Walk The Walk, Talk The Talk (April 9, 2007)

Posted in Gay Politics, Language on April 9, 2007 by e-commentary.org

The Iraqi Study Group notes:  “All of our efforts in Iaw, military and civilian, are handicapped by Americans’ lack of knowledge and cultural understanding.  Our embassy of 1,000 has 33 Arabic speakers, just six of whom are at the level of fluency.  In a conflict that demands effective and efficient communication with Iraqis, we are often at a disadvantage.”  Lay off (or retrain) 600 staff members at the embassy and hire 60 Arabic speakers.  The Arabic speakers don’t exist.  They don’t exist because Bush does not want them to exist.

The military discharges individuals who could save fellow soldiers and the Republic.  The policy is billed as “Don’t ask, don’t tell.”  The Don’t Think policy.  That seems to be the policy of the entire Bush administration.  The military should encourage and promote those individuals who can tell the American story in Arabic and understand the language and culture and history of Arabic countries.

The government should build its own army of interpreters.  The Marshall Plan meets Sputnik meets Berlitz. Those who express an interest in Arabic or Farsi or Mandarin or _________ (any language) should be given substantial stipends.  (Hybrid) cars, (healthy?) pizza and, yes, beer money.  There should be $100,000 signing bonuses.  If you talk the (Arabic) talk, you get to walk the walk.

Bumper sticker of the week:

Honk if parts are falling off

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Put me in coach (April 2, 2007)

Posted in Language, Society on April 2, 2007 by e-commentary.org

“Put me in coach.”  Not the game.  The game of life.  A coach can win and satisfy his (or her) shareholders (the athletic department/division and ‘lums) and still educate the kids.  Direct, encourage, cajole and harass the kids at every opportunity to get into the classroom and take advantage of the opportunity given to them to learn.  Conduct practices once a week in Spanish and French (Arabic, Farsi, Mandarin?). Conduct soccer practices in both English and Spanish.  (“Centro, centro”, “otra vez”, “pelota”)  Someone who can motivate them to play on the court/field/pitch can motivate them to attend class.  Playing in the PTA is more important in the long run than playing in the NBA.  Infect them with ideas.

“The young man walks by himself, fast but not fast enough, far but not far enough (faces slide out of sight, talk trails into tattered scraps, footsteps tap faster in alleys); he must catch the last subway, the streetcar, the bus, run up the gangplanks of all the steamboats, register at all the hotels, work in the cities, answer the want ads, learn the trades, take up the jobs, live in all the boardinghouses, sleep in all the beds.  One bed is not enough, one job is not enough, one life is not enough …”  John Dos Passos.

There is some inconsequential game on tv tonight.  The real game is going on outside the coliseum.

Bumper sticker of the week:

Life happens while you’re making plans

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Who Is Your Big Bad Bogeyman? (March 26, 2007)

Posted in Book Reference, Political Parties, Politics on March 26, 2007 by e-commentary.org

In general, at a young age, individuals select, consciously or unconsciously, a Big Bad Bogeyman, either Big Government or Big Business.  All political views emanate from that fundamental decision.  Nock, Van Hayek, M. Friedman and their ilk don’t realize or acknowledge that Big Business can oppress as efficiently and mercilessly as Big Government.  Galbraith, Nader and their ilk don’t realize or acknowledge that Big Government can oppress as efficiently and mercilessly as Big Business.  For all but a few individuals, acknowledging two Big Bogeymen is intellectually and emotionally overwhelming.  F. Scott Fitzgerald is said to have said:  “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.”  In politics, the few first rate intellects must challenge and confront the two Big Bogeymen who are equally dangerous.  John Dos Passos could handle it.

Bumper sticker of the week:

Question Authority, But Ask The Right Questions

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World War III Turns Four; How Wars Are Fought; Most Victories Are Pyrrhic Defeats (March 19, 2007)

Posted in Military on March 19, 2007 by e-commentary.org

(Today is the four-year anniversary of Bush’s decision to trigger World War III.)

The soldiers in both trenches are invariably brave.  They cover for their companions and their comrades which advances the agenda and careers of their leaders.  The situation is akin to the “invisible hand” in economic theory.  Each individual in a squad pursues his self-interest which is keeping himself and his buddies alive while completing the mission, usually forlorn.  The individual actions aggregate to promote whatever passes for the mission, be it taking the hill or defending the position or increasing the body count. The soldiers are given grades (E-) such as E-3 or E-5.  These soldiers with mettle wear stars (Ag and Cu9Sn1) on their chests and experience combat far more profoundly than those who sport stars on their epaulettes.

Those who have rank (O-) call the shots and decide who gets shot.  The generals (O-7, O-8, etc.) on both sides of the trenches are often either incompetent or unable to control the events, exigencies and other developments that arise.  Those who succeed often succeed because the generals across the field fail even more abjectly.  [See the e-ssay dated March 7, 2005.]  Factories are admittedly a big factor. Civilization has been fortunate that the good guys have had more efficient factories in the last hundred years; America is losing factories daily.  However, in recent military quagmires (Vietnam, World War III/Iraq/Iran/Syria/etc.), the miliary was and is tasked with a hopeless mission.  The mission is not accomplished, it is impossible.  In the Iraq theater, even the generals never had a bloody chance.

The civilian leaders failed and are failing.  The civilian leaders who prosecuted and are prosecuting World War III will never be prosecuted for their ineptitude or their war crimes.  The civilian leaders used the threat of “WeMaD” (Weapons of Mass Destruction) and fooled the general public and the generals into war.  The lies continue unabated.  Bush amassed a cabal of cowards, wimps, draft dodgers, geeks, and chicken hawks and proclaimed them his National Security Team.  These “neo-confidence men” are known generally as “neo-cons.”  Bush sheds them when they disagree.  He stuck his head in a hornet’s nest and does not understand what is going on all around him.  Now he has stuck his head in the sand.

Mix brave soldiers, overwhelmed generals and incompetent civilian leaders, bring the mixture to a boil, and simmer.  The result is not surprising. The notion of a Pyrrhic victory derives from the Greek king Pyrrhus, who, after suffering heavy losses in defeating the Romans in 279 B.C., said to those sent to congratulate him, “Another such victory over the Romans and we are undone.”  America cannot afford another Pyrrhic Defeat.

Bumper sticker of the week:

Land Of The Free Because Of The Brave (despite the civilian leadership)

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Investigate, Impeach and Indict? (March 12, 2007)

Posted in Bush, Politics on March 12, 2007 by e-commentary.org

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

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Congress Should Increase Congressional and Judicial Pay; Shareholders Should Reduce CEO/CFO/COO Pay (March 5, 2007)

Posted in Market Solutions, Spending on March 5, 2007 by e-commentary.org

Supreme Court Justice Kennedy recently testified that the salaries of federal judges should be increased to provide some competition with the private sector.  He points to the substantial signing bonuses paid to former Supreme Court judicial law clerks when they go to work with wealthy law firms.  Many young law students plan to retire on the federal bench.  The power and prestige are the most significant draws. However, the pay must be competitive or only the wealth will apply.  Raise their salaries consistent with his request.

Congressional salaries should also be raised.  The public is better off if the hired help is paid by the people rather than by the lobbyists.  Fifty thousand a year is a cheap and prudent investment.

Arguing that Congressional salaries should be increased is never popular.  After passage of a pay raise, every candidate running against an incumbent makes a stink.  To provide political cover, a commission should be established and the findings adopted by voice vote.  Commissions provide cover.

CEOs, CFOs, COOs and their colleagues are paid salaries and bonuses far out of proportion to their contribution to their companies and shareholders.  The contention that the companies must pay big money to attract talent is a chimera because there is no thriving market for the positions.  A small select group simply pays more to their management which provides an excuse for their colleagues/competitors to pay more and thereby to provide an excuse for other companies to pay themselves even more.  When the company makes money, for whatever reason, management issues huge bonuses.  When the company loses money, management continues to draw inflated salaries and/or parachutes out with a bucket of loot. The market is broken beyond redemption.

The government is not the player to challenges the salaries.  Large shareholder groups should simply dictate the pay.  The various state PERSs (Public Employees Retirement Systems) programs in particular should state that they will sell shares and not buy shares unless management sets salaries within a defined range.  All shareholders should vote on all executive compensation at every annual meeting.

Bumper sticker of the week:

We all live downstream

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Looking Back. With Regret. And Respect. (February 26, 2007)

Posted in China, Race on February 26, 2007 by e-commentary.org

Another positive resolution.  Assembling on the grounds of the former Confederate Capitol, the Virginia General Assembly voted unanimously this past Saturday to express “profound regret” for the state’s role in slavery and for the exploitation of Native Americans.  The resolution states that government-sanctioned slavery “ranks as the most horrendous of all depredations of human rights and violations of our founding ideals in our nation’s history, and the abolition of slavery was followed by systematic discrimination, enforced segregation, and other insidious institutions and practices toward Americans of African descent that were rooted in racism, racial bias, and racial misunderstanding.”  Not an apology, yet a major step forward.

Many Saturday’s ago in February 1972, President Richard Nixon, National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger and Chinese leader Mao Zedong met in Beijing.  To talk.  Nixon aggressively sought out the meeting with an adversary.  The anti-communist met with one of the uber-communists.  Nixon took off without knowing whether the Chinese FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) would clear Air Force 1 to land.  Nixon engaged what was then the 800(0) lb. panda.  The United States had been in regular communication with the 800(0) lb. bruin, the former Soviet Union, the CCCP (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics). Courageous and prescient, “Tricky Dick” worked some magic that week.

Bumper sticker of the week:

I Never Thought I’d Miss Nixon

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Bush’s Valentine’s Day Message: “I’m Invading Iran. With Love” (February 19, 2007)

Posted in Bush, Iraq on February 19, 2007 by e-commentary.org

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!

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Is Afghanistan On The Map? A Failure That Hasn’t Succeeded? (February 12, 2007)

Posted in Afghanistan, Bush, Law on February 12, 2007 by e-commentary.org

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.]

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Black Hawk Down. And Down and Down And Down (February 5, 2007)

Posted in Bush, Foreign Policy, Global Warming, Iraq, Military on February 5, 2007 by e-commentary.org

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!'”]

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