Great Bushism Ever

As I stated two days ago, people are knee-jerking to this Dubai-US port deal. Its privatization of our national security in regards to globalization we should worry about yadda yadda yadda...

However i did say President Bush was making the right call on it. By standing his ground (surprise!) and not wavering on it he held firm the pronciples in which we Americans do business around the world.

Now I believe he doesn't know what he's doing. Thus my complex reasoning and rationale behind all of this is definitly not where he's coming from.

why you ask?

This quote right here will be making news for weeks to come. Late night jokes, DNC pep rallies, and the GOP rebellion will all eat this up like a $2 Ham.

"This deal wouldn't go forward if we were concerned about the security of the United States of America," Bush told reporters during a Cabinet meeting. " "People don't need to worry about security".

Oh vey.

However he's what I can agree with from a UAE professor "since this is just purely an Arab country, I think it just stopped some of the lawmakers who are making a big deal out of a purely legitimate business transaction...It is a bit of bigotry."

Welcome to the War on our Freedoms. Scare Tactic Politics are everywhere.

Home sweet home

There's a lot going on in the world that needs attention...but things that are going on within the U.S. are really troubling.
We all know about the fundamentalists of other (i.e. non-Christian) religions, but what about here at home? How can people think protesting at funerals accomplishes anything? It's sad to know it's happening, and that Phelps and his followers think they're doing good.
Just as disturbing -but in a less emotional way- is America selling itself. Sure it's been going on forever...jobs going overseas left and right. Huge cut-backs. Cheap labor. High profits. Not too long ago, there was talk of China taking control of an American company. Now the government is getting ready to ok the sale of key ports to the United Arab Emirates. See nick d's entry below for more information. ...I disagree with nick, only in that the major concern is the "Arab" thing. I believe the major concern is that an outside country is coming into America to take charge of state and federally run work places. That shouldn't happen, no matter how capitalist we are. I'm thankful that congress is trying to block the transaction. But it isn't enough. If jobs keep disappearing, how will Americans get by? Those in charge (ahem, President Bush) need to realize that keeping up appearances won't keep the U.S. out of poverty.

And what about the Boys' Club, aka the Supreme Court...? Looks like the abortion issue has come up sooner than expected. Now we'll get to see the new appointees' true colors - everything they spent so long not talking about.

Keep pluggin' along; at least this year's an election year. Here's hoping things will get better.

United Arab Emeriates

Well America, you just got the saying "You can't have your cake and eat it too". Becuase that is what the buyout of 6 Eastern Seaboard Ports by a company run in the UAE boils down to. It is called globalization and it is the monster we so tactifully created.

The background on the story of the week is as follows. Six American eastern ports were sold from A United Kingdom Company to one run by the United Arab Emeriates. Americans, in typical knee jerk fashion, perseded to flip out because now our ports were being run by a country with the word "Arab" in its name. Democrats sensing blood leading the way, with scared to death of 2006 Republicans not far behind, calling out President Bush and demanding action! How can we be safe now?! The Muslims are controlling the security to our nation's seaports!

Here's the deal people. We live in a capitalist money motivated society. Not just us, but the entire world is now a part of it. We have a trading system called "free trade" which is bedfellows with globalization. Globalization allows for the buying and selling of products on the open market to who ever wants to pay the most for it/pay the lowest bill for it.

Our port security is just one of those commadities on the open market. The UAE seeing a golden business opportunity did what any other global corporation would do, buy it.

"No one can understand it, Democrat or Republican," said Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat and a leading critic of the agreement. "Average citizens, everywhere we go, are stopping us and saying, 'What is going on?' "

Thats because your a dolt Chuck. And haven't done much for the American people except scare the bee-jusus out of them with that fake draft bill in 05.

"Earlier Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist urged the Bush administration to freeze the deal and said he would ask Congress stop the deal if necessary.Frist, a Tennessee Republican, said the agreement should be put on hold until the administration and Congress conduct "a more extensive review of this matter."

Frist is running for President in 2008. Frist is also the last person to question real intelligence oversights like the War in Iraq. Frist also likes the honey pot. So why should he care now? Its because he's seeking to distance himself from Bush's GOP and make his own.

If only you could see my face when I realized...I agree with the President on this issue. Its a legitmate buyout of a contract. The UAE is very well an ally.
"Nothing in this acquisition has anything to do with the responsibility for security in American ports," State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said. "That remains very firmly in the hands of the Department of Homeland Security. What we're talking about is the management of some port operations."

But the good feelings stop there. Mainly because the President is okay with any exporting of American jobs and responsiblities overseas. I am not.
And that is the BIGGER ISSUE HERE. WE HAVE TO QUIT EXPORTING AMERICAN JOBS AND BUSINESSES BASED ON THE CHEAPER DEAL. (and we need to quit what is just flat out racism against arab people. what are we Europe?)

duh.

but this may be a lesson learned too late.

So if the press truly hates Christians..

Then why did European newspapers refuse to publish a "too offensive" cariture of Jesus three years ago?

Simply put, the media isnt as liberal as some people would like you to believe.

NASA Public Relations Officer Resigns!?

NASA's Public Relations Officer George C. Deutsch formally resigned yesterday after much failure at the agency to teach science to scientists. Mr. Deutsch has head butted over the global warming issue with chief NASA climate scientist Jim Hansen for the better of 1 year now, by asserting it was only a "theory" as was the Big Bang in every NASA document. The real reasons behind the reignation are being kept quite by NASA but the New York Times yesterday published a article on Deutsch and his failure to graduate from Texas A&M. On his resume it says that he did finish and graduate.

What is being reported by various outlets is that Deustch never graduated A&M, he left before his final term to work on the....Bush re-election campaign. He also while at A&M was a columnist for the school newspaper. Publishing such great works filled with insightful quotes such as : "

The ties between al-Qaida and Iraq are clear. So clear, in fact, that there is so much circumstantial evidence linking Iraq and al-Qaida that it would be hard for an informed person not to at least suspect Saddam's regime of having a hand in the attacks.

[...]

Cheney went on to mention evidence of a Czech intelligence report, which has yet to be confirmed or denied, that asserts that Sept. 11 hijacker Muhammad Atta met with senior Iraqi officials in Prague just weeks before the attacks."

And "For example, the discovery of the chemical agents sarin and mustard gas last month by U.S. forces was largely ignored by the media in spite of the fact that these chemical weapons represent the justification for war the Bush administration has sought for so long. Most of the liberal media has shown that it is so bound by partisan ideology that it would rather continue to subvert its own country's war efforts than concede any sort of justification for invading Iraq. This is a shame."

Meanwhile everyone remembers when you heard that they found sarin and mustard gas in Iraq. It was the day the Adminstration almost conviced the world they were right. Almost.

So the real reason for this story? Well here we have a pure BUSH political appointee, whose not even 25, who did not graduate college, who is trying to implement a more conservative religious doctrine on NASA, THE place for science, who apparently is not compentent enough to stay out of trouble.

The President's choices are messing up the good-for-almost-nothing NASA program he's stripped and plundered. Why should we trust his and his administration's other choices when it comes to National Security? Or Moral Values?

Nah McCain

Everyone's favorite moderate GOP 2008 candidate had a bit of a spat two weeks ago. Well it was more like a temper tamtrum. Okay it was more like freaking out.

I think this might show some insight, however miniscule, into the workings of John McCain's mind. I do like him myself. But this is something to sit back on and say "hmm", is this a precusor or just venting in a one time deal?

I bring this up today to keep the light on the issue of these investigations. The mass media may let you forget but I sure as hell wont. Moral Values 2008 indeed.

Woe is the world

Who knew one little cartoon could offend so many people? In a week's time the world's religions have shown, in my opinion, why organized belief systems are the opium of the masses. I mean look at what some leaders in Islam have gotten probably otherwise perfectly rational human beings to riot over: A CARTOON.

This riots go beyond all debate on the war on terror and making nice with Muslims around the world. Yesterday 2 people were killed in Afganistan violence. Yes that country in which we so liberated and blessed with democracy 3 years ago is has as many fantatics as Palestine.

Its so bad over there that the UN is pulling its workers out of there and sending in NATO peacekeepers. Now when the UN runs, the shit has hit the ceiling.

What the hell is going on you ask? Here's the deal. Religion controls people. On one hand it is a form of inspiration and a fountain of good deeds being done. And on the other, it is a way for individuals to absolutely control the many that are more weakminded. Now I'm not saying this is all thats behind it. Its not. I believe this is also the product of pressures from terrorist organizations to fuel the hatred against the West. It is a perfect opportunity to exploit the passions of the average Joe and accomplish the goals of AlQueda, the complete turning back of the clock.

But if you look at our own country, and the influence of religion here, in the last week we had the AFA ( American Family Assoc.) get NBC's new show "The Book of Daniel" and an episode of "Will and Grace" pulled by telling its members "they are demeaning to Christianity".
Honestly though, I'm not comparing the actions of Christians here to the Muslims over there. Apples. Oranges. However there is a similarity in the methods and the purpose. You cannot deny that.

The West has already made its move to publish this picture of Mohammed. Most European countries and the US have published it. There is a list on a CNN article from the weekend, but I cannot locate it now.

However here is the picture many outlets refuse to post. I'm sorry if it offends anyone, but in the sense of fairness to Christians and Jews around the world, who get shitted on all the damn time (see South Park), its a cartoon and get over it. Welcome to freedom of speech.

This could be the start of the West's stand against radical and arcane Islamic culture. Should it be? Are we ready for such an action? That is the $5 Million Question.

Also keep an eye on, or ear, the Senate Intelligence Hearings on the Domestic Spying program by the Bush Administration. They began yesterday with a rousing performance by Attorney General Gonzales. I suggest MSNBCs coverage.

Or Fox News. I mean who doesn't want a sister of a 9/11 victim giving their expert analysis on the situation at 8am?

Shout outs

Let me briefly give a few shout outs to a coupla blogs and websites that I have come across the last few days while furiously working at my 9-5. I believe each of them merits reading through and looking up from time to time. I mean heck you can't get all your daily fun from the d.r.

First off on the list is "the voice". The Voice is produced by none other than a great old friend of mine from college Nat the Dem. Check it out for some of the latest unknown happenings in DC and it the musings of a great liberal leader.

Second, the Generation Debt. I just found this one and its definitly a must read for any college student or recent graduate. The blog is very insightful and even though I have not read the book by one of the contributors, I believe it to be worth the investment.

Then there's RRRRRRRGHHHH! Which is of course dedicated to everyone's favorite, that right, Wookie.

"A Tendency to Start Fires" is run by a very intune socialite of the UNC school right down the road. Ms. Ginny provides a unique look into the daily rumblings of the Daily Tar Heel and UNC's campus many don't write or talk about. Its a very well written Op-Ed.

"The Gadflyer: Fly Trap". I cannot recommend any other under the radar progressive opinion site more than this. This is what I wish the Daily R could be at times.

And finally Media Matters. Well because media does really matter. And a fair and just republic demands and requires a media that is unbiased and kept in constant fact check. If you like to see what how much the media says is true and who saying what to make people on certian aisles happy, keep watching Media Matters. Thurr ain't no liberal media here.

Happy Groundhogs Day!

State of the Union

As rosy as 2006 has been, the future of America greatly depends on how this year plays out. Since the turn of the century, more and more events have occured that threaten our nation's progress at home and aboard. the diaster of Hurricane Katrina showed America we still live in two countries, one for the haves and one for the have nots. The ruling of private use for emminet domian threatens the fibers of public interest. Iraq has become the line in the sand for America's great ideological divide. Intelligent design in public schools harks on the passion of the abortion fight to further split the country into hated sides. Iran's unwillingness to be transparent with its nuclear technologies, Hamas controling Palestine, China and Russia ready and able to make the Middle East our next Vietnam all could further destroy our place as a leader in world affairs.

The world we face is becoming far worse each day.

And with health care costs up 4x by some reports, gas for cars and homes up 2x, and the minimum wage and payroll for Americans buying less than it could in 1993, we may have no shelter here. The front line is everywhere.

Yet when given the opportunity to straighten our ship, their ship, his ship; President G.W. Bush, of the Republican Party, would rather use the chance to further false truths and pointless chit chat.
When addressing concerns about his domestic spying program, President Bush stated that::
"It is said that prior to the attacks of September the 11th, our government failed to connect the dots of the conspiracy. We now know that two of the hijackers in the United States placed telephone calls to Al Qaeda operatives overseas. But we did not know about their plans until it was too late. So to prevent another attack -- based on authority given to me by the Constitution and by statute -- I have authorized a terrorist surveillance program to aggressively pursue the international communications of suspected Al Qaeda operatives and affiliates to and from America."

Fact:

According to the Sept. 11 commission's report, released in 2004, the NSA first identified Alhazmi and Almihdhar in December 1999, passing the information to the CIA but conducting no further research.

In 2000, the CIA failed to place Alhazmi and Almihdhar on a watch list despite their ties to a terrorist summit in Malaysia. The CIA also mishandled efforts to follow them after the summit and failed to share information about them with the FBI, including the crucial fact that both men had U.S. visas, the commission found.

It has been by lack of communication between law enforcement in the CIA and FBI that Sept. 11th occured. It is a fact. Thus when asked for a Homeland Security Czar, President Bush was granted one to help sort out this knd of problem. (Article at Media Matters.org)

Now he says its becuase we never had the infomation in the first place? So he needs warrantless wiretaps of any American? These laws will be in effect long after President Bush is gone. This is not about him, but about protecting our republic.

The President also states that to secure America we must follow one path of radical thought over the other. "In a complex and challenging time, the road of isolationism and protectionism may seem broad and inviting, yet it ends in danger and decline," Bush said. "The only way to protect our people, the only way to secure the peace, the only way to control our destiny is by our leadership." Now replace "leadership" with military meddling and you have an imperial apporach. So its either 1800s isolationism, a calling card of old 1990 Republicans, or 2000s agressive leadership against all economic and social conflicts overseas?

I guess I just see a middle ground in there somewhere. But hey I could be nuts.

And finally the best statement of the night "America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world." All I can think of is the swet irony that a former oil executive, with ties to illegal meetings with oil and western power companies to determine energy policy, and son of an oil/gas fortune, telling America "Hey ya'll I'm sorry we all sold you down the river and got you addicted for a few bucks, but ya'll need to quit now." Aside from the outlandish remarks that Iraq is a war for oil, which still who knows it could be, this is priceless. Lest you forget the President did raise $2,596,725 from Oil and Gas officals in 2004. (Kerry, duh, didn't have a friend. )

While true is his statement, President Bush is only acting your father who tells you not to ever smoke cigarettes, but puffs a whole pack during dinner after getting off from his job at Marlboro.

Sadly the whole speech was reactionary. Nothing in it was visionary or progressive. At least last year he came forth with the truth of Social Security. Even if the total idiots at the DNC killed the issue to save it for the greedy selves in 2008.