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The Bush Watch - Chapter 2

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  • The Bush Watch - Chapter 2

    Originally posted by Miulang

    What his administration is going to do is cut jobs here in the country, while pouring dollars into the economies of places like Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, etc. Despotic "friends" of the US government will be lining their coffers with our money.

    First it was the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs, then some service industry jobs (ever tried talking to Dell customer service?) and now some defense jobs as well.

    Miulang
    Well, here's further evidence that the speed at which the Bush Administration wants to close bases in this country will be exceeded by the DoD's drive to place more bases in countries around the world which are of strategic interest to us, either for geopolitical reasons or for their natural resources.

    Write to your Congressional representatives and let them know that saving money for the DoD does not mean shipping jobs and troops overseas.

    Miulang
    "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

  • #2
    Watergate Redux?

    Most of us remember what happened in the 1970s with the Watergate scandal that led to Richard Nixon resigning the Presidency before he could be impeached. During Nixon's reign, the same forces were in play that exist today: duplicity on the part of the Administration (the latest example being the "smoking gun memo" that was released by the Brits), paranoia (thanks to the neocons who surround Dubya), and a mania for power (manifested by Dubya and every other senior level official in his cabinet).

    Will history also repeat itself with the current Administration either being forced to resign in shame or being impeached? Only time will tell.

    Miulang
    "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: The Bush Watch

      Originally posted by Miulang
      Neener neener! The International Red Cross complained in 2003 about the abuse of the Koran at Gitmo. Why isn't the White House asking that organization for a retraction? Hmmm?

      Miulang
      Well, the DoD has finally come out and admitted that the Koran WAS abused by guards at Gitmo. Maybe the guards didn't flush pages of the Koran down the toilet, but the report stated that a prison guard splashed a Koran inadvertently with urine, an interrogator stepped on the holy book, and an obscenity was written on the inside cover of a Koran.

      Would Bible thumpers be outraged if Muslims did the same to the Holy Bible? You bet your sweet okole they would.

      Miulang
      "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

      Comment


      • #4
        And the richest keep getting richer...

        Thanks to the current administration, those of us at the lower end of the economic food chain continue to see our financial progress eroded, while the very richest of the rich are now making even more money.

        According to this story, 53 percent of the President's proposed tax cuts will go to people with incomes in the top 10 percent over the first 15 years of the cuts. And more than 15 percent will go just to the top 0.1 percent, 145,000 taxpayers with at least $1.6 million in income!

        People who earn less than $40,000 annually also benefit, but the taxpayers who will bear most of the brunt of the tax burden are those who earn between $75,000 and $1 million and who pay the alternative minimum tax, which will barely touch those who earn more than that.

        As the rest of us struggle to make ends meet, the heads of large corporations are getting richer and richer. Even when they get fired (a la Carly Fiorina) they still make out like bandits with their golden parachutes.

        Miulang
        "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

        Comment


        • #5
          What war on terrorism?

          Seems that the Bush PR guys have given up on the war on terror (essentially because evidence has shown that the White House fabricated evidence to justify invading Iraq, and the Prez himself in 2002 said Osama Bin Laden was not important). Now the White House is waving the stars and stripes for the spread of "democracy" all over the world.

          Hmmm...if I was an Iraqi citizen who had been subjected to more than 2 years of harassment, physical and emotional distress and lies by an invading army who disrespected my religion, would I want to stand up and be counted as someone who was for the American brand of democracy? I don't think so.

          We have also tried to foist our brand of democracy on governments and countries who do not see the US brand of democracy is being in their best interest. See, they're plugged in to the Information Age now. They can read and hear the same things that we see and hear (and then some). They see the atrocities being committed at places like Abu Ghraib and Gitmo. They know that when the Bush emissaries come courting, it's not because we're extending our hand in altruistic friendship but because America wants something from them.

          Ever since I worked for an NGO in Boston, I decided that every country in the world does not need our kind of "democracy" in the very same way that not every "backward" nation needs our kind of high technology. The regimes that do come over to our side are not doing it for their citizens; they're doing it because they are greedy and want to line their own personal pockets.

          Miulang
          "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: The Bush Watch

            Our Department of Homeland Security has been busy...creating scenarios for events that could be staged by "Universal Adversaries". Of course, they claim that their work is succeeding, because, after all, no terrorists have been captured on our soil since 9/11.

            Here's a sneak peak at their plans to defend against these "universal adversaries". Unfortunately, some people who disagree with the Patriot Act and Homeland Securities acts might be swept into that "universal adversary" heap if we ever had martial law declared. So if you're not lily white and 100% behind the White House, you, too, might get interned (shades of Order 9066! )

            The Homeland Security boys have had problems trapping suspected "terrorists" in this country, "...so in order to justify their existence, the FBI has resorted to creating terrorists by soliciting Muslim-Americans and appealing to them with schemes to aid "jihadists." Recently, two American citizens were caught in a FBI sting. One, an Ivy-League educated physician, is charged with agreeing to provide medical care to wounded holy warriors in Saudi Arabia. The other, a famous jazz musician, is charged with agreeing to train jihadists in martial arts..."

            The article continues by saying that the doctor was merely following his Hippocratic oath to do no harm, regardless of the person's nationality or oath of allegiance. To call this doctor a "terrorist" for doing his job to do no harm is ludicrous. It means that the US government would not want him to do everything possible to save another life. In the other case, how many people have been killed by a terrorist using karate?

            In the bad old days, allegations like this would be thrown out of court as entrapment. Nowadays, it's enough to get one thrown into jail even if the only people the accused were speaking with were FBI undercover agents. They were never caught in the act of doing anything illegal. In these cases again, they will be declared guilty until found innocent.

            Miulang
            "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

            Comment


            • #7
              Big Business as Usual

              One of the main reasons why the US did not sign the Kyoto Protocol against global warming is because Exxon-Mobil cozied up to the White House and told them not to agree to it. Mind you, the US and Australia were about the only developed countries who refused to sign the accord. Everywhere else in the world, there is acknowledgement that global warming is one of the most pressing issues facing the planet. Not agreeing to be part of the solution to global warming is not making us any friends abroad.

              Would any other President have had an ostrich with its head in the sand stance about endangering his country and all others? I doubt it. It's very obvious where this White House's loyalties lie.

              Oh, and that wonderful energy bill that the Prez says Congress must pass? Guess who gets to profit from that? Former Enron officials, among others!

              Miulang
              "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

              Comment


              • #8
                A terrorist conspiracy?

                Is it just me, or does anyone else think it very suspicious that all of a sudden within the last couple of weeks there are these arrests of "suspected terrorists" in FL, CA and elsewhere, just as the White House is going before Congress to ask to have the Patriot Act broadened? Is Karl Rove staging bogus events to upset the citizenry into believing that they really truly want more of their civil rights taken away so "Big Brother" can intrude even more?

                Right now, all the Feds can claim in the Lodi, CA case is the 2 "suspects" lied. They can't prove that they were in the process of actually planning to commit acts of terrorism in the US.

                Is this not vaguely reminescent of the McCarthy era when most of Hollywood was labeled "Communist"? Most of us are way too young to remember the witch hunts, blacklisting and the Congressional hearings that surrounded that sad era, but from what I have read, what's happening now to Muslim-Americans really does sound like McCarthy redux.

                Miulang
                "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

                Comment


                • #9
                  "Bottom of the barrel" Army recruiting?

                  With the Army and Reserves failing to meet their recruitment quotas for the fourth month in a row, besides having to resort to unprofessional tactics to get young people to enlist, they are now also lowering their standards for enlistees.

                  It appears that the only people they will reject now are the ones who are physically disabled. People with psychiatric histories, etc., who are ranked Class IV, are now being signed up.

                  On the battlefield, will these people be emotionally able to carry out their duties and protect themselves and their buddies?

                  If we have to send troops to quell an insurgency in some other country, where will those troops come from? We can probably redeploy some troops from Asia, but that won't be anough to keep our interests safe in that part of the world.

                  Seems to me that a draft is inevitable now, thanks to the White House.

                  Miulang
                  "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Congressional Impeachment Hearings

                    Might be on C-SPAN; doubt any of the other stations would have the balls to carry it. Convenient that the Republicans don't want the hearings to be actually held in the halls of Congress; the Dems have to hold it at DNC HQs. And then the Republicans can claim partisanship. Talk about dirty politics!

                    Miulang
                    ************************************************** ******
                    HEARINGS ON DOWNING STREET MINUTES SET FOR 1 PM THURSDAY

                    Hearings to be held at DNC because Republicans Denying Democrats Use of Rooms on Hill

                    On Thursday June 16, 2005, at 1:00 p.m. in the Wasserman Room at 430 S Capitol St. SE, Washington, D.C., Rep. John Conyers, Jr., Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and other Congress Members will hold a hearing on the Downing Street Minutes and related evidence of efforts to cook the books on pre-war intelligence.

                    The hearings are being held at the Democratic National Committee because the Republicans controlling the House Judiciary Committee refused to permit the ranking Democratic Member to use a room on the Hill. http://www.thehill.com/thehill/expor...ome/index.html Nonetheless, Republicans are welcome to attend.

                    Later on the same day at 5:00 p.m. ET in Lafayette Square Park, in front of the White House, a large rally will support Congressman Conyers who plans to deliver to the White House a letter addressed to President Bush and signed by over 500,000 Americans and at least 94 Congress Members. The letter asks the President to respond to questions raised by the Downing Street Minutes.

                    Among those speaking at the hearings will be: Joe Wilson, Former Ambassador and WMD Expert; Ray McGovern, 27-year CIA analyst who prepared regular Presidential briefings during the Reagan administration; Cindy Sheehan, mother of fallen American soldier; John Bonifaz, renowned constitutional lawyer and co-founder of AfterDowningStreet.org.

                    Among those speaking at the rally will be: Congressman Conyers and various other Congress Members, Cindy Sheehan of Gold Star Families for Peace, John Bonifaz of AfterDowningStreet.org, Ray McGovern former CIA analyst, Medea Benjamin of Global Exchange, Rev. Lennox Yearwood of Progressive Democrats of America, Stephen Cleghorn of Military Families Speak Out, Kevin Zeese, Director of Democracy Rising. More information, and flyers promoting the rally, are available at http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/

                    Flyers to print, copy, and distribute widely:

                    http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/downloads/rally.pdf

                    LOCAL RALLIES PLANNED AROUND COUNTRY

                    Supporters of this campaign are independently organizing rallies on Thursday at locations around the country.

                    http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/mo...rticle&sid=211

                    AfterDowningStreet.org is a rapidly growing coalition of veterans' groups, peace groups, and political activist groups, which launched on May 26, 2005, a campaign to urge the U.S. Congress to begin a formal investigation into whether President Bush has committed impeachable offenses in connection with the Iraq war.

                    David Swanson david@davidswanson.org 202-329-7847

                    Jonathan Schwarz jonathan_schwarz@sbcglobal.net 773-296-0838
                    "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: The Bush Watch

                      This article is kind of interesting, especially since it was written by a former ghost writer for George Bush. Even more pertinent, the story was published last year. Of course, no one read it because it was in the "Progressive" media. Looks like ole blabbermouth George couldn't keep his lip zipped about his empirical aspirations!

                      Miulang
                      "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        The Case for Impeachment

                        One more law professor of international law weighing in on the possibility of trying the leaders of the White House for lying about the war in Iraq.

                        Miulang
                        "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          A Sept. 11 conspiracy?

                          The speculation that the World Trade Center and an adjacent building were not brought down by the 2 hijacked planes, but by a series of controlled demolitions, has been around for awhile, but I have never read anything previously to actually document it.

                          "...Former chief economist for the Department of Labor during President George W. Bush's first term Morgan Reynolds comments that the official story about the collapse of the WTC is "bogus" and that it is more likely that a controlled demolition destroyed the Twin Towers and adjacent Building No. 7. ..."

                          Bush apologists will be keeling over in apoplectic fits when they read this. And coming from the mouths of one of the President's people, too. I hope we find out the truth sooner than we've been able to find out who assassinated John F. Kennedy.

                          Miulang
                          "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: The Bush Watch

                            Tsk, tsk. Poor Pres. Bush, with his approval ratings at its abysmal lowest ever, he has decided that attacking his opponents is the way he's going to win back that "political capital" that he was crowing about when he was re-elected.

                            Unfortunately for him, the political door swings both ways, and either way will get you in the okole. As he is decrying the obstructionist tactics of the Democrats, what do members of his very own party do? John Stensenbrenner last week walked off with the gavel during a subcommittee hearing, and one of his staffers conveniently killed the microphone into which someone (from the Democratic side) was trying to present testimony. Then the ranking Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee refuse to allow John Conyers to hold his forum on the articles of impeachment of the President on Capitol Hill, claiming that the Democrats aren't following the rules. Nevermind that some moderate Republicans are also on the verge of bailing out on George's excellent adventure already.

                            I think it's time to send these boys into the corner without their supper.

                            Miulang
                            "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              How do we keep history from repeating itself?

                              By remembering this cliche: "Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it." More thoughts on the similarities between our decline and those of the glorious ancient empires.

                              Miulang
                              "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

                              Comment

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