is as timely now as it was when it came out decades ago. It removes the mystery of how the two party system is actually a one party plutocracy and explains how it got that way.
As the health care "reform" legislation is mangled in Congress, You will understand the silliness of this exercise in democratic appearances and be able to see the ugliness of the real process.
By the way, we recommend a posting on the Daily Kos by Edgar concerning Canadian health care. Apparently, poor Edgar was subjected to "socialized medicine" and it worked and saved his life for a grand total of $18 dollars out of pocket and a $40 monthly premium. Those poor bastards up north.
Http://dailykos.com
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Gates and More Gates plus a House is Not a Home
Apparently, Harvard Prof Henry Louis Gates, Jr. owes a debt of gratitude to the Cambridge Police Department for giving him an idea for his next PBS special. It is unlikely that Dr. Gates will share any proceeds from the project with the local PBA. As all the world now knows, Gates was arrested on the porch of his home when he followed a cop onto his porch, insisting on the cop telling him what his name was and badge number. The cops had been called to Gates hoe by a neighbor who thought she saw two black men try to break into Gates home. Well, she was right. But, it was Gates and his limo driver. The cops actually showed up and questioned Gates. It would have been all over but for Gates indignation at being questioned by the cop who had n way of knowing that the PBS star was who he was. As the cop was walking out, Gates was getting more and more insistent and the cop finally arrested him for disorderly conduct.
The picture in the Washington Post shows Gates in a rather animated pose...a pose he insists he would not take under such circumstances..."wolfing" it. Apparently, As Gates was being arrested he had an epiphany: this happens to Black people without friends at the Harvard Law School....outrage, script for TV series, interview with media....charges dropped. Off to Martha's Vineyard to recover.from humiliation....
I'm sorry. If Dr. Gates needs to be rousted by the cops to be made aware that those less privileged than he is are at a significant disadvantage before the minions of the law, he needs to take a course in criminal justice in my Harlem neighborhood. Of course, the Rev. Al Sharpton will
fill him in on being poor and Black in America. What a circus.
Another Gates, A little white man in Washington D.C. has robbed billions from the military/industrial complex and almost gotten away with it. Sec. of Defense Gates seems to have prevailed in his quest to kill the supplemental appropriation for more F22 fighter jets. The useless, over priced and maintenance plagued plane was voted down in the Senate by decisive margin, with bi-partisan votes. it now goes to a committee to reconcile the conflicting votes by Senate and House. If Saxby Chambliss is not able to incite Russia to attack Alaska...you can see Russia from Alaska, the useless plane may be dead. This is a small miracle in the world of make work military contracting....Life is getting hard for everyone....Swing Low Sweet Chariot.....
On another front, Luke Mullins of U.S. News and World Report shows that the mortgage crisis is only accelerating and the Obama program to low foreclosures down has been a sham ( my word). Today, 1 in 84 Americans have received a filling of foreclosure. Thirty percent of homes in America are now in a negative equity position (house is worth less than mortgage). Some cute little Italian B School prof from U of Chi has interesting proposal for addressing the crisis. Professor Luigi Zingales proposes a debt for equity arrangement with banks. Seems sensible but will never work because it seems sensible....
The picture in the Washington Post shows Gates in a rather animated pose...a pose he insists he would not take under such circumstances..."wolfing" it. Apparently, As Gates was being arrested he had an epiphany: this happens to Black people without friends at the Harvard Law School....outrage, script for TV series, interview with media....charges dropped. Off to Martha's Vineyard to recover.from humiliation....
I'm sorry. If Dr. Gates needs to be rousted by the cops to be made aware that those less privileged than he is are at a significant disadvantage before the minions of the law, he needs to take a course in criminal justice in my Harlem neighborhood. Of course, the Rev. Al Sharpton will
fill him in on being poor and Black in America. What a circus.
Another Gates, A little white man in Washington D.C. has robbed billions from the military/industrial complex and almost gotten away with it. Sec. of Defense Gates seems to have prevailed in his quest to kill the supplemental appropriation for more F22 fighter jets. The useless, over priced and maintenance plagued plane was voted down in the Senate by decisive margin, with bi-partisan votes. it now goes to a committee to reconcile the conflicting votes by Senate and House. If Saxby Chambliss is not able to incite Russia to attack Alaska...you can see Russia from Alaska, the useless plane may be dead. This is a small miracle in the world of make work military contracting....Life is getting hard for everyone....Swing Low Sweet Chariot.....
On another front, Luke Mullins of U.S. News and World Report shows that the mortgage crisis is only accelerating and the Obama program to low foreclosures down has been a sham ( my word). Today, 1 in 84 Americans have received a filling of foreclosure. Thirty percent of homes in America are now in a negative equity position (house is worth less than mortgage). Some cute little Italian B School prof from U of Chi has interesting proposal for addressing the crisis. Professor Luigi Zingales proposes a debt for equity arrangement with banks. Seems sensible but will never work because it seems sensible....
Monday, July 20, 2009
Chance the Gardner: are we in that movie?
If you have not heard of the film or the book, "Being There," you need to see the film for the best commentary on the current political babble about the late economy of the United States. The plot goes something like this: an idiot becomes candidate for Presdient of the United States when people mistake his gardening advise as metaphors for insights about the economy.
So, when I heard the green shoots metaphor used in the financial press, I looked for the nearest pop corn stand. Is it possible that noboby in the administration had any down time between elementary school and their government service to watch one of the best movies on the illusions of power and the making of power through illusions? These folks need to let out more often.
A week of breathtaking analysis of Al Franken's ability to be boring like his Senate colleagues has shown that Al can look catatonic as the rest of the Senate members. We wee i enlightened by the headlines about Franken's seriousness. Jesus Christ, any idiot can be a Senator, look at Coburn or Sessions or Ensign. But, the country has lost a great humorist...not a very good trade at all.
The press is beginning to see Obama's move to the right as his strategic mistake....of course, there were people who said all along that he was not a liberal activist...nobody listened. Now, Obama sees that he is losing his supporters over the health care sell out, Gitmo and Afghanistan. The Democrats don't have to worry about the Republicans; the REPS will self destruct....But, there is no there there. The Democrats have refused to truly define themselves as an activist people's party. Too bad, they are going to lose the good will of many of the good, naive people who put Obama into the White House.
The Washington Post has a front line report front Afghanistan today that was brilliant and frightening. read it and as Country Joe once said, "We got to get out of that place, if it's the last thing we ever do." Anne Scott Tyson wrote a scary, brilliant piece. It sounded like Halberstram channeling his thoughts about Vietnam 40 plus years ago. And so it goes. Or, that the way it is.
http://washintonpost.com
So, when I heard the green shoots metaphor used in the financial press, I looked for the nearest pop corn stand. Is it possible that noboby in the administration had any down time between elementary school and their government service to watch one of the best movies on the illusions of power and the making of power through illusions? These folks need to let out more often.
A week of breathtaking analysis of Al Franken's ability to be boring like his Senate colleagues has shown that Al can look catatonic as the rest of the Senate members. We wee i enlightened by the headlines about Franken's seriousness. Jesus Christ, any idiot can be a Senator, look at Coburn or Sessions or Ensign. But, the country has lost a great humorist...not a very good trade at all.
The press is beginning to see Obama's move to the right as his strategic mistake....of course, there were people who said all along that he was not a liberal activist...nobody listened. Now, Obama sees that he is losing his supporters over the health care sell out, Gitmo and Afghanistan. The Democrats don't have to worry about the Republicans; the REPS will self destruct....But, there is no there there. The Democrats have refused to truly define themselves as an activist people's party. Too bad, they are going to lose the good will of many of the good, naive people who put Obama into the White House.
The Washington Post has a front line report front Afghanistan today that was brilliant and frightening. read it and as Country Joe once said, "We got to get out of that place, if it's the last thing we ever do." Anne Scott Tyson wrote a scary, brilliant piece. It sounded like Halberstram channeling his thoughts about Vietnam 40 plus years ago. And so it goes. Or, that the way it is.
http://washintonpost.com
Friday, July 17, 2009
Court Jesters and PTSD
We've been lolling about and just stuck our head up long enough to hear the moron Sen. Coburn make his ethic slur while "questioning" Sotomayor. She brushed it off and moved on. I would have enjoyed it if she has gotten up and hit the obstuse moron in the mouth Of course, I do not advise high public officials on comportment...good thing too.
A recent poll showed that people were in no way moved by the hearing, from positions they held about the court nominee prior to the hearings. Since, very little of substance has happened during the Republicans questioning. who could be surprised. The E-word was used and disposed of quickly...the media showing tapes of Bush One mentioning the E-word during the Thomas hearings. Maybe, someone should do a comparision of their credendials to sit on the court. What a joke fest that would be....so, when it is over, we have a talented, experienced and liberal mind on the court to engage the righ wing ofthe court. Should be fun.
Another NYTimes piece today July 17, 2009 about violence, terror and uncertainty could be bad for your health. Vets from the last three wars since 2001 have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in ever increasing numbers. Read the article and it is clear that prolonged deployments and repeated deployments have added to the psychological wounds for these Vets. Much of this damage is directly a matter of policy about managing the war and the troop levels. We don't need to go back and talk about the reasons that got us into these conflicts.
I hope every idiot who is about to sign their kids papers to let them join High School ROTC or go into the military will read this article and maybe the report itself...College fund is great....except when you can't concentrate and loud noises send you diving for cover....To say that the country owes these vets is just the obvious...we owe it to ourselves to try and stop the imperial foreign policy that makes cannon fodder of the less privileged in our country....The bullshit about a volunteer army is just that....the poor and less affluent go the rich and their kids do not,
http://nytimes.com
A recent poll showed that people were in no way moved by the hearing, from positions they held about the court nominee prior to the hearings. Since, very little of substance has happened during the Republicans questioning. who could be surprised. The E-word was used and disposed of quickly...the media showing tapes of Bush One mentioning the E-word during the Thomas hearings. Maybe, someone should do a comparision of their credendials to sit on the court. What a joke fest that would be....so, when it is over, we have a talented, experienced and liberal mind on the court to engage the righ wing ofthe court. Should be fun.
Another NYTimes piece today July 17, 2009 about violence, terror and uncertainty could be bad for your health. Vets from the last three wars since 2001 have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in ever increasing numbers. Read the article and it is clear that prolonged deployments and repeated deployments have added to the psychological wounds for these Vets. Much of this damage is directly a matter of policy about managing the war and the troop levels. We don't need to go back and talk about the reasons that got us into these conflicts.
I hope every idiot who is about to sign their kids papers to let them join High School ROTC or go into the military will read this article and maybe the report itself...College fund is great....except when you can't concentrate and loud noises send you diving for cover....To say that the country owes these vets is just the obvious...we owe it to ourselves to try and stop the imperial foreign policy that makes cannon fodder of the less privileged in our country....The bullshit about a volunteer army is just that....the poor and less affluent go the rich and their kids do not,
http://nytimes.com
Monday, July 13, 2009
The Lawlessness in High Places
It just gets weirder and wackier by the day. We took some time, eat some ribs, drank a lot and came back to the blog-a-sphere with the hope that there was hope...rhymes with dope. Glen Greenwald, writing in Salon, posted 7/13, continues to beat the crap out of the new/ old administration on the pseudo-investigations that Congress authorized when it legalized Bush's spying with the amendment to the renewed FISA act. Greenwald shows how lame a pseudo investigative tool is the IG Office in getting to the bottom of the crimes of the Bush era.
Greenwald goes on to rip the administration another one on it support for war criminals-unless they are from Africa. Obama made stirring statements about bring African war criminals to justice....just not our own. Well, it would be too messy he tells us and it would distract us from looking forward. What crap. I highly recommend Greenwald to you all...Yes, I was in southern Connecticut over the weekend!
It is freaking time that the euphemisms just stop about water boarding and other torture techniques. The Washington Post reporter Carrie Johnson's piece on Sunday July 12 drove me wild with is line...[acts]"that could be likened to torture." What the hell is she talking about? Everyone, from John McCain to the Post Office have characterized the interrogation methods in dispute as crimes and torture. The only problem here is holding anyone accountable for them. Posties get a grip...please.
Another Postie wrote a really reassuring piece on the mental fatigue and relentless grind of the White House. Michael Shear's piece (7/13) should reassure us all that people with little sleep and inhuman schedules are making life and death decisions for the nation. Gee, how wonderful is that! It is not the usual puff piece and actually asked questions about what and why are people doing this to themselves...even when not being tortured by the CIA. The usual bullshit that you hear from the overachievers and under rested crowd is, " The Country needs us and our leader demands results." This is no way to run a candy store much less the Office of POTUS. Grow up and catch some zzz before you hurt yourselves.
http://www.salon.com
http://washingtonpost.com
Greenwald goes on to rip the administration another one on it support for war criminals-unless they are from Africa. Obama made stirring statements about bring African war criminals to justice....just not our own. Well, it would be too messy he tells us and it would distract us from looking forward. What crap. I highly recommend Greenwald to you all...Yes, I was in southern Connecticut over the weekend!
It is freaking time that the euphemisms just stop about water boarding and other torture techniques. The Washington Post reporter Carrie Johnson's piece on Sunday July 12 drove me wild with is line...[acts]"that could be likened to torture." What the hell is she talking about? Everyone, from John McCain to the Post Office have characterized the interrogation methods in dispute as crimes and torture. The only problem here is holding anyone accountable for them. Posties get a grip...please.
Another Postie wrote a really reassuring piece on the mental fatigue and relentless grind of the White House. Michael Shear's piece (7/13) should reassure us all that people with little sleep and inhuman schedules are making life and death decisions for the nation. Gee, how wonderful is that! It is not the usual puff piece and actually asked questions about what and why are people doing this to themselves...even when not being tortured by the CIA. The usual bullshit that you hear from the overachievers and under rested crowd is, " The Country needs us and our leader demands results." This is no way to run a candy store much less the Office of POTUS. Grow up and catch some zzz before you hurt yourselves.
http://www.salon.com
http://washingtonpost.com
Thursday, July 9, 2009
O brother, Obama, David Brooks on Dignity?
Polls are being taken and the President appears to be losing some of his charm for independent voters. Meanwhile, the Congress has just crushed Obama on a signing statement that he attached a recent appropriations bill. The Congress voted 429-2 to rebuke Obama statement. Barney Frank was adamant in saying that the President's conduct in this instance was arrogant and troubling.....Wll, does it remind anyone of another guy who was way into signing statement nullification of the congress's will...Hint, begins with a B...
Obama's secret weapon is the Republican Party and the demento commentariate of the right. When you ask yourself, who would you rather have takng up space in the nation's capitol, Obama still looks good by comparison...Only by comparison.
I am so thrilled that Joseph Galloway had two pieces on McNamara that truly buried him. Galloway writes for The Mc Clatchy News chain. He said it all. Read his two articles ion 7/6 and 7/7. I will not have to add anything to Galloway's commentary. And, I share in his delight to be reading this guy's obit. Kissinger should not be far behind....Henry, veer are you?
David Brooks is so cute sometimes. I think of Andy Hardy and Spin and Marty when I read him. He really is too smart to be associated with the right...so he hangs with Edmund Burke and channel's George Washington for advice on what has happened to dignity in the public sphere. The guy is having a hard time watching the human comedy down in the pit of D.C. I am sure his health plan has drug coverage...use it David, your right, we're screwed and doomed until the next election cycle. See his piece in today's NYTimes.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/
http://www.nytimes.com/
Obama's secret weapon is the Republican Party and the demento commentariate of the right. When you ask yourself, who would you rather have takng up space in the nation's capitol, Obama still looks good by comparison...Only by comparison.
I am so thrilled that Joseph Galloway had two pieces on McNamara that truly buried him. Galloway writes for The Mc Clatchy News chain. He said it all. Read his two articles ion 7/6 and 7/7. I will not have to add anything to Galloway's commentary. And, I share in his delight to be reading this guy's obit. Kissinger should not be far behind....Henry, veer are you?
David Brooks is so cute sometimes. I think of Andy Hardy and Spin and Marty when I read him. He really is too smart to be associated with the right...so he hangs with Edmund Burke and channel's George Washington for advice on what has happened to dignity in the public sphere. The guy is having a hard time watching the human comedy down in the pit of D.C. I am sure his health plan has drug coverage...use it David, your right, we're screwed and doomed until the next election cycle. See his piece in today's NYTimes.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/
http://www.nytimes.com/
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Health Cares Biggest Fraud
How could anyone think that a healthcare bill going through a Congress owed by the very industry it is legislating about would produce a consumer friendly piece of work? Many comments have been made in the past month or so about how Obama is being played on health care; a rerun of the banking stimulus disaster. Henry Myerson, writing in the Washington Post (July 8)wondered why Obama has not unleashed his army of political supporters who made his victory possible. These are the 13 plus millions of dedicated supporters whose names are in the data banks of the Democratic National Committee. Myerson is perplexed by the lack of mobilization by Obama 's team for such a key fight.
The answer is obvious: the rank and file are far more liberal in their thinking about health acre and most other issues. Once they are mobilized, they may get out of control. The disaster shaping up now around the various strange constructions in the House and Senate bills are pure Beltway gamesmanship. Myerson seems to be thinking that the President is the leader of the nation and not just a tool of corporate interests. I have to assume that Myerson reads his own paper and saw the chart produced by his colleagues on the extensive connections between ex-staffers of the Senate Finance Committee and big Pharma. All you have to do is read The National Nurses Movement Blog to gage the impact of the betrayal that is playing itself out in the halls of congress.
We are witnessing the Obama administration betraying it promise to the country and weakening itself for the 2010 election cycle. The Republicans wish that Obama fails and he is obliging them with fake reform proposals that are ludicrous when closely examined. The fact that the single payer option has to jammed back into the discussion after Obama kicked it aside tells you that he is doomed to be just another player in the system of interest group deals in D.C.
http://www.washingtonpost.com
http://www.calnurse.org/?Action=content&id=608
The answer is obvious: the rank and file are far more liberal in their thinking about health acre and most other issues. Once they are mobilized, they may get out of control. The disaster shaping up now around the various strange constructions in the House and Senate bills are pure Beltway gamesmanship. Myerson seems to be thinking that the President is the leader of the nation and not just a tool of corporate interests. I have to assume that Myerson reads his own paper and saw the chart produced by his colleagues on the extensive connections between ex-staffers of the Senate Finance Committee and big Pharma. All you have to do is read The National Nurses Movement Blog to gage the impact of the betrayal that is playing itself out in the halls of congress.
We are witnessing the Obama administration betraying it promise to the country and weakening itself for the 2010 election cycle. The Republicans wish that Obama fails and he is obliging them with fake reform proposals that are ludicrous when closely examined. The fact that the single payer option has to jammed back into the discussion after Obama kicked it aside tells you that he is doomed to be just another player in the system of interest group deals in D.C.
http://www.washingtonpost.com
http://www.calnurse.org/?Action=content&id=608
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
The Irish Church: The Gift That Keeps On Giving
Things are not going so well these days in the Emerald Isle. The real estate bubble popped and the banks cratered with the real estate implosion. If that wasn't enough, there has been the troubles over an investigation of the treatment of the inmates at a reform school run by The Christian Brothers. The investigation, known as The Ryan Report, details the ill treatment dished out to children in this notorious reformatory. The Irish Times had an opinion piece by Jim Beresford (6/18/09) calling The Ryan Report a whitewash for failing to engage the issue of institutionalized psycho-sexual violence routinely practiced by The Christian Brothers Order. Mr. Beresford was, at one time, an inmate of the reformatory that was the subject of the report. The impact of The Christian Brothers teaching order on the Irish national character was profound; they were sanctioned by the state to education the youth of Ireland for generations. Read the piece, especially, if your a recovering Catholic.
The cover up that Beresford speaks about in the Irish context is quite the same on this side of the pond. The passing of the dramatic sex scandals in the American Church never addressed the sadism and brutality of the various teaching orders; the violence (discipline) was especially acute in schools for working class children. In 1950's America, there was no child abuse because it was known as discipline...a rein of terror existed in many classroom, unrestrained by the authorities and supported by parents who had been battered by the same thugs when they were children.
Things have changed; many of the sadists are dead and lay teachers are doing most of the teaching in Catholic schools today. Still, it is a shame that the Church in America has this dirty little secret that is still shrouded in silence. When I hear people say to me that I must have gotten a great education; I ask them what they mean. The ones over 50 always talk about discipline and self control. Had I gone to Attica Prison, I could have gotten better treatment and my parents would not have been burdened with the tuition and fees.
In general, the physical brutally was aimed at the boys; however, that was not always the case. Still, the overall atmosphere of psychological and physical intimidation was pervasive. There should be a truth commission in this country that talks directly to the issues raised by Jim Beresford in the Irish context. American Catholicism needs to come clean; as they say, confession is good for the soul.
http://www.irishtimes.com.newspaper/opinion/2009/0618/1224249067622.html
The cover up that Beresford speaks about in the Irish context is quite the same on this side of the pond. The passing of the dramatic sex scandals in the American Church never addressed the sadism and brutality of the various teaching orders; the violence (discipline) was especially acute in schools for working class children. In 1950's America, there was no child abuse because it was known as discipline...a rein of terror existed in many classroom, unrestrained by the authorities and supported by parents who had been battered by the same thugs when they were children.
Things have changed; many of the sadists are dead and lay teachers are doing most of the teaching in Catholic schools today. Still, it is a shame that the Church in America has this dirty little secret that is still shrouded in silence. When I hear people say to me that I must have gotten a great education; I ask them what they mean. The ones over 50 always talk about discipline and self control. Had I gone to Attica Prison, I could have gotten better treatment and my parents would not have been burdened with the tuition and fees.
In general, the physical brutally was aimed at the boys; however, that was not always the case. Still, the overall atmosphere of psychological and physical intimidation was pervasive. There should be a truth commission in this country that talks directly to the issues raised by Jim Beresford in the Irish context. American Catholicism needs to come clean; as they say, confession is good for the soul.
http://www.irishtimes.com.newspaper/opinion/2009/0618/1224249067622.html
Coldest Known Object Hoax and stock tip for the Day
We are smarter than the average bear and saw something fishy in a story on Yahoo about the coldest object in space being a man made instrument package for space exploration. We contacted Anne Coulter people and asked them if she knew that something in space was supposed to be colder than she was...they just laughed and said no way. As the space object was still .1 above absolute zero, we believe Colture's people have the edge on this one...coldest object in the known universe....the Coultergeist.
An article in the Journal of Sexual Medicine had a stimulating piece on vibrator use and sexual health. More women than men have used them. Of the subjects who used vibrators, many reported positive results in terms of satisfaction and arousal. Anne Coulter was not mentioned in this article.
You do not need to be writing for Smart Money to realize the implications for the solar battery industry. Al Gore had no comment on the issue of battery disposal and the environmental impact of vibrator use on a planetary scale.
Check out the You Tube land. Apparently, there is "techno war music." And where there's war the Fuhrer rears his ugly head in some amusing clips. Yes, there is Hitler humor after "The Producers." Hitler, Hess, Goering and so many more to disco and other tunes. Quite Pythonesque...in a Monty sort of way.
An article in the Journal of Sexual Medicine had a stimulating piece on vibrator use and sexual health. More women than men have used them. Of the subjects who used vibrators, many reported positive results in terms of satisfaction and arousal. Anne Coulter was not mentioned in this article.
You do not need to be writing for Smart Money to realize the implications for the solar battery industry. Al Gore had no comment on the issue of battery disposal and the environmental impact of vibrator use on a planetary scale.
Check out the You Tube land. Apparently, there is "techno war music." And where there's war the Fuhrer rears his ugly head in some amusing clips. Yes, there is Hitler humor after "The Producers." Hitler, Hess, Goering and so many more to disco and other tunes. Quite Pythonesque...in a Monty sort of way.
McNamara Lives!
Don't cry for Bob, yes, some called him Bob, McNamara because he lives on in the system that he served as Secretary of Defense during the Sixties. The policy elites who run our current wars and prepare for the next war are just as devoted as McNamara was to the technocratic mindset. Rumsfled was almost a clone of the business school mindset about war as was Bob. The arrogance that got us into Vietnam has gotten into Afghanistan and Iraq. McNamara lives in the Orwellian language of military intellectuals who speak of kinetic battlefields and full spectrum dominance. The use of a pseudo scientific language covers a multitude of sins of omission ie, the lack of historical and political understanding of peoples and cultures not akin to our own. We blundered into Vietnam because we did not listen to the French, did not understand the people we were about to fight and dismissed the few experts we had within our own government who warned against a ground war in Asia.
Bob McNamara lives on. Bob Gates is finding out how hard it is root out the interests that use the war machine as a means to fuel their state's economy and guarantee their reelections. The waste that McNamara tried to control is today impeding the country's recovery from the greatest economic collapse since the 1930's.
Bob McNamara lives.
Bob McNamara lives on. Bob Gates is finding out how hard it is root out the interests that use the war machine as a means to fuel their state's economy and guarantee their reelections. The waste that McNamara tried to control is today impeding the country's recovery from the greatest economic collapse since the 1930's.
Bob McNamara lives.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Wa/Po Froomkin Loses Cherry, North Korea Solved!
Dan Froomkin's Blog, White House Watch is terrific stuff. But, the kid surely has just about had it with the Obamatron and his merry men. Froomkin, he looks like his name (cute), tore the administration another one over the consistent undermining of the transparency promise of the early golden days of long ago...like January 2009. Indeed, through the miracle of the Post's, "way back machine" I was able to read the virginal love song of the Froomster after the Obama speech to his worthies at the White house on January 21. The Froom's s article of the 22 January was so full of good will and hopefulness that I had to take something to settle my stomach before I continued on my way through the posts to his column. It is a real lesson in how a very level headed columnist has been almost totally turned off by the Bushian blow back on the Obama people. The DoJ has employed the same idiotic rationalizations as the previous administration...when they had their spines removed is yet to be determined. Perhaps, Geraldo Rivera is on to that story.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/white-house-watch/obama-bogus-new-excuse-for-se.html
North Korea: Problem solved by Rutabaga Ridgepol. No idea who this is. And yet he spoke to me when I caught his post on TPM ( Talking Points Memo); this blog is a very successful, social democratic group of Wiemar intellectuals released from the amber and blogging away, creating chaos wherever they alight. Just wonderful writing and intelligent analysis. Back to the Rut guy. He noted that "The Dear Leader" is about to keel over and his number one son is a basket ball nut....this intelligence was picked up from a kitchen help guy. Rut says that Obama can straighten nuclear stuff out on basket ball court and personal coaching clinic with Phil Jackson, etc. Hans Morganthau could not have put it better...I only hope Hillery has a computer in her office. Rut must have cc her on this one.
http://tmpcafe.thetalkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/rutabaga/2009/06
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/white-house-watch/obama-bogus-new-excuse-for-se.html
North Korea: Problem solved by Rutabaga Ridgepol. No idea who this is. And yet he spoke to me when I caught his post on TPM ( Talking Points Memo); this blog is a very successful, social democratic group of Wiemar intellectuals released from the amber and blogging away, creating chaos wherever they alight. Just wonderful writing and intelligent analysis. Back to the Rut guy. He noted that "The Dear Leader" is about to keel over and his number one son is a basket ball nut....this intelligence was picked up from a kitchen help guy. Rut says that Obama can straighten nuclear stuff out on basket ball court and personal coaching clinic with Phil Jackson, etc. Hans Morganthau could not have put it better...I only hope Hillery has a computer in her office. Rut must have cc her on this one.
http://tmpcafe.thetalkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/rutabaga/2009/06
Thursday, July 2, 2009
North Korea May Honor U.S. On July 4th!!!
Yes, it's true. You got it here first. The North Koreans may send a rocket's red glare out over the Pacific on the Fourth of July. How anyone can think that this rocket launch might be anything but a friendly gesture from the Beloved Leader himself. Well, the Defense Department is amused and has said that the launch was expected. This might upset the North because it sort of gives it away....we all like surprises, don't we? It is not known whether the famous American fireworks family, the Gruccis have had anything to do with this launch.
As you know, rockets over NYC were prohibited by former Mayor Giuliani in a show strength against the Chinese years ago. Oh, that was Chinese in Chinatown, that is. Do not panic and stock pile and more than you already have for a normal July 4th catastrophe. Ice, beer, condiments; DVD's and hard liquor for the real men among you, girls included. I will be joining some Constitutional scholars at a Constitution burning and BBQ at Foley Square. Later, we will g to the Joyce Theater for the experimental dance of the Federalists Papers, performed by The Paul Taylor dancers.....
Happy Rockets and Rockeets to you all
As you know, rockets over NYC were prohibited by former Mayor Giuliani in a show strength against the Chinese years ago. Oh, that was Chinese in Chinatown, that is. Do not panic and stock pile and more than you already have for a normal July 4th catastrophe. Ice, beer, condiments; DVD's and hard liquor for the real men among you, girls included. I will be joining some Constitutional scholars at a Constitution burning and BBQ at Foley Square. Later, we will g to the Joyce Theater for the experimental dance of the Federalists Papers, performed by The Paul Taylor dancers.....
Happy Rockets and Rockeets to you all
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Dowd barks and her commenters howl
When I was informed of the Maureen column, I rushed to read and commento. Shut, the comments section was like the line for the last life boat on the Titanic. No freaking room at the Inn. So, settled down and read a page or two. Jesus, people really funny and enjoying being Sanforized.
Like an idiot, I was reading the Times story on the Marines moving into southern Afghanistan to put their new counter-insurgency plan into operation. A dear friend called and I tear-arsed my way to the Dowd column. Once again, she just doesn't get it. The Strategic Air Command got it, massive nuclear retaliation. You want to cut down on guys messing around: arm the women. Yeah, it would be messy for awhile, the murder rate would rise by 400% for a few years. But, honor killings could be legislated....am surprised they aren't in the South Carolina Constitution.
I must say that the sucky weather in NYC has kept me glued to my computer and the webbie warped commentary on Sanford. Now, here comes an Edwards story with video! This may be known as "The Summer of Sleaze." Did Henry Mancini do a song by that name? Could all this distraction be a nefarious plot by your stock broker to get you to stop threatening to sue him or her? Think about it...maybe not.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/opinion/01dowd.html
Another gem rolled off the NYT turnip truck. In the business section today, it was reported that 75% of medically induced personal bankruptcies are filed by folks who had health insurance. Scamming the public is what they do; our friends at United Health Care are mention as was the sacred cow AARP. Who better to sell useless insurance to but the elderly. you just have to love these guys.
"All life is connected grasshopper." So, imagine my delight in seeing the learned comment by Melena Ryzik on the new Dillinger film. This passed winter I bought a fedora at Housing Works Thrift Shop. I was drawn to it. Now, I know why. I can be just like Johnny Depp in the movie...minus the Thompson .45 cal. sub machine gun. This story follows yesterday's tempest between the NYPD and the Banking Community ( leper colony). The romanticism of a bank robber movie, set in a depression, starring a strikingly handsome Depp...well, if I were Commissioner Kelly, I'd be telling my robbery guys no vacations this summer me buckos. I predict huge fedora sales from movie and I am trying to corner the quality felt supplies around the globe. Anyone want in?
All the above jewels were found online in the nytimes.com 7/1/09
Thank you Times for the fun and games...minus the Marines and healthcare fraud.
Like an idiot, I was reading the Times story on the Marines moving into southern Afghanistan to put their new counter-insurgency plan into operation. A dear friend called and I tear-arsed my way to the Dowd column. Once again, she just doesn't get it. The Strategic Air Command got it, massive nuclear retaliation. You want to cut down on guys messing around: arm the women. Yeah, it would be messy for awhile, the murder rate would rise by 400% for a few years. But, honor killings could be legislated....am surprised they aren't in the South Carolina Constitution.
I must say that the sucky weather in NYC has kept me glued to my computer and the webbie warped commentary on Sanford. Now, here comes an Edwards story with video! This may be known as "The Summer of Sleaze." Did Henry Mancini do a song by that name? Could all this distraction be a nefarious plot by your stock broker to get you to stop threatening to sue him or her? Think about it...maybe not.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/opinion/01dowd.html
Another gem rolled off the NYT turnip truck. In the business section today, it was reported that 75% of medically induced personal bankruptcies are filed by folks who had health insurance. Scamming the public is what they do; our friends at United Health Care are mention as was the sacred cow AARP. Who better to sell useless insurance to but the elderly. you just have to love these guys.
"All life is connected grasshopper." So, imagine my delight in seeing the learned comment by Melena Ryzik on the new Dillinger film. This passed winter I bought a fedora at Housing Works Thrift Shop. I was drawn to it. Now, I know why. I can be just like Johnny Depp in the movie...minus the Thompson .45 cal. sub machine gun. This story follows yesterday's tempest between the NYPD and the Banking Community ( leper colony). The romanticism of a bank robber movie, set in a depression, starring a strikingly handsome Depp...well, if I were Commissioner Kelly, I'd be telling my robbery guys no vacations this summer me buckos. I predict huge fedora sales from movie and I am trying to corner the quality felt supplies around the globe. Anyone want in?
All the above jewels were found online in the nytimes.com 7/1/09
Thank you Times for the fun and games...minus the Marines and healthcare fraud.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)