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December 29, 2005
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Wednesday's Links
Activism
With Bush renominating 20 judges that didn't get past the Senate in 2000 (see below), the issue of abortion rights is slowly creeping back to the forefront. Although Democrats will fight vehemently to preserve a woman's right to choose (as well as try and secure funding for birth control and education). Republicans seem bent on overturning Roe v. Wade. But many anti-choice people are missing a fundamental point, something Hillary Clinton touched on in a speech a few weeks ago: There is a shared goal among both sides of the debate: Basically, the abortion rate needs to be lowered. What's also important to note is that the abortion rate is HIGHER UNDER BUSH than it was under Clinton. Think about that for a second. This is a pretty clear sign that if you're interested in reducing abortions, you should be supporting Democratic policies. Sign NARAL Pro-Choice America's new petition, which would help lower unwanted pregnancy.
News
Judge This! On Monday, Bush renominated 20 failed judicial nominees (yes, he can do that). What's just as interesting, though, is the struggle in the Senate. Bill Frist (R-TN) has threatened to change the Senate rules to disallow filibusters. Reacting to the threat, Democrats have vowed to put into play other hurdles that could bring the Senate to a standstill. A day later, Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition, threatened Democrats that, if they opposed Bush's choices, they would pay at "the ballot boxes," and encouraged Frist to re-write Senate rules to deny filibusters. Interestingly enough, his threat must be an empty one. Non-profit organizations (like Robertson's Christian Coalition of America) cannot use their resources to lobby for candidates. James Dobson is finding this out the hard way. We wonder why Robertson feels entitled to threaten Senate Democrats, other than as a citizen. Something is rotten here.
Faith-Based Voting. Every time we see a politician back out of his or her commitments, we tell ourselves that we shouldn't be surprised, yet they keep finding new ways to impress us with their hypocrisy. And why should Bush be any different? During his 2000 and 2004 campaigns, Bush said the right things to "compassionate conservatives," telling them he would enlarge funding for faith-based and community based programs, and help secured their votes. Now, David Kuo, deputy director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives for much of Bush's first term, has published scathing comments about Bush on the Beliefnet.com website. He accused Bush of lip service; pandering to these groups with the right words, but not following up in any way, specifically financially. Kuo asserts, and history backs him up, that "No administration since [Lyndon B. Johnson's] has had a more successful legislative record than this one. From tax cuts to Medicare, the White House gets what the White House really wants. It never really wanted the 'poor people stuff.'" The White House maintains that Congress has not been receptive to Bush's plans. We see it as yet another sign of Bush's disdain for all Americans, telling them what they want to hear without ever intending to following through. Anyone remember the 2003 State of the Union, where Bush promised to infuse Africa with $15 billion over five years to help combat AIDS?
It's Your Money. We all (well, most of us) work hard for our money, and we readily accept that by paying taxes, we help keep this country going. So when our money is spent on a such a foolish mechanism as the Missle Defense System (MDS), well, we get mad. This week, the MDS failed a test for the second time in as many months. While the idea may be sound (and we're not even convinced that it is), appropriating $8.8 billion is just absurd, and an egregious waste of money for a system that doesn't work, especially when the latest proposed Bush budget supposedly was all about eliminating programs that weren't working. Here's an expensive one, big guy! Slash away!
Let Honor Ring. It was bad enough when the Army was accused of questionable ethical practices in Iraq. Now, four contractors for Custer Battles have come forward and alleged that the contractor was responsible for killing Iraqi civilians. Custer Battles, a contractor that provides security and guard duty for supply convoys, was hired by the Department of Defense, and employs many ex-military Americans. Custer Battles is also under investigation for questionable government billing. We commend the four for coming forward, terminating their employment with Custer Battles, and speaking the truth. This is exactly the kind of thing Americans need to hear, if they are going to hold our administration responsible for what is going on in Iraq.
Editorials
The Fighting Moderates. You know when they say that someone "gets it"? Even though it's kind of a vague term, it describes Paul Krugman perfectly - he "gets it". In his latest installment, he nicely analyzes the implications of the election of Howard Dean to DNC head. It's not that an indication that the party is turning to the left, but rather that we've finally realized that it's time to fight back - no more buying into fake offers of bipartisanship, no more shying away from confrontation. We're going to fight back, and Dean is hopefully going to lead the charge.
What the Bible Shouldn't Rule. Mary Clay Berry of the Washington Post shares a bit about her history with Bible school. She talks about growing up in rural Kentucky in the late 1940s, and how her fear of being singled out led her to compromise her integrity. When conservatives promote religion in schools or other government establishments, they're always careful to mention how it will be voluntary - so citizens (mostly children) can opt out or ignore whatever might not agree with their believe system. But it's never that simple, and there's always an underlying current of coersion or proselytization. Face it - kids especially don't like to be singled out. Berry's story is an important one, and it paints a picture of what a large portion of America wishes we could return to - "oppressive religiosity".
Humor
Victory Seems Imminent. We present to you "This Modern World," written by Tom Tomorrow. Tomorrow has never been afraid to speak his mind, or criticize those who have earned it. This comic shows the futility of Bush's hopes, and it's good for a laugh, but it may also make you say "Wait a minute..."
|
December 29, 2005
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Wednesday's Links
Activism
With Bush renominating 20 judges that didn't get past the Senate in 2000 (see below), the issue of abortion rights is slowly creeping back to the forefront. Although Democrats will fight vehemently to preserve a woman's right to choose (as well as try and secure funding for birth control and education). Republicans seem bent on overturning Roe v. Wade. But many anti-choice people are missing a fundamental point, something Hillary Clinton touched on in a speech a few weeks ago: There is a shared goal among both sides of the debate: Basically, the abortion rate needs to be lowered. What's also important to note is that the abortion rate is HIGHER UNDER BUSH than it was under Clinton. Think about that for a second. This is a pretty clear sign that if you're interested in reducing abortions, you should be supporting Democratic policies. Sign NARAL Pro-Choice America's new petition, which would help lower unwanted pregnancy.
News
Judge This! On Monday, Bush renominated 20 failed judicial nominees (yes, he can do that). What's just as interesting, though, is the struggle in the Senate. Bill Frist (R-TN) has threatened to change the Senate rules to disallow filibusters. Reacting to the threat, Democrats have vowed to put into play other hurdles that could bring the Senate to a standstill. A day later, Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition, threatened Democrats that, if they opposed Bush's choices, they would pay at "the ballot boxes," and encouraged Frist to re-write Senate rules to deny filibusters. Interestingly enough, his threat must be an empty one. Non-profit organizations (like Robertson's Christian Coalition of America) cannot use their resources to lobby for candidates. James Dobson is finding this out the hard way. We wonder why Robertson feels entitled to threaten Senate Democrats, other than as a citizen. Something is rotten here.
Faith-Based Voting. Every time we see a politician back out of his or her commitments, we tell ourselves that we shouldn't be surprised, yet they keep finding new ways to impress us with their hypocrisy. And why should Bush be any different? During his 2000 and 2004 campaigns, Bush said the right things to "compassionate conservatives," telling them he would enlarge funding for faith-based and community based programs, and help secured their votes. Now, David Kuo, deputy director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives for much of Bush's first term, has published scathing comments about Bush on the Beliefnet.com website. He accused Bush of lip service; pandering to these groups with the right words, but not following up in any way, specifically financially. Kuo asserts, and history backs him up, that "No administration since [Lyndon B. Johnson's] has had a more successful legislative record than this one. From tax cuts to Medicare, the White House gets what the White House really wants. It never really wanted the 'poor people stuff.'" The White House maintains that Congress has not been receptive to Bush's plans. We see it as yet another sign of Bush's disdain for all Americans, telling them what they want to hear without ever intending to following through. Anyone remember the 2003 State of the Union, where Bush promised to infuse Africa with $15 billion over five years to help combat AIDS?
It's Your Money. We all (well, most of us) work hard for our money, and we readily accept that by paying taxes, we help keep this country going. So when our money is spent on a such a foolish mechanism as the Missle Defense System (MDS), well, we get mad. This week, the MDS failed a test for the second time in as many months. While the idea may be sound (and we're not even convinced that it is), appropriating $8.8 billion is just absurd, and an egregious waste of money for a system that doesn't work, especially when the latest proposed Bush budget supposedly was all about eliminating programs that weren't working. Here's an expensive one, big guy! Slash away!
Let Honor Ring. It was bad enough when the Army was accused of questionable ethical practices in Iraq. Now, four contractors for Custer Battles have come forward and alleged that the contractor was responsible for killing Iraqi civilians. Custer Battles, a contractor that provides security and guard duty for supply convoys, was hired by the Department of Defense, and employs many ex-military Americans. Custer Battles is also under investigation for questionable government billing. We commend the four for coming forward, terminating their employment with Custer Battles, and speaking the truth. This is exactly the kind of thing Americans need to hear, if they are going to hold our administration responsible for what is going on in Iraq.
Editorials
The Fighting Moderates. You know when they say that someone "gets it"? Even though it's kind of a vague term, it describes Paul Krugman perfectly - he "gets it". In his latest installment, he nicely analyzes the implications of the election of Howard Dean to DNC head. It's not that an indication that the party is turning to the left, but rather that we've finally realized that it's time to fight back - no more buying into fake offers of bipartisanship, no more shying away from confrontation. We're going to fight back, and Dean is hopefully going to lead the charge.
What the Bible Shouldn't Rule. Mary Clay Berry of the Washington Post shares a bit about her history with Bible school. She talks about growing up in rural Kentucky in the late 1940s, and how her fear of being singled out led her to compromise her integrity. When conservatives promote religion in schools or other government establishments, they're always careful to mention how it will be voluntary - so citizens (mostly children) can opt out or ignore whatever might not agree with their believe system. But it's never that simple, and there's always an underlying current of coersion or proselytization. Face it - kids especially don't like to be singled out. Berry's story is an important one, and it paints a picture of what a large portion of America wishes we could return to - "oppressive religiosity".
Humor
Victory Seems Imminent. We present to you "This Modern World," written by Tom Tomorrow. Tomorrow has never been afraid to speak his mind, or criticize those who have earned it. This comic shows the futility of Bush's hopes, and it's good for a laugh, but it may also make you say "Wait a minute..."
|
December 29, 2005
With Bush renominating 20 judges that didn't get past the Senate in 2000 (see below), the issue of abortion rights is slowly creeping back to the forefront. Although Democrats will fight vehemently to preserve a woman's right to choose (as well as try and secure funding for birth control and education). Republicans seem bent on overturning Roe v. Wade. But many anti-choice people are missing a fundamental point, something Hillary Clinton touched on in a speech a few weeks ago: There is a shared goal among both sides of the debate: Basically, the abortion rate needs to be lowered. What's also important to note is that the abortion rate is HIGHER UNDER BUSH than it was under Clinton. Think about that for a second. This is a pretty clear sign that if you're interested in reducing abortions, you should be supporting Democratic policies. Sign NARAL Pro-Choice America's new petition, which would help lower unwanted pregnancy.
News
Judge This! On Monday, Bush renominated 20 failed judicial nominees (yes, he can do that). What's just as interesting, though, is the struggle in the Senate. Bill Frist (R-TN) has threatened to change the Senate rules to disallow filibusters. Reacting to the threat, Democrats have vowed to put into play other hurdles that could bring the Senate to a standstill. A day later, Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition, threatened Democrats that, if they opposed Bush's choices, they would pay at "the ballot boxes," and encouraged Frist to re-write Senate rules to deny filibusters. Interestingly enough, his threat must be an empty one. Non-profit organizations (like Robertson's Christian Coalition of America) cannot use their resources to lobby for candidates. James Dobson is finding this out the hard way. We wonder why Robertson feels entitled to threaten Senate Democrats, other than as a citizen. Something is rotten here.
Faith-Based Voting. Every time we see a politician back out of his or her commitments, we tell ourselves that we shouldn't be surprised, yet they keep finding new ways to impress us with their hypocrisy. And why should Bush be any different? During his 2000 and 2004 campaigns, Bush said the right things to "compassionate conservatives," telling them he would enlarge funding for faith-based and community based programs, and help secured their votes. Now, David Kuo, deputy director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives for much of Bush's first term, has published scathing comments about Bush on the Beliefnet.com website. He accused Bush of lip service; pandering to these groups with the right words, but not following up in any way, specifically financially. Kuo asserts, and history backs him up, that "No administration since [Lyndon B. Johnson's] has had a more successful legislative record than this one. From tax cuts to Medicare, the White House gets what the White House really wants. It never really wanted the 'poor people stuff.'" The White House maintains that Congress has not been receptive to Bush's plans. We see it as yet another sign of Bush's disdain for all Americans, telling them what they want to hear without ever intending to following through. Anyone remember the 2003 State of the Union, where Bush promised to infuse Africa with $15 billion over five years to help combat AIDS?
It's Your Money. We all (well, most of us) work hard for our money, and we readily accept that by paying taxes, we help keep this country going. So when our money is spent on a such a foolish mechanism as the Missle Defense System (MDS), well, we get mad. This week, the MDS failed a test for the second time in as many months. While the idea may be sound (and we're not even convinced that it is), appropriating $8.8 billion is just absurd, and an egregious waste of money for a system that doesn't work, especially when the latest proposed Bush budget supposedly was all about eliminating programs that weren't working. Here's an expensive one, big guy! Slash away!
Let Honor Ring. It was bad enough when the Army was accused of questionable ethical practices in Iraq. Now, four contractors for Custer Battles have come forward and alleged that the contractor was responsible for killing Iraqi civilians. Custer Battles, a contractor that provides security and guard duty for supply convoys, was hired by the Department of Defense, and employs many ex-military Americans. Custer Battles is also under investigation for questionable government billing. We commend the four for coming forward, terminating their employment with Custer Battles, and speaking the truth. This is exactly the kind of thing Americans need to hear, if they are going to hold our administration responsible for what is going on in Iraq.
Editorials
The Fighting Moderates. You know when they say that someone "gets it"? Even though it's kind of a vague term, it describes Paul Krugman perfectly - he "gets it". In his latest installment, he nicely analyzes the implications of the election of Howard Dean to DNC head. It's not that an indication that the party is turning to the left, but rather that we've finally realized that it's time to fight back - no more buying into fake offers of bipartisanship, no more shying away from confrontation. We're going to fight back, and Dean is hopefully going to lead the charge.
What the Bible Shouldn't Rule. Mary Clay Berry of the Washington Post shares a bit about her history with Bible school. She talks about growing up in rural Kentucky in the late 1940s, and how her fear of being singled out led her to compromise her integrity. When conservatives promote religion in schools or other government establishments, they're always careful to mention how it will be voluntary - so citizens (mostly children) can opt out or ignore whatever might not agree with their believe system. But it's never that simple, and there's always an underlying current of coersion or proselytization. Face it - kids especially don't like to be singled out. Berry's story is an important one, and it paints a picture of what a large portion of America wishes we could return to - "oppressive religiosity".
Humor
Victory Seems Imminent. We present to you "This Modern World," written by Tom Tomorrow. Tomorrow has never been afraid to speak his mind, or criticize those who have earned it. This comic shows the futility of Bush's hopes, and it's good for a laugh, but it may also make you say "Wait a minute..."
