The Iraq War keeps getting stranger and stranger.
The media is reporting that U.S. Marines slaughtered two dozen Iraqi civilians, including women and children last November.
The American public does not like it when adults deliberately hurt or murder children. They hate it, in fact.
The current backlash going on in the U.S. against sex offenders should be proof enough of that. So is anyone really surprised to hear that there's building anger at allegations of U.S. adults gunning down unarmed children?
The American public also hates cover-ups and the media is leading the charge in saying that this particular Marine unit may have engaged in one, telling their superiors that the dead were killed by a roadside bomb.
The investigations are ongoing, but it is clear that the media and Representative Murtha would rather skip the investigation and trial. They would rather condemn the Marines that may have been involved. They need to be reminded that in this country all suspects are innocent until they are found guilty in a COURT OF LAW, not in the court of public opinion to which their opinions belong.
Nothing good is going to come of this. It will be a disaster if the media reports are correct; but they ought to give the Marines a fair shake before sending them to the gallows.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Monday, May 29, 2006
Murtha's Wrong Again: Marine Scandal Won't Shake the World As Much as Iraq Prison Sex Scandal Did
Representative Murtha's tooting his own horn again.
Now he's saying that the recent Marine Corps "atrocity" involving the slaughter of Iraqi civilians will inflame the Muslim world and undermine U.S. goals in Iraq more than the Abu Gharib sex scandal did.
No it won't.
As bad as this appears to be, it could quite easily have been another party that killed the Iraqis and not the Marines. There are no clear-cut photos of the Marines slaughtering the civilians as there were of U.S. military personnel sexually abusing Iraqi prisoners, nor of U.S. troops burning bodies of dead enemy bodies. There's tons of circumstancial evidence, but none of it has been officially confirmed.
Murtha is rushing to judgment before everything has been investigated. He needs to tone down his rhetoric and let the process work.
Sometimes it's too bad that the military is forbidden (by law) to say what's really on their minds about the civilian leadership. Some of the Marines want to give both parties a piece of their minds.
Now he's saying that the recent Marine Corps "atrocity" involving the slaughter of Iraqi civilians will inflame the Muslim world and undermine U.S. goals in Iraq more than the Abu Gharib sex scandal did.
No it won't.
As bad as this appears to be, it could quite easily have been another party that killed the Iraqis and not the Marines. There are no clear-cut photos of the Marines slaughtering the civilians as there were of U.S. military personnel sexually abusing Iraqi prisoners, nor of U.S. troops burning bodies of dead enemy bodies. There's tons of circumstancial evidence, but none of it has been officially confirmed.
Murtha is rushing to judgment before everything has been investigated. He needs to tone down his rhetoric and let the process work.
Sometimes it's too bad that the military is forbidden (by law) to say what's really on their minds about the civilian leadership. Some of the Marines want to give both parties a piece of their minds.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Gonzales's Stock Has Shot Way Up: He Threatened to Resign if the White House Impeded the Congressman Jefferson Investigation
U.S. Attorney General Gonzales and other top law enforcement officials threatened to resign if the White House ordered him to return documents seized in a raid on Congressman Jefferson's Washington office.
Now that's the type of independence and tenacity that I like to see from an attorney general. He's finally established the lines between his friendship with President Bush and what is required of him to uphold the law.
Attorney General Gonzales's stock has gone way up with me. He needs to stick to his guns; he's absolutely right in protecting the integrity of a criminal case...even one against a member of the Washington elite.
This is about criminal law, not Congressional privileges. Congress ought to remember that before they go rushing to the defense of one of their own who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. How many other Congressional hands are in that same cookie jar, I wonder? That's what this is really about.
Now would be a good time to give the "come to Jesus" speech to Congress.
Now that's the type of independence and tenacity that I like to see from an attorney general. He's finally established the lines between his friendship with President Bush and what is required of him to uphold the law.
Attorney General Gonzales's stock has gone way up with me. He needs to stick to his guns; he's absolutely right in protecting the integrity of a criminal case...even one against a member of the Washington elite.
This is about criminal law, not Congressional privileges. Congress ought to remember that before they go rushing to the defense of one of their own who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. How many other Congressional hands are in that same cookie jar, I wonder? That's what this is really about.
Now would be a good time to give the "come to Jesus" speech to Congress.
Instructional Series: What to Do If You Get Threatening E-mails from "PayPal"
I've received two fradulant e-mails from someone claiming to be PayPal in the last twelve hours.
The fake e-mails will ask for you to enter or update your personal information. If you should get one like this from paypal, you should forward the e-mail AS-IS to spoof@paypal.com
Do not add commentary. Just forward the thing, then they will e-mail you back and tell you if it's a fake or a legitimate e-mail. They NEVER ask for personal information in an e-mail...that's how to tell if it's a fake.
Do not click on any of the links in these e-mails. They will take you to a fake paypal web site, then will have you enter your user name and password. That's the danger...they then have your account information and can start spending your money.
If you give them your social security number and birthdate as well, you can kiss your identity goodbye. Someone else will take over your life and it'll take YEARS to straighten out.
The fake e-mails will ask for you to enter or update your personal information. If you should get one like this from paypal, you should forward the e-mail AS-IS to spoof@paypal.com
Do not add commentary. Just forward the thing, then they will e-mail you back and tell you if it's a fake or a legitimate e-mail. They NEVER ask for personal information in an e-mail...that's how to tell if it's a fake.
Do not click on any of the links in these e-mails. They will take you to a fake paypal web site, then will have you enter your user name and password. That's the danger...they then have your account information and can start spending your money.
If you give them your social security number and birthdate as well, you can kiss your identity goodbye. Someone else will take over your life and it'll take YEARS to straighten out.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Does $70 Billion Tax Cut Translate into $70 Billion Less in Congressional Pork?
NOT!! Tax cuts should translate directly into government spending cuts and, specifically, pork spending cuts.
Will it happen? It should, but past experience says that it definitely won't.
Riders are killing the federal budget and the Republican tax cuts without corresponding cuts in federal spending are ill-advised. At current spending and income levels, it is being projected that we will hit the $10 trillion debt mark soon.
We're going to drown if they don't get their spending under control.
Will it happen? It should, but past experience says that it definitely won't.
Riders are killing the federal budget and the Republican tax cuts without corresponding cuts in federal spending are ill-advised. At current spending and income levels, it is being projected that we will hit the $10 trillion debt mark soon.
We're going to drown if they don't get their spending under control.
Letter From Iran Also Ignores Pre-9/11 Bush Isolationism: Bush Was Happy to Step Back from World Stage Until 9/11 Forced Him Back Onto It
Does anyone remember a time when President Bush was focused more on domestic agenda items than international ones?
In the time period between the election fiasco of 2000 and the events of 9/11, people in this country and around the world thought that the U.S. was entering an isolationist era. President Bush's overseas trips were few and far in between.
Then 9/11 happened. Shortly afterwards, President Bush ramped up U.S. involvement overseas in a huge way and the country was set on it's current course.
People blame Bush for the current state of international/U.S. affairs, but it should be noted that if 9/11 hadn't been carried out by al-Qaeda, we would still be at peace. But the terrorists intervened and it paved the way to where we are today.
And Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism. Their hands are drenched in the blood of innocents. So they don't have too much room to talk either, and especially in God's name. The tone of the Iranian President's letter is appalling in that way.
They need to change their tune and fast.
In the time period between the election fiasco of 2000 and the events of 9/11, people in this country and around the world thought that the U.S. was entering an isolationist era. President Bush's overseas trips were few and far in between.
Then 9/11 happened. Shortly afterwards, President Bush ramped up U.S. involvement overseas in a huge way and the country was set on it's current course.
People blame Bush for the current state of international/U.S. affairs, but it should be noted that if 9/11 hadn't been carried out by al-Qaeda, we would still be at peace. But the terrorists intervened and it paved the way to where we are today.
And Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism. Their hands are drenched in the blood of innocents. So they don't have too much room to talk either, and especially in God's name. The tone of the Iranian President's letter is appalling in that way.
They need to change their tune and fast.
Iranian President's Letter to President Bush Provides Plenty of Topics for Good Sermons at a Mosque, But Does Nothing to Address Nuclear Crisis
One would have thought that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's eighteen page letter to President Bush would devote at least one paragraph to a political settlement of Iran's troublesome nuclear problem.
There was not a single paragraph that addressed the issue. In fact, there was not a single word about it. The word "nuclear" is used once and it is used to criticize Washington's wariness of Iran's potential nuclear capability.
The Bush Administration examined the letter for any proposals that would have given both nations a foundation for talking and then rejected it when they failed to find anything useful in it.
A one-page letter from Ahmadinejad proposing a halt to Iran's nuclear program, an immediate termination of Iranian support of international terrorism and an abandonment of fiery rhetoric against Israel in exchange for a non-aggression pact would have led to immediate talks between Washington and Tehran. It could have also lead to an eventual exchange of ambassadors between the two countries.
Ahmadinejad fails to grasp that this is not a religious matter with a religious solution. This problem requires a political solution.
In fact, religious discussions are a separate issue from the nuclear issue entirely. So are the failings (in the Iranian President's own words) of liberalism and democracy. As a teacher, Ahmadinejad should remember that despotism and theocracies precede gigantic body counts, as Nazi Germany, Armenia, Cambodia, Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Rwanda, Darfur and Saddam's Iraq have shown us.
This nuclear crisis is entirely of his making. He's the one who wants nuclear arms, not Bush.
President Bush should write back a one-page response with some kind of political solution to Ahmadinejad and his mullah overseers, who are the true rulers of Iran and see what happens. Let the scholars debate Islam and democracy and the politicians negotiate.
There was not a single paragraph that addressed the issue. In fact, there was not a single word about it. The word "nuclear" is used once and it is used to criticize Washington's wariness of Iran's potential nuclear capability.
The Bush Administration examined the letter for any proposals that would have given both nations a foundation for talking and then rejected it when they failed to find anything useful in it.
A one-page letter from Ahmadinejad proposing a halt to Iran's nuclear program, an immediate termination of Iranian support of international terrorism and an abandonment of fiery rhetoric against Israel in exchange for a non-aggression pact would have led to immediate talks between Washington and Tehran. It could have also lead to an eventual exchange of ambassadors between the two countries.
Ahmadinejad fails to grasp that this is not a religious matter with a religious solution. This problem requires a political solution.
In fact, religious discussions are a separate issue from the nuclear issue entirely. So are the failings (in the Iranian President's own words) of liberalism and democracy. As a teacher, Ahmadinejad should remember that despotism and theocracies precede gigantic body counts, as Nazi Germany, Armenia, Cambodia, Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Rwanda, Darfur and Saddam's Iraq have shown us.
This nuclear crisis is entirely of his making. He's the one who wants nuclear arms, not Bush.
President Bush should write back a one-page response with some kind of political solution to Ahmadinejad and his mullah overseers, who are the true rulers of Iran and see what happens. Let the scholars debate Islam and democracy and the politicians negotiate.
Political Apointees in Defense Department Should Have Served in Military so that They Have an Idea as to What the Military Needs to Fight a War
The supreme law of the land, the U.S. Constitution, makes it clear that command of the U.S. military resides with the elected civilian leadership of the government, and not solely with the military brass itself. That is how it should be.
But common sense says that political apointees to the top leadership positions at the Defense Department should have military experience so that they understand military strategy and provide what the military needs to fight and win a war.
Given the dangerous times we live in, future Presidents should nominate qualified people for these positions and not someone because of their political connections (though they are useful) or to reward a political favor as has happened in the past. (I'm not referring to Rumsfeld--he's a former Navy pilot). And the Senate, when confirming the leadership of the Pentagon, should be asking the kinds of questions that will prevent such an event from happening.
But common sense says that political apointees to the top leadership positions at the Defense Department should have military experience so that they understand military strategy and provide what the military needs to fight and win a war.
Given the dangerous times we live in, future Presidents should nominate qualified people for these positions and not someone because of their political connections (though they are useful) or to reward a political favor as has happened in the past. (I'm not referring to Rumsfeld--he's a former Navy pilot). And the Senate, when confirming the leadership of the Pentagon, should be asking the kinds of questions that will prevent such an event from happening.
Jury Awards $2.25 Million to Innocent Man Who Came Within Nine Days of Being Executed: Case Highlights Troubled Death Penalty System
Back at the beginning of May, news broke that a Virginia jury had awarded $2.25 million to a man who was wrongfully convicted of a heinous crime and came within nine days of being executed for that crime.
DNA evidence cleared him and tied a convicted rapist to the 1982 murder.
This is no poster boy for the anti-death penalty movement, but it again calls into question a system that rends an ultimate solution before all the evidence is properly looked at and new technology is brought to bear on questionable evidence. In the case of Earl Washington, the evidence itself was fabricated. He spent nearly ten years on death row.
How many more cases like this are out there?
DNA evidence cleared him and tied a convicted rapist to the 1982 murder.
This is no poster boy for the anti-death penalty movement, but it again calls into question a system that rends an ultimate solution before all the evidence is properly looked at and new technology is brought to bear on questionable evidence. In the case of Earl Washington, the evidence itself was fabricated. He spent nearly ten years on death row.
How many more cases like this are out there?
White House Report on Bird Flu Pandemic Paints a Bleak Picture: Doomsday Scenario Projects 2 Million American Dead & Up to 1/3 of Work Force Sick
The White House recently released a study on what it's plan would be if the U.S. were to be hit by a pandemic bird flu. The paper included three hundred recommendations.
It projects two million American dead, widescale labor shortages, travel bans, voluntary quarantines, closure of public gathering places, National Guard deployments to deliver food and medicines, use of flu masks and gloves and an array of other ideas. Employers are being encouraged to allow people to work from home if possible.
It also says federal involvment would be mininal and that communities and states would be on their own. That's a little troubling. Hopefully the CDC would stay involved on all levels in developing a vaccine if such an outbreak were to hit.
It projects two million American dead, widescale labor shortages, travel bans, voluntary quarantines, closure of public gathering places, National Guard deployments to deliver food and medicines, use of flu masks and gloves and an array of other ideas. Employers are being encouraged to allow people to work from home if possible.
It also says federal involvment would be mininal and that communities and states would be on their own. That's a little troubling. Hopefully the CDC would stay involved on all levels in developing a vaccine if such an outbreak were to hit.
Catch Up
Going to be doing quite a bit of catch-up. In the time I haven't been posting, I've been writing stuff in my journal for eventual posting on this blog.
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Republicans in Congress Object to FBI Search of Accused Congressman's Office
Lawmakers up on Capitol Hill are screeching about an FBI search of Congressman William J. Jefferson's Washington offices as part of an FBI corruption investigation.
House Majority Leader Hastert told President Bush that the search was unconstitutional and was a violation of the separation of powers clause of the Constitution.
Huh??!
According to reports, the FBI had probable cause to believe that Congressman Jefferson had been hiding information from them in his Washington office after smuggling certain items out of his New Orleans home after Hurricane Katrina roared ashore. They got a valid search warrant from a judge in good standing and executed the warrant.
If Congressman Jefferson was using his office to hide stuff from the FBI, then the FBI had every right to search the office for those materials. Furthermore, that would make it a law enforcement matter, not an executive branch "invasion" of the legislative branch as the screeching Congressional leadership have been bellyaching about. The FBI's search warrant spelled out exactly what they were looking for, so other confidential records would not have been seized.
Do members of Congress really think they're above the law? If they do, then they ought to do the noble thing and RESIGN! They're the same as everyone else in all matters, including criminal law.
The Constitution does NOT excuse Congress from following the law.
House Majority Leader Hastert told President Bush that the search was unconstitutional and was a violation of the separation of powers clause of the Constitution.
Huh??!
According to reports, the FBI had probable cause to believe that Congressman Jefferson had been hiding information from them in his Washington office after smuggling certain items out of his New Orleans home after Hurricane Katrina roared ashore. They got a valid search warrant from a judge in good standing and executed the warrant.
If Congressman Jefferson was using his office to hide stuff from the FBI, then the FBI had every right to search the office for those materials. Furthermore, that would make it a law enforcement matter, not an executive branch "invasion" of the legislative branch as the screeching Congressional leadership have been bellyaching about. The FBI's search warrant spelled out exactly what they were looking for, so other confidential records would not have been seized.
Do members of Congress really think they're above the law? If they do, then they ought to do the noble thing and RESIGN! They're the same as everyone else in all matters, including criminal law.
The Constitution does NOT excuse Congress from following the law.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
More Mexican Government Hypocrisy: Illegals Barred From Employment in Mexico
Mexico is so concerned about it's citizens being able to gain U.S. citizenship and hold U.S. jobs that they've stuck their nose in at every opportunity. Yet in their own country, non-native born people cannot get a job.
Here's the story. It's a really interesting read.
So not only does Mexican law exclude illegals, but it also excludes Mexican citizens who came from elsewhere but have gone through the Mexican naturalization process. It's a racist and xenophobic policy. That's exactly what they're saying about our system while ignoring their own shortfalls.
Perhaps Mexico should practice what it preachs to others who threaten THEIR BOTTOM LINE.
Here's the story. It's a really interesting read.
So not only does Mexican law exclude illegals, but it also excludes Mexican citizens who came from elsewhere but have gone through the Mexican naturalization process. It's a racist and xenophobic policy. That's exactly what they're saying about our system while ignoring their own shortfalls.
Perhaps Mexico should practice what it preachs to others who threaten THEIR BOTTOM LINE.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Defense/Katrina Bill Needs to Be Split Into It's Main Components: What Does the Iraq War Have to Do With Hurricane Katrina Relief Operations?
The Defense/Hurricane Katrina bill making it's way through Congress should have been considered separately and not combined with a potential Farm Aid bill.
In addition, the entire package is now playing host to an additional $14 billion in pork added by some Senators.
The rape of the system continues unabated. Have they no shame?
In addition, the entire package is now playing host to an additional $14 billion in pork added by some Senators.
The rape of the system continues unabated. Have they no shame?
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Predictions Are Coming True: U.S. Tells Mexico That National Guard Deployment Along Border Will Be Temporary
President Bush has told Mexican President Fox that any National Guard deployment along the U.S./Mexico border will be temporary. How temporary is temporary? A week? A month? Until after the November elections?
This Administration doesn't appear to be serious about securing the southern border.
They should either commit the troops to a long-term stay, or keep them home. It would be a waste of time, money and resources to deploy them and then pull them off the line a short time later.
More election year nonsense.
This Administration doesn't appear to be serious about securing the southern border.
They should either commit the troops to a long-term stay, or keep them home. It would be a waste of time, money and resources to deploy them and then pull them off the line a short time later.
More election year nonsense.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Plan to Put National Guard on Border With Mexico Under Current Administration is Probably Not a Good Idea
There have been reports that President Bush is considering putting the National Guard on the border with Mexico to stem the tide of inbound illegal border crossers.
It would probably be a waste of money from this Administration, given the fact that they are still pushing for a guest worker program and the Administration is in lock-step with at least half the Senate over granting amnesty for illegals. If that's true, then the troops may well be under orders not to interfere with illegal border crossings.
The Bush Administration's track record on illegal immigration hasn't exactly been stellar and they are reacting to the public backlash instead of being proactive and dealing with the problem. The proof will be if the President announces amnesty for the illegals already here during the President's Oval Office speech on Monday.
This move is more electioneering to prop up a faltering Presidency and a failing Senate.
It would probably be a waste of money from this Administration, given the fact that they are still pushing for a guest worker program and the Administration is in lock-step with at least half the Senate over granting amnesty for illegals. If that's true, then the troops may well be under orders not to interfere with illegal border crossings.
The Bush Administration's track record on illegal immigration hasn't exactly been stellar and they are reacting to the public backlash instead of being proactive and dealing with the problem. The proof will be if the President announces amnesty for the illegals already here during the President's Oval Office speech on Monday.
This move is more electioneering to prop up a faltering Presidency and a failing Senate.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Diplomatic Relations With Mexico Should Be Temporarily Severed to Register U.S. Displeasure with Mexican Government Interference in U.S. Affairs
Mexico's flagrant violations of U.S. sovereignty over securing our side of the border must be checked immediately and the best way to do so is to sever diplomatic relations with Mexico--at least temporarily.
They must be made to understand that their continued interference in our internal affairs is unacceptable. Here's a current list of Mexican transgressions currently in progress or that have already happened, and the stories below are a small sample of what's been happening:
Mexican Government Targets Arizona Law Against Human Smuggling
Mexican Lawmakers Join Protests in Los Angeles
Mexican Government Slams Georgia Anti-Illegal Alien Law
Mexican Ads Push Immigration Reform
Mexican Government Denounces Fees on Illegal Immigrant Wire Transfers
Chertoff Promotes Guest Worker Program With Mexican Lawmakers in Tow
We don't need foreign interference from a government that treats all illegal immigrants in Mexico as felons and does a fair amount of human rights violations itself.
Stay out of our business, Mexico.
They must be made to understand that their continued interference in our internal affairs is unacceptable. Here's a current list of Mexican transgressions currently in progress or that have already happened, and the stories below are a small sample of what's been happening:
Mexican Government Targets Arizona Law Against Human Smuggling
Mexican Lawmakers Join Protests in Los Angeles
Mexican Government Slams Georgia Anti-Illegal Alien Law
Mexican Ads Push Immigration Reform
Mexican Government Denounces Fees on Illegal Immigrant Wire Transfers
Chertoff Promotes Guest Worker Program With Mexican Lawmakers in Tow
We don't need foreign interference from a government that treats all illegal immigrants in Mexico as felons and does a fair amount of human rights violations itself.
Stay out of our business, Mexico.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
U.S. Decision to Tell Corrupt Mexican Government Where Minutemen Patrols Are Actually Increases Danger Along Border Area
The Minutemen project has been continuing in the Arizona desert with Minuteman patrols interdicting illegal border crossers since the beginning of April.
In the last couple of days, it has emerged that U.S. authorities have been informing their Mexican counterparts of Minutemen movements, where they are, and what they are doing. This is not a good decision and here's why:
During the first Minuteman project, it emerged that Mexican and Hispanic gangs were going to go to the border area to kill as many Minutemen as they could find. MS-13 was one of the gangs threatening to do precisely that. The Brown Beret gang was another.
The Mexican government has a huge corruption problem.
Who is to say that any information passed to Mexican authorities won't end up in the hands of the very ones who are threatening violence to stop the Minutemen? The drug cartels and gangs have friends in the Mexican government. And they have vowed to "teach the Minutemen a lesson."
When an entire group of Minutemen get gunned down in a hail of bullets from Mexican gangs in the Arizona desert and who have the precise location of the Minutemen patrols courtesy of the U.S. and Mexican governments, whose fault will it be? And what will follow? A border war? Armed vigilantes crossing the border in both directions seeking revenge? The Rio Grande turning into a river of blood?
The odds are that this decision will lead to American deaths on our side of the border. There HAS to be a better way to deal with this.
In the last couple of days, it has emerged that U.S. authorities have been informing their Mexican counterparts of Minutemen movements, where they are, and what they are doing. This is not a good decision and here's why:
During the first Minuteman project, it emerged that Mexican and Hispanic gangs were going to go to the border area to kill as many Minutemen as they could find. MS-13 was one of the gangs threatening to do precisely that. The Brown Beret gang was another.
The Mexican government has a huge corruption problem.
Who is to say that any information passed to Mexican authorities won't end up in the hands of the very ones who are threatening violence to stop the Minutemen? The drug cartels and gangs have friends in the Mexican government. And they have vowed to "teach the Minutemen a lesson."
When an entire group of Minutemen get gunned down in a hail of bullets from Mexican gangs in the Arizona desert and who have the precise location of the Minutemen patrols courtesy of the U.S. and Mexican governments, whose fault will it be? And what will follow? A border war? Armed vigilantes crossing the border in both directions seeking revenge? The Rio Grande turning into a river of blood?
The odds are that this decision will lead to American deaths on our side of the border. There HAS to be a better way to deal with this.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Tony Snow as White House Press Secretary Was a Good Choice: Now He'll Get to Tangle with the Washington Press Directly
President Bush made a good selection in choosing former Fox News commentator Tony Snow as his Press Secretary.
He's got a tough job ahead of him and the Washington press may not give him much of a honeymoon as is traditional with new press secretaries.
But it stands to reason that he won't need much of one.
His talk-show radio and interview demeanor will allow him to take on everyone in that press room and come away with his armor intact. His predecessor's armor was in tatters almost from day one and the press drew blood on him daily.
Snow will run the show. The only thing that he has to watch out for is if he injects his own personal opinions (which sometimes runs contrary to the White House as has been covered in the media lately) into the question and answer sessions.
This is something that has caused the downfall of at least one press secretary over the years, but I think Tony Snow will do just fine.
He's got a tough job ahead of him and the Washington press may not give him much of a honeymoon as is traditional with new press secretaries.
But it stands to reason that he won't need much of one.
His talk-show radio and interview demeanor will allow him to take on everyone in that press room and come away with his armor intact. His predecessor's armor was in tatters almost from day one and the press drew blood on him daily.
Snow will run the show. The only thing that he has to watch out for is if he injects his own personal opinions (which sometimes runs contrary to the White House as has been covered in the media lately) into the question and answer sessions.
This is something that has caused the downfall of at least one press secretary over the years, but I think Tony Snow will do just fine.
Band-Aid Fix to Severe Bleeding: Bush Moves on Oil Won't Fix the Problem with Oil Speculators
President Bush's latest moves to affect the prices at the gas pumps don't address what's causing the price of a barrel of oil to hit around the $70 per barrel range and the price of refined transportation to hit $100 a barrel or more.
A major part of the problem is oil speculators.
Who regulates them?
They react to fear of future events, while largely ignoring the current level of supply, demand and reserves that the oil companies are waiting to process.
A single problem in a single oil field which might affect the flow of oil by a miniscule amount is enough to cause the speculators to panic and drive the cost of oil up.
The current list of excuses include fear of Iran and fear of what the West might do about Iran's nuclear program; fear of terrorist acts in Nigeria; fear of violence in the Middle East, fear of Willowby the Gorilla farting in his cage; and every lame-brained excuse that grabs a headline. For example, over the weekend Iran's president threatened to attack Israel if the West attacks Iran; the price of a barrel of oil almost immediately hit close to $75.
And then when those fears of oil disruption go unrealized, the price goes down slowly, compared to the fast jump upward in prices. Gas prices should fall just as fast as they increase.
But it's not happening because the system is being abused. As a result, the price of oil and gas is overvalued by at least 40%.
And on that point, the ongoing investigations will not yield any results, because the problems are happening outside the box, while the investigations are focused INSIDE the box. What good is an investigation if it only focuses on the tail end of the industry? They need to go after the speculators, too, where they'll find what they're looking for.
A major part of the problem is oil speculators.
Who regulates them?
They react to fear of future events, while largely ignoring the current level of supply, demand and reserves that the oil companies are waiting to process.
A single problem in a single oil field which might affect the flow of oil by a miniscule amount is enough to cause the speculators to panic and drive the cost of oil up.
The current list of excuses include fear of Iran and fear of what the West might do about Iran's nuclear program; fear of terrorist acts in Nigeria; fear of violence in the Middle East, fear of Willowby the Gorilla farting in his cage; and every lame-brained excuse that grabs a headline. For example, over the weekend Iran's president threatened to attack Israel if the West attacks Iran; the price of a barrel of oil almost immediately hit close to $75.
And then when those fears of oil disruption go unrealized, the price goes down slowly, compared to the fast jump upward in prices. Gas prices should fall just as fast as they increase.
But it's not happening because the system is being abused. As a result, the price of oil and gas is overvalued by at least 40%.
And on that point, the ongoing investigations will not yield any results, because the problems are happening outside the box, while the investigations are focused INSIDE the box. What good is an investigation if it only focuses on the tail end of the industry? They need to go after the speculators, too, where they'll find what they're looking for.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Former WWE Standout Nikolai Volkoff Running for Maryland House of Delegates
Fans of the former World Wrestling Federation (WWF) remember the name Nikolai Volkoff well.
Before every WWF/WWE match, he would enrage the fans in the arena and those watching on TV by insisting that fans rise to their feet amd show respect as he sang the Soviet National Anthem, while dressed in Soviet-style ring attire and waving the Soviet flag around. He became one of the most despised villians in wrestling history while taking on the likes of Hulk Hogan, Sgt. Slaughter, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, the Junkyard Dog and other popular wrestlers, while teaming with the equally-despised Iranian Iron Sheik.
In later years, he became a fan favorite and on occasion would sing the U.S. National Anthem.
He became a U.S. citizen about ten years ago and is currently a code inspector in and around Baltimore. He's also running for a seat for the Maryland House of Delegates as a Republican.
Nikolai is considered to be an underdog in the race, but he's hoping to follow in the footsteps of his friend Jesse "The Body" Ventura, who became the Governor of Minnesota. Good luck Nikolai.
Before every WWF/WWE match, he would enrage the fans in the arena and those watching on TV by insisting that fans rise to their feet amd show respect as he sang the Soviet National Anthem, while dressed in Soviet-style ring attire and waving the Soviet flag around. He became one of the most despised villians in wrestling history while taking on the likes of Hulk Hogan, Sgt. Slaughter, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, the Junkyard Dog and other popular wrestlers, while teaming with the equally-despised Iranian Iron Sheik.
In later years, he became a fan favorite and on occasion would sing the U.S. National Anthem.
He became a U.S. citizen about ten years ago and is currently a code inspector in and around Baltimore. He's also running for a seat for the Maryland House of Delegates as a Republican.
Nikolai is considered to be an underdog in the race, but he's hoping to follow in the footsteps of his friend Jesse "The Body" Ventura, who became the Governor of Minnesota. Good luck Nikolai.
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