Collective Sigh

U.S. Unloading WMD in Iraq

The Tehran Times isn't exactly known for "fair and balanced" news, nevertheless the headline certainly catches the eye.

Over the past few days, in the wake of the bombings in Karbala and the ideological disputes that delayed the signing of Iraq’s interim constitution, there have been reports that U.S. forces have unloaded a large cargo of parts for constructing long-range missiles and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in the southern ports of Iraq.

Who knows? But it's a measure of the world's distrust that such a report would be printed - and believed.

Heck, I'd believe it. In fact, I'd be quite willing to believe this cache would be discovered sometime near election day.

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Researchers: Stem Cells May Cure Baldness



In a stunning turn of events, the Bush administration announced it's full support for stem cell research. (/satire)

Too bad there aren't more bald GOP'er legislators; researchers would be working overtime with full federal funding.

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Back in Iraq

Sometimes, I feel physically sick with grief and shame when I read Riverbend -

One example of an arbitrary detention we heard about the other day was of a man who was arrested in Tikrit. They raided his home and gathered the 25-year-old man, two brothers and an elderly uncle. They got the usual treatment: a bag on the head, and hands behind their backs. They were taken to a place outside of Tikrit and thrown into a barn-like area with bags on their heads- still tied up. For 3 days, they were kicked and cursed by the troops. In between the kicking and cursing, a hefty soldier would scream questions at them and an interpreter would translate, "Are you part of Al-Qaeda?! Do you know Osama bin Laden?!" On the third day, one of the young men struck up a deal with who he gathered was their 'head'- the man who gave all the orders. They agreed that one of the soldiers would accompany the man back to the city and wait while he came up with $300/detainee. The rest of the men would be freed a couple of days later.

And it worked. Two days later, his three relatives came walking home after being dropped off on the side of the road. Basically, they paid a ransom for their freedom. Just one of the many stories about life in the 'New Iraq'- no wonder Chalabi was so jubilant while signing the Transitional Law document. The country is currently like an unguarded bank- especially for those who bear arms.

(snip)

These last few days have brought back memories of the same dates, last year. What were we doing in early March? We were preparing for the war… digging wells, taping up windows, stocking up on candles, matches, kerosene, rice, flour, bandages, and medicine… and what are we doing now? Using them.

Civil war, by June 30th. If not before.

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Pointed Questions on Missile Defense System

As early as July, silos in Alaska could be filled with three-stage interceptors meant to destroy incoming ballistic missiles with the help of ground- and space-based sensors. It would be the first time the nation has had a system for destroying warheads aimed at American soil since the short-lived Safeguard program in the 1970's.

Congress has it's own set of questions, but just in case they need some more, I suggest utilizing the University of Florida's May 2003 edition of Consumer Highlights, with it's feature titled "Five Questions To Ask Before Buying Anything Over $20" (PDF warning):

1) Do I really have a need or compelling use for this?

2) Could I just as well borrow or rent it, for less?

3) If I really do need it and borrowing it is not feasible, can I afford to pay for it with cash?

4) If I can, do I already own something that would serve just as well?

5) If I don't have anything that will do the job, do I know for a fact that I have found the best value? Have I really checked around enough to know?

If your prospective purchase passes each of the above checkpoints, still WAIT 24 HOURS before making the purchase (unless it's an emergency, of course). With this system, you will save money on many items that you would buy largely on impulse, without sufficient thought.

I'll go out on a limb and say the proposed missile defense system doesn't pass our purchase test - especially since it doesn't work.

In an interview Thursday, Mr. Christie's predecessor at the Pentagon, Philip E. Coyle, expressed far more doubt about the tests.

"Ever since the president made his decision, the priority of the program has been on deployment, not on understanding whether the system works," said Mr. Coyle, now a senior adviser at the Center for Defense Information, a private research group. "Most people don't appreciate how complicated this system is, nor how much all of the tests so far have been artificially scripted to be successful."

One of these days, I will take my final breath, pass over to the other side, and all will be revealed.

Presumably, one of the questions that will be answered is - "Will these bozos ever give up their 'Star Wars' dreams?"

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WMD - Weapon of Medicare Destruction

Medicare Nominee Agrees to Senator's Demand

Remember Scottie McClellan's brother Mark? Dubya's choice as Weapon of Medicare Destruction?

The amiable Dr. Mark said Monday -

he won't answer senators' questions about his opposition to importing prescription drugs from Canada before he takes over the government health program.

Which strikes me as very much like refusing to share intelligence with allies, but bullying them into supporting a war.

But bless him, Mark has had a change of heart.

The U.S. nominee to run Medicare, with his confirmation stuck on hold, bowed on Wednesday to demands he testify about his opposition to the importation of lower-priced medicines.

Mark McClellan, currently commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites), will appear before the Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday.

The spin?

"Mark believes he needs to be the bigger man and step forward and reverse the trend that puts politics in front of public health," said Peter Pitts, the FDA's associate commissioner for external relations.

(ed. note - /sarcasm)

How about reversing the trend that puts pharmaceutical profits in front of public health? Or reversing the trend to put politics before the public good?

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Politics of global warming; meet Hollywood

Never trust me for movie reviews or recommendations.

I've been known to enjoy wonderful, critically-acclaimed movies as well as the critically-panned. In fact, I've probably enjoyed more "thumbs-down" flicks than otherwise.

For what it's worth, I enjoyed Independence Day (1996). The pairing of Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum tickled my weird sense of humor, and the "primary weapon" destruction scenes were pretty awesome. It was fun; I enjoyed it, it got a lot of publicity and made a lot of money.

So I'm kind of looking forward to The Day After Tomorrow, from the same director (Roland Emmerich), which will be released on May 28th.

Especially considering the Pentagon's concern about the sudden effects of global warming -

The threat that has riveted their attention is this: Global warming, rather than causing gradual, centuries-spanning change, may be pushing the climate to a tipping point. Growing evidence suggests the ocean-atmosphere system that controls the world's climate can lurch from one state to another in less than a decade—like a canoe that's gradually tilted until suddenly it flips over. Scientists don't know how close the system is to a critical threshold. But abrupt climate change may well occur in the not-too-distant future. If it does, the need to rapidly adapt may overwhelm many societies—thereby upsetting the geopolitical balance of power.

Though triggered by warming, such change would probably cause cooling in the Northern Hemisphere, leading to longer, harsher winters in much of the U.S. and Europe. Worse, it would cause massive droughts, turning farmland to dust bowls and forests to ashes. Picture last fall's California wildfires as a regular thing. Or imagine similar disasters destabilizing nuclear powers such as Pakistan or Russia—it's easy to see why the Pentagon has become interested in abrupt climate change.

Now check out the synopsis of The Day After Tomorrow -

In Independence Day Roland Emmerich brought you the near destruction of earth by aliens, Now, in Day After Tomorrow the enemy is an even more devastating force: nature itself. Tornadoes rip Los Angeles; a massive snow storm pounds New Delhi; hail the size of grapefruit batters Tokyo; and in New York City, the temperature swings from sweltering to freezing in one day. In this special-effects packed, highly anticipated event motion picture, an abrupt climate change has cataclysmic consequences for the entire planet.

It's pretty safe to assume Bush never bothered to read the Pentagon report.

But if the movie is even halfway decent, gets a big box office, and lots of publicity - maybe it will catch Dubya's attention?

The U.K. Guardian has it's own take - Hollywood disaster film set to turn heat on Bush .

I'm not sure I'd go that far, but movies have had a big effect on politics in the recent past.

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It loses something in translation

With a gazillion dollars to spend and an ample supply of eager-beaver investigators, you'd think the Bush administration could get a few things right.

But as we all know, in the Bush universe black is white, up is down, and apparently male is female.

Bush praises man in speech on women's rights

"Earlier today, the Libyan government released Fathi Jahmi. She's a local government official who was imprisoned in 2002 for advocating free speech and democracy," the president said in a speech at the White House on Friday.

The Libyan government did release Fathi Jahmi. Jahmi was imprisoned in 2002 for advocating free speech and democracy. Hurray for accuracy!

But, um.....Jahmi is a man

All told, the president made references to more than a dozen other women ranging from his wife, first lady Laura Bush, to last year's Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi of Iran. He also mentioned four men including Secretary of State Colin Powell and Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, who were both present.

"The advance of women's rights and the advance of liberty are ultimately inseparable," the president said. "We stand with courageous reformers."

In Bush-Speak, I guess that means -

"Curtailing women's rights and stomping democratic principles goes hand-in-hand. We stand with theocratic, totalitarian dictators worldwide.

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Earth to Bush backers

Missteps on Economy Worry Bush Supporters

In recent weeks, the White House has had to endure its chief economist's positive comments about job "outsourcing," or sending work overseas; controversial passages in the annual Economic Report of the President; questions over the legitimacy of Bush's 2005 budget; a California swing in which Bush bragged about the possible addition of two or three jobs to a 14-person business in Bakersfield and a flap over a job-creation forecast that not even the president could stand by.

Those aren't "missteps"; just "failures to frame the issue in a positive manner". In this administration, governing by "misstep" is just Standard Operating Procedure.

"Clearly, the machinery's not working very well," said Bruce Bartlett, an economist with the conservative National Center for Policy Analysis, who noted that this White House has been known for its discipline on message.

Clearly, the propaganda machinery needs a major overhaul, and any vestiges of "truth", "honesty" and "responsibility" must be vigorously nipped at the bud. Preferably, well before the election.

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March Madness

It's March Madness time here in Basketball Heaven, otherwise known as North Carolina.

N.C. State beat Florida State, Duke beat Virginia, and Georgia Tech swiped a victory from my beloved UNC Tarheels,

Now that the Tarheels have been beat, the most interesting event of the evening for me was when a plainclothes security man, seated just behind the scorer's table, had a slight accident when his sidearm apparently decided to fire itself.

Shot himself in the butt.

Let the Madness continue!

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I (heart) Houston

No, not the city, though it's a mighty fine place, but R. Houston Bridges.

Not only does he provide great pictures and commentary from the pro-gay marriage demonstrations in San Francisco, but he has given me the best present I could wish for on Weblog Appreciation Day.

Read everything, of course - it's all good - but scroll down to Thursday, March 11th ("The March") and the first picture.

Thanks, darlin' !! I am very honored, very proud, and very touched.

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Bring on the immigrants!

No wonder Bush would like to give amnesty to illegal immigrants - "He nice."

From Newsday (via Atrios) we learn a bit about one of Bush's latest photo ops -

It is the not-so-secret secret of every presidential campaign that most crowds at most campaign stops are so much stage prop. They are there to make a certain amount of noise, to look like a constituency the candidate hopes to win the votes of -- in the Bay Shore factory, Hispanic voters -- and to be as unsurprising and well-behaved as security arrangements can make them.

So he speaks at a factory where the work force is made up largely of low-paid, non-English speaking immigrants. People who 1) can't understand what he's saying, and 2) aren't likely to create a disturbance.

From Bush's point-of-view, that's a photo op "perfect storm".

Security people kept reporters from interviewing the workers at U.S.A. until the president was on the way to his next stop.

But when workers were finally interviewed -- these people who made up the bulk of the president's cheering audience in New York -- Bush's performance turned out to be, if anything, even more impressive.

"No speak English," said the first worker, smiling apologetically.

"No speak English," said the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth workers way-laid in the crowd.

But you think the tax cuts should be made permanent, as he says?

"Sorry, no English," said another.

(snip)

I understand him a little bit English," said Nubia Guzman, a packer who said she earns $7.50 an hour after four years on a job that Bush had described in his speech as evidence of the success of his tax cutting economic policies. She has no health coverage.

What did you like about him? she was asked.

"He nice," she said.

No, Nubia - he not nice.

He just want smile and clap.

He no care sh*t about you.

When he's got his photo op, he'll move on, leaving you with a lousy salary, no benefits, and no possibility of improving your life.

Then he'll make a campaign commercial with a dark-skinned person as the villain, and rail against you when the audience wants to hear it.

It's just another plastic turkey moment from the all hat, no cattle preznit.

Él no es agradable

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Is this mike on?

The best comment of the day, as usual, comes from that priceless news source - The Daily show.

As anchorman Jon Stewart observes, it's what Dubya says when he KNOWS the microphones are on that should concern us. Such as -

The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa.

And in answer to the great issue of the day - Should 14 year olds be allowed to vote?

Instead of giving the vote to more savvy kids, why don't we give it to fewer stupid grownups?

Now, there's an interesting concept.
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Weak leadership in a time of chaos

As Dubya and the GOP continue to trumpet "steady leadership", "wartime president" and "blah-blah-blah", it might be useful to revisit the set of questions the Family Steering Committee would like the 9/11 Commission to ask our preznit.

Keeping in mind, of course, that he has yet to answer them and has been too busy raising campaign funds to do so.

We begin with their statement -

The Family Steering Committee believes that President Bush should provide sworn public testimony to the full ten-member panel of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States . Collectively, the Commissioners are responsible for fulfilling the Congressional mandate. Therefore, each Commissioner must have full access to the testimony of all individuals and the critical information that will enable informed decisions and recommendations.

Before an audience of the American people, the Commission must ask President Bush in sworn testimony, the following questions:

1. As Commander-in-Chief on the morning of 9/11, why didn’t you return immediately to Washington, D.C. or the National Military Command Center once you became aware that America was under attack? At specifically what time did you become aware that America was under attack? Who informed you of this fact?

2. On the morning of 9/11, who was in charge of our country while you were away from the National Military Command Center? Were you informed or consulted about all decisions made in your absence?

3. What defensive action did you personally order to protect our nation during the crisis on September 11th? What time were these orders given, and to whom? What orders were carried out? What was the result of such orders? Were any such orders not carried out?

4. In your opinion, why was our nation so utterly unprepared for an attack on our own soil?

5. U.S. Navy Captain Deborah Loewer, the Director of the White House Situation Room, informed you of the first airliner hitting Tower One of the World Trade Center before you entered the Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida. Please explain the reason why you decided to continue with the scheduled classroom visit, fifteen minutes after learning the first hijacked airliner had hit the World Trade Center.

6. Is it normal procedure for the Director of the White House Situation Room to travel with you? If so, please cite any prior examples of when this occurred. If not normal procedure, please explain the circumstances that led to the Director of the White House Situation Room being asked to accompany you to Florida during the week of September 11th.

7. What plan of action caused you to remain seated after Andrew Card informed you that a second airliner had hit the second tower of the World Trade Center and America was clearly under attack? Approximately how long did you remain in the classroom after Card’s message?

8. At what time were you made aware that other planes were hijacked in addition to Flight 11 and Flight 175? Who notified you? What was your course of action as Commander-in-Chief of the United States?

9. Beginning with the transition period between the Clinton administration and your own, and ending on 9/11/01, specifically what information (either verbal or written) about terrorists, possible attacks and targets, did you receive from any source?

***

Sounds perfectly reasonable to me. As our Attorney General would no doubt claim, if a person is innocent, they have nothing to fear.

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The best friends money can buy

From the Guardian -

Most Pakistanis claim to despise Mr Bush for what they consider America's unjustified attack on Iraq. But regime change in the White House is probably the last thing President Pervez Musharraf would really want. "The government would like Bush to win," said Tahir Mirza, editor of the Dawn, a leading daily paper. "We've always been pro-Republican - we think the Republicans are much more sympathetic to Pakistan. And, in the present case, they've given us a lot of money."

Do you get the feeling this is the way Dubya has always acquired "friends".
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Cool!

Via beastofsound and blogosfear, we hear that tomorrow is Weblog Appreciation Day!

In anticipation of all those thousands hundreds couple of folks that might like to show me their appreciation, I hereby post my WISH LIST.

(Well, maybe my mother will see it)

In no particular order -

John Kerry for President

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

MoveOn.org

Eyes on the prize, no apologies, no mercy!!

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Cracking the code

I think I've finally cracked the secret code of "how to be a wingnut". It's really very simple - "Never learn a lesson from past mistakes".

Just a small, random sample -

***Don't burgle the opposition.

***Don't depend on freep-able, online polls

***Don't mess with the CIA

***Don't try to fool widows and orphans

***Never get involved in a land war in Asia.

***When you're a pot , don't call the kettle black.

**Don't do phoney photo-ops (no giv plastick turkee!)

(feel free to add to the list)
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I'm no journalist, but I know crooks when I smell them

Via Calpundit and TNR -

From a Bush campaign press release:

"In My First Hundred Days In The White House, I Will Roll Back George Bush's Tax Cut..." (Sen. John Kerry, Remarks In Manchester, N.H., 12/27/03)

From Kerry's actual remarks:

"In my first hundred days in the White House, I will roll back George Bush's tax cut for the wealthiest so that we can invest in education and health care."

I've used the same technique to cut to the point myself; who hasn't?

Had the quote read "In my first hundred days in the White House," said Kerry, the husband of wealthy heiress Teresa Heinz Kerry. "blah-blah-blah" - I would have cut out the "husband of wealthy heiress" part as being irrelevent.

But I don't cut out critical parts of a passage to suit my particular set of beliefs. It doesn't take an ethics or journalism or whatever degree to know the difference between distortion and fact.

John Kerry is right - the GOP consists of some of the most lying, crooked political operatives on the face of the earh, and there is no need for him to apologize for speaking the truth.

No apology, no mercy, no quarter.

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Senate Warns Baseball on Steroids Testing

Senators grill baseball commissioner, union head over steroid problems

Now...have some fun imagining how this would have turned out if our preznit had become baseball commisioner.
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Now they tell me

Scientists find a way to beat the menopause

Their research raises the prospect of extending childbearing years and offers a more natural alternative to HRT to offset ageing and maintain youthful vigour.

I wish severe hot flashes on every scientist who wants to make women fertile and vigorous long past the time for genteel little-old-ladyness.

Pregnancy is tough enough on the young and strong, which leads me to believe the researchers had to be either male or non-childbearing females.

We can't afford the child we have, and I earned every one of these gray hairs and wrinkles, thank you.

However, the study was done on mice and a leading figure in the field, Prof Roger Gosden, was cautious.

He welcomed the research, but said: "Reproductive biology is very variable between species and, as yet, there is no evidence in humans contrary to the old dogma that egg production ceases before birth.

I'll skip the obvious "man on mouse" Santorum analogies, and just offer my deepest sympathies to all those elderly, pregnant mice. At least they won't have to worry about "No Child Left Behind" and other assorted BushCo atrocities.

But I'm sure Ashcroft will find some way to worm his way into mice childbearing issues.

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An earnest plea for fiscal sanity

Yeah, yeah, yeah - the United States economy is in the tank, but the big economic news that caught my eye (and stomach) is -

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (KKD) on Wednesday posted higher quarterly earnings on new store openings, but its stock fell 4.7 percent with an analyst citing an unexpected drop in profit margin.

For the sake of doughnut gourmands everywhere, I am down on my knees, begging the Krispy Kreme management to rein in their expansionist instincts and greed.

J.P. Morgan analyst John Ivankoe wrote in a research note that Krispy Kreme's company-store gross margin declined for the first time in three years and called it a "major surprise."

He said that lower average weekly sales in Krispy's company stores was discouraging as the company has aggressive store expansion plan for fiscal 2005. Ivankoe rates the company's shares "underweight."

Concentrate on making those yummy doughnuts in the stores you already have, and keeping your biggest fans overweight!

(But opening a new store on my street would be welcome)

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Bush Fund-Raisers Among Overnight Guests

President Bush opened the White House and Camp David to dozens of overnight guests last year, including foreign dignitaries, family friends and at least nine of his biggest campaign fund-raisers, documents show. (emphasis mine)

I'm going to agree with George W. Bush about something, so pay attention....it doesn't happen often.

In a debate with Vice President Al Gore in October 2000, Bush said: "I believe they've moved that sign, `The buck stops here,' from the Oval Office desk to `The buck stops here' on the Lincoln Bedroom. And that's not good for the country."

Of course, with Bush that "Buck Stops Here" sign isn't anywhere in his field of vision or life experience.


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More Medicare decimation

Could we please hold the general election today?

NTodd , via AP alerts us to the latest BushCo attempt at dismantling the social safety net.

Mark McClellan, President Bush's choice to run Medicare, said Monday he won't answer senators' questions about his opposition to importing prescription drugs from Canada before he takes over the government health program.

Actually, McClellan has good reason to avoid answering questions. He'd have to admit he's a liar and a tool of big pharmaceutical companies.

From Knight-Ridder, Nov. 26, 2003 -

FDA Commissioner Mark McClellan, in a speech last week in Canada before a group of drug information experts, said the agency had found "thousands of examples of unapproved and potentially unsafe medicines" coming into the United States from "many countries, including from Canada.

I'm still shaking my head over this one; the man had the nerve to stand up and say this in front of a group of drug information experts....in Canada. Every one of his audience must have known McClellan was nuts.

But maybe they realized he came by it honestly - he and his brother, Scottie of White House press conference infamy - share the "gall" gene.

Although they've been warning Americans about the dangers of prescription drugs from Canada for nearly a year, U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials can't name a single American who's been injured or killed by drugs bought from licensed Canadian pharmacies.

"We don't have that," said Tom McGinnis, the FDA's director of pharmacy affairs. "I can't think of one thing off the top of my head where somebody died or somebody got put in the hospital because of these medications. I just don't know if there's anything like that."

Neither does Canada.

Health Canada, which regulates Canada's prescription industry, "does not have any information that would indicate that any Americans have become ill or have died as a result of taking prescription medications purchased from Canada," said Jirina Vlk, a spokeswoman for Health Canada.

I find myself wondering if Tom McGinnis still has a job.

Concern that the FDA may be misleading consumers has hurt its credibility among some Capitol Hill lawmakers, who say the agency is carrying water for the powerful drug industry.

"There's no question in my mind that the (FDA) is too dependent on the pharmaceutical industry for their attitudes and decision-making," said Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., who chairs a House subcommittee that's studied the Canadian drug issue. "I had four hearings and I asked (FDA Associate Commissioner William Hubbard) to give me examples where people have been damaged by Canadian pharmaceuticals and re-importation, and he couldn't even give me one, not one."

In response to Burton, Hubbard cited examples of people who got the wrong drugs from Canadian pharmacies. While that's a danger, U.S. pharmacists make similar errors. Hubbard also told Burton that the FDA thinks many people don't report adverse incidents that result from Canadian drugs.

When Dan Burton sees through you, you might as well check into the nearest sanitorium.

Mark McClelland's biography sounds impressive - Associate Professor of Economics at Stanford University, Associate Professor of Medicine at Stanford Medical School, a practicing internist, and Director of the Program on Health Outcomes Research at Stanford University. He was also a Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research and a ....

Uh, oh - here's where the boy went wrong - a visiting Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

Predictably, the Biotechnology Industry Association is lamenting the (presumed) loss of McClellan from the FDA -

Industry lamented the loss of McClellan, a longtime Bush ally, a former White House economist, and a medical doctor.

“Commissioner McClellan wasted no time in setting a new course for the FDA, one that is committed to new drug innovation by removing unnecessary regulatory barriers,” said Biotechnology Industry Association president Carl Feldbaum, in a statement. “The result has been a substantial number of approvals for a host of new medicines that will benefit millions of patients across the country.”

And coincidentally fill Big Pharma's pocket's with gold.

With friends like these, seniors might as well start lobbying for elective euthanasia.

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Visitor #6000 stumbles onto Collective Sigh

According to Sitemeter, NTodd, of Dohiyi Mir - YOU were visitor number #6000 at Collective Sigh.

But you're not half as clever as you think.....I had 1,140 visits before installing Sitemeter. No soup for you, NTodd!

Nevertheless, it's a landmark of sorts, and I'm glad it was my Liberal Coaltion Fearless Leader who did it.
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Oops! He did it again

Scalia Addressed Advocacy Group Before Key Decision

WASHINGTON — As the Supreme Court was weighing a landmark gay rights case last year, Justice Antonin Scalia gave a keynote dinner speech in Philadelphia for an advocacy group waging a legal battle against gay rights.

Scalia addressed the $150-a-plate dinner hosted by the Urban Family Council two months after hearing oral arguments in a challenge to a Texas law that made gay sex a crime. A month after the dinner, he sharply dissented from the high court's decision overturning the Texas law.

A little review of Scalia's blasts from the past -

The Los Angeles Times reported that Scalia flew in January on Air Force Two with Vice President Dick Cheney to go duck hunting in Louisiana, shortly after the high court decided to hear a legal challenge to Cheney's intent to keep information about his energy policy task force secret.

The Times also found that in November 2001, Scalia was a guest speaker at the University of Kansas Law School at a time when the school's dean was spearheading two cases before the court, and that the justice went pheasant hunting with the Kansas governor and the former state Senate president.

The man has no shame, no concept of judicial ethics, no respect for the American people, no respect for the highest court of the land.

Antonin Scalia - just another gift to America from Ronald Reagan.
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Laying claim to 9/11

In today's Washington Post, Richard Cohen argues that Bush can, indeed, lay claim to 9/11 - IF he will own up to what went before....intelligence failures, lack of defensive action, etc.

The president is entitled to use Sept. 11, since it happened on his watch and he performed admirably. But for the same reason -- his watch -- he ought to cease playing hard-to-get with the commission looking into how the terrorist attacks happened in the first place. If he wants to own Sept. 11, he's entitled. But it does not come alone. Sept. 10 is his, too.

If George Bush wants to claim 9/11, I challenge the "performed admirably" bit, and I'd further add that he must also own up to the aftermath.

I've mentioned in comments to an earlier post that one of my most vivid impressions on 9/11 was thinking "where is the president?"

And who will ever forget the number of off-duty first responders - police, port authority, fire fighters, EMT's - who dropped whatever they were doing and rushed to the scene?

They were off duty; they weren't paid for their voluntary response. Some of them died for their devotion.

And as Bryan quite reasonably commented -

"I have nothing against people who don't want to run towards trouble, just so they don't claim that they did."

If I were president....

(you can stop laughing any time now)

...there is no power on heaven or earth or within the Secret Service that could have kept me away from the nation's capitol and off the airwaves to reassure the frightened citizens of the country. It's what leaders do.

Carrying on the fantasy - if I were president, I would have made a quick, graceful-as-possible exit from that classroom, spoken quietly with my aides to get as much information as possible, taken a few moments to calm myself, and then spoken to the nation through the assembled gaggle of reporters.

I would then explore the possibilities of returning to Washington, D.C. immediately. If my vice president advised me to stay away from Washington, D.C., as Cheney did, I'd make some colorful suggestions as to what he could do with his advice, and resolve never to listen to him again.

As president of the United States, travel options aren't completely limited. If it was considered unsafe to fly aboard Air Force One, with a fighter escort, I could have taken an alternate, secret flight and sent Air Force One on as a decoy.

Upon arriving at Andrews Air Force base, I'd make my way to the White House in the safest manner possible, and then broadcast a serious, reassuring, informative speech from the Oval Office.

Does this sound like an unreasonable scenario for a President of the United States, in response to a terrorist attack on American soil?

If it sounds unreasonable to anyone, raise your hand.



It became evident to anyone with a TV, radio, the internet, or through office gossip that the United States was under coordinated attack when the second tower was struck at 9:02:54 a.m.

So, just what did our Steady Leader do on 9/11 that gives him the right to "claim" it?

He took to the air, went hundreds of miles away from the White House, neglected to address the nation (making only some brief "we'll get 'em" remarks) until many hours later, and has yet to cooperate fully with the full investigation he himself promised on that day.

Twenty seven minutes later, at 9:30 a.m., Bush gave one of those few, brief "we'll get 'em" statement to the stunned nation.

During the remarks, Bush promised a full investigation into the attack.

Fifty-six minutes later -at 9:59 a.m.: Air Force One departed Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport for Andrews Air Force base, with no extra military protection, even though 2 of the 7 military air stations we had on full alert to protect the continental United States that day were based in Florida. Homestead Air Station in Homestead is 185 miles and the Tyndall Air Station in Panama City is 235 miles from Sarasota.

One hour and thirty-eight minutes later -10:41 a.m.: Air Force One was still en route to Washington when Cheney called; he urged Bush not to return. "There's still a threat to Washington." Rice agreed, and had told Bush the same thing.

There was little debate or discussion. Cheney was worried the terrorists might be trying to decapitate the government, to kill its leaders. Bush agreed.

One hour and forty minutes later -10:43 a.m.: Air Force One banked suddenly and sharply to the left, its course now westerly toward Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.

Two hours and thirty-seven minutes later - 11:40 a.m.: Air Force One arrived at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana

Two hours and forty-two minutes later -11:45 a.m.: From Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, Bush made a brief and informal initial statement to the effect that terrorism on U.S. soil would not be tolerated, stating that "freedom itself has been attacked and freedom will be protected."

Three hours and thirty-three minutes later -12:36 p.m.: Bush finally appeared on television from the Barksdale Air Force Base conference room, it was not a reassuring picture.

He spoke haltingly, mispronouncing several words as he looked down at his notes. He says that all appropriate security measures are being taken, including putting the United States military on high alert worldwide. He asks for prayers for those killed or wounded in the attacks and says: "Make no mistake, the United States will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts."

When he got to the last sentence, he seemed to gain strength. "The resolve of our great nation is being tested," he said in even tones. "But make no mistake: We will show the world that we will pass this test."

His remarks were fed by the media pool to the networks, causing a short delay before the nation could see them. The entire statement consisted of just 219 words, and Bush took no questions from reporters.

Four hours and forty-five minutes later - 1:48 p.m.: President Bush left Barksdale in Louisiana aboard Air Force One and flew to an undisclosed location. He flew to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) bunker at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska where there were secure facilities that would allow the president to conduct a meeting of his National Security Council in Washington over a video link.

Five hours and forty-seven minutes later - 2:50 p.m.: Before leaving Air Force One, Bush repeated to his lead Secret Service agent, "We need to get back to Washington. We don't need some tinhorn terrorist to scare us off. The American people want to know where their president is."

Indeed they did; a "steady leader" would have known it instantly and fought for it vigorously from the get-go.

Six hours and three minutes later - 3:06 p.m.: Air Force One landed at U.S. Strategic Air Command at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.

Six hours and fifty-two minutes later - 3:55 p.m.: Karen Hughes, a White House counselor, said the pResident was at an undisclosed location, later revealed to be an Air Force base in Nebraska, and was conducting a National Security Council meeting by phone. Vice President Dick Cheney and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice were in the underground bunker at the White House. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was at the Pentagon.

Seven hours and thirty-three minutes later - 4:36 p.m.: The president left Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska aboard Air Force One to return to Washington D.C.

Nine hours and thirty-one minutes later - 6:34 p.m.: Air Force One landed at Andrews AFB. On his way back to the White House, his Marine One helicopter flew over the Pentagon to give him a first-hand look at the damage.

Nine hours and fifty-one minutes later - 6:54 p.m.: Bush arrived back at the White House aboard Marine One and was scheduled to address the nation at 8:30 p.m.

Eleven hours and twenty-seven minutes later - 8:30 p.m.: Bush finally addressed the nation, saying, "Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil" and asked for prayers for the families and friends of Tuesday's victims. "These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve," he said. The pResident said the U.S. government would make no distinction between the terrorists who committed the acts and those who harbor them.

Excerpted from 911Timeline.net (all emphases mine)

Two years, five months, and twenty-six days later - March 9, 2004 -

The White House said on Tuesday it was possible U.S. President George W. Bush could be questioned longer than an hour he agreed to by a commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, an apparent concession that came after criticism from Democrat John Kerry. (Reuters)

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Sniper Muhammad sentenced to death

My liberal, progressive, namby-pamby, whatever side is having a hard time with this.

I don't believe we, as individuals or a society, have a right to take another human life.

And yet - my family lives within a stone's-throw of Seven Corners, where one of the shootings took place. It was several hours before I could confirm the victim was not one of my loved ones.

I was terrified, my family was terrorized, and John Allen Mohammad was a true terrorist. If anyone deserves capital punishment, Mohammad does.

I've gotta think long and hard about this one.
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From Field & Stream

Drilling the Wild
A voracious energy policy afflicts our public lands.

Rod and gun in hand, and backing the Second Amendment right to own firearms, President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney have won the hearts of America’s sportsmen. Yet the two men have failed to protect outdoor sports on the nation’s public lands. With deep ties to the oil and gas industry, Bush and Cheney have unleashed a national energy plan that has begun to destroy hunting and fishing on millions of federal acres throughout the West, setting back effective wildlife management for decades to come. (more)

Drip, drip, drip.

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From the folks who brought us the $640 toilet seats

Well, here's some reassuring news....

Pentagon to oversee U.S. spending in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- After a power struggle with the U.S. State Department, the Pentagon has won control over most of an $18.4 billion aid package for Iraq, and rebuilding delayed for a month will start this week, U.S. officials in Baghdad said Sunday.

Much of the enormous aid package -- funded by U.S. taxpayers -- will go toward 2,300 construction projects over the next four years. Of these, the State Department will oversee as little as 10 percent. But $4 billion of the aid package has been set aside, and spending authority for those funds is still in discussion.

Congress approved the aid in November, but the bickering delayed contracts expected to be approved Feb. 2. The State Department had pushed for control because it will become the top U.S. agency here after Iraqis are handed sovereignty June 30.

Starting this week, about $5 billion worth of contracts are to be awarded to 17 companies for projects in seven various sectors, said Steven Susens, a spokesman for the Program Management Office, which is overseeing the funds for the Pentagon-run U.S.-led coalition authority.

My gut feeling is that Iraq will erupt into civil war, sooner rather than later, and those $435 hammers and $640 toilet seats will probably end up in the hands of looters.

Our tax dollars at work, folks.

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March roars in like a lion

A few days late, but true to the old saw - March has roared in like a lion here in central North Carolina.

After several balmy, beautiful 70-80 degree days, a cold front blasted us last evening with cold, biting 60 mph winds and gusts of rain.

Those 60 mph wind gusts did a number on my mother's house, ripping off about 1/3 of the shingles.

The shingles were about due to be replaced anyway, but it's still an unexpected expense and hassle.

Why not call the homeowners insurance company? Because they're running a scam just as insidious as health insurance companies.

In the last several years, we've experienced a couple of tropical storms and a really devastating ice storm. Predictably, homeowner claims skyrocketed as trees crashed through roofs and electricity was off for days (weeks, in some cases).

People who had faithfully paid premiums for many years discovered that upon filing ONE claim, their premiums were raised drastically or policies cancelled altogether.

And North Carolina is hardly the only state being scammed. From Screwed By Insurance.Com -

At the end of 2000, there were two severe 'ice storms' to hit the state of Arkansas. Each time we filed claims because we were covered by Allstate. Our claims were honored and we were relieved of the burden of restoring our home and food losses for each event. The total amounted to $4652.00. This year, our garage door did not go all the way up when we were backing out to leave. The damages covered after the deductible was paid cost Allstate $97.08. As a result of this history of claims filed, Allstate will not renew our policy. Of course, after reading so many of the "SCREWED" stories, it is easy to see that this is a common practice which will probably never change unless some legislative remedy is achieved. We must all do what we can to hold the industry accountable to it's poor practice of penalizing policy holders for filing claims.

From Florida -

Well, Happy Thanksgiving to me. After having been a customer of State Farm Insurance for 20 years - homeowners, auto, rental - I get a letter from them stating they're not renewing my homeowners when it expires due to claims activity. This, according to them, does not include "acts of God". Of course, this is occurring just months after I had an "Act of God" damage my home. And, since I live in Florida, I carry homeowners with additional hurricane and flood insurance, as well as a personal liability rider ... just to be safe. Before I filed this claim, I specifically asked if it would be held against me or cause me to lose my coverage. They said absolutely not! A couple of weeks ago some "re-adjuster" called and wanted to check up on the adjuster that had come out and inspected the damage and handled my claim. He said they performed random reviews of the properties their adjusters worked and he asked me a ton of questions about the adjuster that handled my claim. I told him she was wonderful; that I really appreciated how nice and helpful she was, etc. Then I get this letter. What a bunch of thieving crooks! I can only wonder if they're doing this because they're only here to collect premiums and no actually pay claims...or maybe it's because, I've now had my auto insurance with them so long, in January I'll be in the "no cancel" status. Maybe they just don't want to carry anyone they can't cancel...

Besides paying a few claims here and there, paying their executives outrageous salaries, and sinking our premiums in risky investments - what do these companies do with our money?

Oh, yeah - they make contributions to political campaigns.

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Bush/Cheney04 - We're Cheap and Quick!

Taking it's cue from corporations looking for "quick and cheap" overseas labor, I suppose it's no big surprise to hear the firefighters in the Bush/Cheney04 "9/11" ad were not firefighters at all, but actors.

Another less-publicized aspect of the ad flap: the use of paid actors—including two playing firefighters with fire hats and uniforms in what looks like a fire station.

After all, American jobs are being shipped overseas at a record pace by corporations that pretend to be American while avoiding U.S. labor standards, avoid paying U.S. taxes, and cheered on by politicians who pretend to represent U.S. citizens

"There's many reasons not to use real firemen," retorted one Bush media adviser. "Mainly, its cheaper and quicker."

This Bush media advisor has a good point. After all, real firefighters are busy doing real things, like fighting fires, rescuing people from dangerous situations, and training to get better at it.

Which is becoming increasingly difficult, given the Bush administration's plan to slash hundreds of millions in funds from the First Responder and Assistance to Firefighters Grant programs.

However, I suppose we should cut them some slack on this one. Apparently, the search for firefighters willing to participate in a Bush/Cheney04 ad wouldn't be quick, and even that $100-plus million war chest didn't hold enough to persuade a real one.

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Florida early birds

Anyone down there in Florida willing to take a morning off work?

Kerry events -

Monday, March 8

Hollywood, Florida - 8:00am.
John Kerry will host a Town Hall Meeting with South Florida Democrats at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Center at 2400 Charleston Street at 8:00am.

West Palm Beach, Florida - 11:00am.
John Kerry will host a Rally with Palm Beach Democrats at the WPB Public Library on 100 Clematis Street. Join us at 11:00am.

Tampa, Florida - Doors open at 5:30 pm.
John Kerry will host a Rally with Tampa Democrats at Centro Ybor's Open Air Market Plaza on 8th Avenue between 16th and 17th Streets inTampa, FL.


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The great question of our time

201K asks -

"What, exactly, did George Bush do on 9/11 that was so great?

What did he do--before, during, or after--that was so great?

Seriously--what?

Any clues?

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Kicking a guy when he's down

And it couldn't happen to a better guy.

The Attorney General lies in ICU, presumably under the influence of some of the most powerful painkillers known to man. I can sympathize with him on that score, and I'm having a high old time imagining him screaming "Gimme more DRUGS!". Been there, done that.

But it's hard to work up much sympathy for an Attorney General who "raised more than $100,000 last year in order to pay a fine and legal costs for violating campaign finance laws, according to Federal Election Commission records".

The Spirit of America PAC in 1999 and 2000 earned $165,000 from renting its mailing list to outside groups and transferred $112,000 of that money to the Ashcroft 2000 campaign committee. Election laws, the FEC ruled, permitted the Ashcroft PAC to donate only $5,000 for the primary and $5,000 for the general election to his Senate campaign committee, which it already had done.

During the two-year FEC inquiry, Ashcroft committee lawyers described the then-senator as owner of the PAC mailing list, which would have exempted the fund transfers from any limitations. However, the FEC last year rejected that assertion because Ashcroft did not disclose his ownership or the rental income in his 1998 and 1999 Senate financial disclosures. He has also not listed the mailing list as an asset in his required filings as attorney general.

Ashcroft, who lost his reelection campaign before being tapped by President Bush as attorney general, has avoided any direct involvement with his fundraising committees' legal problems, even though he was the founder and major figure in both of them. To make their case, committee lawyers instead used documents he signed, including one that they said established his ownership of the mailing list, but the attorney general was never interviewed during the FEC inquiry.

That same PAC raised $36, 893 during 2003 - most of that from the mailing list rental.

After receiving no response to a January 15, 2004 letter, the National Voting Rights Institute, which filed the original FEC complaint against Ashcroft, and four other non-profit groups have requested that the Department of Justice's inspector general appoint a special counsel to look into the matter.

They have yet to receive a response.

(source - Washington Post, March 7, 2004)



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One wonders what they're thinking

Imagine yourself as an Indian or Mexican worker, proud of your new job at a call center, manning a customer help line -

Hundreds of thousands of phone calls each month from struggling New Yorkers who have questions about their food stamp benefits are being routed to call centers in India and Mexico, Newsday has learned.

In a taxpayer-funded twist on the issue of outsourcing U.S. jobs, the state uses J.P. Morgan Electronic Financial Services for the food stamp program and the bank in turn has relied on a call-center company with facilities outside the United States to handle queries. The foreign- based help desks answer questions from New York and more than 30 other states.

I am truly very happy these workers have a better job and can go about building a better life.

In the meantime, I hope J.P. Morgan Electronic Financial Services is putting a nice, fat portion of their profit back into the United States economy.

Curiosity regarding this fine corporate citizen brought me to The Cheating Culture -

While not nearly as embroiled in the Enron scandal as Merrill Lynch, J.P. Morgan Chase has been feeling the wrath of betrayed investors and an angry public. The company recently paid out $135 million in fines to the SEC, though no guilt was conceded, in relation to the agency's allegation that J.P. Morgan aided Enron executives in perpetrating massive fraud.

Latest Scandal: J.P. Morgan Chase, one of the largest banks in the world, loaned money to Enron and helped disguise the money as profits from operating activities. Additionally, it recommended to banks to loan money to Enron, which resulted in a repayment of outstanding loans by J.P. Morgan

I'm not sure I count that as contributing to the U.S. economy.

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Ashcroft still in hospital, awaiting test results

I am hoping the results will indicate "life-threatening pregnancy".

I'd give a full year off my lifespan for that one.
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(from Bag News, via The Agonist)
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Challenge of the week

Lines you would rather not hear from your neighbour

One of my favorites -

"Welcome back. We checked your house a couple of times and answered some of your e-mails for you." (Sherman Brooker, Halifax)

All are hilarious! (from the Globe and Mail)

This week's challenge -

This week's challenge: A variation on an old favourite. Suggest uncharacteristic utterances of famous people, living or dead. E.g. Jean Chrétien: "Of course I'll take the rap for Gagliano." Samuel Beckett: "Let's head down to Vegas and party through the weekend!" Thanks to John O'Byrne for the idea and examples.

Entries to: The Globe Challenge, Editorial Department, The Globe and Mail, 444 Front St. W., Toronto, Ont., M5V 2S9; 416-585-5085 by fax; challenge@globeandmail.ca by e-mail. Please include name and address. Deadline: noon (Toronto time) March 16. Prize: The Canadian Oxford Paperback Thesaurus.

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Missed another anniversary

While I lost a day out of my life messing with two cranky computers, Big Things were happening in the War on Terra.

I missed the Nine Hundred Day Anniversary of "Wanted - Dead or Alive", and many thanks to Voice of a Veteran for reminding me.

Who can ever forget those immortal words, spoken by the Gunslinger- in-Chief in remarks at the Pentagon on 9/17/2001?

"I want justice," Bush said. "And there's an old poster out West, I recall, that says, 'Wanted: Dead or Alive.'"

Not only did I miss the anniversary, but I missed the Official Celebration - High-tech snooping for bin Laden.

It's believed that the constant surveillance of the border region and the "squeeze play" by U.S. and Pakistani forces surrounding the mountainous frontier will present the best chance ever to net the world's most-wanted terrorist.

Which brings me to another idea - let's make September 17th "Dead or Alive Day"; the day when, in 2001, we should have put every asset, every effort into catching bin Laden but instead diverted needed resources to a snipe hunt in Iraq.

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Tightwads unite

While I respect those who give up something for the Lenten season, it's not part of my particular set of spiritual beliefs.

Instead, I'm pondering giving up something for Kerry, and using the money saved to send to his campaign.

I've just given $25 to the Kerry campaign. It's not much, but hopefully there will be more $25 or $25+ donations in the months to come.

Especially since there are so many little things I could give up....like the Fritos or Cheetos or Doritos I munch on while I'm at the computer. Or the gasoline I waste going to the local convenience store up the block.

I'm doing it through NTodd's "Kerry Core" link. Send Kerry some badly needed ammunition, and at the same time thank NTodd for all the good work he does at Dohiyi Mir.

I challenge every member, contributor and friend of the Liberal Coalition of bloggers to do the same or better!

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World starting back up

My on-line world, anyway. Computer problems solved - actually, it was TWO computers. I had to reformat my hard drive, and do some deep-digging and fiddling with my daughter's computer's registry. Yuck.

And now that I'm back, my mind spins with all the bloggable stories. Where to begin?

Florida kids get Bush-whacked

Let's start with some more Bush smoke-and-mirrors; this time, Brother Jeb.

Is your state embarrassed by a mile-long waiting list of low-income sick kids, waiting to get into the children's health insurance program? Quick - cover most of the kids on the current list, and then eliminate the waiting list altogether!

So here's the good news: The Legislature is expected to approve a measure that would end up providing coverage to about 90,000 of the 100,000 or so youngsters on the waiting list at the end of January.

The rest of the news is not good. Republican leaders in the Florida House and Senate have crafted the new legislation in ways that will radically limit future access to KidCare and prevent the press and the public from getting information about the number of kids who are frozen out.

Wasn't that easy? If Brother George could figure out a way to eliminate unemployment benefits - voila' ! No more embarrassing unemployment figures!

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Doctors vs. patients

In Texas, physicians are fighting back. Overburdened by grossly inflated malpractice premiums and leery of lawsuits, they can now check out their potential patients before deciding to honor their Hippocratic Oath, a part of which inconveniently says "I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm."

For months, an obscure Texas company run by doctors has been operating a Web site, DoctorsKnow Us.com, that compiles and posts the names of plaintiffs, their lawyers and expert witnesses in malpractice lawsuits in Texas and beyond, regardless of the merit of the claim.

The problem here is that "regardless of the merit of the claim" business.

The sponsors draw no distinctions among cases in what they say is the first effort to use public sources to compile a list of litigants in "predatory lawsuits" that are causing a medical crisis. One couple was put on the list after winning $40.9 million over a botched operation by a drug-dependent surgeon.

(emphasis mine)

Doctors DO screw up; it's inevitable. But if they do it intentionally or negligently - drug-dependence being a fine example - they should pay and pay handsomely.

But neither should good physicians be burdened by high malpractice premiums; certainly not to the extent that they refuse to take on litigious patients.

Single-payer insurance would solve the problem to a large extent. With the patient already covered for any lifetime medical care, wouldn't that take those malpractice premiums down a notch or three?

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Respect Ashcroft's medical privacy!

While we're talking about the Hippocratic Oath, let's look at this section -

I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.

A quick look at the headlines told me all I need or want to know about Ashcroft's gallstones and pancreas. Though I disagree with probably every word he's ever uttered, I wish him a speedy recovery and a speedy exit from the office.

And while he's lying in intensive care, presumably tied down by I.V. lines and such, this might be a good time to remind him of those words from the Hippocratic Oath.

He didn't have to take that oath, but the words speak to all.

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World ending

Sort of, almost. I've got nasty computer problems, and will be back as soon as I fix what's ailing it or reformat the hard drive.

Hold a good thought for me, please......
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Setting the nation's priorities

9/11 Panel Rejects White House Limits on Interviews

The independent commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks is refusing to accept strict conditions from the White House for interviews with President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney and is renewing its request that Mr. Bush's national security adviser testify in public, commission members said Tuesday.

The panel members, interviewed after a private meeting on Tuesday, said the commission had decided for now to reject a White House request that the interview with Mr. Bush be limited to one hour and that the questioners be only the panel's chairman and vice chairman.

It's incomprehensible to me that our wartime president can't spend more than one hour discussing the "war" over which he's presiding.

Bush hits road for campaign fund raising

In six days away from the White House, President Bush is the star attraction at five events aimed at pulling in cash to help get him re-elected and put other Republicans in office as well.

Indeed.

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A new toy (for me, anyway)

I now have the Firefox browser, thanks to the link & tip from P.Z. Myers at Pharyngula.

WOW....faster, smarter, and even this blog looks less crappy. Firefox is old news to some, I'm sure, but if you haven't tried it, I heartily recommend it.
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"Honorable" vs. Honorable

Haven't heard much on the George Does National Guard Duty issue lately; I hope it's not dead. If character will be an issue in the presidential race, it's as good an indicator as any.

Bush's defenders say "he was honorably discharged - end of story".

As if.

There's "honorable" discharges and there's honorable discharges.

My father received an honorable discharge, as most vets do. Some coast by, some serve with distinction - all are entitled to the honorable discharge.

As far as I know, the "worst" thing my Dad ever did during service was stripping some metal off a downed Japanese Zero in New Guinea and making a rather cool watch band.

Then there's the "honorable" discharge.

Like John Allen Mohammed, the D.C. sniper -

In his 17-year military career, he was formally disciplined twice while serving with the Louisiana National Guard's 769th Engineer Battalion.

In the more serious of the two summary courts-martial, Muhammad was convicted in April 1983 of violating the Louisiana Code of Military Justice for striking a noncommissioned officer in the head while on duty in August 1982. He was fined $100 and sentenced to seven days confinement, although the confinement was suspended.

In an August 1982 summary court-martial, he pleaded guilty to willfully disobeying a lawful order of a noncommissioned officer by failing to appear on time for post police duty. He was fined $100 and demoted from the rank of sergeant to specialist 4.

Yet, according to an anonymous senior defense official, he received an honorable discharge in 1994.

(emphasis mine, and thanks to Bryan for the link)

Or consider this honorably discharged specimen -

There's a murderer sitting on Georgia's death row who in a rather eloquent way demonstrates that George Bush is a liar, not that the matter is much in dispute.

This prisoner was, prior to his incarceration, an officer in the Army Reserve. Jail didn't deter his military career. While killing time awaiting execution, he was promoted from lieutenant to captain. He got credit for his Reserve service, and he received an honorable discharge. All while sitting in a cell.

(snip)

Guard and Reserve records are notoriously sloppy. If a killer can get credit for Reserve service while in jail, a privileged and insouciant playboy can certainly be a no-show at drills and still collect pay. (That would, of course, put Bush among one of the Republicans' favorite hate targets, welfare cheats, who suck up tax dollars based on fraudulent claims.)

There you go. With characters like these floating around, I don't think we'll hear too much about Bush's "honorable" service.

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Statistics, Facts, Props, and The Big Dog

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, with the sun shining brightly and temperatures forecast to rise to 70 degrees.

Our 18-inch snowfall has turned to lots of mud, and my Chihuahua herd can once again charge outside to bark insanely at every little thing and leave their poop outside instead of on their papers.

Taking full advantage of the sunshine and balmy temperatures - I sit in front of the computer and cruise around all my favorite blogs and websites. I'll take that walk later.

In the "Why Didn't I Think Of This?" category (via Pandagon) -

NationMaster.Com

The idea for NationMaster arose as I was surfing around the CIA World Factbook. It's a great read but I felt the individual figures (like number of TV's, or kilometres of coastline) didn't mean much on their own. They'd be more illuminating if they were placed alongside other countries and shown relative to population.

So I decided to put together a website that allowed users to generate graphs based on numerical data extracted from the Factbook. The next (rather obvious) realisation was that there's no reason I couldn't take in data from other sources. Why shouldn't the net have a central location that allows you to compare countries on any statistic you like?

What a great idea! Would you like to know where the United States stands in relation to other countries on crime, taxes, mortality, or a host of other issues? It's just a few clicks away at NationMaster. I'll put a link in the sidebar soon.

Congratulations to John Kerry, who apparently wrapped up the Democratic presidential nomination yesterday with impressive wins in 8 states, a win in Georgia, and 2nd in Vermont.

So without further ado, enjoy the UK Guardian's profile of the next President of the United States Iron John Kerry.

True to his word, ThatColoredFella begins his series on "accurate, fact-based research on wide ranging subjects dealing with the gay lifestyles". Here's the first installment, 'Gay Marriage Debate: Truth & Lies Vol 1'

In the "How to Drive Wingnuts Crazy" category, the Houston Chronicle gives us Bill Clinton could be just the ticket for Kerry

The Big Dog is too young, too politically savvy, and too daggone good to be left on the sidelines forever. Sure, he's done some stupid things....but I for one would love to see him set loose on the international scene, repairing our fractured relations with the rest of the world.

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Preserving the sanctity of marriage

The effort to ban gay marriage has stalled in Georgia, and it's not yet known when or if it will be revived.

Maybe it has something to do with this -

...at least one prominent state senator who supported the anti-gay amendment has been accused in court of an affair.

Sen. Joey Brush, R-Martinez, is alleged to have had extramarital affairs during the last decade with two women -- one of whom, under oath in a 1997 Columbia County divorce case, identified Brush as a sexual partner.

"That had nothing to do with the vote yesterday," he said. "The vote yesterday was about same-sex marriages. That's all it was about, and that's what the people of my district want to do, vote on it."

Asked if he'd find it hypocritical to legislate morality if he didn't abide by his own wedding vows, Brush -- the Senate Education Committee chairman -- retorted, "Well, I find you pretty hypocritical." He then trotted away.

While he didn't care to discuss his own marital issues, Brush was outspoken before Monday's vote in his support for the amendment.

"Our society is slipping on a downward slope of morality," he wrote Feb. 10 to a constituent in Grovetown. "Some would say that because traditionally marriages are failing at a greater rate that the concept is not worth saving. I believe the obvious effect of those failures on our children only makes it more obvious that traditional marriage is more important for our children. ... "

Both of Brush's alleged affairs were with married mothers.

He also voted Monday against two amendments that would have added a ban on adultery to the resolution. Those amendments failed by one vote.

(snip)

Brush, who represents suburban Augusta, moved out of the family home just after his 2002 election to a fourth term, and now is legally separated from his wife of 26 years. They have four children together.

According to two sources close to Brush, who spoke to Creative Loafing on condition of anonymity, the senator has had affairs dating back to at least 1997, but has consistently denied the allegations.

In an April 23, 1998, Columbia County hearing over the divorce of another couple, the wife in that case took the stand to answer claims of infidelity brought by her then-husband.

Attorney Douglas J. Flanagan asked the mother of two: "Who else have you had sexual relations with in the last three years, besides your husband and [a second man]?"

Answer: "You want names?"

"Yes, ma'am," Flanagan said.

She balked at the question before the judge advised her that she had to answer.

"My question was, in the last three years, how many other people, other than [a second man] and your husband have you had sexual relations with?" Flanagan asked.

Answer: "Five or six."

Question: "Could you give me the names of the five or six individuals you've had sexual relations with in the last three years?"

Answer: "Joey Brush."

A source close to Brush confirmed that the "Joey Brush" described in that trial was the state senator. Sen. Joey Brush is the only person with that name listed in Georgia phone records accessed through the Internet.

A second woman contacted Brush's wife last year and allegedly confessed to an affair. When contacted by CL, the Appling woman and mother of three at first denied she had an affair with the senator. Asked how she would answer the question of whether she had had an affair with Brush if she were on the stand, the woman declined to answer. "Well, I'm not on the stand," she said, and hung up.

In a separate tape recording, a woman who appeared to have the same voice described details of the alleged affair.

CL has chosen not to publish the names of the women with whom Brush is alleged to have had relationships or of Brush's wife, because they aren't public servants who have held themselves out as defenders of the institution of marriage.

Brush joins a long list of politicians -- including former Georgia Attorney General Mike Bowers, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr -- who publicly preached about sexual morality until they faced marriage issues of their own.

(from Creative Loafing)

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Will Cheney be replaced on the ballot?

Tom Burka has your answer here.
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Enjoy your dinner blogging



EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- Fear of mad cow disease hasn't kept customers from eating the deep-fried cow brain sandwiches at the Hilltop Inn in Evansville, Ind. The delicacy is traced back to a time when southern Indiana newcomers from Germany and Holland wasted little. Some families have their own recipes passed down over the generations. (01/13/04 AP photo)

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Senate Narrowly Passes Assault Weapons Ban

In a rare victory for gun control advocates, the Senate on Tuesday voted 52-47 to extend the 1994 ban on the sale of assault weapons, which had been set to expire in September.

Moments later the Senate, by a similar 53-46 vote, backed closing the so-called "gun show loophole," requiring people who buy firearms to undergo the same criminal background checks at gun shows as they would have to at a licensed gun store.

Good.

Look - I won't have a gun in my house. I wish they'd all magically disappear from the face of the earth.

But that's not going to happen, and there is a legitimate place for weapons with those who truly need protection, responsible sportsmen, and collectors.

There's also a legitimate place for assault weapons - in law enforcement and the military.

It's a world gone made when Mad Dog Bubba Joe can beat his wife, go on a drunk, then stagger down the street to purchase an assault weapon.

Besides, which is more scary - requiring a license for a weapon, or giving licenses for same-sex marriages?

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Ashoura

On Sunday, Feb. 29th, Riverbend gave us some interesting history regarding Ashoura, a time when Muslims commemorate a tragic time in their history. She adds -

Ashoura, or the tenth day of Muharam, is in a couple of days and everyone is really worried about what might happen on this day.

She had good reason to worry - Deadly attacks rock Baghdad, Karbala - More than 140 people killed, officials say

That may be "140 and climbing", as the carnage and destruction is cleared away.

So much for the "everything's coming up roses" meme. I hope she, her family and loved ones are safe. Let her know she is in your thoughts and prayers.

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Happy "Read Across America Day"

and

Happy Seussentennial!

Started in 1998 as a way to get kids excited about reading, NEA's Read Across America has become the nation's largest reading event. The year-round program culminates each year on or near Dr. Seuss's birthday (March 2).

Let's all hope the "terrorists" are winning this one.

Update - a tip of the hat to Steve Bates, The Yellow Doggerel Democrat for this tribute:

I celebrate good Dr. Seuss!
Who'd speak against him? what's the ueuss?
So anyone who's sage and wise 'll
Sing the praise of old Ted Geisel!

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Just call me an eggplant


DAN RATHER: Very well. The next question is to you, Senator Kerry. It's about a woman's right to vote. Do you believe women should be able to be voters?

SEN. KERRY: It's about rights, Dan, not terminology. I believe women should have the right to cast a ballot in the Presidential election just like a man can. I believe they should be able to choose their preferred candidate, and have that selection counted toward the determination of who wins the election. But if you're asking me if we should call them voters, well, on that point I have to disagree. It's about rights, not terminology.

DAN RATHER: Senator Edwards?

SEN. EDWARDS: I believe I'm in full agreement with Senator Kerry on this one, but let me just add that I think it's a state issue. If a state wants to call its women who cast ballots "voters," then that's great; if they want to call them "eggplant," that's fine too.

For your belly-laugh of the day, click on over to A Democratic Debate Parody

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Fifty-cent psychiatry triumphs again



You are Schroeder!


Which Peanuts Character are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

I'm quite sure there's some crabby, bossy Lucy and probably some "what the hell?" Pigpen mixed in. But maybe that's just one of my neuroses talking.

(Thanks to NTodd (aka Charlie Brown) for the link)
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Who's doin' the hoo-doo this time?

I used to tell my child "Don't exaggerate or lie if you want people to believe you".

My dear, elderly mother tends to exaggerate or make up ailments when she wants more attention. As I keep telling her - how will I know when something is really wrong?

So - what do we make of this....

Bush Administration Denies Forcing Aristide's Retreat

.....in light of these?

Exclusive breaking news: President Aristide says 'I was kidnapped', 'Tell the world it is a coup'.

Aristide's Lawyer Claims He Has Word President Was Forcefully Removed; Lawyers Account Differs From Administration's Story

Aristide Tells U.S. Contacts He Was Abducted

Aristide Flees After a Shove From the U.S.

U.S. denies Aristide kidnapped; Activist attributes claim to former president

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We're all in this together

The last time I checked, women outnumbered men on the planet. That puts me in a majority. I certainly have no complaints there, given women's higher life expectancy.

But the governing body of my state and my country is composed mainly of men - which makes me a minority.

I never fuss about that too much, even though I think more women in the House, Senate, White House and judicial branch would be A Good Thing. With our tendency to live longer and follow directions, it might lead to more balanced government policy.

But then someone makes the smart-alecky suggestion that I run for office, which is something I wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole....right back into the majority I go.

I'll stick to being a conscientious voter. Sure enough, that puts me back into the minority again.

And now, the Pew Internet and American Life Project has released it's study of American blogging habits.

somewhere between 2 percent and 7 percent of adult Internet users in the United States actually keep their own blogs.

Of those, only about 10 percent update them daily, the majority doing so only once a week or less often.

Since I have a blog, and update probably far more than I should....you guessed it; I'm a minority again.

But, hold!

Among other findings: 21 percent of Internet users have posted photos on Web sites, and 20 percent say they have allowed others to download video or music files from their computers. Seven percent have webcams that let others see live pictures of them over the Net.

As a blogger that has only posted a few actual photos, never made video or music available for download (I'll have to check into that one) - back I go into the majority.

A webcam? Maybe I should take a poll on that one. Anyone interesting in watching the dust collect around my house, let me know. I wouldn't even charge much for it.

If you want to get nit-picky, everybody is part of a minority group in some form or another. Conversely, everyone is also part of a majority.

Which is a very long-winded way of saying before any rights are abridged, denied, diminished, or otherwise tinkered-with - perhaps the "majority" should consider in what positive ways it might affect them.

One of my favorite old sayings is "a rising tide lifts all boats". Extending rights to minorities is very much the same thing - everyone tends to benefit.

""All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated. God employs several translators; some pieces are translated by age, some by sickness, some by war, some by justice; but God’s hand is in every translation, and his hand shall bind up all our scattered leaves again for that library where every book shall lie open to one another. As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness....No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

(John Donne (1572-1631), from Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions, Meditation XVII.)

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It's all about sex

The fine folks at Concerned Women for America have given me the quote for the day:

“Concerned Women for America is grateful to President Bush for speaking out in favor of the integrity of marriage. But we regret that we cannot support the defective remedy he has chosen.”

Well, damn all, as some of us say when our jaws drop.

Michael Schwartz, vice president for government relations for CWA made the announcement, which maybe should be another concern for CWA - why do they have a man as their veep for government relations?

However, we assume he shares their womanly concerns, as he continues -

“But if that amendment authorizes state legislatures to confer the entire legal substance of marriage (without the name of marriage) upon persons who are not married, then it takes away with one hand what it gives with the other.”

Shorter version - if an unmarried couple gets all the legal goodies, it's not fair.

Well - of course not. The people who get all those legal goodies should be in a legally authorized, licensed, committed relationship.

Somehow, I doubt all the legal goodies - like health care insurance, Social Security survivor benefits, etc. - are the root of CWA's problem with same-sex marriages.

Senator Rick Santorum warns -

""[T]he consequence is very clear. Marriage loses its significance. People will stop getting married. Homosexuals will not get married; heterosexuals will stop getting married. And that to me is the real threat to the American family and to the culture generally."

Actually, health care insurance strikes me as a pretty good reason to get married, and a rather powerful incentive to stay together.

In fact, using the Santorum Marriage Theory, I suppose we could say universal health insurance is a bigger threat to marriage than same-sex marriages.

As long as human beings long for companionship, love, intimacy, and sharing their lives with another, there will be a longing for the commitment of marriage. I think we can dump Santorum's Marriage Theory into the trash bin, along with some of his other looney ideas.

Jan LaRue, the lady whose view of San Francisco was ruined when she envisioned it as “Baghdad by the Bay”, continues -

"What makes anybody think that activist courts or renegade mayors will respect a state's choice to not provide marriage benefits to civil unions?” said Jan LaRue, CWA's chief counsel. “Any state law, including a state constitutional amendment, can be trumped by a federal equal protection ruling by an activist judge.”

If Jan ever visited the real Baghdad, she might find out pretty quickly what it's like to be denied equal rights because of her sex.

And if she traveled around Iraq, she'd find that her rights in one place might be far different from her rights in another. She might just find herself longing for an activist federal judge to lay down the law to the state judges.

So let's cut to the chase. Those who howl the loudest about same-sex marriages are generally those who claim to "hate the sin, but love the sinner".

It's about sex.

Would same-sex marriages be okay if the couples swore off any sexual intimacy?

If a man and woman get married, and resolve to have a celibate relationship - are they still married? Are they entitled to the legal goodies?

If a heterosexual couple, after 50+ years of marriage and/or numerous health problems is unable to have sex, are they still married?

Whose business is it, anyway?

Would the anti-gay marriage crowd have us all believe that marriage is a Romper Room full of wild sex and wonderful legal benefits?

Those of us who have been there know better, and welcome those who want to share the good times and bad, the sickness and health, the riches and the poverty, until death do they part.
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Mo comes up for air

I’m certainly glad Maureen Dowd is in one of her sane periods, as evidenced by her column in today’s NY Times.

Point number one – Mo points out that despite all the misleading, misinterpreted, and just plain false intelligence that allowed the Bush administration to get us into the Iraq pickle – not a soul has been fired, held accountable, or otherwise accepted responsibility.

Republicans have grown fond of quoting Harry Truman, but the Bush administration is certainly reluctant to adopt his "The Buck Stops Here" motto.

It is a triumph of chutzpah for Mr. Bush to thwart the investigation into 9/11 at the same time he seeks re-election by promoting his handling of 9/11 and scaring us with the specter of more terrorism. He's even using 9/11 memorials as the backdrop for his convention in New York.

But then she hits on Point Number Two - one of my pet peeves. How do you fight a “War on Terrorism”?

Bob Kerrey, former senator and member of the 9/11 commision says -

"To declare war on terrorism, it seems to me to have the target wrong," he said. "It would be like after the 7th of December, 1941, declaring war on Japanese planes. We declared war on Japan. We didn't declare war on their tactic. . . . Terrorism is a tactic."

A Bush 41 official agreed: "You can't fight terrorism conventionally like a war. Any 16-year-old kid can strap on dynamite and take down any building. It must be fought clandestinely, dealing with the underlying causes and taking security measures in our own country."

So, here we are, in a conventional war against unconventional tactics, using weak intelligence to deal with it , doing virtually nothing to deal with the underlying cause, stone-walling attempts to find out what went wrong, and making half-hearted, half-funded efforts to increase security in our own country.

There’s not a pin’s worth of difference between John Kerry & John Edwards on homeland security – strengthen and fully fund first responders, beef up credible intelligence methods, tighten border security, etc. Common-sense stuff, which should strike anyone in a sincere "War on Terror" as more important than giving tax breaks to the already-wealthy.

If we’re serious about tracking down terrorists on foreign soil, we’ll need a much more sensible foreign policy which gains us the full cooperation of our allies; intelligence sharing and their willingness to arrest and prosecute terrorists.

Any war against a shadowy "tactic" calls for restructuring or re-tooling the military. Tanks, battalions, “Star Wars” weapons, and smart bombs aren’t going to cut it.

Smaller, highly trained forces that can move fast, think on their feet, carry their own supplies, and collect and act on intelligence will be crucial.

After 9/11, someone had the idea of brain-picking Hollywood screenwriters for potential terrorist attack scenarios. It probably wasn’t a bad idea, especially if the Powers That Be are ready to fully fund, train, and deploy an “A-Team”-type force.

Finding out what went so catastrophically wrong pre-9/11 is the first step. For stalling and hem-hawing the 9/11 commission, one of those terrorist teachers needs to take the Bush administration over their knee and give them a few well-placed whacks.

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Golly gee whiz...I NEVER expected this! (/sarcasm)

U.S. oil execs rush to renew ties with Libya

...sources said they expect the Bush administration to lift the ban on energy investments later in 2004, Middle East Newsline reported.

"While the ban on travel by U.S. persons is being lifted today," a U.S. Treasury Department statement said on Thursday, "the prohibitions on transportation-related activities, such as flights to Libya by U.S. air carriers, will remain in place at this time."

The administration has already allowed U.S. oil firms to negotiate lease renewals of holdings in Libya, many of which were scheduled to expire in 2005. Washington has also granted permission for companies to conduct technical inspections of properties in Libya.

I just knew you'd be as surprised as I was.
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Bush Ejects Two From Bioethics Council

The George Bush system of selective ethics, hard at work again.

Yer Out -

Elizabeth Blackburn, a renowned biologist at the University of California at San Francisco. Blackburn said she believed she was let go because her political views do not match those of the president and of Leon Kass, the council's director, with whom she has often been at odds at council meetings.

William May, an emeritus professor of ethics at Southern Methodist University, is a highly respected scholar whose views on embryo research and other topics had also run counter to those of conservative council members.

Yer IN

Benjamin Carson, the high-profile director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University. Carson is also a motivational speaker who often invokes religion and the Bible and has lamented that "we live in a nation where we can't talk about God in public."

Diana Schaub, chairman of the department of political science at Loyola College in Maryland. In a 2002 public forum discussing the council's cloning report, she talked about research in which embryos are destroyed as "the evil of the willful destruction of innocent human life."

Peter Lawler, a professor of government at Berry College in Georgia. Lawler has written in the conservative Weekly Standard that if the United States does not soon "become clear as a nation that abortion is wrong," then women will eventually be compelled to abort genetically defective babies.

(Update - American Footprint has more)

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If you want my advice Rummy - and of course, you don't...

Hmmmm....

U.S., Pakistani officials deny report of bin Laden capture

The state radio report, quoting an unidentified source, said U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's visit to the region this week was in connection with bin Laden's arrest.

I'm pretty sure he wasn't there to share a plastic-turkey moment with the troops. This report is based on two sources, and one has told the Associated Press they were "misquoted".

The misquoted source is Shamim Shahed -

... identified as editor of the English-language Pakistani newspaper The Nation. (state radio director Asheq Hossein) said Shahed told him Friday night that bin Laden was arrested "a long time ago."

But Shahed, who is The Nation's Peshawar bureau chief and not its editor, denied telling Iranian radio that bin Laden had been captured.

"I never said this," Shahed said in a telephone interview with AP's Islamabad bureau. "But I have for the last year been saying that he is not far away. He is within their (the Americans') reach, and they can declare him arrested any time.

The other source is only identified as "a man with close links to intelligence services and Afghan tribal leaders."

"Developing", I guess. If Osama is apprehended at any time before the election, an "October Surprise" will always be suspected.

To avoid excessive hand-wringing, flying accusations, and any hint of political motives, here's my advice....

If and when Osama is captured, stick him in a spider hole in deepest darkest Afghanistan, under tighter secrecy than Cheney's "undisclosed location". Don't allow the slightest leak.

Announce the capture (or death).....AFTER the election.

(Cross-posted on ETalkingHead)
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Brightening my Saturday

It's generally goes against my grain to quote someone else's post in entirety, but sometimes they're just too good to pass up.

And if you're anything like me, sometimes you're just too impatient to obey the "CLICK HERE to read the whole thing!" instructions.

So, without further ado, from Bad Attitudes, via Melanie -

"Behind Enemy Lines
I spent last night at a fundraiser for a Republican legislator. It was very interesting to hear most of the attendees bitching about Bush. Most of the griping centered around his mishandling of the economy and fiscal matters, with a not-insignificant portion devoted to sniping at the marriage amendment.

But what was really surprising was the table talk at the private dinner after the fundraiser. With two exceptions, everyone at the table declared they would vote for anybody but Bush. One of the exceptions was an absolute die-hard Bush supporter, who declared he would vote for Bush no matter what. The other exception was the legislator, who said he wasn’t sure he could vote for Bush.

Turns out he and many of his fellow Republicans are plenty angry at the president, and deeply troubled at the direction the country is going in.

Although I can’t divulge any of the details about where this took place, I can tell you that all of the politicians and power-brokers involved are in a must-win state for Bush. If the people who should constitute his base are upset enough that they are considering voting against their own man, what does this tell us about Bush’s electoral chances?"

To further plagiarize, and quoting the immortal K.C. and the Sunshine Band - "That's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh, I like it".

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The wonders of Saudi Arabia
A Collective Sigh travel guide

From the UK Guardian comes the exciting news that fascinating, beguiling, exotic Saudi Arabia is Taking Major Steps to join the international tourism industry.

Tourism accounts for about 9% of Saudi Arabia's GDP, but the tourists are mainly Saudis themselves. The plan to market the kingdom to foreigners is intended to create 1.5 million-2.3 million jobs by 2020.

Considering their exploding population, the plethora of pampered princelings, dependence on foreign laborers,and dwindling oil reserves, the Saudis have seen the wisdom of looking beyond liquid gold for their, um, gold

Imagine walking the streets of Riyadh, birthplace of Osama bin Laden, or exploring Jeddah where he received his primary, secondary, and university education! Look for bargains in old bazaars and sparkling new shopping malls. Experience the thrill of an encounter with the morality police, and enjoy stimulating cafe conversation with those who shaped Osama's world views!

They prowl the streets and shopping malls, hunting down women who don't shroud themselves and Muslim men who ignore the call to prayer. Saudi Arabia's pervasive and powerful morality police have been a pillar of the ultra-conservative Kingdom since its foundation.

After a rewarding day of walking in Osama's footsteps, there is still plenty to entice the traveler -

Besides deserts and oases, Saudi Arabia has mountain ranges, several national parks and 2.7 million hectares (6.7 million acres) of forest. The Red Sea coast is one of the best places in the world for scuba diving, and bungee jumping is also said to be popular.

A word of caution, however -

In December, a Briton and an American were arrested after taking diving lessons in the Red Sea, apparently suspected of planning to attack shipping.

Packing tips from the official Saudi tourism website -

Visitors to Saudi Arabia are advised to dress conservatively in public. It is not appropriate to wear short trousers or skirts. Visitors are advised to wear modest clothing that is lightweight and covers the arms and legs.

Women are advised to wear an Abaya (a full-length black outer garment made of soft material that covers the body) when in public areas. It is advisable for female visitors to always have a light scarf with them as there are places where they will be required to cover their head and face.

Dressed appropriately for an exciting day of scuba diving and bungee jumping! Oops - where's that head scarf, missy?

All this, and much, much more!

Alas, not everyone will be eligible to sample the joys of Saudi Arabia and enrich the Saudi economy -

The supreme commission for tourism's website lists those who will not be allowed in: Jews; people with Israeli stamps in their passport; "those who don't abide by the Saudi traditions concerning appearance and behaviour", and "those under the influence of alcohol"

This could be construed to include just about everyone in the world, but nevertheless we applaud Saudi determination to almost/perhaps/halfway take the plunge into the global economy and modern civilization.
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Bush Shifts U.S. Stance On Use of Land Mines




A "smarter" way to kill and maim thousands every year?

President Bush will bar the U.S. military from using certain types of land mines after 2010 but will allow forces to continue to employ more sophisticated mines that the administration argues pose little threat to civilians, officials said yesterday.

The new policy, due to be announced today, represents a departure from the previous U.S. goal of banning all land mines designed to kill troops. That plan, established by President Bill Clinton, set a target of 2006 for giving up antipersonnel mines, depending on the success of Pentagon efforts to develop alternatives.

Bush, however, has decided to impose no limits on the use of "smart" land mines, which have timing devices to automatically defuse the explosives within hours or days, officials said.

His ban will apply only to "dumb" mines -- those without self-destruct features. But it will cover devices not only aimed at people but also meant to destroy vehicles. In that way, Bush's policy will extend to a category of mines not included in Clinton's plan, which was limited to antipersonnel devices.

Bush will also propose a 50 percent jump in spending, up to $70 million in fiscal 2005, for a State Department program that provides mine-removal assistance in more than 40 countries, officials said. The program also funds mine-awareness programs abroad and offers some aid to survivors of mine explosions.

I applaud the last paragraph, but continuing to pollute the earth with even more, albeit "smarter" land mines seems self-defeating.
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Surf's up!


Ride to the wild surf . . . a board rider is towed out to catch the Manly giants

For the record, our predicted 3-6" of snow has turned into white-out conditions with thunder-snow. I just waded out onto the deck with a yardstick - it's semi-sheltered, but still has twelve inches of snow, and is predicted to keep going into the morning. Child's play, to you northern ice-jockeys, but obscene for the Sunny South.

Searching for something a little warmer, we turn to the Sidney Morning Herald -

As coastal beaches were pounded by five-metre waves yesterday, jet skis towed surfers onto waves, Hawaiian-style, at Manly. But about 20 board riders retreated into the harbour to ride waves a fraction of the size at Nielsen Park, Vaucluse - although they were still a solid metre or more, and so strong that they ripped out the shark net.

Five meters, hmmmm - a bit over sixteen feet. Okay, I had to find a metric converter; I'm an American and we real Americans don't do metric.

Considering our wintry weather, the beach sounds good. I'm not so sure about those shark nets, though.

Winter hell update Friday, Feb. 27, 8:53 a.m. - Eighteen inches and still flurrying, with a nice bit of sleet mixed in. Those who didn't immediately drive their vehicles into a ditch abandoned them in the middle of the road. Rumor is that Bible Belt beer and liquor sales reached a record high. Three weeks until spring.

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Quick hits

It's snowing heavily, with about six inches predicted - which of course means the end of the world as we know it here in North Carolina.

I knew it was time for another snow....the crocuses are ready to bloom, and the daffodil foilage is about two inches out of the ground.

I am grateful to be home, snug & warm, as I was able to go to work early and almost finish before the white junk started falling. Now I only have to worry about Mr. Andante, whose work place seldom gives him the opportunity to leave early.

***

I see our not-so-distant neighbor Haiti is about to explode; rebels marching on the capital, Bush warning Haitians refugees to stay away from the United States, terrified foreigners fleeing, and so forth.

Before you get steamed about it, let me assure you we don't get any oil from Haiti, and Haitians are mostly just a bunch of dirt-poor black folks. Move along; nothing to see here.

***

Clear Channel is shocked - SHOCKED to find that Howard Stern runs afoul of the new indecency standards.

Sort of like the NFL was shocked by an MTV-produced Super Bowl show with suggestive dancing and lyrics.

When I heard they'd fired Bubba the Love Sponge, I thought they meant Spongebob Square Pants. So I guess I'm no authority on shock-schlock-crap radio.

Did I hear that Clear Channel is going to require their broadcasters to attend some sort of decency classes? Anybody want to volunteer to teach that one?

***

In response to Bush's endorsement of the anti-gay marriage amendment, Rosie O'Donnell plans to travel to San Francisco to marry her long-time companion, Kelli Carpenter. Good for them. Don't get mad, get married!

When conservative acquaintances express their dislike for Rosie's show (translations: "ewww, she's an evil lesbian"), I always remind them that she bucked the trend with that talk show, vowing to be NICE, rather than going along with the sleaze merchants. And she kept that promise.

***

I see Alan Greenspan is warning that cuts in Social Security and Medicare may be necessary - especially considering George Bush's deficit and tax cuts.

Greenspan knows a lot more about the economy than I - he also has a better retirement plan and health insurance.

Here's my suggestion......let's do something about the Bush deficit and repeal most (if not all) the Bush tax cuts. Then they can tamper with my retirement.

I guess it's a good thing Wal Mart and McDonald's are an integral part of my plan, but the way things are going, you'll need a doctorate to get a job there.

And truth be told, I'd be willing to trade some reasonable adjustments if it meant veterans would get what they've been promised.

***

With the Oscar show soon upon us, I've turned my thoughts to next year's competition. Will "The Passion of the Christ" be nominated? From what I've heard & read, there are some noteworthy aspects of the production. Will it get a "Best Picture" or "Best Director" nomination? It will be interesting to see what will happen, whether it does or doesn't. Talk about your culture war.....


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Meanwhile, back in Afghanistan

Remember Lieutenant-General William Boykin?

Boykin has appeared in uniform in churches around the country over the past two years proclaiming, among other things, that the enemy in the "war on terrorism" is "a guy named Satan" and that the god worshipped by Muslims is "an idol".

While several powerful lawmakers, including leading Republicans, demanded that Boykin immediately step down, or at least be reassigned to a less sensitive post, the Pentagon said only that it would investigate if he violated any laws or regulations, but that no further action was being considered.

Further action considered and taken.

Bring me the head of Osama bin Laden

The war in eastern Afghanistan and the tribal areas in Pakistan is barely on, but the Pentagon's spinning machine is in high gear. Who will prevail: al-Qaeda's number two, Ayman "The Surgeon" al-Zawahiri, or Commando 121?

The Pentagon's creative directors ruled that Commando 121, or Task Force 121, of General William Boykin - a self-described Islamophobe and a known Christian fanatic - was responsible for the capture of Saddam Hussein, when in fact the former dictator was arrested by Kurdish peshmerga (paramilitary) forces acting on a tip by one of his cousins and then sold to the Americans, according to Asia Times Online sources in the Sunni triangle.

This week, without a blip in many a strategic radar screen, Commando 121 transferred from Iraq to Pakistan. On October 25 of last year, Asia Times Online reported that Boykin had been appointed in charge of the hunt for Osama bin Laden.

European intelligence sources tell Asia Times Online to expect the same scenario "Saddam" for the eventuality of the capture of bin Laden and Taliban spiritual leader Mullah Omar. Bin Laden will be "smoked out", probably on a tip by an Afghan tribal leader willing to make a cool US$25 million. And all credit will go to the secretive Commando 121, which is known to comprise navy Seals and commandos from the army's Delta Force.

The cast is assembled, the props are in place, the curtain is ready to go up.

And what if bin Laden decides not to follow the script? According to sources close to the Pakistani newspaper Khabrain, bin Laden has made his seven bodyguards take an oath to kill him in the event that he is in any danger of being arrested. He will try to blow himself up. Western diplomatic sources, on the other hand, prefer to insist that if bin Laden is arrested according to the current Pentagon plan, the whole operation will be kept secret - to be disclosed only a few weeks or days before the American presidential election in November.

If it plays out as "Western diplomatic sources" suggest........how dare - how DARE they so abuse the 3,000 murdered souls of 9/11?
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Bush Science 101



(swiped from Pharyngula)
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Should Broward County (FL) be allowed to issue marriage licenses for gay weddings?

Vote here

(Thanks to Greg for the tip & link)
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Previewed in the imagination

I have a little habit of reading the book before seeing a film adaptation, which works nicely sometimes ("Lord of the Rings"), often scares me from seeing the movie ("The Amityville Horror"), and sometimes infuriates me beyond words.

The worst offense was 1945's "And Then There Were None". What genius came up with the idea of changing the ending of an Agatha Christie mystery? Heresy!

When a story is particularly violent, I tend to avoid the movie altogether. I'm not a fan of slow-mo gore or slasher movies. Just my opinion, but I don't think they're healthy, for any age.

Besides, the pictures in my mind are much more vivid and nightmarish than anything a director can come up with.

Which is the main reason I won't be lining up to see "The Passion of the Christ". I've read the book.

As Alas A Blog reminds all Christians -

"Why is the symbol of Jesus and Christianity so often the cross, a reminder of the bloody and disgusting and less important event, instead of the empty tomb, a reminder of the real reason why Jesus' coming mattered at all?"

I would further suggest that following the teachings of the man, pre-crucifixion, is more important than agonizing over his agonies.

We could all use a little more of that "love thy neighbor as thyself", couldn't we?

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Sullivan, once more, with e-mail

"I organized my life around four institutions: my family, the Presbyterian Church, the Boy Scouts and the Republican Party. They summed up what seemed to me a sensible view of life and the world, embodying loyalty, unconditional love, a quiet, thoughtful exercise of faith, a commitment to ethical behavior, and a limited government that did the things it needed for the public good but otherwise left people alone to be all they could become and savor the victory of having done so.

Then I came out, and one by one those four institutions turned their backs on me.

My parents were embarrassed by me and stopped nearly all communication, though they said they loved me and in some way considered me part of the family.

Then my church got a new minister who had hardly arrived before he started preaching on the marriage issue and rooting out gay staff members. Commissioned a Stephen Minister, I was told I would never be assigned anyone to walk with in their troubles. But of course the church loves me and in some way considers me part of the family still.

Then the Boy Scouts went to court and said that even though I am an Eagle Scout, people like me are not good role models for the program and cannot be leaders. But of course they consider me a Scout still and are happy to ask me for my money.

And now the head of the party I've stuck with through thick and thin for 36 years says the prospect of my being able to marry is so threatening to society they have to ban it in the constitution. But the president says God loves me and I got an email from him today telling me about his campaign kickoff speech. So I guess in their compassionate conservative way the administration still thinks of me as sort of a Republican.

I don't. You can only feel the love of people and institutions who fend you off with a barge pole for so long. Today I changed my registration from Republican to independent."

I hope Republicans realize what they've lost.
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"I guess I was really naive"

Normally I wouldn't link to or even acknowledge the existence of Andrew Sullivan, but he's had a rude awakening today when Fearless Leader opted to back the Federal Marriage Amendment.

"I wonder if the Bush administration even thought about how mean-spirited this was going to appear. And how nakedly political. Some journalists are reporting that White House sources are telling them that they do not expect this to pass but they need to fire up their base. They'd go this far for purely political reasons? I guess I really was naive."

Yes, you were.

He's getting lots of e-mails and posting them.

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Etch this one in stone

We all DO realize Bush is only saying he backs a constitutional ban on gay marriage, don't we?

Like this "greatest hit" from the 2003 State of the Union -

"Tonight I'm proposing $1.2 billion in research funding so that America can lead the world in developing clean, hydrogen-powered automobiles."

And who can ever forget this one -

"And to meet a severe and urgent crisis abroad, tonight I propose the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief -- a work of mercy beyond all current international efforts to help the people of Africa."

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - when Bush says he's "in favor" of something, either nothing at all will come of it, it will be underfunded or unconstitutional, or you'd better watch your wallet.

The Right will bitch, the Left will bitch, and Bush will have persuaded himself he is a "leader with vision".

And while we're all in bitching-mode, he'll sneak in something below the radar.

Nevertheless Pete at A Perfectly Cromulent Blog has the ultimate, last-word, final, nail-in-the-coffin assessment -

"Until my administration captures Osama bin-Laden, gets our military out of Iraq, and creates actual job growth, I'll be forced to freak out our indolent, Cheetoh-scarfing public by tossing around non-threats like 'steroid use in sports' and 'gay marriage.' Y'all have a good night."

And may God bless us, everyone.
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Telling it like it is


(photo shamelessly swiped from Norbizness)

At first I was appalled to hear Secretary of Education Rod Paige had referred to the National Education Association as "terrorists"

But after some reflection and medication, I realized - "Omigod, the man is RIGHT!"

I remember my third grade teacher, Miss Johnson, back in days of yesteryear, who took great delight in paddling students for any and all infractions.

Throw a spitball? Giggling in class? Miss an arithmetic problem? Over her knee you went. She used her hand only, but the woman had the hardest, boniest hands the good Lord ever put on a woman. When applied with force to a scrawny kid's bottom, they could leave welts.

Mrs. Rogers, my fifth grade teacher - psychologists would have a field day examining her. She was a square dance enthusiast, and her idea of physical activity on rainy days when she couldn't set us loose on the playground was square dancing.

Let me remind you that this was fifth grade, typically about eleven years old. First command - "boys, choose your partners". Back in those days, eleven-year-old boys would rather choose a diseased skunk for a partner than a girl.

I always ended up with Stuart, because I was the last partner chosen and Stuey was too shy to choose a partner to begin with. Stuart hadn't learned yet to appreciate the value of hygiene, had a chronic runny nose, and was a good foot shorter than I.

Then there was Coach Williamson - seventh grade biology. To him fell the unpleasant duty of explaining human reproduction to a class of snickering preteens. He didn't appreciate our snickers, nor did he appreciate gum-chewing in class.

He drew a little circle on the blackboard - about my eye level - and made me stand there with my nose stuck in the circle for a full five minutes. This only increased my snickering level, and the whole class merrily joined in. We all ended up in detention.

So, take a good look at Secretary Paige. He's about the same age as Miss Johnson, Mrs. Rogers, and Coach Williamson*. He grew up with them, was educated along with them, he probably administered corporal punishments like them, and he knows whereof he speaks. His expression perfectly demonstrates the frustrations of an educator sucked into the vortex of terrorism.

When the stink arose from the "terrorist" statement, the Bush administration issued the usual disclaimer -

An administration official said the secretary was "clearly joking" but he should not have used the "terrorist" label in taking issue with the NEA - which is not only the largest teachers union but also a major player in Democratic Party politics.

Joking, my butt. He's one of them.

*Names changed to protect the guilty
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Your tax dollars at work

Officials: U.S. still paying millions to group that provided false Iraqi intelligence

The Pentagon has set aside between $3 million and $4 million this year for the Information Collection Program of the Iraqi National Congress, or INC, led by Ahmed Chalabi, said two senior U.S. officials and a U.S. defense official.

That would be Ahmed Chalabi, the same con artist who recently told the London Daily Telegraph -

"We are heroes in error," Chalabi was quoted as saying recently in Baghdad. "As far as we're concerned we've been entirely successful. That tyrant Saddam is gone and the Americans are in Baghdad. What was said before is not important. The Bush administration is looking for a scapegoat. We're ready to fall on our swords if he wants."

That would be the Bush administration, the one that swindled our country into a war of choice.

Never mind what Junior wants. We want.

We want the names of the fools who egged you on for more and more false information and used our tax dollars to pay for crap.

And by the way, we want our money back.

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No...no!! I really don't want to think about this....

British doctors revive maggot treatment

I can hear it now......my conservative acquaintances will be saying - "Socialized medicine is so evil - they use maggots instead of antibiotics".

"People didn't like the thought of creepy-crawlies on their skin," said Tony Fowler, customer services manager at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, Wales.

No shock, Sherlock.

"But now there is a renewed interest because of the problems caused by the over-use of antibiotics, and the NHS has seen the cost-effectiveness of maggots."

Research at the Princess of Wales Hospital confirmed that placing sterile maggots on wounds could make them heal faster than conventional medicine.

The creatures devour dead, infected tissue and kill off bacteria that could block the healing process without damaging surrounding tissue, since they cannot ingest healthy flesh.

Chalk that up as one more reason to keep your flesh healthy.

Previously, patients could obtain sterile maggots only from certain hospitals and research centers.

Now, there's an idea for bringing in more American jobs....maggot farms!

Eeewww....

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Bumper sticker time



MORE
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Toys, dumb blogging and blog-whoring

Now that Haloscan - the fine folks that provide the "comments" capability - has come out with "trackback", it looks like all the smart bloggers are jumping on board.

Me - I'm a dumb blogger. It took me forever just to get "comments" enabled, and I'm still basking in the glow of that accomplishment.

I do have an "aggregator", courtesy of my internet guru Steve Bates, which notifies me when various blogs are updated. I use Bloglines - if I can install it, anyone can.

What I don't have is "Atom"; a syndication or RSS feed that would let others know when I update.

Blogger's "support" article on "Atom" is Greek to me. If someone can explain it in words of two syllables or less...in common, everyday Redneck-ese....let me know.

In the meantime, I've pretty much figured out that "trackback" isn't that different from blog-whoring....and I'm pretty good at that. If you want to leave a comment here, linking back to your own site - feel free.

Here at Collective Sigh, the old-fashioned ways of whoring still work fine. Blog-whoring, that is.

Update -After much sturm und drang, huffing & puffing, and invaluable advice from Steve, I now have the infamous trackback.

Feel free to "ping" me, though I'm still a little leery of that term. It sounds like something that might get me in trouble with John Ashcroft or Jerry Falwell or both.
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Going down with the neo-con ship?

I'm no NAFTA expert, but a quick glance around my part of the country is pretty damning. Factories are closing right and left, thousands are out of work. Businesses that depended on those workers to buy their groceries, clothing, appliances - you name it - are shutting the doors, too.

I do understand a little about "protectionism", as preached by Pat Buchanan, but don't see that as an answer.

There's got to be a fine balance somewhere; a trade policy that protects workers from the greed of corporations, yet encourages fair trading policy with the rest of the world.

I may not agree with Buchanan on much of anything, but I can't argue with this -

Seeing the devastation of NAFTA and its progeny, sensing rising opportunity in the industrial Midwest, Democrats are jumping ship on free trade. Bush, if he does not temper his enthusiasm for these one-sided trade deals, may just go down with it. If he does, one prays he will at least ensure the neoconservatives have first been locked securely in the cargo hold.

And therefore my first and last word on Ralph Nader - his influence on the Democratic race will be negligible; move on, nothing to see here.

But I wish Buchanan would run. I wouldn't vote for him, but a lot of the folks Bush is taking for granted would.

UpdateThe Beast has a great take on He Who Shall Be Ignored.

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Stupid human tricks

Too bad you have to be dead to qualify for a Darwin Award.....this fellow really deserves at least an honorable mention -

New York Driver Nabbed While Watching Porn Movie

ALBANY, N.Y. (Reuters) - Andre Gainey found out the hard way that in the state of New York it's illegal to drive while watching porn.

Police said the 35-year old man from Clifton Park, New York, was watching a adult movie called "Chocolate Foam" on Tuesday night while driving his Mercedes Benz in the town of Schenectady when he was spotted by an officer at a stop light.

Police spokesman Pete Frizoni said detectives pulled Gainey over when they saw the movie playing on screens embedded in the car's headrests. When they confronted him, they saw another screen in the passenger-side visor was facing Gainey, allowing him to watch the movie while driving.

But that wasn't the end of Andre's trouble -

Gainey was charged with a public display of offensive material, driving with a suspended license and driving while watching a television. He compounded his legal woes by giving a false name when he was fingerprinted, prompting police to add a charge of forgery.

.....and I bet he ended that cell phone conversation right before he was pulled over.

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Untouchable campaign issues

The Bush/Cheney campaign has already said they will run on Bush's proposals, not his accomplishments..

RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie reiterated the theme to CNN -

"We're going to run on the president's strong and principled leadership and his positive agenda for a second term."

(Perhaps he's planning to undo the damage of his first term?)

So, check off "running on the record".

Military service? Bush might want to avoid talking about military service, especially if John Kerry is the Dem candidate. I can't see George Bush putting on any more flight suits or bragging about his honorable discharge.

Check off "military service".

Patriotism, the War on Terra? Ongoing investigations into 9/11, the outing of a CIA asset, and the still-missing WMD's...."patriotism" might not be the best path to follow.

Check off "patriotism".

The Moonie Times puts out a tentative feeler for another possibility - Marijuana taints presidential bids.

Both Kerry and Edwards have openly admitted to smoking marijuana in their younger days. Kerry first made the admission in 1990; Edwards during last November's "Rock the Vote" debate. Shame, shame!

But does Bush really want to go there? -

Mr. Bush never has directly answered questions about whether he used marijuana or other drugs.

When asked in August 1999, he replied: "I made some mistakes years ago, but I learned from my mistakes."

Check off "drug use" or anything to do with wild, irresponsible youth.

So, what's left? Gay marriages, some fringe social issues, and an obscenely stuffed treasure chest? The people most concerned with those social issues are starting to wake up and realize that jumping into bed with the Republicans hasn't gotten them anywhere.

Gary Bauer is speaking out -

"I'm not blaming the president, but religious conservatives have been doing politics for 25 years and, on every front, are worse off on things they care about," said Gary Bauer, president of American Values. "The gay rights movement is more powerful, the culture is more decadent, the life of not one baby has been saved, porn is in the living room, and you can't watch the Super Bowl without your hand on the off switch."

The religious right might be beginning to realize they've been had, used, pushed aside, and taken for granted.

The Washington Times again -Evangelicals frustrated by Bush -

"It's not just economic conservatives upset by runaway federal spending that he's having trouble with. I think his biggest problem will be social conservatives who are not motivated to work for the ticket and to ensure their fellow Christians get to the polling booth," said Robert H. Knight, director of the Culture and Family Institute.

(snip)

With more than eight months remaining until Election Day, American Family Association founder Don Wildmon said the president "has already upset the economic conservatives, and I know the problem he is having with evangelicals. ... There is a major problem there."

Can Bush/Cheney04 get their money's worth from that overflowing campaign chest? Can non-stop advertising and photo-ops convince the evangelicals and economic conservatives a second term will satisfy both their agendas?

The grumbling from both the evangelical and economic conservative camps may mean a good half of that money will need to be spent on damage control, defending their "territory", and wooing back the voters they thought could be taken for granted.

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Baghdad By The Bay

Checking in on the Concerned Women for America for all my womanly concerns, I note that five of their six "News Flash" items are concerning gay marriage;particularly those taking place in "Baghdad By the Bay".

Jan LaRue titles her lament "I Left My Heart in San Francisco but I’m Taking It Back - Homosexual Marriage Performed in Baghdad by the Bay". I suspect they'll be glad to give it back.

If you’ve ever driven south on Highway 101 into San Francisco, you never forget it. As you round the last curve, the view takes your breath away. The awesome Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay on your left, the blue Pacific on your right and the city with all of its white buildings come into view. And you hear Tony and start singing.

Yep - she's been there. Beautiful city, spectacular scenery. I always loved the weird way the fog rolls in....socked-in, can't-see-the-hand-in-front-of-your-face, and clear blue skies around the next curve.

But Jan can't get past the News Of The Day - the gay marriages.

But then the depravity that’s tolerated and, in many instances, sanctioned by government officials brings to mind “whited sepulchers full of dead men’s bones.” The idyllic scene is shattered by the reality of a city with a corrupt heart.

I would have thought "Sodom" or "Gomorrah" would have been more Jan's style, but she curiously chose "Baghdad" instead.

I suspect Jan and the Concerned Women of America are on the wrong side of history on this one. And it's too bad it messes up their perception of the world around them.

Let's just hope they don't see this one - Brother, sister fight law to get married.

That should add Australia to The Axis of Evil.

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I shall now say something nice to George Bush

Not about Bush, to Bush.

I'm sorry your dog had to be put to sleep. Been there, done that; it hurts.
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Fine weather brings out the fruitcakes

Thanks to a tip from the Beast, I see the Klan and Nazis chose to make North Carolina their rallying ground again.

We don't want gay rights for queers," Schoep, wearing a uniform with swastikas, said. "Send them all back, and send them all back to Africa."

I'm not sure why he thinks all gays should go back to Africa, but then I'm not privy to the mind-droppings of Neanderthal humanoids.

Reports I've seen gave their total strength as thirty-five out of an expected fifty. Presumably, fifteen had better things to do, or were too ashamed to show up, or maybe even had a change of heart. The others should follow their example.

I've got news for this "tough" bunch - THIS bunch could beat the crap out of you, with my blessing.

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Another senile moment

I like to seek out new blogs and commentary; new to me, at least. A good place to start is The TTLB Blogosphere Ecosystem. Begin with the "Insignificant Microbes" and work your way upward.

There are certainly some that aren't worth the pixel space (after all, you're HERE, aren't you!?), but you can find some goodies, too.

Which is how I came to Live From the Nuke-Free Zone. I sometimes add a link to the weblog and then forget to recommend it to others. And, sho' 'nuff - oops, I did it again....another senile moment.

Live From the Nuke-Free Zone is a group blog I've been enjoying recently. Katster, Zibblsnrt, Warrior Tang, Fourth Man, and Jrenken (if I've forgotten someone, let me know) all provide a well-written combination of thoughtful, wacky, discerning, and whimsical.

Stop by for a visit, leave a comment, and enjoy.

(fixed name error, 2/22/2004, 7:51 a.m.)
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Fine-tuning the art of mass distraction

From the Washington Post -

Campaign officials said in interviews that they plan substantial positive advertising about the president, focused on his proposals rather than accomplishments, when they begin spending tens of millions of dollars on the airwaves next month. But they made it clear that many of the ads will accuse the Democratic front-runner of "hypocrisy," in McKinnon's word, in part by reaching back into his early career.

I suppose that would be because his proposals sound peachy-keen, while his "accomplishments" suck.
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We see Salon is sponsoring a Caribbean cruise

Salon will set sail with our inaugural cruise to the Caribbean -- gathering Salon editors, readers and special guest speakers for a thoughtful, independent-minded, Salon-style political forum.

(snip)

You'll want to join us September 4th through the 10th for a good old fashioned salon with some of the strongest voices in progressive politics

The one cruise I've been on was spent mostly at the blackjack table, listening intently to special speaker Mr. Dealer.

Still, the Salon cruise sounds like a winner to me, blackjack or no. But alas - it's not free, so they'll have to do without my company. Perhaps they could invite someone else to make up for my absence.

I think Ann Coulter would be a good choice; special guest speaker Ann Richards could show her the true meaning of a tough broad.

Or maybe Bob Novak. I'm sure he would enjoy exchanging views with special guest speaker Joe Wilson

How about Matt Drudge? This would be an ideal opportunity to really get to know special guest speaker Sidney Blumenthal.

Now, that cruise would be worth a second mortgage on the house.

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To debate or not to debate

I've been on the e-mail list for most of the Democratic candidates for what seems like years, and on the Edwards senate list certainly for several years. After all, he's my U.S. Senator - and it's been great to have a good one for a change.

He's got a petition urging Kerry to participate in a one-on-one debate. For what it's worth, here's the link if you'd like to sign it.

I'm still undecided at this point; one day, I'm convinced Kerry and his military record is the only way to STOMP Bush, and the next day I thnk Edwards has the best chance of bringing around the "swing" voters and others who just aren't paying attention.

Edwards seems to be putting a lot of stock in this one-on-one debate, as well he should. He didn't become an extremely successful trial lawyer for nothing.

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Friday Doggie Bloggie



Andante's vicious Chihuahua herd.

From left to right - Bandit, Nicky, and Cujo

aka "The Three Stooges"

All bark, some bite, no sense whatsoever.

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Action alert!

Hurry on over to beastofsound, and give him your congratulations!
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You always knew the Muppets were a librul, elitist plot



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U.S. Counting on U.N. for Help in Iraq

As it weighs a major change in how to transfer political power to Iraqis, the Bush administration is relying ever more heavily on the United Nations to help clear the remaining high hurdles ahead.

It is an ironic turn of events for an administration that worked hard to keep the United Nations role in the background in the reconstruction of Iraq after the toppling of President Saddam Hussein. Now the United States is counting on the U.N.'s influence to help reach a solution to the ever-more complex political stalemate.

That headline should probably read - "Bush Screws Up Again, Depends on Others to Bail Him Out".

Through his entire life, Bush has been handed businesses, money, prestige, plum positions and Gawd-knows-what-else solely based on his family name, powerful connections, and money.

He's screwed up every one of his opportunities, and depended on his family name, powerful connections, and money to clean up his mess.

Why should Iraq be any different?

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At long last, welcome home

Along with my morning coffee, I always have a healthy helping of Salon. Well worth the subscription, folks. Today's lead article has given me a lot of food for thought.

I was a semi-flower child who protested against the Vietnam war. I don't regret it, and still feel that it was a horrendous waste of precious human lives.

But I never - NEVER - reviled those who fought in the war. When I ran into a returned vet, they never had much to say about their experiences, and I didn't ask.

I hope none of them took my lack of curiosity as a lack of respect.....if so, wherever you are, I most humbly ask your forgiveness. You did your duty, as you saw it - whether you agreed that it should be a duty or not.

And so the lead story in Salon this morning struck a chord; Kerry vs. the chicken hawks speaks to me not so much about John Kerry, but about the silent Vietnam vets.

It was an unscripted scene, nothing like the polished photo ops the Bush team, plundering the resources of the government, liked to put together. Near the end of the Iowa caucus campaign, former Green Beret Jim Rassmann stood on a Des Moines stage and quietly described how John Kerry had saved his life in Vietnam. By the time he was finished, something remarkable had happened: a presidential challenger had, as the world watched, grown larger than the incumbent president.

But something even more important happened as well: In that moment, Vietnam veterans, with characteristic modesty, claimed their long-overdue seat at the head table of American politics. And that brought an unexpected threat to the Bush team's reelection plans, which relied on beating up liberals who didn't know how to fight back. Standing beside Kerry at campaign stops, working the phones, or simply filling the front rows, the veterans, powerless but for the witness they bore, took aim to blow those plans away.

Their presence made the election itself larger. The contest became more than a choice between Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals. It became a referendum on whether Vietnam still matters to us, and perhaps on whether it ever did. And thus it became our best, and perhaps last, chance to use the Vietnam War to make ourselves a better nation, rather than allow it to make us a worse one.

Welcome home, boys - and more than welcome to the political table.

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A cornered rat ain't purty

Then:

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, (University of Colorado football coach Gary) Barnett called Hnida a "distraction" for the football team and a player who was not fit for Division I football.

"It's a guy's sport, and they felt like Katie was forced on them," Barnett said. "It was obvious Katie was not very good. She was awful."

"You know what guys do, they respect your ability. I mean you can be 90 years old, but if you can go out and play, they respect you.

"Well, Katie was a girl. Not only was she a girl, she was terrible. And there's no other way to say it. She couldn't kick the ball through the uprights."

Now:

"I sincerely regret that yesterday, a portion of my remarks were either misinterpreted or taken, aired out of context," he said. "And I apologize for answering that question in a manner where I must have come across as insensitive.

"What I wanted to communicate, was that regardless of Katie Hnida's abilities, I wanted Katie on our football team, I wanted to give her a chance to be a part of our program. I want to reaffirm my feelings, remarks that I made yesterday: I am very sensitive to Katie's allegations, I want to do whatever I can to help Katie."

It's always "I was misinterpreted" or "aired out of context", isn't it?

How about - "I was a jerk, and I'm sorry". Brief, to the point, and factual.

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Just another brain fart from the Religious Wrong

Thanks to Rivka, blogging respectfully over at Respectful of Otters we can now turn our attention to puzzling over one of life's little ironies.

The moral arbiters, shocked - SHOCKED - by the Janet Jackson Super Boob incident and thorougly disgusted with the librul, elitist Hollywood crowd who force Tender, Impressionable Youth to watch filthy, gratuitous gory violence on the wide screen and in video games....

....will be dragging their tender, impressionable youth to an R-rated, intensely violent movie.

Sunday's sermon - "Sex Disgusting; Biblical Violence Good For You".

From USA Today -

There is plenty in the two-hour film to make children and adults alike squirm:

• Roman guards employ a "cat-o'-nine-tails" that rips the flesh from Jesus' back.

• As Jesus is being crucified, a supervisor scolds one man for not nailing his hands properly. He yanks Jesus' other hand, pulling the arm out of the socket.

• To see whether Jesus is dead, a Roman soldier pierces his side with a lance. Blood showers down on the soldier.

Forty-five minutes of it.

"The violence is necessary to understand the sacrifice Jesus made," says First Family pastor Jerry Johnston. His Baptist church has rented out a half-dozen theaters in Kansas City, Kan., and has reserved auditoriums the night of Feb. 27 for children 11 and older.

Johnston concedes they'll be disturbed by the violence. "I hope they're disturbed enough to make their peace with Jesus."

Some peace.

Just what the world needs - another generation of the violence-disturbed and inured Taliban wing of Christianity.

Poor Mel Gibson. He should have stuck to strutting around in a kilt.

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Sorry - I just can't help myself

Cash Family Won't Let Song Be Used for Ad

Advertising writers in Florida were planning to pitch hemorrhoid-relief products with a commercial featuring the Johnny Cash classic "Ring of Fire," but Cash's family said there's no way they will let it happen.

That probably should read "Cash Family Never Had Hemorrhoids"

Okay, I'll shut down the computer and go to my room now.
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We owe it all to Dean

I suppose, as A Conscientious Blogger, I should say something about Howard Dean's decision to end his presidential campaign.

In August 2002, I was still smarting from the Great Election Theft of 2000. I still am. But I was also angry over the way George Bush was mismanaging the country's business, and depressed by the way the Democrats in Congress were rolling over and playing dead.

Surfing the 'net on August 28, 2002, I found an interesting article in the Guardian - "An alternative to Bush is demanding to be heard".

Al Gore jockeys for position. Amazingly, he is the frontrunner, despite the fiasco of a campaign he ran in 2000 that let Bush in. He is hardly ever heard from, sidling away from confrontation and weighing up whether the polls will let him run. A handful of senatorial possibles - John Kerry, Joe Lieberman, John Edwards - circle around, daring to say almost nothing, propelled, it seems, by terror of the Bush hard right more than the fury these incumbents deserve from any Democrat.

To find a fiercer rigour, one needs to travel north. Vermont is a small state, and its governor, Howard Dean, not yet a national figure. But he is the one declared candidate for the presidency, and is now embarked on the long haul to 2004, with a package of positions that define him as a realist but, more important, a style with the declaratory conviction that separates him from all those guarded poll-watchers. He sounds like a Clinton third wayer without the torment. Could this be the voice that, if heard often enough, will at least remind Americans that Bush's incoherent nationalism and vested interest economics are not the only message they need put up with?

I visited his website - still in it's infancy - read his positions, and liked what I read. I talked to my family and progressive-minded friends about Howard Dean.

"Who?" was the usual response.

Well, they've heard of him now. Maybe he didn't "click" with them personally, but he succeeded in making them pay attention.

We can rail against "electability" all we want, but it's just a plain, ornery fact of human nature. Some people just aren't attracted to other people.

But Howard Dean, despite any shortcomings he had on the "electability" scale, has pumped life into the Democratic party, brought new voters into the system, and put some backbone and spit into the Dems.

There's something Clinton-esque about it. Bill Clinton dared to stand up and declare his candidacy when Bush-the-Smarter had a sure lock on re-election. Howard Dean also looked America - and the other candidates - straight in the eye and said "We can win this".

When the Democrats take back the White House in November - and hell, make a grand run on the Congress, too - we can thank Howard Dean for inspiring the feisty determination that it will take to beat the Republican leviathan.

Thanks, Governor, from the bottom of my heart.

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Attack of the Scientists!

Did someone say scientists were wimps?

Via Chris C. Mooney

No less than sixty - count 'em - sixty superstars of the scientific community, including twenty Nobel Laureates, have issued a statement entitled "Restoring Scientific Integrity in Policy Making."

The document charges the Bush administration with a wholesale betrayal of science of a sort that, the signatories say, greatly exceeds any abuses that occurred under previous administrations.

Hot dog! I'm no scientist - the scientific community breathes a sigh of relief - but I know bullsh*t when I see it. And I've seen more than enough of it from the Bush administration.

Good luck getting to the on-line report...the server is clogged, CLOGGED I tell you, with the sudden increase in traffic.

In the meantime, according to Chris, here are some goodies from the report -

"Although scientific input to the government is rarely the only factor in public policy decisions, this input should always be weighed from an objective and impartial perspective to avoid perilous consequences." And that's where our president has fundamentally fallen short: "The administration of George W. Bush has, however, disregarded this principle."

"In making the invalid claim that Iraq had sought to acquire aluminum tubes for uranium enrichment centrifuges, the administration disregarded the contrary assessment by experts at the Livermore, Los Alamos, and Oak Ridge National Laboratories."

Heck, I'm not copy/pasting the whole thing. Go read it yourself - it just might make your day.

Update The NY Times piles on - Scientists Accuse White House of Distorting Facts
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My favorite charity is me

Which is the way it has to be when you're living paycheck-to-paycheck.

But my second favorite - and one that gets $10 from me every time I have it left over - is 34 Million Friends of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund.

What better way to thumb your nose at the Bush administration and help people the world over?

July 22, 2002 - Bowing to pressure from extreme anti-family planning organizations and ignoring its own expert panel, the Bush Administration announced today that the United States would withdraw all support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).

The United States was a long-time supporter of UNFPA, which provides voluntary family planning services (including contraceptives), life-saving pre- and post- natal care, and HIV/AIDS prevention services around the world, especially in Third World countries where the need for family planning and health care is heartbreakingly critical.

When the Bush administration announced the withdrawal of $34 million in pledged support, two women were outraged and determined to do something about it.

Enter Lois Abraham of New Mexico, and Jane Roberts of California. Independently, they had the same idea....ask 34 million friends to give just one dollar each to make up the shortfall caused by Bush's broken promise.

As of February 8, 2004, 34 Million Friends of UNFPA has raised $1,859,627.10. International support is growing, with many countries of meager means pledging funds.

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Somalia, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste and Uzbekistan have all pledged their support - their means may be meager, but their international spirit is strong.

The e-mail "update" I received today bears a bit of good news -

In late January, Congress approved $34 million for UNFPA programs. Now, the Bush Administration must decide whether to release the 2004 funding. Unfortunately, most experts anticipate that the Administration will once again withhold these funds based on disproved allegations made by anti-family planning special interests. An announcement by the Administration is expected in the coming months.

To overcome the Administration’s block on UNFPA funding, efforts continue in Congress to bring the U.S. back into the international mainstream. Representative Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y, has crafted legislation that would allow U.S. funding to UNFPA for the exclusive purpose of preventing, treating and repairing obstetric fistula—a debilitating but easily preventable consequence of childbirth complications that affects young women in the developing world.

Keep in mind that George Bush has raised nearly a quarter billion dollars to get re-elected, but won't authorize $34 million to help alleviate global over-population and women's health problems.

If you'd like to thumb your nose at Bush, visit 34 Million Friends of UNFPA. Check out the list of contributors (I'm on it!), a state-by-state map of the number of contributors (Texas is #3, heh-heh), and read some of their success stories. And while you're at it, send them a dollar.
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The fractured administration....

From Business Week -

"I am George Bush. You tried to kill my father. Prepare to die."

Sound familiar? It's based on a famous line from The Princess Bride, a gently fractured fairy tale of a movie from 1987, and I'd argue that it gets to the heart of why many Americans think George W. Bush went to war in Iraq. The Princess Bride features an accomplished swordsman named Inigo Montoya, played by Mandy Patinkin. Montoya's life mission is to track down the evildoer of a lord who killed his dad. He practices over and over the exact words he'll say when he finally confronts the villain: "I am Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

(more)

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All is revealed!

(Courtesy of Retrogrouch via American Footprint) -

The Bush/Cheney04 campaign strategy

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More messin' with the vets

Okay, I agree with restructuring to save money and increase efficiency. But at the moment, we are racking up injured troops by the boatload in Iraq and Afghanistan.

At this point, it seems a little premature to be talking about closing or drastically downsizing VA hospitals.

From CBS -

A commission that reviewed a Bush administration proposal to overhaul Veterans Affairs health care facilities wants the government to close hospitals in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Mississippi and scale back most operations at a Texas facility.

The panel rejected the VA's proposal to close hospitals in Canandaigua, N.Y., Lexington, Ky. and Livermore, Calif., according to a copy of the commission's report obtained by The Associated Press.

The 16-member panel agreed that a new hospital should be opened in Orlando, Fla., but disagreed with opening a new hospital in Las Vegas. Instead, the commission recommended the VA continue partnering with Nellis Air Force Base for care.

Snark of the day.....

While googling around for further info, I came across the Veterans For Peace website, with a handy link that might be of interest to the White House....

Need a DD214?

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Health care - overhead and out of control

Ever been in a hospital billing office?

"Office" is quite an understatement. At our local hospital, it's located in a separate building, with probably a hundred offices.

Each office is marked with the name of the insurance provider, and the first letter of the last names covered, such as "Medicare A-B", "Medicare C-D", "Blue Cross/Blue Shield E-F" and so on.

It's a four-story building; I can't even begin to estimate how many people are employed to file claims with all the different health insurance companies.

As Paul Krugman, writing in the NY Times says -

A recent study found that private insurance companies spend 11.7 cents of every health care dollar on administrative costs, mainly advertising and underwriting, compared with 3.6 cents for Medicare and 1.3 cents for Canada's government-run system.

When you pay your health insurance premium.....assuming you have health insurance....part of that money goes to pay the salaries of the clerical workers, the building that houses the insurance company and it's upkeep, the advertising that tells us how wonderful and caring they are, and inflated executive salaries.

Just for starters, Michael McCallister - president and CEO of Humana, Inc., makes $1.65 million a year. John Rowe, chairman and CEO of Aetna pulls down a cool $6.68 million.

The health care industry is sitting on a gold mine, and they know it. Anyone who proposes changes in the way Americans pay for health care risks the wrath of their powerful lobby. Presidential candidates who advocate a single-payer system are brushed off as "fringe".

John Kerry's plan, which would allow all Americans to buy into the Federal Employees Health Care Benefits program (FEHBP), is an improvement on the haphazard, Russian-roulette system we have now. It's not enough, but perhaps would get a foot in the door toward making health care a right, not a privilege, for all Americans.

(cross posted at etalkinghead

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George Bush, the last bastion in the fight against TV porn

Our local news station - FAUX affiliate, unfortunately - just reported that Franklin Graham is supporting Dubya (no surprise there) and encouraging other religious broadcasters to do so, too.

Because, according to Franklin (Billy-the-Lesser), if Bush doesn't win, we'll be bombarded with porn on TV.

Can't find a link to this on the web; but, ummm....it wouldn't be worth looking at anyway.

If you aren't convinced yet to vote Anybody But Bush, that oughtta do it.
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Five reasons I should be terrified of gay marriages

Here

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Therapeutic cloning and stem cell research, continued

For those who are interested in learning more about these related subjects, here are some pertinent links - pro and con....

Religious Tolerance.org - Therapeutic Cloning, Ethics, public opinion, Ethics, public opinion
A good place to start for definitions and various opinion.

Diabetes Daily News, Human Embryos Created Through Cloning
Contains a little more information on the South Korean process, and statement by Bush's President's Council on Bioethics.

NPR, Morning Edition with Joe Palca,Britain Pushes Forward with Stem-Cell Work
Science-In-Society award winning three-part series, contrasting research in the United States and Britain.

Newsmax, Dec. 21, 2000 - Britain OKs 'Therapeutic' Human Embryo Cloning

From Australia "The World Today" - Britain approves embryo cloning for research
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Matt, get a life

My man Matt Drudge has posted another one of his hot flashes -

KERRY MYSTERY WOMAN DATED CAMPAIGN FINANCE CHIEF!!!!

I guess that's close enough to Kerry for a Drudge-smear.

And a bit further down, in un-capitalized letters, there's a link to the statement by the lady in question.

"For the last several days I have seen Internet and tabloid rumors relating to me and Senator John Kerry. Because these stories were false, I assumed the media would ignore them. It seems that efforts to peddle these lies continue, so I feel compelled to address them. I have never had a relationship with Senator Kerry, and the rumors in the press are completely false. Whoever is spreading these rumors and allegations does not know me, but should know the pain they have caused me and my family. I am in Kenya with my fiance visiting his family, and we ask that the press respect our privacy and leave all of us alone."

A statement by Terry and Donna Polier, the parents of Alexandra Polier:

"We have spoken to our daughter and the allegations that have been made regarding her are completely false and unsubstantiated. We love and support her 100 percent and these unfounded rumors are hurtful to our entire family. We appreciate the way Senator Kerry has handled the situation, and intend on voting for him for president of the United States."

(emphasis mine, and intended solely to make fun of Drudge)

Directly below the link to the above statement, is Matt's last gasp at notoriety -

FLASHBACK: Dad: "I think he's a sleazeball".

Do you get the feeling Dad was probably talking about Matt Drudge?

Matt, as a favor to you, here's the next headline for you, conveniently pre-written -

I'M A TOTAL JACKASS AND TOOL OF THE REPUBLICAN SMEAR MACHINE!!!

Put one of those flashing lights next to it, just to be sure the wingnuts read it.

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.....and with that turpentine, I'd like a side order of sewage

(From the Chicago Tribune)

When it rains, EPA would let waste pour; Plan could boost dumping into lake

The Bush administration wants to make it easier for cities to release partially treated sewage during heavy rains and snowmelts, a policy shift that could boost levels of disease-causing pathogens in Lake Michigan and other waterways.

Sewage spills into the lake already are a source of E. coli and other bacterial "bugs" that frequently lead to beach closings during the summer. Chicago banned swimming at Lake Michigan beaches 130 times last year; there were 178 beach closings in Lake County.

Icky.

Stay tuned to American Footprint for all the crappy details.

The punchline?

Plant operators and business interests have continued to lobby for the practice, which they call "sewage blending."

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Yummm, gimme some of that turpentine-flavored water, please!

(or...."What a difference a couple million bucks makes")

(From the Washington Post)

I've never tried it, but I've heard absinthe tastes somewhat like turpentine.

And in the near future, absinthe may be tastier than the water from your kitchen faucet.

Just ask the folks in Santa Monica, Calif., where complaints of a turpentine taste in their drinking water has resulted in the oil industry being ordered to pay hundreds of millions of dollars after the gasoline additive MTBE contaminated their fair city's water supply.

"We're the poster child for MTBE, and it could take decades to clean this up," said Joseph Lawrence, the assistant city attorney.

Back in January 2001, the Environmental Protection Agency made a regulatory recommendation to the last elected President of the United States, President Bill Clinton -

It said: "The use of MTBE as an additive in gasoline presents an unreasonable risk to the environment."

Seems the MTBE's have a nasty habit of seeping into the ground water, which is worse than any beneficial effect the additive produced in cleaner air.

The EPA document went on to say that "low levels of MTBE can render drinking water supplies unpotable due to its offensive taste and odor," and the additive should be phased out over four years.

"Unlike other components of gasoline, MTBE dissolves and spreads readily in the ground water ... resists biodegradation and is more difficult and costly to remove."

Enter three big Republican campaign contributors; Texas-based Lyondell Chemical and Valero Energy, and the Huntsman companies of Salt Lake City.

The three contributed $338,000 to George W. Bush's presidential campaign, the Republican Party and Republican congressional candidates in 1999 and 2000, twice what they gave Democrats, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Since then, the three producers have given just over $1 million to Republicans.

Now you know the rest of the story.

The Bush administration obligingly let the proposed MTBE regulations fade quietly away, down into the memory hole.

The story of nasty-tasting, undrinkable water (coming soon to a water supply near you) isn't without it's moment of humor -

Huntsman spokesman Don Olsen, echoing comments by other MTBE producers, said, "We were not a huge campaign contributor and this has absolutely nothing to do with campaign donations. It has to do with good public policy."

A sense of humor and generous with their millions - for George W. Bush, it's a marriage made in heaven.
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Ruh-roh

(Via Atrios)

Not willing to sit idly by as Michael Powell and the FCC grab all the glory, the Department of Education has denied federal grant money to those who provide close-captioning for immoral, filthy, disgusting television programming.

Such as What's New, Scooby-Doo?".

Thank God the DoE is on the job, protecting the hard of hearing and deaf from the vast television wasteland and offensive programming.

From the Palm Beach Post -

"The department made its decisions based on the recommendations of a five-member panel. Who the five members are, only the government seems to know, and it isn't saying. But the shows they censored suggest a perspective that is Talibanesque."

Actually, I think we can make some pretty good guesses as to the panel's identity.

For banning Scooby-Doo, we probably can thank Senator Rick Santorum. Too much potential for man-on-dog action.

Bewitched - piece of cake; Ann Coulter. Good & beautiful witches make witches like Ann snort fire and brimstone.

I Dream of Jeannie - George W. Bush, who doesn't want comparisons to the way he's gone through life with a wink and an every-wish-is-my-command mindset.

Law & Order - Attorney General John Ashcroft. Episodes occasionally portray the feds as heavies. The Law & Order folks are lucky to still be alive and at liberty.

JAG - Honorably discharged Lt. George W. Bush.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Powderpuff Girls, and Power Rangers - Donald Rumsfeld. How dare those terrorist animators give away the latest neocon plans for new weapons and world dominion?

Judge Wapner's Animal Court - see above, Senator Rick Santorm.

The Loretta Young Show - this one had me stumped until a filmography revealed she once starred in a movie called "He Stayed For Breakfast". Obviously a case for national morals czar William Bennett.

Sanford and Son - Charles Pickering, determined to protect the deaf and hard-of-hearing from the spectacle of uppity negroes. Or perhaps the last request of Sen. Strom Thurmond.

For a list of all the "approved" and "disapproved" programs, click here, and amuse yourself.

The management of Collective Sigh suggests stations provide a little crawl across the screen when airing "disapproved" programs -

Lack of closed-captioning ordered by the Bush administration

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