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June 30, 2005
Republicans Continue "My Way or the Highway" with Baseball in D.C.
This time Republicans have shifted their focus to the baseball sports world. George Soros, a major liberal donor and activist is rumored to be part of a group competing to purchase the Washington Nationals baseball team. Several House Republicans threatened to withdraw baseball's antitrust exemption if it allows Mr. Soros to be a partner in any group purchasing the team. These House Republicans expect anyone and everyone who might need business in Washington to do exactly as they want, or else. Given the President's sagging poll numbers one wonders how much longer this strategy will work.
Posted by Chip Spear at 12:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Creating an Enemy
Articles on China are all over the news these days. One can think of the ongoing problems with Taiwan, the continuing flap between Japan and China over Japanese interpretation of WWII in textbooks, China holding so much U.S. debt, the recent bid by a government controlled Chinese company to buy Unocal, the large trade deficit, and human rights problems. Those are only what immediate comes to mind. I am beginning to feel that many in the U.S. are creating an enemy in China whether one exists there or not. I am not going to minimize the growth of China and its increasing power in the world community. As it gains economic muscle it is inevitable that Chinese companies and the government will compete and have different interests than the U.S. At this stage China is not an equal of the U.S. and will not necessarily develop into an enemy, yet I read with increasing frequency in the Mainstream Media about emerging conflicts between the two countries which very well could be all out of proportion to the real threats.
Throughout history governments used external threats to consolidate political power. It has always been easier to focus on an external threat than look inward for the source of one's troubles. The Soviet Union provided the U.S. with just that sort of focus for almost 50 years. Likewise the U.S. provided the Soviet Union with an enemy used to rally the home team to reach greater heights of accomplishment, think of the Olympics as one example. With the demise of the Soviet Union and Russia in a state of transition, the Chinese provide the U.S. with the next opponent. Unlike the terrorists, who are definitely the enemy, the Chinese fit the conventional mode of an enemy. They are a country, "communist", have established political and economic structures and occupy a specific place. In many ways they are playing the same game we are, which the terrorists are not. They provide us with the perfect foil.
If one agrees with the premise that thoughts become things it is not inconceivable that we in the U.S. are looking for an enemy. Our sense of competition and paranoia seems to need an opponent. Maybe it is part of the human condition. I wonder if we had a different attitude toward China we would generate different results in our relationship. Or do we really need to battle against another team? I think this is a huge issue. It is certainly in the interests of the military industrial complex to have China as an enemy. It would certainly justify all sorts of new weapons programs. In addition we would have to create educational programs, security systems and who knows what else to stay ahead of the emerging behemoth. Our diplomatic core would be working in overdrive, they would once again have a mission and the world would solidify into black and white in ways that are easier to understand than today's ambiguous terrorist world, one where we never know where our enemy hides. Again I do not want to suggest that the Chinese are peaceful lambs, however I think it is important to pose the issue that perhaps we could be implementing a different strategy.
Posted by Chip Spear at 7:34 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 28, 2005
It Is Worth It?
President Bush said today:
"Like most Americans, I see the images of violence and bloodshed. Every picture is horrifying and the suffering is real," Bush said, according to excerpts released ahead of time by the White House. "It is worth it."
The question a lot more Americans are asking is, "Worth what?" Revenge? Oil? Middle East transformation? Money? Terrorism? Where is Osama in all of this? Did the Bush twins enlist yet? Isn't it easier to send young, poor kids to war than your daughters? Or friend's sons and daughters? I don't know, I am just asking. The strategy is increasingly problematic.
Posted by Chip Spear at 4:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 27, 2005
Why Tell The Truth When Something Else Works
Vice-President Dick Cheney attacked Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska yesterday indicating that he has not been a supporter of the White House anti-terror efforts after 9/11. This comes shortly after Hagel's criticism of the Iraq war.
BY JAKE THOMPSON WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITERGRAND ISLAND, Neb. - More than 200 Nebraska American Legion members, who have seen war and conflict themselves, fell quiet here Saturday as Sen. Chuck Hagel bluntly explained why he believes that the United States is losing the war in Iraq.
Sen. Chuck Hagel addresses more than 200 Nebraska American Legion members in Grand Island on Saturday.
It took 20 minutes, but it boiled down to this:
The Bush team sent in too few troops to fight the war leading to today's chaos and rising deaths of Americans and Iraqis. Terrorists are "pouring in" to Iraq.
Basic living standards are worse than a year ago in Iraq. Civil war is perilously close to erupting there. Allies aren't helping much. The American public is losing its trust in President Bush's handling of the conflict.
And Hagel's deep fear is that it will all plunge into another Vietnam debacle, prompting Congress to force another abrupt pullout as it did in 1975.
"What we don't want to happen is for this to end up another Vietnam," Hagel told the legionnaires, "because the consequences would be catastrophic."
It would be far worse than Vietnam, says Hagel, a twice-wounded veteran of that conflict, which killed 58,000 Americans.
Cheney had this to say.
Since 9/11, we've had people like Chuck Hagel and other politicians and we've had people in the press corps and commentators who've said we can't do Afghanistan.
Hagel was a firm supporter until recently. In addition The White House has effectively controlled the mainstream media, gaining wide support for almost anything they want. The American public responded by strongly following the President. However, in recent weeks, polls indicate growing scepticism with the White House's version of events, both on the domestic and international fronts. They might have to reconsider their strategy. The defense is catching on.
Posted by Chip Spear at 12:54 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Denver Three Create Problems for Bush Team
The Denver Three are three individuals from the Denver area who were kicked out of a Bush Social Security event in March, supposedly by a Secret Service agent because they were going to disrupt the event. The only disruptive act seems to be having a bumper sticker on their car stating "No More Blood For Oil". The White House has refused to release the name of the "agent". The White House continues a strategy of attacking the opposition by strongly suggesting that the three were going to disrupt the event and were a threat. In addition they contend the "agent" was a volunteer, not paid by the White House. If they can get the media to buy their version of the incident it will disappear as a mis-guided act by an over-zealous volunteer. However, if tied to similar incidents reported in other locales it could turn into a major problem. Using paid Federal employees to restrict access to public events to only acceptable individuals would look quite bad for the home team.
Posted by Chip Spear at 11:31 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
June 26, 2005
Just the Facts
I have tried to be as neutral as I can be with regard to this blog. I think that there is a huge need for some perspective on the political discourse that is tearing our country apart. However a couple of items in the news today forced my hand to at least raise a few questions that have a definite slant on politics. I read Nicholas Kristof's Op-Ed piece in the NYTimes today.
More than two centuries of American government produced a cumulative national debt of $5.7 trillion when Mr. Bush was elected in 2000. And now that is expected to almost double by 2010, to $10.8 trillion.....President Bush has excoriated the "death tax," as he calls the estate tax. But his profligacy will leave every American child facing a "birth tax" of about $150,000.
Much of our debt is held by the Chinese. Imagine if you will that you are deeply in debt and most of that debt is held by a not necessarily friendly individual. How much control do you think they have over your life?
Another thing that really strikes me is the absolutely bankrupt energy policy of the country. It is inconceivable to me that the President and his Administration are not taking proactive measures to move us away from our oil dependency as fast as possible, not only for environmental reasons, but political ones as well. Our dependency on Saudi Arabia, the Middle East generally, Venezuela and increasingly, a poverty stricken and highly unstable Africa is so blind it is frightening.
Are these truly Democratic issues? I find that hard to believe. These are issues that significantly impact all Americans, Democrat or Republican. Let us use our great American ingenuity and creative spirit to solve these problems and generate whole new industries and careers. We seem to be playing a very scary game that is going to cost us much, much more than we can afford.
Posted by Chip Spear at 9:12 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 25, 2005
Let's Talk About Iraq
Recent polls indicate more and more Americans are turning against the war. Each day new headlines greet me in the morning with more suicide bombers or roadside bombs killing 10, 20, 30, or 40 more people. The volume of dissent grows as increasing numbers call for the removal of American troops from Iraq. "Bring them home," I read. "Okay," I say, "bring them home, then what?"
Now I don't want to suggest that I was in favor of the war. I was sceptical of Bush's claims about WMDs. I thought that he wanted to go in for other reasons. Those don't matter at the moment. I do think it is important to project a little about what the implications are before everyone jumps on the withdrawal bandwagon. Up to this point I have heard nothing regarding consequences from the people suggesting a pullout.
Given my great abilities to foresee the future (I have won every Powerball drawing I have entered, not) here are a few possible options after we leave:
The insurgents lay down their arms and join the new government. (Ha, Ha).
The insurgents continue fighting, insisting that the government is a tool of the West and illegitimate. A large scale civil war develops, the government eventually wins and Iraq establishes a democratic, constitutional government.
The insurgents continue fighting, insisting that the government is a tool of the West....The insurgency wins, establishes a strong fundamentalist state with extensive training camps for terrorists. We don't go back in because of lack of American support. The terrorists expand the war and repeatedly attack inside the U.S. The terrorists threaten every country in the area. Fundamentalism stengthens throughout the Middle East. (Oh boy)
The insurgents continue fighting....Iraq breaks apart into a number of pieces, most likely three; Sunni, Shiite, and Kurd. The Sunni's set up numerous terrorist training camps (see above). The free Kurd state creates huge problems for Turkey where the Turkish Kurds start a war to either gain independence or join with the Iraqi Kurds. The Shiites establish a state, maybe modern Muslim if we are lucky, or fundamentalist with strong ties to Iran if we are not. (This seems pleasant).
Considering the players, give me some more options that are realistic.
Posted by Chip Spear at 12:21 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 24, 2005
Bait and Switch
With the President down in the polls and having massive problems with almost every one of his domestic issues the Republican leadership is altering strategy. They seem to be attempting to divert attention from concert issues to accusing the Democrats of being un-American and aiding the enemy in the war on terror. From a political perspective this is a good tactic. Things obviously are not going well in Iraq. The President's social security agenda has stalled. The Bolton nomination is in trouble. So, what does Rove do? He attacks, accusing the Democrats of being "crazy", think Howard Dean, "un-American", Durbin, "obstructionist", Bolton. Divert attention from issues the Democrats raise. It is the old pump-fake end around trap play. One thing you learn in sports is to never allow the other team to dictate play. You always, always want to force the other team to play your game. You need to control the pace, tempo and style of play. Rove and the President are trying to do the same thing.
Posted by Chip Spear at 8:31 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
June 23, 2005
Developers Hit a Grand Slam with Latest Court Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court just ruled that local officials can take private homes for development if they feel it is for the benefit of the town. That is unbelieveable to me. I might not understand the constraints here, but if I apply this thinking to a place like my little town which has three people on its Board of Selectman I will assume that the Board can decide to take homes if a big developer offers to build something that will provide the town with more taxes or jobs. I know how inbred things can get in a town like mine. Political decisions are often made according to who one knows and who is pals with whom. I can easily imagine the worst here. Developers can have a field day. I will have to read the entire decision to see if there are controls of any sort because it seems on the surface to be a huge score for corporate interests.
Posted by Chip Spear at 11:44 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Politically Clueless
There are people in the world of sports who are politically clueless, just like there are people in politics that are politically clueless, (is that a contradiction?). Anyway, Bernie Ecclestone, the head of Formula One Racing recently made this statement to Danica Patrick, the woman who recently raced in the Indy 500;
"Women should be all dressed in white like all other domestic appliances."
In 2000 he made this statement:
"Ecclestone has made controversial remarks about women before. He told Autosport racing magazine in 2000 that women could not compete in Formula One, but if one did, "she would have to be a woman who was blowing away the boys. ... What I would really like to see happen is to find the right girl, perhaps a black girl with super looks, preferably Jewish or Muslim, who speaks Spanish."
You can find the entire article at Sports Illustrated online here.
People involved in the Formula One community must think this attitude is acceptable, which is odd to me, but what do I know.
Posted by Chip Spear at 10:13 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
They Look Pretty Stupid Now
Bob Herbert's Op-Ed in today's NY Times addresses some issues regarding Terri Schiavo. It is an interesting article worth reading here. Two quotes in the piece stuck out to me;
'Eleven days before she died, Tom DeLay declared: "Terri Schiavo is not brain dead. She talks and she laughs, and she expresses happiness and discomfort. Terri Schiavo is not on life support."
Senator Tom Coburn, a Republican and a physician from Oklahoma, said: "All you have to do is look at her on TV. Any doctor with any conscience can look at her and know that she does not have a terminal disease and know that she has some function."'
Those guys got flattened on that one. I would say a good left hook put them both on the floor.
Posted by Chip Spear at 8:59 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
June 22, 2005
Commencement Speech by Senator Barack Obama
Given at Knox College. This guy is a player. Watch out. Read the article here.
Posted by Chip Spear at 1:03 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Senoator Bill Frist continues losing streak
First Frist (I love that) did the Terri Schiavo diagnosis over television, which was ridiculous. Then he did the church/state merge thing, so much for the separation of church and state. Of course there was the filibuster compromise, which he had no part of. He had no solutions there. And now we have the Bolton flip with the President, initially saying that the nomination wouldn't pass, then agreeing to try again after a discussion with G.W. He doesn't come across as much of a leader here. I wonder how this will play out given his Presidential ambitions?
Posted by Chip Spear at 10:15 AM | Comments (34) | TrackBack
Porter Goss Knows Where Osama Is
Hey Porter, put up or shut up! We have heard this song before.
Posted by Chip Spear at 10:11 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
A Little Religious Rant
I am a bit sick of star athletes and people in general thanking Jesus or God or Mohammed or whomever for giving them victory or scoring the touchdown, or making the sale, or winning the race, or even finding the child in the woods. Let's get a little context here. The earth is a small planet revolving around a small star, one of approximately 300 billion stars in a relatively small galaxy, which in turn is one of 80-120 billion galaxies that we estimate exist. This number is probably quite low. Add another metaphor to the mix. If you stretch your arms out to your sides, that represents the history of the earth. Take a small nail file and run it across one nail, once. You have just eliminated all of human history (From Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything).
How arrogant we are to think that God would care about one of us winning the conference championship, or Super Bowl one year, or even finding one child lost in the woods given the way that millions have died.
Posted by Chip Spear at 7:51 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 21, 2005
The Issue of Hillary
I found an interesting article regarding the problems with Hillary running for President in 2008 at the Boston Phoenix here..
Though I like her policies I do see two major issues with her running for President, she would be amazingly divisive, which I know the country doesn't need, and I do not think it is particularly healthy for the country to have alternating family regimes, Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton. As a country, we can, and should, look for healthier and happier alternatives.
Posted by Chip Spear at 9:26 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Player Rankings for June
Rank |
Player |
Score |
1 |
John McCain - the man is so smooth. He's scoring points in the media and with filibuster compromise in the Senate | 100 |
2 |
Hillary Clinton - leading Dem for 2008, good press this month. We'll see how see handles the new book coming out that promises strong anti-Hillary message. | 90 |
3 |
Joe Biden - high standing for 2008, positive position in the news as 2008 candidate | 82 |
4 |
Condoleezza Rice - picked up points in the Middle East | 80 |
5 |
Rudi Giuliani - all over the news as a leading Republican candidate for 2008 | 78 |
6 |
Howard Dean - created a firestorm with comments about Republicans, but scored big with many Dems who are seeking a strong, forceful Dem. Stay tuned on this one. | 65 |
7 |
John Edwards - quiet month | 50 |
8 |
G.W. Bush - He is having a bad month, down in the polls, the war is going poorly, Bolton nomination is blocked, Social Security stalled. | 40 |
9 |
Dick Cheney - his statements on Iraq drew more criticism than usual. American public might be thinking that they cannot trust him | 35 |
10 |
Tom DeLay - his ethics problems aren't going away | 25 |
11 |
Donald Rumsfeld - could you run a worse war? | 15 |
12 |
Rep. Randy Cunningham, CA. - this guy is in serious trouble | 8 |
Posted by Chip Spear at 8:29 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
June 20, 2005
League Standings for June
Rank |
Industry |
Score |
1 |
Oil, Gas & Coal Industry | 100 |
2 |
Military Industrial Complex | 98 |
3 |
Health/Pharmaceutical | 97 |
4 |
Finance | 92 |
5 |
Chemical | 90 |
6 |
Lapdog Media | 85 |
7 |
Building & Construction | 84 |
8 |
Entertainment | 80 |
9 |
Critical Media | 69 |
10 |
Manufacturing | 60 |
11 |
Education | 58 |
12 |
Social Services | 50 |
13 |
Civil Rights | 48 |
14 |
Labor | 35 |
15 |
Environment | 25 |
16 |
Alternative Fuels & Energy |
15 |
Posted by Chip Spear at 10:08 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 18, 2005
The Sad State of Education
My town held a referendum late this week for a new K-2 elementary school building. The referendum lost by almost a 2 to 1 margin. This was the third referendum in 5 or maybe 6 years for a new school for the little kids. The last one lost by something like 19 votes. The building's location changed to appease critics and compromises occurred to cut costs, yet the school still lost. In the past six years the town passed a referendum for a new fire station. Many members of the school community supported the firement because they recognized the need for a new fire station. In addition, the school groups gave that support with the understanding that the firemen would help them get a new school when the time came. Yet the firemen officially opposed the new school. It appears that the firemen are going to have to come before the town for additional money due to cost overruns on the new fire station. Gee, I wonder what sort of support they can expect from the school community? Our seniors also voted against the school. They are very concerned about rising taxes, but at the same time they want the town to support some type of senior housing. I doubt there will be much support for that as well.
One major concern is not the fact that the school proposal lost, but like many political campaigns there was a great deal of deception, scare tactics and lying in our small town. Members of the Board of Education and the school administration, who are intimately concerned with the welfare of these children recognize a serious need for new facilities. The Board lives in town, pays taxes and is exceedingly careful about expenses, yet they were painted as irresponsible, extravagant and unknowledgeable by a few older white men who said that the student population was not a problem. The kids now taught in permanent portable classrooms, common areas converted to classrooms, storage areas for special programs and have lunches that begin at 10:30 to accommodate all the kids. These guys don't have children in the school, but they are experts on the issues and wrote letters to the local papers attesting to that fact. Something seems out of wack to me here.
The pressure on schools these days is tremendous. It seems parents start focusing their children on the best colleges from the time kids are in kindergarten. Competition is fierce. There are all sorts of special study and sports programs to improve chances to get into top colleges. I think much of this is crazy, however I do think that children should have the best facilities that we can afford to give them a comfortable, engaging educational environment. To force children, who will have to live and work in an increasingly competitive "Flat World" (Thomas Friedman), to study in converted storage areas and hallways does not seem to be the best that we can do, especially when the cost was only $100 per household. When such attitudes permeate our country one understands why our educational system is falling behind so many other countries.
Posted by Chip Spear at 8:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 17, 2005
State of U.S. Auto Industry
This article says it all about the state of the U.S. auto industry and its desire to be on forefront of developments for the future. If someone ever says to me that the problem with GM is the labor unions, I will just laugh and walk away. The U.S. auto industry is an embarrassment.
Posted by Chip Spear at 7:30 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Sunni's Decide to Play Ball
A group of Sunni Arabs agreed to participate in the Shiite-led parliamentary committee that is drafting a new constitution. By agreeing to participate the Sunnis probably avoided the acceleration of violence across Iraq. The options were not pleasant. Choose participation and they are not only labeled as collaborating with the infidels and are accepting a minority position, which they hate. Choose non-participation and the insurgents become a more attractive choice for Sunnis sitting on the political fence. It would also ensure a full scale civil war. For the moment at least, they have chosen to work on keeping Iraq in one piece.
Posted by Chip Spear at 10:24 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Turning One's Stomach
There are times when I read that paper or listen to the news and can't help but get a very sick feeling in my stomach. I can't imagine that these issues are partisan, but I guess in some minds they are justifiable actions. Most of this came from today's NY Times, so I'll just quickly recount. Thomas Friedman writes about General Motors and their reluctance to develop geo-green cars. He also blasts the administration for not pushing the U.S. toward a more environmentally responsible energy policy. The fact that they have done so little is disgusting on so many levels. Then there is the editorial outlining the relationship between loobyists, large corporations and government officials. How is this good for the country? And lastly is the case of the administration silence over the kidnapping of Mukhtaran Bibi in Pakistan. So much for our belief in human rights. Is it partisan to be angry about these things. Is this type of "politics as usual" something we really want? Why does so much of the country continue to accept these sorts of activities? I am at a loss for words. Everything I can think of as a response to my own questions leaves me depressed.
Posted by Chip Spear at 9:34 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
June 16, 2005
A Dicey Day for George
The front page of today's print edition of The NY Times is filled with bad news for G.W. First is the story about cutting the Tobacco penalty by $120 Billion. It strengthens the Democrats insistence that G.W. and boys are in cohoots with Large Corporations. Second is an article about Iraq being a magnet for Muslem insurgents, especially towns where the U.S. has few troops. The article reinforces the opposition contention of bad planning and inadequate forces to get the job done in Iraq. And third is the report that the House blocked a provision of the Patriot Act restricting government powers to investigate U.S. citizens and visitors, specifically library records and book store sales. 40 Republicans supported the provision. This was not good for The Man.
Posted by Chip Spear at 1:21 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Deaths of War and Battles
Iraq casualties: March 2003-Present:
1714 killed, 12,855 wounded
World Trade Center: September 11, 2001
2,726 killed
U.S. Civil War Battles:
Chancellorsville, May 1-4, 1863
Union - 17,000 killed, wounded and missing
Confederate - 13,000 killed, wounded and missing
Fredericksburg, Dec. 13. 1862
Union - 12,653 killed, wounded and missing
Confederate - 5,309 killed, wounded and missing
Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863
Union - 23,000 killed, wounded and missing
Confederate - 28,000 killed, wounded and missing
Day 3 - Pickett's Charge - 10,000 casualties in 50 minutes
Posted by Chip Spear at 8:38 AM | Comments (1)
June 15, 2005
Okay Coach, what now?
It's third and long, about 15 yards to go for a first down. You are on your own 35. You are ahead, but by only a few points. As the game progresses the other team is gathering strength. They are a bit more confident and their offense is starting to click. You're the coach, how do you stem the tide and reverse momentum? You need to call the next couple of plays for G.W., our great QB. The defense is finding holes in the infamous offensive line, the Media Mainstreamers. The middle and lower classes are discovering that your economic plan and tax cuts aren't helping them. The Bloginators, the defensive line known more for quick feet than weight, is changing the nature of the game. They are beginning to force the Media Mainstream to play hard-nosed reality instead of hot air. Your media backs haven't been able to get much yardage. The realist linebackers are gaining traction on war issues, much more so than in the first half. And George has been a bit off on his long range terrorist threats since late in the second quarter. Insurgent attacks are keeping your ends close to the line of scrimmage. The long range bombs aren't too effective. What do you do?
Posted by Chip Spear at 12:04 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Interesting statistics on wealth distribution in the U.S.
No value judgment, but definitely something to make you think a bit. See the article here. The article was written by Julian Edney, Ph.D. This is one section that particularly caught my eye:
"We are a a radically skewed society. Rather than pages of numbing statistics I'll sketch a couple of facts, the first from sociologist Steven Rose. If you drew a line on a building three stories high to represent the distance between the lowest and the highest family income, the average (median) income sits at only 10.5 inches off the ground and half the nation is clumped below that (5). Second, despite the prodigious numbers of poor, housing for them is so scarce that of the 3,141 counties in the United States, in only 4 can a person making minimum wage afford a one-bedroom apartment (6)."
Posted by Chip Spear at 11:04 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 14, 2005
Sometimes the Sports/Politics Metaphor is Quite Amusing
A recent article in the Washington Post here describes how important and real this sports and politics business is. (He must have been quite cute up there on the stage.)
Posted by Chip Spear at 5:08 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Dean's Hard Charge
The recent furor over Howard Dean's inflammatory remarks regarding the Republican Party clearly defines what has been so wrong with the Democratic Party. Granted Dean's remarks might be a bit stronger than a careful "politician" may use, but given the lack of a strong national leader and clear agenda on the part of Democrats, his candor definitely raised the flag of war. This guy doesn't back down from a fight. He is more than willing to call 'em as he sees 'em.
Over the past few years the Republican offense has buried the Democrats with a hard hitting media campaign slandering them at every opportunity. Sometimes overt and other times quite surreptitious, the Republicans encountered weak defense and little counter-attack from the Dems. Stand up against the war and democrats are accused of being un-American. Oppose tax cuts and the Dems are stealing our hard earned dollars for lazy welfare cheats. The Republican spin machine effectively scores with the American electorate by painting the Democrats as "pantie-waisted" liberals, "wussies", as in pussies. God forbid that they were women. And now the Republicans are busy painting Dean as an over-the-top, out of control, wacko. "This is who Democrats trust leading the Democratic Party. "Is that the kind of person you want leading the opposition? Would you trust him, and by extension, the rest of the Democrats to run our country?"
Many Democrats in Congress seem to be ready to roll over and play dead. Where is their fire? Where is the passion and where is their sense of team? A Republican friend told me at my recent high school reunion that he didn't know what the Democrats stood for. Are they so afraid of alienating anyone that they fall victim of standing for nothing? Dean has changed the game plan. Will it work? Can he hang on long enough to implement it effectively? Stay tuned.
Posted by Chip Spear at 4:16 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Pre-Invasion Reports
In suppport of my thoughts regarding the lead up to the Iraq war that I mentioned in the Downing St. Memo post a few days ago you can read this account.
"Two years before the September 11 attacks, presidential candidate George W. Bush was already talking privately about the political benefits of attacking Iraq, according to his former ghost writer, who held many conversations with then-Texas Governor Bush in preparation for a planned autobiography."
'"He was thinking about invading Iraq in 1999," said author and journalist Mickey Herskowitz. "It was on his mind. He said to me: 'One of the keys to being seen as a great leader is to be seen as a commander-in-chief.' And he said, 'My father had all this political capital built up when he drove the Iraqis out of Kuwait and he wasted it.' He said, 'If I have a chance to invade, if I had that much capital, I'm not going to waste it.'"
Posted by Chip Spear at 1:48 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 13, 2005
U. S. and African Debt Relief
A slightly more analytical report of what the African debt relief really means is available from the London Times here.
Though welcome the help is not as big as it would appear:
"...the amount which the affected countries will save in debt repayments which can now be used for food, education and health is a relatively small annual sum of about $1.5 billion. This is a fraction of the $50 billion a year needed to double annual aid flows, which Britain says is essential to bring relief to Africa.
The cost to Britain's taxpayers of the weekend deal is an average of $100 million (55 million Euros) a year over ten years: up to $960 million over the period to 2015. The US will pay up to $175 million a year. Germany's commitment in the first three years comes to about $50 million a year and France's some $33 million."
Posted by Chip Spear at 3:34 PM | Comments (0)
Bush a Creationist? Or Darwinist?
G.W. preaches Creationism, but when it comes to reality he is clearly in the Darwinist, survival of the fittest, camp. His political strategies all favor Darwinian thinking. If you aren't strong enough, work hard enough and can't make it on your own, or with your parents help, then too bad, you lose. One can look at myriad examples, from his tax cuts favoring the rich, is Medicare drug policies which are giveaways for the large pharmaceutical companies, health care policies which are leaving millions in the country unable to afford health care, to his environmental policies which favor the entrenched oil, gas and coal industries. Sometimes I get really cynical and even think that he and the neo-cons are happy to see the poor able to afford health care. If they die, no problem, there are fewer lazy riff-raff and less money they have to spend on whatever social programs still exist. Abstinence, the U.S. health care solution to AIDS throughout the world, is the perfect way to eliminate the unworthy masses of the world. An ineffective program will do that you know. And it also helps solves that burgeoning population problem. George might say that he believes in Creationism to his right wing fundamentalist supporters, but he definitely plays with the Darwinists.
Posted by Chip Spear at 12:31 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Yes Sir, I truly believe in the separation of Church and State
Sometimes even I am amazed to read a story like this.
Posted by Chip Spear at 12:29 PM | Comments (0)
The Disaster of Africa
It is exceedingly hard for me to believe that anyone cannot be moved by the continual reports of the numerous disasters occuring in Africa, from Somalia to Darfur to Zimbabwe. Thousands of people are dying from AIDS, malnutrition, civil war, and genocide. It is a horror story, a real one, happening right before our eyes. And more than anything it represents where we, in the U.S., are as a country. Considering what our great country is capable of accomplishing we have done next to nothing. Last week Tony Blair pressed Bush for significant increases in aid. G.W. promised $670 million, far, far short of the billions he sought.
So what is the story here, why so little help? We face disasters of huge proportions, where is American leadership? The cynic in me thinks that G.W. sees no political advantage in getting involved. The U.S. economy is sputtering, except for the upper 1% of the population. The government is running HUGE deficits and consequently has little money to give. U.S. security is not threatened. At the moment few terrorists come from Africa yet. There are no crazy dictators with lots of oil developing non-existent weapons of mass destruction that are not targeted on U.S. cities. Because of current deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq the President has few troops to send to quell local unrest. And he certainly does not want any insurgent type war developing against U.S. troops in Africa. In addition, the various crises appear to have little impact on his domestic standing. From a political standpoint he probably feels he won't score any points by pouring money into the region And he especially won't gain anything by sending troops. The real tragedy is that the humanitarian issues don't seem to concern him. This is from a "religious" man, someone who should be concerned about just this sort of thing. Yet his interests are clearly focused on the need to continue playing to large corporate interests and his right wing religious base rather than doing the right thing.
Posted by Chip Spear at 8:59 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 10, 2005
Calling China's Bluff
So I am wondering why no one in the International community is willing to call China's bluff on their claim to Taiwan? Almost any history of Taiwan indicates that China has had a short history of involvement on the island and even that was rather marginal. The Dutch established a government on the island before the Chinese. That is not to say there were not Chinese there, but they came fleeing the mainland for political reasons. If someone says something often enough, with enough conviction, and they are strong enough, does it make it true?
Posted by Chip Spear at 9:01 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 9, 2005
Bush Offensive with LCs (Large Corporations) Keeps Rolling
The White House had this to say about altering a Global Warming report. And The Department of Agriculture is doing nothing to protect the American consumer from Mad Cow Disease, see this.
Posted by Chip Spear at 2:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
DeLay inquiry - There is a smell in this room too
My granddaddy always said that if it walks like a duck, looks like a duck and quakes like a duck, it is a duck. Why does this all smell? Why can't we have more politicians that we are actually proud of?
Posted by Chip Spear at 9:49 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 8, 2005
Bush Keeps Up Partnership with Large Corporations
G.W. continues his successful political partnership with major corportations explained in these two articles, one from the NYTimes and the other from the Washington Post. Thanks to Bad Attitudes for the info.
Posted by Chip Spear at 10:43 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
The Downing St. Memo
My best friend, Mike, and I talk about politics all the time. Over the past 11 or 12 years we must talk to each other at least once each week. In almost every conversation we spend some time talking politics. Shortly after George became President in January 2001, I distinctly remember talking to him about Iraq. We were both convinced that the President would attack Saddam. We certainly didn't know how or when but it seemed inevitable to both of us. Granted we are both well educated Ivy League types, he went to Harvard and I went to Yale, but we live far outside of Washington and both read the usual media rags. We didn't have any special information or contacts, and yet we were quite certain that this would happen.
So now we have another so-called "smoking gun" to prove that Bush was not being straight with the American people. My response is "who cares, what else is new." What is the strategic value of pushing this issue now? Will it put him on a more defensive position? Will it make him less effective running the country? What impact might it have on the 2006 elections? Or might it improve the chances of a Democrat in 2008, which seems doubtful? This is really old news. I think a majority of Americans realize that the administration was playing games with facts regarding Iraq and accept it as part of doing business with this guy. He is not open, nor particularly honest and has a very definite agenda which he often cloaks in smoke and mirrors. This was true from the first days of his administration. Why is anyone the slightest bit surprised by more of the same? It has been a very effective political game plan.
Posted by Chip Spear at 9:53 AM | Comments (0)
June 7, 2005
Sometimes we cannot see
Posted by Chip Spear at 9:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Plans for Iraq
More and more people complain about Iraq now but I have heard few alternatives other than to pull out. I can certainly understand the impulse, but what about the implications? If we pull out now, or very soon, what do we leave and by extension, what have we created? Iraq would be in a state of civil war. The insurgents have substantial backing from both illicit organizations and Middle East regimes, i.e. Saudi Arabia and Syria do not want a democratic Iraq. They would find ways to funnel money to the insurgents. Assume a worse case scenario, the insurgents establish a government and develop a large network of terrorist training camps throughout the country. These terrorists go forth and multiply. We certainly won't go back in. Radical Islamists build an ever stronger political base in the middle east. Now what? The Middle East is a political and economic sewer and needs to change for everyone's sake. I certainly don't agree with our oil and economic policies, and I don't like how the U.S. has managed the war. I am not sure that this White House is capable of fixing things. And there is no question that G.W. has screwed up this war, but walking out and leaving the country to Taliban like radicals is a horrid alternative. Come on, paint me some other pictures.
Posted by Chip Spear at 8:48 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
June 6, 2005
Medical Marijuana
The Supreme Court ruled today that state laws do not protect citizens from federal regulations banning the use of marijuana for medical purposes. I cannot criticize the ruling on any legal grounds. A law is a law, like a 30 MPH speed zone. It might be stupid, but it is the law. The thing to do is change it if it does not make sense. Congress and the administration seem unwilling to change laws that so clearly help them with the "law and order" wing of the American electorate. It doesn't matter if the law doesn't work, or that it is hypocritical. Large drug companies develop many drugs more addictive and/or dangerous to the human body, yet these drugs are fine for the American consumer. Marijuana exists in the alternative universe of hippiedom, that danger zone, the threat to society held over from the sixties. Politicians continue to use the fear of marijuana as a gatekeeper to heroin to solidify their position with constituents when they want to appear tough on crime. It is unfortunate that real people continue to suffer from such pandering.
Posted by Chip Spear at 10:31 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Class and the Stratification of America
I read a recent series in the NY Times dealing with class in America. Bob Herbert, has an op-ed piece today that explores income disparities in the country and the myth of economic mobility. There is no doubt that the current administration has helped the super rich to an unbelievable extent. What did people expect? George Bush won the election, not once but twice. I get really tired of complainers. If the left or the lower class (middle class and upper middle class) are so concerned about this, one, why did they vote for him, and two, what are they doing for the next elections in November of 2006. The left better start putting together a solid strategy to address the long term implications of this instead of offering what is referred to as "Republican Lite". The Democrats have to put together a program that offers a way to protect workers, providing them with livable wages and health care while providing companies and wealthy individuals with enough incentives to invest in new opportunities. If statistics are correct, and the major employers are small businesses, I would think that the real incentives should be focused there rather than with large corporations that end up paying CEOs outrageous bonuses. More on this to follow.
Posted by Chip Spear at 8:46 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 5, 2005
Sunday and Church
I just went out roller-blading. It is a beautiful late spring day here in the Northeast. Summer is close. The sky is a deep, rich, blue, puffy clouds float above. I bladed on a "Rails to Trails" path, an old railroad line converted to a bike/blading/walking trail that runs alongside a gorgeous old canal. Large trees hung over the trail for much of the way. The greens jumped out at me, smothering me in warmth and ripeness for what lay ahead this summer. It was one of those moments when life is truly magical. I often feel that this is what I want the world to see. "See this," I want to yell, "and you can never hate, you can only love, for isn't it beautiful?" Children were biking, parents were out with their kids, older couples were walking. A perfect day. And then I thought that in many parts of the world, right at this very moment, thousands, if not millions of people are sitting in churches, temples, mosques, and shrines, learning that the only way to find god is to follow their own particular teaching. Grand Pooh-bahs are teaching young acolytes; Mormons, Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Jehovah Witnesses, and all the others to sally forth to convert the heatherns and maybe even kill them. Read only "this" book or piece of paper and interpret it "this" way, otherwise you are the devil, an outsider, an unclean person, an enemy, a whatever. I don't know about you, but it makes me scared, and sick.
Posted by Chip Spear at 10:41 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 3, 2005
The right keeps attacking anything that smells remotely like the Left
I find it almost funny that Pat Buchanan will call W. Mark Felt a snake but refuse to admit that President Nixon was a very bad boy. Admit nothing, just keep up the attack on anything that smells of the left. If someone is against us, they are the enemy, we never make mistakes, we never admit wrong, they are evil. It does not matter that the White House was using every available means to obstruct justice, attempting to keep the truth locked behind closed, guarded doors. It does not matter that the White House was blocking every avenue available for the lawful release of information and investigation. No, the evil doer here is Mr. Felt. The tactic is a good one. I am certain there are more than enough people that will think that other potential motives, like revenge for not being appointed F.B.I. head, color the outcome. As a victim of an ex-offical bent on revenge, Nixon may emerge as a more respected player in history. Stay tuned.
Posted by Chip Spear at 11:20 AM | Comments (0)
June 1, 2005
The U.S. as Empire?
After watching the latest Star Wars movie and reading various reviews it is easy to see a political parallel between the actions of The Empire and our illustrious leader, G.W. I don't want to say that they are the same, because that is not the case, but several items do stand out, like a manufactured war, torture prisons, restrictions on civil rights, manipulation of the media, accusing opponents of being un-American and helping the enemy, lack of accountability, secrecy, etc. I can fully understand a desire and perhaps a real need to temporarily change the way the country works in a true time of war. The issue is where are we in that process? At this point, is this a true war? Or are we being manipulated by the White House to further a political agenda? How worried should we be? Will we know if we have passed the point of no return? Many believe that we have passed that point now, but G.W. was re-elected, so most do not share that view.
Posted by Chip Spear at 9:31 PM | Comments (3)