It doesn't take a genius or an expert on U.S. policy to realize that the various people in the Bush administration have largely thumbed their noses at the law and the Constitution with regularly over the past eight years to face no consequences for their actions. Thus, I think many people (including myself) have gotten used to (though extremely fucking angry about) the fact that Dubya, Cheney and company will screw this country over and get away with no punishment. Imagine my shock when I learned a day or so ago that vice president Dick The Dick Cheney and former attorney general Alberto "Double Lie Gonzo" Gonzalez have been indicted by a grand jury in Texas.
The state charges relate to Cheney and Gonzalez' connection to a company running a privately run prison and allegations of prisoner abuse. While a very small thing compared to the war related atrocities the Bush administration has tainted our country with for most of the last eight years, I think many people are trying to pick their jaws up off the floor over the idea that Dick Cheney and Alberto Gonzalez were charged with anything at all. How will this case pan out? I have no idea. Odds are Dick the Dick and Double Lie Gonzo will find a way to weasel out of this, but I hope they don't. It would be nice to see a karmic payback of sorts with these two having to take responsibility for something bad they were connected with.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
He's Only Got Two Months To Fuck Up The World
On November 4, 2008 the American people voted in record numbers that led to the election of Barack Obama as the nation's 44th President. While Obama's election certainly makes history with him being both the first African American (a term more literal given his father was from Kenya and his mother was from Kansas, making him also the first biracial) president of this land it sometimes can be hard to keep in mind that he's now the President-elect and his term doesn't actually begin until January 20, 2009. Thus, it's easy to forget that for a couple months we still have George W. Bush to deal with. And he's gonna leave his mark long after he's gone back to Texas (and yes, Texans, you have to take him back).
Whether it's bypassing privacy laws in regards to homeland security or relaxing environmental regulations to allow uranium mining near the Colorado River, Bush seems hellbent on carving his legacy in stone and having them take effect before Obama's inauguration (before 60 days and he could stop them from going into effect). The Bush administration also appears to push socialized banking further with a bailout on top of the $700 billion bailout Congress and Bush proposed a couple of months ago. Add to this the environmental gutting laws Dubya passed during his first term (remember the Healthy Forests Initiative, for example) going into full effect in the next couple of years, and we have a situation where one leaders foolish legacy may have plans to take his successors down with him. Some sources I've come across report Bush and company plan an orgy of deregulation to go into effect before leaving office. There's also the possibility of the banks helping to gut the treasury even more before January 20th. Currently it's too early to tell whether he plans to pushing a neocon social agenda into law under our noses (and using the lame duck lack of interest) before his term ends, but it wouldn't surprise me.
Why is he doing this? I have no idea. Reportedly, his approval rating is now lower than Nixon. He has to has some idea that these actions will make him less popular with the American people. Is this some weirdass plan to help bring forth the Rapture so hm and his fellow conservative so-called christians will go to heaven and laugh at those left behind? I'm not being flippant here - I really want to know why he wants to fuck up this damn bad. Usually the final days in office are basically not newsworthy, except for those last minute pardons (who wants to bet that Duke Cunningham and Ted Stevens both get pardoned by old Shrub). Dubya wants to use the lack of interest to push the country further into the shit.
Time is of the essence for George W. Bush. He's only got 69 days to fuck up the world, so he has to sink to new lows. The rest of us will have to clean up his goddamn mess after he leaves office. Here's hoping he doesn't go for totally batshit crazy in the last couple days.
Whether it's bypassing privacy laws in regards to homeland security or relaxing environmental regulations to allow uranium mining near the Colorado River, Bush seems hellbent on carving his legacy in stone and having them take effect before Obama's inauguration (before 60 days and he could stop them from going into effect). The Bush administration also appears to push socialized banking further with a bailout on top of the $700 billion bailout Congress and Bush proposed a couple of months ago. Add to this the environmental gutting laws Dubya passed during his first term (remember the Healthy Forests Initiative, for example) going into full effect in the next couple of years, and we have a situation where one leaders foolish legacy may have plans to take his successors down with him. Some sources I've come across report Bush and company plan an orgy of deregulation to go into effect before leaving office. There's also the possibility of the banks helping to gut the treasury even more before January 20th. Currently it's too early to tell whether he plans to pushing a neocon social agenda into law under our noses (and using the lame duck lack of interest) before his term ends, but it wouldn't surprise me.
Why is he doing this? I have no idea. Reportedly, his approval rating is now lower than Nixon. He has to has some idea that these actions will make him less popular with the American people. Is this some weirdass plan to help bring forth the Rapture so hm and his fellow conservative so-called christians will go to heaven and laugh at those left behind? I'm not being flippant here - I really want to know why he wants to fuck up this damn bad. Usually the final days in office are basically not newsworthy, except for those last minute pardons (who wants to bet that Duke Cunningham and Ted Stevens both get pardoned by old Shrub). Dubya wants to use the lack of interest to push the country further into the shit.
Time is of the essence for George W. Bush. He's only got 69 days to fuck up the world, so he has to sink to new lows. The rest of us will have to clean up his goddamn mess after he leaves office. Here's hoping he doesn't go for totally batshit crazy in the last couple days.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
You Can Stop Blaming Nader Now
As I type this it is four and a half days since the election of now President elect Barack Obama in an election with reportedly one of the highest percentages of people voting than any election in recent history (if not all U.S. history). With a margin that some will even consider a mandate if not a landslide, it is time for the Democrats to finally end one of their sillier recent traditions.
I'm talking about the blaming of Ralph Nader and the Green Party for Al Gore losing the 2000 election (in fact, the election was stolen). Since this unfortunate event (and the eight years of hell we've faced as a result), it has become a habit for the Democrats to claim if Nader hadn't ran then Gore would've won in 2000 (even though Gore not even winning his home state could be a sign of things otherwise). Some have even gone so far as to sue to keep Green party candidates off the ballot in elections since then (does this seem a little anti-American to you?). Absent from this is the fact that one, Gore largely cost himself an election he might've won if he'd fought harder. Two, Bush and his cronies did everything they could to steal the election (and may have even stolen the one in 2004 as well). While the specifics can be considered conjecture, this election should put that to rest.
With Obama set to enter the White House in January and the Democrats holding the majority of seats in both the House and the Senate (though at this writing it's uncertain whether they have a filibuster proof majority), it appears on the surface that times are changing. Hopefully, the Democrats will step up to the plate and act like it.
So is they shouldn't blame Nader anymore, what next? One suggestion: stop acting like you're the only game in town for anyone not into the GOP. A lot of votes this election came from independent voters; this should be kept in mind when decisions are made. Also, maybe instead of trying to keep third party candidates from running for office, how about bringing back the Fairness Doctrine both sides allowed to die during the later Reagan years and allow all the candidates time to get their messages heard (we can discuss the need for instant runoff voting on another post). Granted these are small things to consider within the big picture, but the days of everyone blindly following a two party system may be numbered and it's time the Democrats deal with it rather than blaming a messenger (which, in best case scenarios, Nader was) that the electoral process is flawed.
Will the Democrats stop blaming Nader for 2000? Probably not, but I would like to think that the current victories can help write a new chapter rather than continue the same damn mistakes. Regardless, it's up to each of us to watch politicians like a hawk and make sure we actually get some well needed change.
I'm talking about the blaming of Ralph Nader and the Green Party for Al Gore losing the 2000 election (in fact, the election was stolen). Since this unfortunate event (and the eight years of hell we've faced as a result), it has become a habit for the Democrats to claim if Nader hadn't ran then Gore would've won in 2000 (even though Gore not even winning his home state could be a sign of things otherwise). Some have even gone so far as to sue to keep Green party candidates off the ballot in elections since then (does this seem a little anti-American to you?). Absent from this is the fact that one, Gore largely cost himself an election he might've won if he'd fought harder. Two, Bush and his cronies did everything they could to steal the election (and may have even stolen the one in 2004 as well). While the specifics can be considered conjecture, this election should put that to rest.
With Obama set to enter the White House in January and the Democrats holding the majority of seats in both the House and the Senate (though at this writing it's uncertain whether they have a filibuster proof majority), it appears on the surface that times are changing. Hopefully, the Democrats will step up to the plate and act like it.
So is they shouldn't blame Nader anymore, what next? One suggestion: stop acting like you're the only game in town for anyone not into the GOP. A lot of votes this election came from independent voters; this should be kept in mind when decisions are made. Also, maybe instead of trying to keep third party candidates from running for office, how about bringing back the Fairness Doctrine both sides allowed to die during the later Reagan years and allow all the candidates time to get their messages heard (we can discuss the need for instant runoff voting on another post). Granted these are small things to consider within the big picture, but the days of everyone blindly following a two party system may be numbered and it's time the Democrats deal with it rather than blaming a messenger (which, in best case scenarios, Nader was) that the electoral process is flawed.
Will the Democrats stop blaming Nader for 2000? Probably not, but I would like to think that the current victories can help write a new chapter rather than continue the same damn mistakes. Regardless, it's up to each of us to watch politicians like a hawk and make sure we actually get some well needed change.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
History Has Been Made - What Next?
I originally posted this over on the blog on my MySpace page but decided to put it here as well for those who either don't have a myspace page or anyone who comes across this post.
We have just witnessed a historic election. Like many people in this country I was surprised by the outcome. Relieved as hell, but still surprised. America has at least taken a baby step towards eliminating institutionalized racism by its election of Barack Obama tonight for President. The polls looked like it would happen, but after two stolen elections, many people were both keeping their fingers crossed and not getting their hopes up. Now there's some quasi breathing room.
However, with all the talk of change and hope, there's still a lot of work to be done regardless of who you voted for. Despite Obama's hope for putting division behind us it's safe to say America will be just as divided a country in January 2009 as it is now - if not more so.
As for what changes need to happen, I came across this interview with Jello Biafra that says it in many ways better than I could (especially important is the two part answer to question 9, whether you supported Obama, Nader, McKinney, or even McCain please pay attention to this).
Yes tonight's election result was a small step in trying to alter the clusterfuck of the past eight years (and god only knows what Dubya will screw up before he finally heads back to Tejas), but while people can get a small nap now, the work is extremely far from over.
Some people may disagree with me and that's their right to do so. Now go argue amongst yourselves, I have to pick my jaw up off the floor.
We have just witnessed a historic election. Like many people in this country I was surprised by the outcome. Relieved as hell, but still surprised. America has at least taken a baby step towards eliminating institutionalized racism by its election of Barack Obama tonight for President. The polls looked like it would happen, but after two stolen elections, many people were both keeping their fingers crossed and not getting their hopes up. Now there's some quasi breathing room.
However, with all the talk of change and hope, there's still a lot of work to be done regardless of who you voted for. Despite Obama's hope for putting division behind us it's safe to say America will be just as divided a country in January 2009 as it is now - if not more so.
As for what changes need to happen, I came across this interview with Jello Biafra that says it in many ways better than I could (especially important is the two part answer to question 9, whether you supported Obama, Nader, McKinney, or even McCain please pay attention to this).
Yes tonight's election result was a small step in trying to alter the clusterfuck of the past eight years (and god only knows what Dubya will screw up before he finally heads back to Tejas), but while people can get a small nap now, the work is extremely far from over.
Some people may disagree with me and that's their right to do so. Now go argue amongst yourselves, I have to pick my jaw up off the floor.
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