GLOOM AND DOOM

Fiduciary Responsibility

2009-03-15T09:41:00.002-07:00

FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY

As banks, insurance companies, automakers, and other entities continue to fall apart, our government has thrown taxpayer money and backing to these institutions. These companies continue to fail as our money disappears into these black holes. The leadership of these companies CONTINUES to hide most of what they do with this money, in spite of the demand for transparency and the fact that most of them are public companies. When some light IS SHED upon this largesse, it turns out that they are handing out bonuses to themselves or shoveling the money back and forth to other institutions. The one thing they are NOT doing is helping the economy.

YET, FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILY IS NEVER MENTIONED!!! The CEO’s, Senators, Congressmen, Bush Administration, Obama Administration, business channels and pundits mention nothing of it. The all wring their hands bemoaning how this money is doled out in bonuses, jets, etc., yet can do nothing about it except protest impotently.

FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILY IS THE FUNDAMENTAL BEDROCK OF OUR ECONOMY. I would think that in the piles of laws upon which our country is founded, there SHOULD be PLENTY OF POWER to protect our country from this travesty. BOTH THE TAXPAYERS AND THE SHAREHOLDERS EXPECT THAT THEY CAN TRUST NOT JUST IN GOD, BUT IN OUR LEADERSHIP!!! That trust is broken!

The assets of those accountable should be seized. The persons involved should be jailed. The evidence is obvious. We know where the buck stopped and those who stopped it. Business leaders and political leaders…look in the mirror.

Pakistan...You're treating us like idiots

2008-10-07T19:21:00.000-07:00

Watching the second debate between our presidential? candidates is beginning to drive be batsh%t!!! We are already attacking Pakistan, a FACT that neither Obama, McCain, nor Brokaw seem to be aware. Do they think we are THAT STUPID....apparently so.

In the last few weeks the Bush Administration has, at the very least, sent in helicopters and drones into Pakistan. A drone has been shot down. Helicopters have been shot at. Our American Al-Qaeda representative has been reportedly killed...probably in Pakistan. The new leader of Pakistan, the late assassinated Benazir Bhutto's husband, has called on the Pakistan military to oppose American incursions, which they apparently have done. So far no American casualties have been reported IN PAKISTAN, whether they have occurred or not. By the by, PAKISTAN HAS NUKES!!! Therefore, any American casualties in Pakistan are unlikely to be acknowledged by either the Bush Administration....OR, our ally???....Pakistan.

Yet, this stupid debate treats us as idiots. Maybe we are. As a further insult, Senator McCain bragged about how the Afghans through out the Russians decades ago. One of those Mujaheddin....Osama bin Laden....the same guy that orchestrated the attack on the WTC and the same fellow we are supposedly trying to get in....Pakistan!!!

AND YET!!!...these two candidates vying to lead our country, and a respected??? moderator from the media, Tom Brokaw, treat us like morons. It is a disgrace to us, our leadership, the media, and the nation. SHAME ON YOU ALL!

Who Needs Taxes???

2008-09-24T18:49:00.000-07:00

The last week or so should have brought home to everyone that there is a total disconnect between taxes and spending. Raise taxes, lower taxes...why not just get rid of taxes. "Tax and spend liberals" is an empty phrase. So is "Reaganomics". If we want to spend...we spend. It could be 7 Billion for health care. It could be half a Trillion for Iraq. It could be a Trillion for Wall Street. Who cares?

The current Bush Administration has spent way more than any taxes taken in. He has created the greatest deficit spending in history! That puts the adored Ronald Reagan in SECOND PLACE! What's a trillion more? Alexander Hamilton, the inventor of deficit spending, would be proud.

It is time to eliminate taxes. It's time to test this process to the max. Sell our bridges, highways, and ports. And most of all, let's sell our children, their children, and their children's children. It's our right...and besides, we'll be long gone before the bill's come in. We can't beat death, but taxes????

The People get Pantsed

2008-09-22T17:49:00.000-07:00

OUTRAGEOUS!!! After years and years of deregulation, our economy is on the verge of collapse. People have lost their homes, their jobs are gone or at risk, inflation is rising, and their savings, what little is left, is at risk.

The solution!!! Reach into the taxpayer's pocket and shake out what little money is still there. Use that money to bail out Wall Street by buying a lot of crap that is worth less than a roll of toilet paper. This is CHANGE OUR GOVERNMENT CAN BELIEVE IN!!! They have forgone nickle and diming us by taking our last nickle and dime.

The Administration and Congress have decided that this is no time for partisan politics. Language is important. So, the language is developing among our "leadership" to sell this garbage to the public. They are giving us this "toxic waste" that is "clogging up the system"...like the problem is nothing more than a clogged sink. I, for one, would rather drink Drano than have this sludge shoved down my throat.

The one thing we CAN believe in is that the only thing being sent down the drain is THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!!!

Psst...Notice a Cold War?

2008-09-12T07:38:00.000-07:00

From Day One of the Bush Administration, the Administration had but one policy...isolate Russia. Osama bin Laden was but a fading memory of the Clinton Administration. President Bush looked into Putin's eyes and saw what he wanted to see in "Putin's soul".

Number One Priority was to put missiles in Alaska. That required throwing out the ABM Treaty, which the President than unilaterally did. After Saudi Arabia attacked us on 9/11, the Administration than took the opportunity to place troops on the southern flank of Russia in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Than NATO moved into Afghanistan. Additionally, they began adding former Soviet bloc states to their alliance. Finally, the Bush Administration decided to place missiles and radar stations in these former bloc nations.

So, it should have come as no surprise that Vladmir Putin would wait until the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in order to look into Bush's eyes as Russian troops marched into Georgia. Payback's a bitch.

Now, Russia is flying bombers into Venezuela. Venezuela and Bolivia are effectively severing relations with the United States. This is not only a challenge to the Bush Doctrine, but to the Monroe Doctrine as well. How long before the missiles return to Cuba?

Russia is now rattling sabres at the Ukraine. Next on the agenda could be Alaska. With Governor Palin distracted from the affairs of state in her run for the Vice-Presidency, will she be prepared to lead the Alaska National Guard in its defense of her state? Stay tuned!

Pal(e)-in Comparison

2008-09-09T13:40:00.000-07:00

As I said last month, Barack Obama's cowardly choice for VP would screw his chances, UNLESS...John McCain made a dumber choice...AND HE DID!!!

His MAVERICK choice would have been to choose Senator Lieberman. (Yes, Republican delegates, maverick is spelled with an "E"!) Instead, out of the blue, with the possible exception of a blog campaign from a college student, he chose Governor Palin. Apparently, the vetting process consisted of 75 questions that apparently included "Are you pro-life?", "Are you a creationist?", "Do you believe global warming is not man-made?","Are you anti-gay?","Are you pro-gun?". and, most important, "Do you want to be Vice-President?"...(even if you don't know what a Vice-President does!). The last would suggest that the United States Constitution is not on Sarah Palin's reading list. And this person could be in position to choose our next Supreme Court Justices...whoever they are!

It is surprising how much the TOUGH Republican Party, saviour of our nation, went so whimpery over protecting this poor, vulnerable, woman. They didn't have much misogynistic reticence with HIllary Clinton!!! And yet, with this gun-toting, moose-skinning, high-sticking hockey-mom, THEY DO!!! I think she, like Hillary, can take care of herself!!!

However....back to dumb choice. On the positive side, she does have executive experience, like George W. Bush. However, it is in Alaska, a state that has some secessionist desires to which Governor Palin may have some sympathy. This kind of puts a different spin on the "Country First" theme! She comes from a small town in a disconnected state. I don't know about you, but my "small town" experiences have found the population extremely provincial. They barely know, or care, what's happening in the next town, let alone the county, state, country, or world!! I would venture to suggest that she has no feel whatsoever as to the issues affecting most, if not all, of the lower 48. (One might have made the same suggestion of Obama had he stayed in Hawaii.) She governs the only state that has surpluses....OIL SURPLUSES!!!...so that she can return this largesse to the people...NO TAXES!?!?!?! She runs a state closer to Saudi Arabia than the USA...and...if they secede...a country! Than she really will need foreign policy experience to deal with Russia, Canada, and...the USA!!!

Fanny, Freddie, and Foreigners

2008-09-09T13:16:00.000-07:00

Mr. Paulson...the American taxpayer is less than thrilled that you are so willing to hand us public debt now that private piracy has reached its end. We hope that you and your cronies, the elite 1%, choke on the bushels of dollars you have stolen from the economy. It seems that social capitalism works very well for you and your ilk. We taxpayers are not thrilled with financing the golden parachutes of the two CEO's that were replaced, either.

Mr. Paulson, we are not thrilled with the way you have dealt with the economic war in progress. It does not help our country. As part of the Republican Administration, we would have hoped that you would have echoed the theme of your Presidential Candidate...."Country First".

As we bought the crap from China and other nations in our orgy of Consumerism, we at least had the comfort that we were returning crap for crap, by sending out our less than desirable debt overseas disguised as "wolf in sheep's clothing" AAA investments. BUT NOW YOU, CONGRESS, AND THE PRESIDENT, SCREWED US. (Why does Congress keep giving you guys options you can't resist but use? And why can't you resist?

China is happy; Japan is happy; South Korea is happy; India is happy; France is happy; Germany is happy; etc...they can now dump our shitty debt back on us. WE ARE NOT HAPPY!!! You have put our COUNTRY LAST!!!

Hello Biden, Bye Bye Barack

2008-08-23T07:45:00.000-07:00

What was Obama thinking? He presents himself as the outsider and the agent of change. Yet, it is the ultimate insider, Senator Kennedy, who anoints him. It is the Super-Delegates who make him the "presumptive" Presidential nominee. And now he chooses another long-time insider, Senator Joe Biden, as his running mate!

He has said that picking his VP is the most important decision he has to make to this point. He blew it! His Grand Tour of Europe and the Middle East seemed to be designed to show him as presidential, not the Rock Star that his opponents are painting him. But this most important choice gives credence to the latter.

If ever he wanted to show to the electorate just how inexperienced and unready he is to be the leader of the country, all he has to do is stand side-by-side with his Vice-Presidential choice. This picture is worth far more than a thousand words. It worth the election. And he's lost!

His only hope is for his opponent, John McCain, to make an even dumber choice.

His Royal Deity, The Decider

2008-08-22T07:27:00.000-07:00

Sometime over the course of the last few decades, the Constitution ceased to be preserved, protected and defended. Instead, the add-on, non-Constitutional phrase, "so help me God", seems to have become, "so help ME, GOD."

There never was an "I" in "WE the PEOPLE." Yet, this "I" has become the President of the United States. This "I" has become the Presidential Candidate This "I" has become the PRESUMPTIVE Presidential Nominee.

The Deified Decider chooses the wars we fight. The PRESUMPTIVE Deified Decider solely chooses his Vice-Deified Decider. WHAT HAPPENED TO US MERE MORTALS? WE, the PEOPLE, have to bleed and die based on these deciders. WE, the PEOPlE, have no say in the selection of the Vice-Deity. WE, the PEOPLE, had no choice in the selection of the PRESUMPTIVE decider. That was fore-ordained, in one instance, when he was baptized by the prophet, Senator Ted Kennedy the Baptist, who, ironically, ended up with his head on a table shortly thereafter. The other PRESUMPTIVE decider was ordained after fasting in a Vietnam prison and then wandering for many years in the Senatorial Desert.

This country looks more like the Roman Republic and its surrender to the Emperors then the USA. Our Supreme Court crowns the deity. Our representatives kowtow to the deity. The Constitution is intentionally ignored. WE, the PEOPLE, have become we, the PLEBEIANS!!! GOD the DECIDER promises us THE RAPTURE, with maybe some cake. But just a small peek beyond the gates and we will see...THE RAPTORS!!!

Putin on the Blitz

2008-08-17T09:32:00.000-07:00

A long, long time ago in a place far, far, away (from Beijing), a certain Mr. Bush looked into the eyes of a certain Mr. Putin and could see his soul.

EVIDENTLY NOT!!!!

As Mr. Bush and Mr. Putin sat side-by-side, each with their respective spouses, watching the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics, Mr. Putin's forces were stomping all over a small country called Georgia. Mr. Bush, the de jure leader of the USA, was unperturbed. From 8 PM to 12 AM to 3 AM, etc, etc. the President of the United States watched the Olympics. He even had time to play volleyball with some scantily clad Olympian women.

Eventually, after his latest joy ride on Air Force One, President Bush returned to the United States. He then delayed his vacation to Crawford, Texas for a day or so. Occasionally, utterances of empty phrases of protestations came from him and his administration. Meanwhile, Mr. Putin, the de facto leader of Russia, continued to allow his forces to roll over the Georgian Republic. Utterances from the Russians were those of mockery and disdain.

Mr. Putin must have enjoyed the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. But, perhaps more, he must have enjoyed sitting next to the President of the United States as Russian forces trampled a tiny neighbor. Had President Bush looked into the eyes of Putin, he might have seen what was really there....UTTER CONTEMPT!!!

This BUD's for EU

2008-07-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

It is amazing how family squabbles can turn into international incidents. Granted, family squabbles in the past were much worse, with wars of succession, sometimes lasting a hundred years. Eleanor of Aquitaine’s progeny were particularly troublesome as were some of Queen Victoria’s bunch. Usually those who felt it worst were the peonic pawns who were dragged in as cannon fodder, or earlier, lance fodder.

Now we have the Busch family….not to be mistaken for the Bush family whose troubles are well known. I am talking specifically about Uncle Adolphus and his nephew August. And who will suffer most….the peonic pawns….the American beer drinker. Even as Uncle Adolphus and his Belgian cronies at InBev swallow up the Busch legacy, the de-Americanization of the brew has already begun. Clydesdale’s are being retired and, possibly, being sent to some Belgian glue factory while some European draft horse muscles its way in. That should cause a bit of a row at the next Pasadena Rose Parade! And what of the Bud name itself. Now that the Belgian’s have control, will they kill the brand in favor of the Czech Republic upstart…Budvar?

While we were looking towards Asia, the Europeans snuck in and stole our culture…our soul…and, shamefully, with the help of Benedict Adolphus Busch! It is truly the time of the St. Louis Blues!!

Trumping the Flag

2008-07-17T13:44:00.000-07:00

It is a disgrace to see Donald Trump once again raising an oversized American flag over one of his properties for the express purpose of advertising. He did this in Florida and he is now doing this in California. I have no doubt that this is the same oversized American flag. I am sure he knows the local zoning ordinances of the areas in which he is purposely disobeying the law, all in the name of his self-importance and his pretense of being a patriot. He is not a patriot. He is a lawbreaker or... at the very least, an ordinance-breaker. It is clear from the sale of his property in Florida that the only purpose of this flag-waving is to get attention for his property and himself and to get a good price for his property. It is un-American... Well, maybe not so. Clearly Donald Trump is a patriot of the all-American dollar. With the weakness of the dollar brought about by the administration in the last seven years, what he probably should have done, instead of raising a large American flag, was to raise a large inflated dollar. Perhaps that would have gotten the point across better.

The American people should be OUTRAGED by the way the American flag has been appropriated for greedy personal reasons... certainly I am. As the American flag continues to be used by both leading politicians and leading businessmen for their own purposes... Americans remain silent!!!

Kung Fu Pander

2008-06-19T10:15:00.000-07:00

ONLY ONE DAY after the presidential primaries ended, all three pre-eminent presidential candidates marched up to the podium at AIPAC, The American Israeli Public Affairs Committee, America's pro-Israel Lobby. Senators Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John McCain, in turn, all paid blatant obeisance to Israel. It was one of the most disgusting public displays of pandering to lobbyists yet. The brown-nosing was so dispicable, that Barack's nose was noticeably darker and the other two might well have been in black-face. So much for the lying lobby issue of these campaigns.

THE NEXT DAY, the Israeli Transportation Minister, Shaul Mofaz, stated the war with Iran was inevitable!

THE DAY AFTER THAT, oil prices shot up limit over ten dollars a barrel to record highs!

COINCIDENCE?!?!?! Or has one followed the other followed the other.

POST HOC ERGO PROPTER HOC!!!!!

Never Surrender?

2008-06-19T09:49:00.000-07:00

John McCain seems to have forgotten that he was once a POW of the North Vietnam government. While the Politically Correct post-Vietnam angst of Americans is to glorify and nobilize the POW's of the Vietnam War, the fact of the matter is that in order to become a POW, one must, by necessity, SURRENDER! As painful as it must have been; as helpless as he must have been; HE SURRENDERED! Granted, he had little choice in the matter...yet....HE SURRENDERED!

But now, as the presumptive Republican candidate, he insists on using this slogan "Never Surrender" for the catastrophe in Iraq. Militarily, of course, we will win every battle. The surge, militarily, works. Other than that....

Unfortunately for the once maverick of the Republican Party, he continues to surrender on issues that should be near and dear to him for the sake of trying to become the oldest incoming president in history. He has surrendered on Guantanamo. He has surrendered on torture. He has surrendered the Geneva Conventions. One can only surmise that he is either a coward and he is betraying his heroic military and political service, or he is surrendering his mind.

He has shown signs of being Reaganesque, but not in a desirable way. With Senator and Republican Vice-Presidential wannabe Joe Lieberman at his side performing the Nancy Reagan role, he has time and again had to be reminded and corrected on many facts he had in error. Are these just senior moments, or worse, early stages of Alzheimer's. As we later discovered about Ronald Reagan, it was the latter!

SuperDelegates are NOT Pledged

2008-06-04T09:01:00.000-07:00

Why is it that not one of the supposed mainstream political moronic media mentioning this? Instead, they keep calling for Hillary to quit! This smacks more of misogynistic bigotry then fair and balanced news reporting. Neither Senator Obama nor Senator Clinton has the necessary PLEDGED delegates to win the nomination. Instead, the votes are in the hands of these so-called Superdelegates. Basically, the Democratic Party's nominee will be determined by the insider political system, not the electorate. At the moment those powers-that-be are pushing for the "outsider" Obama rather than the "insider" Clinton. So much for democracy. Until these insiders vote at the convention, their votes are subject to the political whims and winds that blow from now until then. Suppose, for instance, that it turns out that it is discovered before the convention that Senator Clinton is carrying the illegitimate semi-African-American love-child of Senator Obama? What would those Superdelegates do? If only Senator Eagleton were alive today! He'd know!!! S..T HAPPENS!

Deja Bush All Over Again

2008-05-16T17:01:00.000-07:00

Insanity can be defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. So what does that say about President Bush's repeat farewell tour of the Middle East? After only a few months he's back in Israel and also Saudi Arabia, accomplishing nothing. In spite of Bush/Saudi relations going at least as far back as grandpa Prescott, he still failed, again, to encourage the Saudi government/family to increase production to bring down oil prices. He probably would have done better by reducing fuel consumption by keeping Air Force One grounded at home. With eight more months to mark time, we can be sure to expect more farewell touring by our leader. Our Decider has evidently decided to take lame duck to a whole new level.

The Manchurian Candidates

2008-05-12T19:29:00.000-07:00

There was a time in this presidential race when each and everyone of us had candidates that they liked. There were truckloads of them up there debating, berating, and masturbating...especially the debates at the Reagan Library. Now we are basically down to three. And who are they? Do they really have any connection to us poor (and getting poorer) folks?

Did they live those formative years like you and me in that America we all know and love? Did they live those events that impacted the lives of you and me? Why is it that all of our recent Presidents seem to emerge from the Naval Academy, Harvard, or Yale.....Especially Yale...and that nefarious, secretive, "Skull and Bones", which, of course, doesn't exist!!

Our Naval Academy guy, John McCain, from a military family, was a POW during some of the most turbulent times in American history. I'm sure he had an up-front view of skulls and bones! Was he being reprogrammed while some of our leaders were being assassinated, something of which he would have had no knowledge? But we would! And even if he wasn't, what kind of damage does that do to a person? Can we relate to it while we were back here protesting that war? Do we really want to trust this country to a person with that background?

Our Harvard guy, Barack Obama, was, of course, endorsed by a Harvard guy whose state Senator Clinton won. What's Harvard's version of "Skull and Bones"? And his niece, Carolyn, seems to think Barack is some kind of JFK reincarnated. I have to admit, that charisma is there!! But this guy, born to a Kenyan national, raised in Indonesia and Hawaii (not really a lower-48 perspective) and then spends the rest of his time in a black Chicago church trying to absorb the angst of the African-Americans whose roots, unlike his, are set in American slavery. However, he apparently did not hear much of Reverend Wright's often justified vitriol. If he wasn't lying, then he must have done what most Christians do during sermons...he slept! Do we really want to trust this country to a person with that background?

Finally, our Yale gal, Hillary Clinton. Do they allow women in "Skull and Bones"? Or did she have to rely on her husband and the Bushes for presidential osmosis? She spent eight years in fortress Clinton as the White House came under considerable personal, as well as political, assault from Republicans and others who hated people who were, at that time at least, Washington, DC, outsiders. Most of her presidential experience was clearly osmotic during this time. Did she absorb what we need? Do we really want to trust this country to a person with that background?

From a cast of thousands, the American people are left to choose from three of the most skewed personalities in the race. God help us, lest we end up nothing more than skulls and bones!

The Nightmare of the Dream Ticket

2008-05-08T16:52:00.000-07:00

Fight the good fight. Root for the underdog. Never quit. Didn't these use to be American ideals?

Yet the Democrats, the so-called party of the downtrodden, keep trying to trod down Hilary Clinton! She and Barack Obama are basically in a dead heat for the nomination. This all-encompassing party seems unable to be all-encompassing. It seems ironic that the closer candidates are in their views, the more venomous the rhetoric. They, and their surrogates, cease talking issues and sink to ad hominums. Whether they like it or not, the only choice that the Democratic Party will have is a Kennedy-Johnson ticket...and for the same reason...TO WIN!!!

A casual glance at the map of the United States suggests a disturbing pattern that may come home to roost for the Democrats if they do not go with the "Dream Ticket." Hillary seems to be stronger in the Blue States and Barack seems to be stronger in the Red States. That means that Democrats in Republican states have a disproportionate say in choosing their standard bearer. Is that a formula for success?

The Superdelegate idea also is turning into a major joke. As I've said before, if the follow the "will of the people", they are superfluous. If they don't they are un-Democratic!

Barack Obama is supposed to be the outsider and Hilary Clinton is supposed to be the insider. Yet, major party members like Senators Kennedy and Kerry have no problem giving him their vote in spite of the fact that Senator Clinton won Massachusetts! It almost seems like the Democratic insiders are behaving towards Senator Clinton like the Republicans did to her husband during his Presidency. They seem to hate her, and the bullying is beginning to have gender biased undertones.

As a final insult to the electorate, Florida and Michigan remains in limbo...and both leaned toward Senator Clinton. Does the Democratic party really need to alienate these states?

This party has NO CHOICE!!! Both candidates have to be on the same ticket!! The likely scenario seems to be the Kennedy-esque Obama leading the ticket with the Johnson-esque Clinton in the VP slot. Will history repeat? One way or another...it will!!!

Why Don't We Feel a DRAFT

2008-04-28T18:10:00.000-07:00

Other than Charles Rangel, and that was quite a while ago...before the presidential campaigns got going...has anyone mentioned a draft...except recently, perhaps, the US News and World Report...and that was buried in a piece on the US Soldiers in Iraq. It was interesting to note that the soldiers interviewed actually were against a draft. They did not want the guy next to them to be someone who did not want to be there. Certainly I can understand the argument.

Yet, these guys have been sent over time and time again, as units, and have had inadequate time to refit during the R&R at home. How long can this country do this to our armed forces?
Our volunteer force is truly a professional and patriotic force. The original mission after 9/11 in Afghanistan was a job they were well prepared for and executed with great skill.

But the moment we set foot in Iraq, this administration...this government, this country, betrayed them. Invasion and occupation are not the missions of volunteer forces. The Reserves and the National Guard are not forces that should be used in this manner. Stripping the Air Force, the Navy, and the Coast Guard to supplement these forces is a gross misuse of those branches of the service. Paying billions of dollars for mercenaries...that is what these "contractors" actually are, is a gross misuse of our national treasury. Our government has created a farce war in order to divert money from the taxpayer into the hands of some privileged few.

If there was a draft, the people of this country might just begin to have an inkling that they have been totally betrayed by our leadership. That inkling may happen yet. At this time, our armed forces are totally incapable of meeting another major threat in the world today. The next president, be it McCain, Obama, Clinton, or another, will be facing a period of great disasters, disasters set in motion over the last few decades and especially over the last few years.

There has not been any real debate or action to have forces prepared to meet this almost inevitable major threat by conventional force. That may leave us with no alternative but nuclear! Not an utterance from Bush, Cheney, Rice, Gates, or any of the current administration. Not an utterance from Obama, Clinton, McCain, or any of the other previously aspiring presidential candidates. Not an utterance for General Petraeus or any other of our present or former military leaders. WHAT THE FUCK!?!?!?!?!

With food riots breaking out around the world...with the polar caps melting and the Arctic countries staking their claims to resources...with the dollar plunging and commodities of all types going through the roof...THE SHIT IS GOING TO HIT THE FAN...and it won't be from the "terrorists"!!

It is beginning to matter little who gets in during this election cycle. THEY'RE IN CAHOOTS. WAKE UP PEOPLE; OUR GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED US!!!!

Is the NSC smarter than a 5th Grader?

2008-04-13T11:19:00.000-07:00

Stephen Hadley, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, was interviewed today by George Stephanopoulos. He apparently does not know the difference between Nepal and Tibet. Granted, they both have five letters and are located in the Himalayas. But one has just had elections and the other an uprising.

Throughout the interview, he consistenly referred to Nepal when he was obviously referring to Tibet. And George Stephanopoulos, throughout the interview, failed to correct him. Were either one of them listening to what was being said? Or are they just that stupid.

Remember, this guy is Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs!! When rattling sabers and attacking countries we should, at this level of government, have at least a rudimentary knowledge of Geography. Iran is not Iraq. Keep all the Blankety-Blank-ISTANS straight. Turkey is not a bird and Greece is not for cooking. And last but not least, there are NO kangaroos in Austria!

The Stupid-Delegates and the (Un) Democratic Party

2008-04-06T21:55:00.000-07:00

It is absolutely astounding how the Democratic Party manages to shoot itself in the foot time after time after time. No wonder they want to get out of the war…they can’t be trusted with guns. The Republicans, especially our esteemed VP, know where to point their guns... in your face! We don’t need no stinkin’ “Right-Wing Conspiracy”…we have the Democrats, and, perhaps, a “Left-Wing Conspiracy”… to lose.

Democracy suggests one man (person?), one vote. And yet, this party has a whole dung pile of super-delegates to overturn any result the voters select. Or, if they follow “the will of the people”, they amply demonstrate the absolute uselessness of their existence. So much for democracy. They have created the perfect lose-lose situation.

States rights were important rights guaranteed in the Constitution. George Washington was elected, unanimously. By ONLY TEN OF THE ORIGINAL STATES!!! Why??? Two states had yet to ratify the Constitution and another, New York, couldn’t get their act together on how to select their delegates!!! These days, states rights are trampled. The federal courts have seen fit to abet this travesty. They overruled the Florida Supreme Court in 2000. The upheld political party rights, over states, in 2008, even though political parties were not part of our Constitution!!!

The Democrats have disenfranchised, and, regardless of whatever compromises may get the delegations seated, alienated both Florida and Michigan. Another job well un-done.

As if they haven’t fumbled enough, many “Democrats” are now trying to push one candidate, in a very tight race, out of the contest. This will disenfranchise even more voters whose primaries have yet to be. Then, as the coup-de-grace, they have made sure any racial or gender bias will play an important enough part in this election cycle to guarantee defeat.

We already know that the Republican interests are not the people’s interest. To quote Dick Cheney….”SO”??? Well, SO, apparently, the same can be said of the Democrats…or are they really that STUPID!!!

HOW MANY WARS FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT?

2008-03-04T21:23:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry, but I'm beginning to lose track of how many conflicts are brewing. President McCain?, Clinton?, Obama?, Nader?????....Iraq...how many countries will eventually be sucked into this quagmire?...Syria, Turkey(already there), Iran, Saudi Arabia?...etc... Afghanistan, does it stop here or drift into Pakistan(ya know, where that Osama guy from 9/11 is!)...India...nukes???? Kosovo, do we fight Serbia...with NATO...against Russia....anyone remember WWI's start? Columbia???....who's idea was this to get things started with Equador and Venezuela...do I hear $150 a barrel oil? Israel?...let's hit Gaza...Hamas bad...Abbas good...screw Lebanon.... Iran...what the heck...more fun...makes Cheney happy...is that Russia again? We almost have peace in North Korea, if only people in this administration can keep their yaps shut....but they won't... And let's not forget Kenya, eh, Obama...who's your daddy???? How about a Zimbabwe-South African war...half the Zimbabweans are already across the border.... Let's not forget Chad...as their lake dries up and they scrounge for what little is left to live on...which brings us to oil-rich Darfur...not to mention Nubia, both of which China wants and the Sudan wants to give...it's not genocide...it;s business. I'm sure there are more I'm missing. As Mr. T may say for our next president...."I pity the fool!!!" Especially when they fight the Great Arctic War against Russia, Canada... and the Scandinavians....just to kill Polar Bears!!!...GLOBAL WARMING!!!...DOESN'T EXIST!!!

Let's Print Money!!!

2008-02-14T10:51:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON (AP) "President Bush says a $168 billion economic stimulus plan is a testament to political bipartisanship and putting America's interest first."

Rather, this a testament to the contempt the federal government holds America's interest. Let's throw money at the voters. They're so stupid they'll vote for us. What hubris on the part of the president, senators, and congressmen. Unfortunately, they may be right.

With a lot of printed money, plus a modicum of corruption and tyranny, it got Robert Mugabe re-elected. And we all know how well Zimbabwe is doing these days....or would if any of the American media bothered to cover it.

But, as we all know, the government has America's interest first...which is why our dollar continues to sink, and gold and oil prices continue to rise through the roof. But that's not inflation....or is it??? Let's just print more money!!!!

Global Warming Solution

2008-01-21T19:21:00.000-08:00

In order to reduce the CO2 emissions, a large contributor to global warming, it only takes world-wide commitment. If only 1% of the world's population will, each day for the next year, commit to holding their breath for 24-hours, there will be a significant reduction in greenhouse gases. I THINK THIS IS SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND....DON'T YOU?

Is Barak Obama an African-American?

2008-01-21T18:45:00.000-08:00

It is clear that Barak Obama is African. But is he an African-American in the understood context? As much as I dislike hyphenated American designations, I have to admit that Senator Barak Obama is truly an African-American; at least in the denotative sense. He is half-Kenyan. Unfortunately, most African-American are such in the connotative sense. Their ancestry descends from a American slavery history...as property. Ironically, Senator Obama's "white" side also descends, at least collaterally, from an American slavery history...but on the ownership side.
I like Senator Obama. He is as charismatic as John Kennedy. But, as I watch the South Carolina Democratic debates, it disturbs me to see him trying to draw an affinity to the South Carolina black community. They really have nothing in common. I find it disingenuous. It would be better if he were Colin Powell. I think Powell, pre-Bush Administration, would have had more street cred.

Kenya, Rwanda, and the USA

2008-01-21T18:31:00.000-08:00

As I follow the news and the political contests, and I tend to be reasonably informed, I find it VERY DISTURBING that I have not seen or heard ANYTHING regarding Kenya. President Bush and his administration have not uttered ANY WORD that has reached my ears regarding Kenya. Senator Hillary Clinton, who purportedly implored her husband and President, Bill Clinton, about the genocidal tribal warfare in Rwanda, has not uttered a word that has reached my ears regarding Kenya. But most distressing, Senator Barak Obama, WHO IS HALF-KENYAN, has not uttered a word about Kenya. Kenya is a country of great importance strategically, let alone the the human rights issues, to our country. Tribal, genocidal warfare has broken out in this country after the disaster of its mutually corrupted "democratic" elections. Who is speaking out for Kenya? Apparently not us.

Sen. I-Don't-Know Craig from Idaho

2007-10-14T14:06:00.000-07:00

One day, not so long ago, a United States Senator, one of one hundred of the most significant legislators in this country, was busted for playing footsie with an undercover cop in an adjacent stall in an airport restroom. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. When this was publicized, he was pressured by many of his colleagues, most, if not all, from his own party, to resign. He complied. Then he didn't. Then he vowed to resign if he could not get his guilty plea overturned. It wasn't and he didn't. He has now decided to finish his term and risk facing the "Ethics?" Committee in the Senate.

He protests that he is not gay. Gay Republicans, though rare, ARE more common than Conservative African-Americans on the Supreme Court. But do we really care? And, does it really matter?

He played footsie, perhaps, with the undercover cop in the next stall. Maybe it was a "gay signal"; maybe it was not. Does it really justify an arrest? Does it really justify a prolonged interrogation? It does not appear that any money was exchanged. It does not appear any offer was proffered. It certainly does not appear that any fluid exchange was even made or proffered! Nor does it appear any improper bodily parts were exposed. Just footsie!!!

So, how does one of the top one hundred legislators get himself arrested, interrogated, and plead guilty to such a weak and obviously unsupportable charge? How can he claim ignorance? How can he demonstrate such poor judgement? I REPEAT, he is one of the TOP ONE HUNDRED LEGISLATORS IN THE UNITED STATES. He is a LAWMAKER!!! This man cannot be ignorant of the law. The people of Idaho trust him to be a LAWMAKER!!! There is only one word for such a person. There is only one reason that the people of Idaho should feel betrayed. That word IS NOT GAY!!! That word is STUPID!!! After all, if the shoe fits......(regardless of what that shoe may be doing).....

Ill-logistics

2007-10-05T15:22:00.000-07:00

Over the past year, arguments on both sides of the aisle "debate" the war (?police action?) in Iraq. Democrats demand that the troops be removed yesterday .... today .... October.... Christmas... by January 20, 2008..... Pleeeaaasssseee!!!!!

Republicans say that the "surge" needs to have time to work.....as our soldiers over 6 to 8 months meander into Iraq to effectuate (sic)... institute... impose... win?... the "surge".

Meanwhile, Blackwater and their ilk, whose numbers seem to outnumber our armed forces, continue perform the duties for which they have been hired. These "contractors", (the older term is mercenaries), are providing the bulk of the security and support in Iraq....so why are our troops there??????

When President Bush declared "Mission Accomplished", he was right. What Congress authorized and what our armed forces did was what was asked by him. They did it admirably.

Our forces are designed to attack and win. "Shock and Awe" worked against Iraq, and probably would work against most nations today. Unfortunately, our forces are not well designed to be occupation forces. They are not police.... they are soldiers. Nation building was not part of the directive that Congress authorized... which is why the bulk of that stabilization duty was outsourced to our mercenaries (er...contractors). And that is where the State Department comes in using a silly thing called diplomacy.

The "Mission" was accomplished. And yet, common opinion of our leadership is that we are incapable of moving more than a brigade or two of our armed forces per month......HUH???????

I've been watching a little documentary called "The War" on PBS. These primitive troops of ours, from some 65 years ago, were moving troops incrementally larger than our forces in Iraq, in Normandy, and in Italy, and in the Philippines, and through the Pacific islands, and in a followup invasion in southern France.....and all at virtually the same time. I had an uncle in the 4th Marine Division that set off from San Diego, and traveled more than 3000 miles, to invade some po-dunk island in the Pacific, the longest invasion to that time. Today, we can barely move a brigade in a month..... HUH? On the Russian front in WWII, Germans were being captured in numbers larger than our current forces in Iraq. Yet today, our sophisticated mechanized forces can hardly move???? In WWII, Patton was moving a whole army across France, and would have gone further but for fuel. Today, in Iraq, with its oil, we can't even move a division??? HUH???

The argument that we cannot get out of Iraq in days is either A BIG LIE; or, our defense capabilities over the last 65 years have so eroded, that EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD SHUDDER!!!!

Ahmadinejad in New York City

2007-09-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

Americans consider the World Trade Center "Ground Zero" as sacred ground. They do have a fairly legitimate claim. After all, it IS in the United States and some 2900 or so American casualties were suffered in the calamitous attack.
However, Americans conveniently forget that some 70 or so other countries also suffered losses in that attack. Most of those foreign casualties remain missing or their remains are still unidentified. One of those nations suffering loss is IRAN.
As much as Americans and their leadership would like to demonize that country and its leadership, the President of Iran does have a legitimate interest in visiting the site and placing a wreath, or whatever other homage he wishes to convey on the part of his government, regardless of the underlying political motives.
Ironically, Saudi Arabia, a country we consider a close friend, suffered no casualties at the WTC, unless you count the hijackers of the two planes. Yet how do we treat their condolences?

On another note, Americans pride themselves on the Constitution's guarantees of free speech. Yet, rather than talk to nations such as Iran, or let them talk to us, we would rather bomb them back to the Stone Age. If actions speak louder than words, what does that say about Americans? The Iraq Commission, the generals in the field...in fact, just about everybody but the American President, have concluded that the Middle East problems will only be solved through diplomacy. That means talking....speech!!! America may win every battle militarily, and probably will. But those victories will come to nought without speech....diplomacy....talking.
So Americans should welcome whatever President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran has to say, whether it be at Columbia University, the United Nations, the WTC, or from his bully-pulpit back home. It opens debate. It begins diplomacy. It is a Constitutional imperative for each American, and especially their leadership, to listen, understand, respond, and negotiate. Be diplomatic and stop the rhetoric, the ad hominums, the demonizations and the body counts. Understand what they really want and need, and vice versa. Maybe...just maybe...there is a solution.

Hizzoner Mayor Rudy Giuliani

2007-09-19T22:14:00.000-07:00

There was once a mayor in NYC. One day he decided to run for President of the United States. When it came time to campaign and debate, it was discovered that he spoke no words. Every utterance from his mouth was numbers. To be exact, three numbers....and two of them were the same. During this period, in a sophisticated twist....a slash was inserted 'twixt one number and the pair of twins. To every issue he answered the same.....9/11, 9/11, 9/11....and so it went. His every speech, it was the same....9/11, 9/11, 9/11...and so on. The implication of the succinct soundbite was, of course, to let all know that he would protect us from the evils of the world.

But where was this saviour on that beautiful, clear, blue sky, pleasant morning on 9/11/01??????????????????????

It seems that some years earlier, some car bombs were detonated in the garages of the WTC. Fortunately, that day, no catastrophic damage was done. But it was enough of a warning to all that steps be taken to ensure that security issues be addressed, and most especially, that first responders can communicate and coordinate their activities. Two main recommendations were, as was known and yet ignored, vital. One was to move central control operations from the World Trade Center to Brooklyn. The other was to make sure that proper radio equipment was available to all critical personnel. Neither was done by Hizzoner Giuliani nor his predecessors.

Hizzoner Mayor Giuliani was nowhere to be found for hours and hours and hours after this beautiful day changed for the worse. Central Command was gone. Communications were a jumble. When finally he was found, all he could utter was...911.......

This is not the words (er...numbers) of a saviour!! This is nothing more the the mewling of an unprepared pretender who let his city down.

That is why at least one of the firefighters' organizations endorse......Christopher Dodd?!?!?!?!?

A vote for Hizzoner, on the basis of his campaign, is not a vote for security....it is a pity vote for a city whose former mayor does not deserve such pity. By using 9/11 as his rallying cry, he only deserves your contempt.

Electronic Voting Machines in California

2007-09-08T12:47:00.000-07:00

I am starting my blogs with this relatively benign issue. Though it happens to be directed at the Secretary of State of California, I think there is equal applicability throughout the USA, and possibly elsewhere in the world where the premise of democratic representation is proffered. It may also give you some insight to some of my background and experience....and, as a result...biases...Cassandra.

Dear Ms. Secretary

I quite defininetly missed the March 30th deadline for commenting on the voting machine issue. I'm not a lobbyist, government official, vendor or any other special interest that would have been on the alert for this study. I am nothing other than an American citizen, resident Californian, and regular voter, who, incidentally tries avidly to keep up on current events. Yet I still missed this March 30th deadline. I suspect that I am not in the minority....by far.

The brouhaha over the various electronic voting machines strikes me as highly disingenuous. Errors rates from paper ballots, lever voting machines, punch cards, and other methods of vote casting are well documented in California and the nation by people and organizations much more into this issue than I am. Groundwork has been laid to, at the very least, suggest that at least two of the amendments to the constitution are being compromised. These methods of voting tend to have their error rates exaggerated on voters who are poor, less educated, mentally compromised, disabled, etc....basically, the disenfranchised. This is above and beyond whatever corruption may occur at the voting area that may be in the effective control of the dominating party in the area. Trying to discern ballot tampering is a difficult task. Most of the delving into voter tampering is, by necessity, manual, labor intensive, and expensive.

Electronic voting, on the other hand, seems to lend itself to computer modeling. Marked differences in specific voting patterns in a demographic area, it would seem, would be easy to flag and investigate. After all, sophisticated computer models are already being used by both parties to gerrymander the voting districts in order to keep the party in power....IN POWER! This is a local, state, and federal pattern of devaluing individual voter's rights.

It appears that electronic voting is being attacked because it may, more certainly, uncover voter tampering and corruption. Not because it is flawed. Computer errors are far ranging and stick out like a sore thumb. In the other methods of voting, it becomes difficult to distinguish voter's errors, counter's errors, and tampering. I've worked as a clerk and as a computer programmer in my career. Believe me, a computer error compared to a clerical error is like an atomic bomb to a pin prick. It is noticed!!!!

Personally, I have been blessed with above average intelligence, but cursed with below average eyesight, with some occasional difficulties in motor skills. As a consequence, I have screwed up punch ballots, mishandled lever machines, and had my difficulties navigating paper ballots. However, with the electronic machines, I have been able to thoroughly review my ballot before casting it. I am confident that my personal error rate with electronic machines is zero. What happens afterward I cannot say. But I am confident, based on years of computing and my observation of redistricting, that tampering, if occurring, could be easily uncovered.