The “Bush Depression” is inevitable. World War III proceeds apace. We are behind the power curve addressing climate change. Nothing helps; nothing works. Time for a break. [See the e-ssay dated May 11, 2005 entitled “The Coming Depression Is Not Depressing.”]
Bumper sticker of the Summer:
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Al Einstein
My fellow Americans,
I raised the national Debt from 5.7 trillion dollars at the beginning of my reign to more that 9.2 trillion dollars today.
I squandered a $261 billion dollar budget deficit and now propose a deficit that could swell to $250 billion dollars or more once the economic surge is approved.
I lied to you that deficits do not matter.
I watched unemployment rise from 4.2 percent in 2001 to 5.0 percent and rising today from the comfortable of Air Force 1.
I slept comfortably in the White House while the country built a house of cards constructed of houses which then collapsed predictably into the worst financial crises in the last 80 years.
I precluded any regulation at the federal level and preempted any rules by the states to govern lending practices for housing that would have prevented or mitigated this economic catastrophe.
I destroyed the reputation and respect previously accorded the United States of America in the world.
I divided our allies and united our enemies.
I ordered an unprovoked and unnecessary attack against a sovereign nation that did not threaten the security and well-being of the United States.
I changed the justification for the invasion code-named Operation Iraqi Liberation (OIL) each time one lie proved to be too false and too fraudulent even for you the American people to swallow.
I played fiddle while the military played taps.
I presided during a rise in oil prices from about $23 a barrel on September 11, 2001 to about $100 a barrel.
I watched gas go from about $1.50 a gallon in 2001 to about $3.00 a gallon and higher on my watch.
I hired faux journalists and fooled the real ones.
I undermined the Constitution at every opportunity.
I deceived myself and the public every day.
I decided.
W
Bumper sticker of the week:
qWagmire
There may be no greater lie than the one advanced by Reagan, Bush, Cheney and others that budget deficits do not matter. Budget deficits do matter. Budget deficits are a form of taxation. Budget deficits are a tax imposed on the next generation. The Cheney-Bush team and their ilk have raised taxes via deficit spending more than all other previous administrations in American history. The Reagan budgets produced the second largest deficits as a result of “tax increases.” About seventy percent (70%) of the Nine Trillion Two Hundred Billion Dollar + (9,200,000,000,000.00 +) Debt is attributable to Reagan, Bush, Bush and Cheney. An irresponsible Congress constituted of Democrats and Republicans and an irresponsible White House populated by Democrats and Republicans contributed.
A temporary budget deficit followed by a balanced budget or a surplus would not matter in the intermediate run. However, a deficit (“little d”) that is followed by a deficit followed by a deficit followed by a deficit followed by a deficit followed by a deficit has created and is creating a catastrophic national Debt (“Big D”). Imagine spending $10,000 a month for twelve (12) months. The $10,000 expenditure is a “rate” of spending and is described as the “deficit.” At the end of the year, the total amount of $120,000 and accumulated interest is described as the “Debt.” deficit + deficit + deficit + deficit + deficit + deficit ……. = Debt. The Debt is now more than nine decimal two (9.2) trillion dollars. $9,200,000,000,000.00.
Bumper stickers of the week:
deficits do matter;
Debt really does matter
Debt Is Deferred Taxation
Debt is Debilitating
Attention: deficit Disorder
Attention: Debt Disorder
Trade Deficits Matter Also
Household Debt Matters Also
Bush and Dr. Strangehate are intent on expanding World War III into Iran. Bush has exhausted the Army and the Marines and will now launch the Navy and the Air Force into the fray. He may simply hire more mercenaries such as Blackwater, the Hessians who helped undermine Hussein, the Kelly Girls of the killing profession. Greed in the Green Zone expands.
With a little (a lot of) creative diplomacy, the Iranian people could be converted to allies or at least not adversaries. When the Iranian people are allied with the West, their leaders will follow. Bush intends to unite the Iranian people. In opposition to the United States. Russia senses an opportunity to pursue its own Operation Iraqi Liberation (OIL) or Operation Iran Liberation (OIL). Bush will encourage the courtship of our enemies.
Organized resistance in America will not develop until Bush calls up the Cub Scouts or reinstitutes the Front Door Draft. When the children of the Ruling Class must obtain draft deferral consultants in addition to college admission consultants, some influential Americans may quit following their stocks and take stock of America’s situation in the world today. Bush + Cheney + Giuliani Draft Dodging Consultants, LLC; “When you have other priorities”; Since 2009.
Bumper sticker of the week:
Be nice to America or Bush will invade and bring democracy to your country.
The escalation surge in Iraq is not working. Less than three months away from the promised results, the answer is clear. Even two or three or four hundred thousand troops would only make a terrible situation even more desperate. More is less. Less is more. Bush likely will assert “mission accomplished” or demand a further extension of time to show results. Bush should claim victory and begin the withdrawal.
Few have argued lately that more Americans must be killed so those who have been killed will not have died in vain. [See the e-ssay dated February 27, 2006 entitled “The Arithmetic of Futility”]. More casualties must accrue before any sustained opposition will develop. Each village now has lost a son or daughter (or grand niece or fishin’ buddy or Eagle Scout or practical joker); each town a few; each city a few more. There are likely to be a few public statements when the death toll hits 4000. The critical mass may be 5000 dead and 35,000 to 50,000 serious casualties. Daily war statistics are becoming as pedestrian as daily car crash statistics. A few die on the road to Baghdad and a few die on the roads every day. Body counts may not count. They volunteered anyway, they observe.
Bumper sticker of the week:
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.
Voltaire
The I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby trial and conviction for lying and obstruction of justice provided a glimpse into the corruption and dishonesty in Washington. The denouement–Bush will pardon him. Congress should continue investigating the goings-on over the last seven years. The statements regarding the firing and hiring of U.S. Attorneys are at least unethical if not illegal. U.S. Attorneys are senior partners of the world’s largest and most powerful law firm and can inflict great violence and grief on the public. In addition, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is an “on deck circle” if not the “batter’s box” for federal judgeships. Capture the Offices and control the Judiciary.
Now may be the time for the House of Representatives to consider holding hearings regarding the impeachment of Bush and Cheney. A prosecutor (or independent prosecutor) should investigate and consider indicting Bush, Cheney, Rove, Gonzalez and others. Lying is perjury. Lying to obstruct justice is obstruction of justice. [See the e-ssay dated February 20, 2006 entitled “Perjury, the American Way”]. Using the passive voice (“Mistake were made.”) is usually an admission that one is actively involved in creating the mistakes. Enough is enough; more than enough is enough. Nixon should have been held accountable for Watergate; Reagan should have been accountable for Iran-Contra. The situation in the world will get worse over the next 22 months under the best of circumstances. However, the rate of deterioration can be slowed by purposeful action. Cleaning house now is critical.
Halliburton, Cheney’s old company, is now fleeing the ship, the good ship United States. The company is cutting and running and will be able to avoid paying what few taxes it is currently paying. In addition, the company can hide assets and dodge any recoupment efforts for its overbilling of and fraud upon the United States taxpayer. [See the e-ssay dated April 11, 2005 entitled “The ‘Ownership State’ and ‘Bush, Inc.'”].
Bumper stickers of the week:
Blind Faith In Bad Leaders
Is Not Patriotism
I Never Thought I’d Miss John Mitchell
Bush’s recent Valentine’s Day press conference did not show much love. Bush sees red again. He is looking for a pretext to invade or bomb another country. Iran. The wellspring of opposition may not stop him.
The House was able to pass a resolution on Friday that contains language challenging the escalation surge:
(1) Congress and the American people will continue to support and protect the members of the United States Armed Forces who are serving or who have served bravely and honorably in Iraq; and
(2) Congress disapproves of the decision of President George W. Bush announced on January 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq.
Non-binding according to its terms but pivotal in light of the fierce opposition from Republicans. The Senate Republicans would not even allow a debate on a similar resolution. Congress needs some resolve.
Congress should introduce a resolution to condemn and oppose any invasion or bombing of Iran.
Congress also should introduce a resolution to withdraw the 2002 Resolution Bush used to excuse his invasion of Iraq because it was based on lies and no longer serves any national interest.
The Inspector General of the Pentagon found that Doug Feith, a former Undersecretary of Defense, and his office manipulated pre-war intelligence to heighten fear of a connection between Iraq and al Qaeda.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard said that Barack Obama’s proposal to remove U.S. combat forces from Iraq by March 31, 2008 would create disaster in the Mideast. “If I were running al Qaeda in Iraq,” he whined, “I would put a circle around March 2008 and be praying as many times as possible for a victory, not only for Obama but also for the Democrats.” American timetables are irrelevant to the Iraqis. The Australians as a people are just exactly, precisely like Americans, except that they are smarter, better looking and far more laid back. And they share a common problem with Americans. Wankers in power. Howard has spent too much time in the sun. Let him run al Qaeda. He is out of his league even in Canberra.
The agreement with North Korea is a promising start. Talk. With no conditions. Keep talking.
Abraham Lincoln is reputed to have said: “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.”
“We won’t get fooled again.” From the song “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by The Who.
We might get fooled again.
Bumper stickers of the week:
Give War A(nother) Chance–Bush
Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Is Afghanistan on our radar? What happened to Osama? Iraq has diverted attention and resources from the true war on terrorism and from domestic needs in the United States. Afghanistan should be the focus of national attention and resources. The world supported the United States in the pursuit of a defined mission in Afghanistan. Matters are percolating and festering over there. There should be a national debate about undertaking a focused surge in Afghanistan. The upcoming attack on Iran will compound an already almost intractable problem.
The Eric Blair Award for Orwellian Newspeak for 2006 was awarded in December. In an interview on December 28, Ed Henry with CNN (Cable News Network) interviewed White House homeland security adviser Frances Fragos Townsend and pressed her to admit that Bush’s failure to capture or kill Osama bin Laden in the past five years is a failure. “You know, going back to September 2001, the president said, dead or alive, we’re going to get him. Still don’t have him. I know you are saying there’s successes on the war on terror, and there have been. That’s a failure,” Henry observed. “Well, I’m not sure,” Townsend said. “It’s a success that hasn’t occurred yet. I don’t know that I view that as a failure.”
Success is failure. Failure is success. Black is white. Truth is ugly. Beauty is a lie. Up is down.
Bumper sticker of the week:
War Is Peace
Freedom Is Slavery
Ignorance Is Strength
[Love is intoxicating; toxins are poisonous; poisons can kill. She did something awfully stupid. Really stupid. Profoundly stupid. And maybe even embarrassing. But not unusual for a human. Poking out an eye, pulling a tooth or spraying her with pepper spray are counterproductive. She has one role and duty in this life–feed, clothe, love, discipline, inspire, threaten, reward, punish, and cajole one son and two daughters. In the name of family values, the condign punishment: therapy; a lengthy probation; a desk job that allows her to repay the country that trained her; defendant pays all costs.]
A fourth American helicopter was shot down or crashed under fire in the last two weeks. The Iraqis are now emboldened and have figured out how to evade the evasive measures undertaken by the American helicopters. [See the concern raised in the e-ssay dated September 25, 2006.]
The decision by the Chinese to blast the satellite a few weeks ago is another ominous threat particularly because the officials most likely to oversee such an action indicated that they were not aware of the decision to launch. Things may be out of control over there also.
The recent declassified version of the “National Intelligence Estimate” offers another bleak analysis of the quagmire in Iraq. The situation is deteriorating and requiring more graves.
A soldier killed in a roadside bombing was the 100th British death attributed to hostile action since the invasion in 2003, according to the Ministry of Defense. American deaths are one or two away from 3100.
One reader noted that more horses than soldiers were killed and wounded in the Charge of the Light Brigade. The horses are the unnamed Iraqis whose deaths are unacknowledged if not disregarded. The Barbaros of the battlefield.
Congress is debating a resolution that may express its resolve, yet Bush will not detour from his collision course. It is time to take a stand. Young kids are dying while old men (and women) debate and dawdle.
Congressman John Conyers (D-NY), the new chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, announced that he will soon hold hearings on President Bush’s use of presidential signing statements. [See the concern raised in the e-ssay dated May 22, 2006 and the article entitled “Who’s Afraid of Presidential Signing Orders” by Stanley Fish in the February 4, 2007 edition of “The New York Times”].
A recent executive order requires each agency to establish a “regulatory policy office run by a political appointee” that “strengthens the hand of the White House in shaping rules that have, in the past, often been generated by civil servants and scientific experts.” The agencies are becoming outposts of the White House. Someone should monitor the organization charts for later repair.
The trial of I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby is intriguing and filled with intrigue. Truth may emerge. Some justice may be done. A Bush pardon? Stay tuned.
“Man is impacting the environment.”–The science jocks. Now the economists, moral philosophers and the public must join the debate.
Bumper sticker of the week:
War is not working
[Molly Ivins died on January 31. Her last column “Stand Up Against The Surge” is available at
www.creators.com/opinion/molly-ivins/stand-up-against-the-surge.html. She concludes in part: “We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. And every single day, every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war. Raise hell. Think of something to make the ridiculous look ridiculous. Make our troops know we’re for them and trying to get them out of there. Hit the streets to protest Bush’s proposed surge. If you can, go to the peace march in Washington on Jan. 27. We need people in the streets, banging pots and pans and demanding, ‘Stop it, now!'”]
Bush is in a hole and is digging deeper; he is digging even more graves. The troops are being sacrificed because of arrogance, cowardice and stupidity. Of the 21,500 or more troops to be condemned, there are likely to be 600 casualties. About 70 to 80 likely will die. There is a 7 to 1 ratio of severe wounds to deaths. About 490 to 560 brave Americans will be severely wounded. 600 towns, 600 families, 600 moms, 600 dads, and innumerable wives, husbands, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, grandmoms, granddads, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
“. . .
Forward, the Light Brigade!”
Was there a man dismay’d?
Not tho’ the soldier knew
Someone had blunder’d:
Their’s not to make reply,
Their’s not to reason why,
Their’s but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
. . .”
–Sir Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Memorializing Events in the Battle of Balaclava, 25 October, 1854, Written in 1854
And likely 6000 dead and wounded Iraqis.
Bumper stickers of the week:
Reason why
Would you send your child?
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