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December 29, 2005
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Wednesday's Links
Activism
Tired of the Iraq war? We sure are. So are the folks at CodePink, who have launched One Millions Reasons to Stop the Iraq War. Compare the budget for the War in Iraq to the budget for Cancer research, and you'll see exactly how screwed up the priorities of the Bush agenda are. Go the the website, and give your message to Bush on why the War should end.
News
DeLay to Be on Christian Telecast on Courts. When will this madness stop? There is no war against Christianity. It's just not there. Clearly, that's what politicians on the far right have to tell their followers in order to get them fired up, but what's somewhat ironic is that the only anger that exists is what they're fostering with their heavy-handed attempts to destroy one of the tenets this country was founded upon. Of course, DeLay is the poster child for undermining democracy, but Harry Reid is right: "It is certainly not going to help the White House build support for Judge Roberts on Capitol Hill." And it shouldn't. To give you an example of how out-of-touch these people are, here was Pat Robertson's prayer: "Take control, Lord! We ask for additional vacancies on the court." Pathetic. But very, very dangerous.
Peace Corps Option for Military Recruits Sparks Concerns. And how. Three years ago, Congress authorized a new military recruitment program. Among other things, that program allowed for recruits to meet part of their military obligation by serving in the Peace Corps. There wasn't really anything made about it then, but now the Army has started openly telling recruits that they have this option; promoting it, if you will. This, understandably, has the Peace Corps a little peeved. You see, the Peace Corps has avoided any association with the military for 44 years, since its inception. Now, the Peace Corps is worried, and rightfully so. The potential for violence against Peace Corps workers will increase if this association is promoted. How telling is it that the military has to resort to what amounts to bribery to get recruits? Did Clinton have these kinds of problems? We think not. Hell, even before Bush took us into this War we didn't have these kinds of problems. Take a look.
Spy's Notes on Iraqi Aims Were Shelved, Suit Says. Remember when George Tenet got that Medal of Freedom for "His tireless efforts [that] have brought justice to America's enemies and greater security to the American people."? Well, funny thing. It turns out that in 2001, under Tenet's CIA, a field operative was told by an Iraqi informant that Iraq was shelving most of their nuclear program. This operative (who will remain nameless until Karl Rove or Robert Novak decide otherwise) then told his bosses at the CIA. The CIA patted him on the hand, said "Good job," and then filed his report away, never to be seen again. That agent was then fired in 2004 for being "contrary" to CIA's ultimate assesment on Iraq's WMDs. So, that agent is now suing the CIA. Just think; Bush's whole justification for the Iraq War could have been voided simply if Tenet's CIA we run with any conviction. Who's safer now?
Editorials
Triumph of the Machine. Krugman weights in with a column summarizing the so-called "achievements" of Bush in recent weeks. We use quotes here because, as Krugman says, "These bills don't have anything to do with governing, if governing means trying to achieve actual policy goals like energy independence or expanded trade." He runs down the litany of embarrassments, from the energy bill, to CAFTA, to the highway bill, to the failed Social Security campaign, to the ongoing disaster in Iraq. What do they all have in common? They're clear evidence of the administration's only real agenda: "consolidating one-party rule, and rewarding its friends." Quite a governing party we've got there, eh?
Republican Wilding. To continue on a theme from Krugman's article above...Robert Borsage asks the question we've wondered about for two days now: What exactly are Republicans so excited about getting done, now that Congress is in recess? Every Republican "win" has been a loss for John Q. American: Tax breaks to oil companies, legislature for one citizen and CAFTA (raising our trade deficit), just to highlight a few. How, exactly, have the ruling parties in the Executive and Legislative branches helped Americans? Borosage ends his column with what could be the next DNC slogan: "The country will continue to pay the cost of this folly until voters decide that they have had enough."
Roberts Threatens “The Life And Health Of The Mother”. Just because Congress is in recess doesn't mean we've forgotten about the pending confirmation of one Judge John Roberts. No sirree. And while the media is doing its best to just frame this is a petty, partisan, political battle, the fact remains that if Roberts is confirmed, he will affect millions and millions of people in this country with his decisions for decades. And most likely, Roe v. Wade won't be overturned in one fell swoop. Rather, it'll continue to be chipped away, bit by bit. The Partial Birth Abortion Ban of 2003 doesn't allow for the "life and health of the mother", and will likely be challenged in the Supreme Court. How's Roberts going to rule on it? We have no way of knowing for sure, but given his pedigree, we're not too optimistic.
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December 29, 2005
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Wednesday's Links
Activism
Tired of the Iraq war? We sure are. So are the folks at CodePink, who have launched One Millions Reasons to Stop the Iraq War. Compare the budget for the War in Iraq to the budget for Cancer research, and you'll see exactly how screwed up the priorities of the Bush agenda are. Go the the website, and give your message to Bush on why the War should end.
News
DeLay to Be on Christian Telecast on Courts. When will this madness stop? There is no war against Christianity. It's just not there. Clearly, that's what politicians on the far right have to tell their followers in order to get them fired up, but what's somewhat ironic is that the only anger that exists is what they're fostering with their heavy-handed attempts to destroy one of the tenets this country was founded upon. Of course, DeLay is the poster child for undermining democracy, but Harry Reid is right: "It is certainly not going to help the White House build support for Judge Roberts on Capitol Hill." And it shouldn't. To give you an example of how out-of-touch these people are, here was Pat Robertson's prayer: "Take control, Lord! We ask for additional vacancies on the court." Pathetic. But very, very dangerous.
Peace Corps Option for Military Recruits Sparks Concerns. And how. Three years ago, Congress authorized a new military recruitment program. Among other things, that program allowed for recruits to meet part of their military obligation by serving in the Peace Corps. There wasn't really anything made about it then, but now the Army has started openly telling recruits that they have this option; promoting it, if you will. This, understandably, has the Peace Corps a little peeved. You see, the Peace Corps has avoided any association with the military for 44 years, since its inception. Now, the Peace Corps is worried, and rightfully so. The potential for violence against Peace Corps workers will increase if this association is promoted. How telling is it that the military has to resort to what amounts to bribery to get recruits? Did Clinton have these kinds of problems? We think not. Hell, even before Bush took us into this War we didn't have these kinds of problems. Take a look.
Spy's Notes on Iraqi Aims Were Shelved, Suit Says. Remember when George Tenet got that Medal of Freedom for "His tireless efforts [that] have brought justice to America's enemies and greater security to the American people."? Well, funny thing. It turns out that in 2001, under Tenet's CIA, a field operative was told by an Iraqi informant that Iraq was shelving most of their nuclear program. This operative (who will remain nameless until Karl Rove or Robert Novak decide otherwise) then told his bosses at the CIA. The CIA patted him on the hand, said "Good job," and then filed his report away, never to be seen again. That agent was then fired in 2004 for being "contrary" to CIA's ultimate assesment on Iraq's WMDs. So, that agent is now suing the CIA. Just think; Bush's whole justification for the Iraq War could have been voided simply if Tenet's CIA we run with any conviction. Who's safer now?
Editorials
Triumph of the Machine. Krugman weights in with a column summarizing the so-called "achievements" of Bush in recent weeks. We use quotes here because, as Krugman says, "These bills don't have anything to do with governing, if governing means trying to achieve actual policy goals like energy independence or expanded trade." He runs down the litany of embarrassments, from the energy bill, to CAFTA, to the highway bill, to the failed Social Security campaign, to the ongoing disaster in Iraq. What do they all have in common? They're clear evidence of the administration's only real agenda: "consolidating one-party rule, and rewarding its friends." Quite a governing party we've got there, eh?
Republican Wilding. To continue on a theme from Krugman's article above...Robert Borsage asks the question we've wondered about for two days now: What exactly are Republicans so excited about getting done, now that Congress is in recess? Every Republican "win" has been a loss for John Q. American: Tax breaks to oil companies, legislature for one citizen and CAFTA (raising our trade deficit), just to highlight a few. How, exactly, have the ruling parties in the Executive and Legislative branches helped Americans? Borosage ends his column with what could be the next DNC slogan: "The country will continue to pay the cost of this folly until voters decide that they have had enough."
Roberts Threatens “The Life And Health Of The Mother”. Just because Congress is in recess doesn't mean we've forgotten about the pending confirmation of one Judge John Roberts. No sirree. And while the media is doing its best to just frame this is a petty, partisan, political battle, the fact remains that if Roberts is confirmed, he will affect millions and millions of people in this country with his decisions for decades. And most likely, Roe v. Wade won't be overturned in one fell swoop. Rather, it'll continue to be chipped away, bit by bit. The Partial Birth Abortion Ban of 2003 doesn't allow for the "life and health of the mother", and will likely be challenged in the Supreme Court. How's Roberts going to rule on it? We have no way of knowing for sure, but given his pedigree, we're not too optimistic.
|
December 29, 2005
Tired of the Iraq war? We sure are. So are the folks at CodePink, who have launched One Millions Reasons to Stop the Iraq War. Compare the budget for the War in Iraq to the budget for Cancer research, and you'll see exactly how screwed up the priorities of the Bush agenda are. Go the the website, and give your message to Bush on why the War should end.
News
DeLay to Be on Christian Telecast on Courts. When will this madness stop? There is no war against Christianity. It's just not there. Clearly, that's what politicians on the far right have to tell their followers in order to get them fired up, but what's somewhat ironic is that the only anger that exists is what they're fostering with their heavy-handed attempts to destroy one of the tenets this country was founded upon. Of course, DeLay is the poster child for undermining democracy, but Harry Reid is right: "It is certainly not going to help the White House build support for Judge Roberts on Capitol Hill." And it shouldn't. To give you an example of how out-of-touch these people are, here was Pat Robertson's prayer: "Take control, Lord! We ask for additional vacancies on the court." Pathetic. But very, very dangerous.
Peace Corps Option for Military Recruits Sparks Concerns. And how. Three years ago, Congress authorized a new military recruitment program. Among other things, that program allowed for recruits to meet part of their military obligation by serving in the Peace Corps. There wasn't really anything made about it then, but now the Army has started openly telling recruits that they have this option; promoting it, if you will. This, understandably, has the Peace Corps a little peeved. You see, the Peace Corps has avoided any association with the military for 44 years, since its inception. Now, the Peace Corps is worried, and rightfully so. The potential for violence against Peace Corps workers will increase if this association is promoted. How telling is it that the military has to resort to what amounts to bribery to get recruits? Did Clinton have these kinds of problems? We think not. Hell, even before Bush took us into this War we didn't have these kinds of problems. Take a look.
Spy's Notes on Iraqi Aims Were Shelved, Suit Says. Remember when George Tenet got that Medal of Freedom for "His tireless efforts [that] have brought justice to America's enemies and greater security to the American people."? Well, funny thing. It turns out that in 2001, under Tenet's CIA, a field operative was told by an Iraqi informant that Iraq was shelving most of their nuclear program. This operative (who will remain nameless until Karl Rove or Robert Novak decide otherwise) then told his bosses at the CIA. The CIA patted him on the hand, said "Good job," and then filed his report away, never to be seen again. That agent was then fired in 2004 for being "contrary" to CIA's ultimate assesment on Iraq's WMDs. So, that agent is now suing the CIA. Just think; Bush's whole justification for the Iraq War could have been voided simply if Tenet's CIA we run with any conviction. Who's safer now?
Editorials
Triumph of the Machine. Krugman weights in with a column summarizing the so-called "achievements" of Bush in recent weeks. We use quotes here because, as Krugman says, "These bills don't have anything to do with governing, if governing means trying to achieve actual policy goals like energy independence or expanded trade." He runs down the litany of embarrassments, from the energy bill, to CAFTA, to the highway bill, to the failed Social Security campaign, to the ongoing disaster in Iraq. What do they all have in common? They're clear evidence of the administration's only real agenda: "consolidating one-party rule, and rewarding its friends." Quite a governing party we've got there, eh?
Republican Wilding. To continue on a theme from Krugman's article above...Robert Borsage asks the question we've wondered about for two days now: What exactly are Republicans so excited about getting done, now that Congress is in recess? Every Republican "win" has been a loss for John Q. American: Tax breaks to oil companies, legislature for one citizen and CAFTA (raising our trade deficit), just to highlight a few. How, exactly, have the ruling parties in the Executive and Legislative branches helped Americans? Borosage ends his column with what could be the next DNC slogan: "The country will continue to pay the cost of this folly until voters decide that they have had enough."
Roberts Threatens “The Life And Health Of The Mother”. Just because Congress is in recess doesn't mean we've forgotten about the pending confirmation of one Judge John Roberts. No sirree. And while the media is doing its best to just frame this is a petty, partisan, political battle, the fact remains that if Roberts is confirmed, he will affect millions and millions of people in this country with his decisions for decades. And most likely, Roe v. Wade won't be overturned in one fell swoop. Rather, it'll continue to be chipped away, bit by bit. The Partial Birth Abortion Ban of 2003 doesn't allow for the "life and health of the mother", and will likely be challenged in the Supreme Court. How's Roberts going to rule on it? We have no way of knowing for sure, but given his pedigree, we're not too optimistic.
