Bush Administration Borrow Billions

We all know it's better to pay things off up front rather than borrow and pay back with interest. It costs more. It's also the right thing to do. By not raising the appropriate tax receipts now, by cutting taxes for the top 1%, you're just delaying the responsibility of running the government and asking to pay more down the road. You're letting the top 1% keep more of their money and passing on the negative consequences of these reckless tax cuts to the other 99%. When the Bush Administration has to borrow money to pay for its current budget, it's like writing a massive I.O.U. to the country.

"The Bush administration gave details Wednesday on how it plans to borrow the billions of dollars it will need to finance soaring budget deficits. Those plans include raising $27 billion by selling a new 10-year note and a new 30-year bond at the regularly scheduled quarterly auctions to be held next week. The government needs to borrow $171 billion during the July-September quarter, second-highest quarterly borrowing on record. ... Democratic critics say the soaring deficits show the total failure of the Bush administration to put the government's fiscal house in order,. They contended that whoever wins the presidency in November will inherit a huge financial mess that will severely restrain the next president's ability to fulfill his own campaign promises. The administration projects that the deficit this budget year, which ends Sept. 30, will total $389 billion, more than double the $161.5 billion deficit for 2007."

I love this part, too. How can they not include these numbers to show how screwed thing are?

"That deficit estimate could go even higher. It does not include the expected full cost of funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan or costs associated with the housing rescue measure Congress passed last week and President Bush signed into law Wednesday."

It's just asking the next generation to assume all this debt. So not only is he ruining the economy now, he also leaves a legacy of debt for the next guy. Look how Clinton left things, there was a surplus. Bush took us from a surplus into a massive deficit. The MBA President from Harvard? What a joke.

Read on at USA Today

Army Covers Up Death Of PFC LaVena Johnson

Support the troops? Respect the troops? Put a magnet on your car?

When a female US officer in Iraq is beaten, raped, teeth knocked in, set on fire, has lye poured on their vagina, and dragged to another location [ a military contractor's tent], what does the Army rule as cause of death: suicide. Unbelievable. PFC LaVena Johnson deserves better than that. Her father, who previously served in the U.S. Army and worked and retired as a civilian personnel specialist for the Army, got involved and found documents and photos that suggest foul play in her death.

It's a cover up and the story needs to come to light. Contact your representatives in the House and Senate to demand a full scale Congressional investigation begin immediately. Watch the video from Cenk of The Young Turks.



The Army has been complicit in the cover up of many things, the fratricide of Pat Tillman and bogus rescue of Jessica Lynch, to name a few. It is all a front to present this image of the military to America as honorable and doing the hard jobs to protect us. I'm OK with that, most people in the military do a great job, but let's not forget why they are there: to make a paycheck. All this good vibes about freedom is BS, take away their signing bonuses and incentives and you'd see a mass exodus.

Read on

Right Wing Muppets

Both are children of privilege. Both rebelled against their famous Daddies. One lost his first family to marry another woman, one lost the first 40 years of his life to booze. One a fake church man. One a faux military man. Both dangerous to the world.

Bush and McCain. The perfect front men for a complex conservative movement. Don't ask questions because you don't understand things. Just repeat what they tell you and never realize the fool you are.

From the Pen of: John Sherffius

Bob Herbert's NYT Column

Bob Herbert's NYT column

"Let’s see if I’ve got this straight. Barack Obama is a United States senator, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and his party’s candidate for president of the United States — and yet it was somehow presumptuous of him to meet with foreign leaders last week during his trip to the Middle East and Europe.

I’ll say this about Senator Obama. He sure raises people’s hackles. I’ve never seen anyone so roundly criticized for such grievous offenses as giving excellent speeches and urging people of different backgrounds to take a chance on working together. How dare he? And 200,000 people turned out to hear him in Berlin. Unforgivable.

The man has been taken to task for promoting hope, threatened with mutilation by Jesse Jackson for suggesting that a lot of black fathers could do better by their kids and had his patriotism called into question because he wants to wind down a war that most Americans would dearly love to be rid of.

John McCain can barely stop himself from sputtering at the mere mention of Senator Obama’s name. He actually ran an ad blaming Mr. Obama for high gasoline prices. Even Republicans had a good laugh at that one.

And yet Mr. Obama continues to treat Senator McCain respectfully. As far as personal character is concerned, Mr. Obama has scored very well, indeed...

So this is not your ordinary election. Senator Obama will have to turn people on big-time just to win by a little. And for all the tedious talk about timelines and what the surge in Iraq has or has not accomplished, the top three issues in this campaign are still the economy, the economy and the economy...."

Barack will have to work twice as hard, as he did against Hillary in the primaries, but, in the end, it will all be worth it. Winning the right way, bringing the American brand back to something you can respect, inspiring people and industry, leaving the sour politics of yore to Grampy McLame.

Our economy was driven into the ground by the people at the top, the Bush Administration, not by Americans working any more or less competitively. Running up massive debts has a consequence. Catering to a small demographic of wealthy people hurts the country as a whole.

If you want to continue this slide into the depths of cheap labor, high prices, and outsourced opportunity, let the "I'm free market yet I subsidize the banking industry" Republican hypocrites continue to sell you there tired broken story by the likes of John McSame.

Barack's New Ad

John McSame, maybe 30 years ago, was a fresh idealist. Now he is a neo-con flunkie.



Barack Obama is bobbing and weaving Grandpa McCain's juvenile mudslinging. I think the country senses the same tired tricks used by McLame and just wants to move on.

Bush Scandals

Cool Venn diagram on all the scandals of the Bush administration. All roads lead to Alberto Gonzales.

The actual diagram has roll-over features and much more information. See it at Slate.com

The Will Of The People

In a statement regarding new sanctions against Zimbabwe today, President Bush declares that “no regime should ignore the will of its own people“:

The regime has also continued its ban against NGO activities that would provide assistance to the suffering and vulnerable people of Zimbabwe. No regime should ignore the will of its own people and calls from the international community without consequences.

Bush proudly ignores public opinion in the United States. Cheney had his "so" answer when told, "many say War not worth it". The Bush administration has runs it's course. The neocon movement, although good at the power grab, has failed. The latest Fox News poll reflects his success, he's at 27% approval, the lowest rating yet in that poll:

McCain: Geezer

Think of this image when you think of John McCain. Old, Grandpa-like, out of touch, compadres with failures like Bush 41 and Bush 43, not allowed to drive the golf cart. Kind of perfect imagery, McCain is trying to be seen in the conservative vehicle that Bush 41 set up with Rumsfeld, Cheney and Bush 43. Years ago, the Maverick would have confronted them, now he just conforms. And apropos, the vehicle is a weeny small golf cart. Where's the Hummer you faux hard guys?



What early bird special are these two off to?

Is US Internet Access Being Marginalized?

via: mashable.com

"Whether you are in Europe or any number of forward thinking countries of the Far East broadband speed is growing by leaps and bounds with costs of accessing those pipes well within reach of the average person on the street. In the United States however almost the exact opposite is happening. Whether it is Comcast getting caught traffic shaping or the fact that Time Warner will be putting caps on the broadband usage or in the most recent news that AT&T is looking at instituting tiered based pricing on usage the fact is that Americans are losing out on the same technological advantages the rest of the world is enjoying."



Read on

McCain's Waterloo

via: www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com

Matt Yglesias had a very good item this morning, noting the “debacle” for the Republican approach to foreign policy.

[McCain had] spent, several weeks with the main theme of his campaign being, quite literally, to criticize Barack Obama for not having been physically present in Iraq recently. This (of course) got Obama to go to Iraq, thus setting up a dilemma. Either Obama would survey the “progress” in Iraq and change his position, thus making him a flip-flopper, or else he would refuse to change his position, thus making him obstinate and out of touch with reality.

But instead of either of those things happening, Obama went to Iraq and Iraqi leaders said he’d been right all along! That’s about as close to “game, set, match” as you get in terms of real world events influencing your political campaign. What’s more, given the domestic situation and John McCain’s inability to talk about domestic issues persuasively, he can’t afford to play for a draw on Iraq.

Over the last couple of months, the entire GOP foreign policy — the strategy, the worldview, the assumptions, the tactics — has crumbled to the point of destruction.

The Bush/Rumsfeld policy is over. "Stay the course", which was your mantra, is dead. Bush is talking to Iran. Bush has reached an accord with North Korea. You thought you could ride 7-year out-of-date ideas into the White House. Your world is crumbling around you. You're busted.



Read on

Bush Shoots From The Hip, Off Camera Of course

George Bush is well liked by his Kook-aid sipping base. For everyone else, he just talks some much BS, you can pretty much do a 180˚ on anything he says. His rhetoric is maddening.

But look what happens when they turn off the cameras, wink wink. He actually lets some truth slip out. Admitting his friends in big business screwed up, Bush states, "there's no question about it. Wall Street got drunk ---that's one of the reasons I asked you to turn off the TV cameras -- it got drunk and now it's got a hangover. The question is how long will it sober up and not try to do all these fancy financial instruments." Watch the video and make up your own mind.



I like the drunk analogy, Bush has some experience with that. Knowing that Bush has a grasp of right and wrong and still walks the party line and blindly backs the wrong horse all the time is why he is the worst president ever. Ignorance is one thing. He knows and hides the truth. That's evil.

Deny Deny Deny

The cornerstone of the Bush Administration, deny, deny, deny: Rove, Scooter Libby, Valerie Plame, warnings of Katrina, Global Warming, the August 2001 Presidential Daily Brief "Bin Laden To Attack Within US", no WMD in Iraq, Walter Reed, not enough boots on the ground in Iraq, no Al Qaeda in Iraq, military use of torture, Abu Ghraib, rendition of prisoners, Halliburton and Blackwater running amok, a recession, negative job growth, and the list goes on.

Seems John "McSame" McCain has adopted this strategy. Why represent the United States when you can represent only the most vocal Right Wing extreme faction of the Republican Party? Deny what the majority of America thinks.

We see Iraq open to change, Iraqi PM al-Maliki and UK PM Gordon Brown are on board for an eventual withdrawal of troops in Iraq. What does McCain say? He knows what Iraqis want, al-Maliki does not. Deny what the majority of Iraqis and Americans want.

We see climate change taking a hold on Earth, melting polar ice caps, stronger storms. Globally, drinking water will be a big concern. What does McCain do? He backs the Big Oil position again and again. Drill for more oil. Drill off-shore. Drill in Alasaka. Out of 535 Members of Congress, John McCain is the only one who chose to miss every single key environmental vote scored by the League of Conservation Voters last year. Deny what the majority of the world sees as an eminent problem.

How about McSame on torture, he being the 5 1/2 year POW from Vietnam. Did he vote against the US military use of torture, Hmmm, no. Look at Guantanamo where the first war crimes case since WWII is starting. The judge refused to allow the prosecution to enter evidence that was obtained under duress in Afghanistan. Information gathered by torture is useless. Deny what the military, the Geneva Convention, the courts and all religions stand for.

So John, put the denial away. You're 72, grow up. The reality is the war has been mismanaged, has no objective, and without goals, can go on forever. The funding for it has depleted our domestic abilities to address real problems, as well as, any emerging security issues abroad. The climate, and the way we treat Earth, is a big issue and must be dealt with now. We can't wait for a new Oil Industry-backed report that debunks climate change. It's for real. Torture is not condoned in any sense: in the military, in courts, among the religious. It's a hideous weakness. It is useless and sends the wrong message.

We, as America, have to be a leader in the world when it comes to lofty goals such as security, climate and torture. We have to see them as the complex issues that they are, acknowledge them, and engage them and come up with initiatives that reflect our enlightened humanity. To deny them and push them under the rug is a disservice.

We know better. We now have to do better. John McCain, get out of your fantasy world, get out of the way and let real leaders make real decisions that have real solutions for real Americans.

Gordon Brown Backs Obama's Time Table

First Iraqi PM al-Maliki, now the British! The Barack Obama 16-month time table for troop withdrawal in Iraq is all the rage. The need for military action in Afghanistan to take priority over Iraq is now approaching the tipping point. The Independent reports, "Gordon Brown prepared the ground for a historic realignment in the 'war on terror' yesterday by setting out a four-point plan for withdrawal of British troops from Iraq by the end of next year."

[The] "approach is a marked departure from the policies of Tony Blair and President George Bush." The new-found connection between Obama and Brown also carries echoes of the "shoulder-to-shoulder" relationship between Britain and the US. The joint approach with Obama also indicates Downing Street believes Obama is more likely to win the US presidential election than John McCain.

How will the Right explain this? Of course they will call al-Maliki an undercover Iranian even though they loved him up until this week. But what will they call UK PM Gordon Brown? A Paki? They do have good curry in the UK so it all makes sense now. Remember with the Right, it's always kill the messenger even though the message is always correct.

So the Right can't deny the message, time for them to kill the messenger. Watch out, Gordo! Although judging by the picture above, you're ready to get all Rambo on their ass.

Read On

The Real Reason For High Gas Prices

The Enron Loophole, Phil Gramm and John McCain.



Via: Keith Olbermann

Off Shore Drilling Is A Failed Policy And Bush Knows It

Why doesn't President Bush act first and lift the ban on off-shore drilling? There are two prohibitions on offshore drilling, one imposed by Congress and another by executive order signed by Bush's father in 1990. The president took the position that Congress has to act first and then he would follow behind. Keep in mind, Bush's brother, Jeb, fiercely opposed offshore drilling when he was governor of Florida.

Keith Hennessey, the director of the president's economic council, said: "He thinks that probably the most productive way to work with this Congress is to try to do it in tandem."

You know this is bullshit. Here's what is means: Bush Translated - "I know it won't work, so I'll keep blaming it on Congress."

McCain Out Of Touch

From domestic "Mental Recessions" and "Country of Whiners" comments by his pal Phil Gramm, to his own global lack of understanding the difference between Iran Sunnis and Iran Sunnis, or that Pakistan and Iraq do not border each other, McSame is the picture, the walking definition, of a man out of touch with reality. He doesn't understand the internet, he is sketchy on US economics and isn't sure about his own voting record when pressed. Now add a new one. He claims in his new TV ad Barack Obama is to blame for high gas prices. This is based on?

According to the TV ad, because Barack does not believe in off-shore drilling, our dependence on foreign oil goes unabated and US citizens are left holding the high gas price bag. Domestic drilling is needed, according to McSame.

Here are some facts:
- An Energy Department report last year said "production would not start until 2017 and have no 'significant' effect on prices or supplies until 2030"
- McCain claims "some in Washington still oppose offshore oil drilling". Grandpa McSame opposed offshore oil drilling, most notably in his 2000 presidential campaign, until he reversed himself last month and called for a lifting of the 27-year federal ban on such drilling.
- There is no evidence that Obama opposes independence from foreign oil.
- McCain himself said last week that America's "dangerous dependence on foreign oil has been 30 years in the making".

So seven and a half years of the Bush administration has no effect on oil and energy prices? Running up massive debts? Bush’s ruinous economic policy? A war? A weak Dollar? Stroking unrest in the Middle East? No increases in MPG standards for US made cars? Or even how other countries effect our gas prices: India and China using more oil.

That is how out of touch McCain is, he thinks a Senator from Illinois has this effect on gas. Or his type in Washington is responsible for it. It's an example of playing the slimy politics card he claims to detest. He is just a weak man, desperate to slander Obama any chance he can. When you have no skills, you have to make others look bad so you can feel better about yourself.

The war hawks that crushed Iraq and stoke the attack rumors on Iran effect the price of oil per gallon. Every blip of news about attacking Iran drives up oil a few bucks. The under-regulated energy market, where speculation not supply and demand set price, totally screws us.

It's up to Americans to get smart about the gas situation. Just think if we had taken the trillion dollars we’ve spent in Iraq and spent in on alternative fuel sources.