This makes it unanimous!

Cheney furious with Bush.

Bush Legacy? Barack Obama!

President Bush isn't even out of the White House yet and the rewritting of history is already in full swing. Take this pap from Tara Wall deputy editor of the Washington Times and Bush apologist. It seems Tara believes the rejection of Bush and all things RepubliCON these past several months is just whining of a few crazy liberals. Funny the "crazy liberal" demographic now makes up 65 percent of the country.

The "crazy liberal" demographic aside, Tara quotes Secretary Rice who believes Bush's Presidency will be vindicated by history. Secretary Rice points to the President's keeping the homeland safe. In fact, President Bush himself summed up his adminstration thus, "President Bush was the president at a time when our nation was attacked, he clearly saw the dangers, he pursued the enemy, he put tools in place so the professionals could better protect the people, and the homeland was not attacked." However, the President is asking the American public to forget that he clearly didn't see or didn't care about the pending threat posed by Al Queda prior to 9/11!

It's also interesting that Rice, Wall and Bush's definition of safe is limited to preventing a repeat attack. However, the Bush administration's action facilitated the worst economic crisis since the great depression, sunk the nation into an unnecessary quagmire war, worsened the Katrina disaster and on and on and on. These actions have hardly made the nation "safer." In fact, it could be argued the country is in its worst position since the Civil War.

In the long run, Bush might get credit for creating the conditions that made the election of Barack Obama possible. A small silver lining in an otherwise dark cloud of a presidency. Good on you Bush!

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Hold a part of history. Get your Obama Inauguration shirts here!

George Bush and Laissez Faire, not so much

It always interesting to see conservatives ditch their principles when economic reality smacks their ideology in the face. So much for free market capitalism.

George Bush: We'll Miss You

A new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found that 18 percent of the American public will miss George Bush when he leaves office on January 20th.

Who knew America has that many political comedians?

What Scott Believes

Scott McClellan, former White House spokesman, is expected to release a tell all book next week. However, exerts have been leaked to the public and among the bombshell revelations, Scotty claims the White House was run in constant campaign mode, in denial regarding Hurricane Katrina and "surprise" trumped up the case for war in Iraq.

Former White House counsel Dan Bartlett states that McClellan betrayed the president's trust and asks "What did he really believe when he was serving as press secretary?"

Hmmm. . . Let's think about this.

Perhaps while press secretary Scotty believed America shouldn't go to war based on lies.

Or perhaps Scotty believed the Bush administration should worry more about disaster victims rather than its image.

Or maybe, just maybe Scotty finally realized as an American citizen ones true loyalty lies with the Constitution and the American public rather than an incompetent, wannabe emperor.

Update!

Not to let Scotty off the hook entirely, although its nice that he is finally listening to his conscience and telling the truth, his smack down of the failings of "liberal press" isn't entirely justified. While its true the mainstream media was complacent at best, a cheerleader at worst in the run up to the war, for Scotty to claim that a press corps that asked the right questions might have prevented the disaster is ridiculous.

First, its almost as if Scotty is stating that the administration would only tell the American public about issues related to media questions. Call it quaint but the federal government works for the public. If Scotty had information relevant to the sound workings of the government, he should have volunteered this information without question.

Next, many reporters did try to push McClellan on difficult subjects. Many, like Helen Thomas were smacked down. In fact, the White House went so far as to bring in fake reporters to lob Scotty soft ball questions, when press conferences got to heated.

Remember this guy?

Note from Scalia: Get Over it!

In a wide ranging interview to be aired this weekend on 60 Minutes, Supreme Court Justice Antonio Scalia defends his decision in the 2000 case Bush vs. Gore which effectively anointed George Bush as president. Scalia's answer to people who express continued concern over the wisdom of this decision: "Get over it. It's so old by now."

Really?

One wonders if Scalia would have the nads to tell the victims of Hurricane Katrina to get over his decision. A decision that led directly to significant loss of life across the gulf coast. Or how about telling it to the thousands of families who've sacrificed love ones in the president's misguided war.

In the end, why does Scalia care if the American public gets over his decision? Could it be continued questioning of the righteousness of Bush vs. Gore nags at his conscience? Unfortunately, that assumes he has one.

Still Not Safe? Department of WTF!

President Bush told a crowd of Homeland Security personnel recently, that despite their efforts these past five years the nation is still not safe.

Could it be this is Georgie's idea of a pep talk for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel? Given his failing grasp of reality, probably so.

But thinking people will see this comment as nothing but a slap in the face of the dedicated public servants whose job it is to protect this nation.

One Year to Go!

G.O.P. = Getting Out of the Party

CBS evening news released a poll last night showing people identifying themselves as politically independent at an all time high. Independents are up 25 percent from 1988.

CBS tries to paint this as bad news for both major parties, but astute observers ask where did these independents come from? The CBS poll clearly shows they are defectors from rebpubliCON party! In fact, CON identification is down 21 percent from 1988. Meanwhile, people identifying themselves as Democrats are basically unchanged during that time period.

Moreover, other CBS/New York Times polls show voters view Democrats more favorably than CONS, and feel the Democratic party will do a better job on important issues such as the economy and the war.

Over the past four presidential elections the GOP has won the popular vote only once, in 2004. At that time CON identification was 30 percent. However, given the dismal performance of the president and the current slate of CON candidates its unlikely the "grand old party" will sniff 30 percent support anytime soon.

Good luck in November CONS!

Why Does Bush hate the troops?

President Bush is set to veto a Defense spending bill. The bill includes a pay raise for soldiers and money for veteran health care.

One question. Why does President Bush and the other republiCON lawmakers who voted against the bill hate the troops so much?

Karl Rove's Extra Spin Cycle

Karl Rove is either losing his mind or thinks the American public is a bunch of chumps. Get this. Mr. spinmister recently made the assertion it was Congress that drove the country to war in 2002. Wow!



Forgetting for a moment it was administration officials such as Condi Rice and Dick Cheney who beat the war drums throughout 2001 and 2002, Rove actually blames former Senator Tom Daschle for the nation's rush to war. Rove seems oblivious to the fact the republiCONS controlled Congress when the Iraq war resolution passed. And as such it was the republiCONS, not Senator Daschle who had the power to slow down the race to war.

But a simple fact won't deter Karl. Rather, it probably won't be long before the spinmister claims Democrats were actually in charge of Congress at the start of the war. But why stop at merely blaming the Democrats for the war? Karl's real aim seems to be Bush's complete exoneration of any responsibility for the Iraq quagmire. So look for Karl soon after Georgie leaves office in 2009, to place total blame for the war on the left by not only claiming the Democrats were in charge of Congress when the first bombs fell on Baghdad, but more importantly Bush wasn't even President at the time.

Bush's Phony Government

So the Bush administration's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is in the news again. Everyone remembers FEMA for the bang up job they did with hurricane Katrina. Well now they held a phony press conference touting the outstanding job they are doing with the California fires. Problem is the supposed reporters present were FEMA employees, while real reporters on the phone were not allowed to ask questions. Oops!



Phony elections, phony press conferences, phony science, phony reasons for war, phony compassion. Does anyone else see a Bush government pattern of behavior?

Iraq Exploding with Success

During the revolutionary war, America defined victory as independence from British tyranny. The civil war it was preservation of the union and destruction of the institution of slavery. Crushing fascist dreams of world domination was the goal in World War II.

Today, American war success isn't defined by grand goals such as independence, preserving the union, or crushing Nazi plans. Rather, President Bush says it's "not no violence" in Iraq. What? Not no violence is what America has spent precious lives, billions of dollars and our national prestige fighting for in Iraq these past four years.

If "not no violence" is now the measure of success, it appears we've arrived at our Iraqi equivalent of Yorktown, Appomattox, Berlin or Tokyo in just the past couple of days. Evidence of our victory can be found here, here, here, here, also here, and this one too, oh yeah and here.

Odd, victory doesn't seem so sweet.

Thrown into the Brier Patch

In the movie Song of the South, the hero Brer Rabbit uses reverse psychology to escape the clutches of his enemies Brer Fox and Brer Bear. In the story, Fox and Bear have caught Rabbit after years of pursuit. Yet before they eat Rabbit, Fox and Bear discuss with Rabbit their cooking preparations. Skinning and boiling are two of the grizzly fates that await Brer Rabbit. Surprisingly, Brer Rabbit is calm when confronted with these futures. In fact, Rabbit welcomes being skinned, but begs Fox and Bear not to throw him in the brier patch, a dense thicket of branches studded with thorns and barbs. Rabbit continues, by all means boil me but don't throw me in the brier patch.

However, Song of the South viewers quickly understand Rabbit wants to be thrown into the brier patch. Fox and Bear being somewhat mentally challenged, fall for Rabbit's trick and chuck him into the patch. Rabbit lands singing "born and bred in the brier patch" leaving Fox and Bear dumbfounded as their meal escapes through the tangle of branches.


Unfortunately, George Bush should have been reading Song of the South rather than My Pet Goat when America was attacked on 9/11. If he had, the United States might be on its way to "escaping" the Iraqi brier patch.

Case in point, in a recent statement Al Quaeda's number two man Ayman al Zawahiri trashed the bill passed by Congress setting a timetable for the pullout of U.S. troops in Iraq. Calling the bill evidence of American "failure."

RepubliCONS and other right-wing hacks pounced on Zawahiri's statements in an attempt to paint Democrats as playing into Al Quaeda's hands. "See," they say, "Pulling our troops out is exactly what our enemies want. We must stay in Iraq."

Yet, Zawahiri's statement should strike most thinking adults as akin to Brer rabbit's cry "Don't Throw me in the brier patch!" Zawahiri wants America to stay in Iraq and take more causalities. Like Brer Fox and Brer Bear, President Bush threw Zawhairi back into the patch when he vetoed the timetable bill. Sadly, American troops will likely pay for the President's lack of a well read childhood.

Bushies to America: Do as I say!

This past week, the Senate passed a $122 billion Iraq War spending bill. In most years, a multi billion war appropriation would have republicans wetting their pants with joy. However, this bill contains a provision requiring the withdrawal of most U.S. forces by March of 2008. This has our fearless leader incensed. We expect there to be no strings on our on-the-ground personnel he says. The basic gist of the argument is that people in the field have a better understanding of problems and a greater appreciation for how best to solve them. While this logic overlooks the fact that Congress does have Constitutional oversight authority over the executive branch, it does have some validity. People closer to the problems, often know best how to solve them.

However, the no strings requirement doesn't seem to apply to state side civil servants. Nor does the bar on meddling in local decisions pertain to Bush administration politicos. In fact, Bush lackeys not only second guess the professional judgement of "on-the-ground" federal personnel, they appear empowered to overturn decisions that conflict with the Bush admin's questionable world view. Case in point, Julie A. MacDonald, a political hack in the Interior department repeatedly altered the scientific field reports of professional land managers to the detriment of endangered species. Ms. MacDonald made these changes despite the fact that she has no, repeat that NO formal education in natural sciences. In other words, she lacks any qualification to second guess the judgement of wildlife managers. But according to the administration this is totally hunky dory.

In a nutshell, Bushies think Congress' Constitutional oversight of local managers is bad, while meddling by political appointees in the work of stateside local managers is good. Go figure.

Katrina Take Two?

President Bush recently toured the tornado torn South exuding compassion for those who have had their lives turned upside down. The White House's new found compassion is an obvious response to its incompetent handling of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. While the President's walk among the people is touching, actual on-the-ground assistance is what is truly needed. People shouldn't hold their breath on fast action. More than a year after the Katrina disaster several areas of New Orleans including its 9th Ward still need debris and wreckage removed. Further, vital service such as gas and electricity have yet to be fully restored.

During his remarks to tornado survivors, President Bush stated "Out of this rubble will emerge a better tomorrow." Given the President's disastrous Iraq war, his response to Katrina and approach to issues such as climate change, many Americans are hoping the country will see a "better tomorrow" out of the rubble of this administration.

State of the Union, Ugh!

Random thoughts on the President's State of the Union. What a mess!

Intro
Some in this chamber are new to the House and the Senate -- and I congratulate the Democrat majority. Congress has changed, but not our responsibilities. Each of us is guided by our own convictions -- and to these we must stay faithful. Yet we're all held to the same standards, and called to serve the same good purposes: To extend this nation's prosperity; to spend the people's money wisely; to solve problems, not leave them to future generations; (such as the national debt, climate change, or the war?) to guard America against all evil; and to keep faith with those we have sent forth to defend us.

We're not the first to come here with a government divided and uncertainty in the air. Like many before us, we can work through our differences, and achieve big things for the American people. Our citizens don't much care which side of the aisle we sit on (Can the Democrats quote the President on this come the elections in 2008?)-- as long as we're willing to cross that aisle when there is work to be done.

Budget
First, we must balance the federal budget. We can do so without raising taxes. (Certainly, if one makes deep cuts to social programs. Given that the defense department and entitlement programs such as social security and medicare take up roughly 2/3 of the budget, there isn’t much left to balance the budget with but social programs like those designed to protect the environment, better education and improve labor conditions.) What we need to do is impose spending discipline in Washington, D.C. (Interesting that Republicans, the “fiscal responsibility” party wern't able to do this over the past six years.) We set a goal of cutting the deficit in half by 2009, and met that goal three years ahead of schedule. Now let us take the next step. In the coming weeks, I will submit a budget that eliminates the federal deficit within the next five years. (During the Clinton administration the budget actually ran a surplus. The current administration shoots for balancing the budget three years after its out of office. How bold!)

Next, there is the matter of earmarks. These special interest items are often slipped into bills at the last hour -- when not even C-SPAN is watching. In 2005 alone, the number of earmarks grew to over 13,000 and totaled nearly $18 billion. Even worse, over 90 percent of earmarks never make it to the floor of the House and Senate -- they are dropped into committee reports that are not even part of the bill that arrives on my desk. (It's odd the President didn’t veto a single one of the earmarks that did make it to his desk! Rejecting those might have been a good first step in bringing the budget into balance and given him some credibility on this matter.)

Immigration
We need to uphold the great tradition of the melting pot that welcomes and assimilates new arrivals. We need to resolve the status of the illegal immigrants who are already in our country without animosity and without amnesty. Convictions run deep in this Capitol when it comes to immigration. Let us have a serious, civil, and conclusive debate, so that you can pass, and I can sign, comprehensive immigration reform into law. (Republican Tom Tancredo’s Presidential bid just took it in the shorts.)

Courts
A future of hope and opportunity requires a fair, impartial system of justice. The lives of our citizens across our nation are affected by the outcome of cases pending in our federal courts. We have a shared obligation to ensure that the federal courts have enough judges to hear those cases and deliver timely rulings. As President, I have a duty to nominate qualified men and women to vacancies on the federal bench. And the United States Senate has a duty, as well, to give those nominees a fair hearing, and a prompt up-or-down vote on the Senate floor. (Really? Where in the Constitution does it place this requirement on the Senate?)

Terrorism
In the sixth year since our nation was attacked, I wish I could report to you that the dangers had ended. They have not. And so it remains the policy of this government to use every lawful (and a few unlawful) and proper tool of intelligence, diplomacy, law enforcement, and military action to do our duty, to find these enemies, and to protect the American people.

Iraq
This is not the fight we entered in Iraq, but it is the fight we're in. (Nearly two thirds through his speech before the President finally mentions the most pressing issue on our time.) Every one of us wishes this war were over and won. (What happened to mission accomplished?)

In order to make progress toward this goal, the Iraqi government must stop the sectarian violence (Can you say code word for civil war?) in its capital.

The war on terror we fight today is a generational struggle that will continue long after you and I have turned our duties over to others. And that's why it's important to work together so our nation can see this great effort through. Both parties and both branches should work in close consultation. (It appears the president doesn’t recognize the authority of the judicial branch in the fight on terror.)

And one of the first steps we can take together is to add to the ranks of our military so that the American Armed Forces are ready for all the challenges ahead. Tonight I ask the Congress to authorize an increase in the size of our active Army and Marine Corps by 92,000 in the next five years. (Do you feel a draft?)

What the president didn't mention is just as interesting such as drilling in ANWR, New Orleans and its recovery after Katrina and the recent Chinese missile crisis and speaks volumes about his priorities.

Lincoln Rolling in his Grave

Recently, conservative mouthpieces such as Fred Barnes of the Weekly Standard and Michael Goodwin of the New York Daily News have begun comparing George Bush to Abraham Lincoln. What a joke! The differences between our first Republican President and the current one are like night and day.

First, Mr. Lincoln’s war, unlike Bush’s incursion into Iraq, was forced upon him. Next, Mr. Lincoln’s policies were designed to hold the union together during a time of national crisis. By comparison Mr. Bush’s plans during an equally trying time appear to be tearing the nation apart. Third, Mr. Lincoln served and fought in our nation’s military. During Vietnam, Mr. Bush got a cozy deployment in the states. Finally, Mr. Lincoln was often referred to as “Honest” Abe. It is unlikely many would hang that nickname upon Mr. Bush and his administration.

Other than being Republicans, there is little these two Presidents share in common and it is doubtful Mr. Lincoln would appreciate the comparison.