Thursday, January 15, 2004
This is a tough one. I don't think George W. Bush has known many African Americans in his lifetime outside of the baseball players on the Texas Rangers. Personally, I don't think he thinks enough to be an outright bigot, but his policies (that are likely constructed by others) certainly do nothing to help people of dark skin tones get ahead in the US.Yahoo! News - Hundreds Protest As Bush Visits MLK Tomb: " Top Stories - AP
Hundreds Protest As Bush Visits MLK Tomb
2 hours, 4 minutes ago
By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer
ATLANTA - ...
The president's critics dismissed his visit to the grave as a symbolic gesture that only underscored shortcomings in the administration's relationship with blacks.
Back in Washington, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (news - web sites), said not one policy decision made by the Bush administration — from the war in Iraq (news - web sites) to the economy, from education to the environment — has mirrored King's dream. "The president needs to be more embracing of elected African American officials and the entire African American community every day of the year, not just on January 15th," he said.
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
It turns out that reciprocating ridiculous American travel policy issues can be a real bitch for arrogant American Airlines pilots. ah_brazil2000 really broke it down well:Re: I wonder how many US tourists overst
by: ah_brazil2000 01/14/04 02:37 pm
Msg: 2 of 2335
14 recommendations
Grog
probably very few. But remember that Brazil is taking this procedure not to combat illegal imigrants, but as a gold rule in diplomacy called reciprocity.
As I understand, the US-visit program was put on place not to combat ilegal imigrants, but to combat terrorism. Now I ask: How many brazilians have conducted terror acts in US? How many were accused?
I have the answers to these questions. NONE. Now, how many from England or Germany? A few, but US is not checking on them.
Also by reciprocity, Brazil was supposed to charge US$100.00 per visa, as USA does charge in Brazil. Incredible, but we do not charge that from US citizens.
Another question. What would happen if I make an "obscene gesture" when I go through customs in US? The american pilot should be arrested as any other that does not obey the local law.
The deal here is not about ilegal imigrants.
Yahoo! News - U.S. Pilot Held in Brazil in Fingerprinting Spat: "U.S. Pilot Held in Brazil in Fingerprinting Spat
By Todd Benson
SAO PAULO, Brazil (Reuters) - An American Airlines pilot was arrested at Sao Paulo International Airport on Wednesday after making an obscene gesture while being photographed by Brazilian (news - web sites) immigration officers, police said.
The pilot, Dale Robin Hirsch, raised his middle finger at police while undergoing recently introduced Brazilian security measures that require U.S. citizens to be fingerprinted and photographed upon entering the South American country. "
So Ted Kennedy calls out George W. Bush's abuse of the 9/11 disaster to justify his oil war in Iraq in blunt terms and what does Tom Delay do to defend his President? He simply restates what Ted Kennedy said in his own words: "'. . .insulted the president's patriotism, accused the Republican Party of treason . . ."
It must really suck to have to defend the leader of your party when he's so clearly on the wrong side of this issue.
Kennedy accuses Bush of 'marketing' war for GOP gain: "We are reaping the poison fruit of our misguided and arrogant foreign policy,' Kennedy, D-Mass., said in a speech at the Center for American Progress, a liberal policy organization in Washington. 'The administration capitalized on the fear created by 9/11 and put a spin on the intelligence and a spin on the truth to justify a war that could well become one of the worst blunders in more than two centuries of American foreign policy.'
Kennedy's remarks were more pointed and partisan than in the past, and they come as presidential and congressional elections approach.
The speech drew an immediate and harsh reply from Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas, the House Republican leader. 'His hateful attack against the commander-in-chief would be disgusting if it were not so sad,' DeLay said, adding that Kennedy 'insulted the president's patriotism, accused the Republican Party of treason and resurrected the weak and indecisive foreign policy of Jimmy Carter and Michael Dukakis.'"
It must really suck to have to defend the leader of your party when he's so clearly on the wrong side of this issue.
Kennedy accuses Bush of 'marketing' war for GOP gain: "We are reaping the poison fruit of our misguided and arrogant foreign policy,' Kennedy, D-Mass., said in a speech at the Center for American Progress, a liberal policy organization in Washington. 'The administration capitalized on the fear created by 9/11 and put a spin on the intelligence and a spin on the truth to justify a war that could well become one of the worst blunders in more than two centuries of American foreign policy.'
Kennedy's remarks were more pointed and partisan than in the past, and they come as presidential and congressional elections approach.
The speech drew an immediate and harsh reply from Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas, the House Republican leader. 'His hateful attack against the commander-in-chief would be disgusting if it were not so sad,' DeLay said, adding that Kennedy 'insulted the president's patriotism, accused the Republican Party of treason and resurrected the weak and indecisive foreign policy of Jimmy Carter and Michael Dukakis.'"
Tuesday, January 13, 2004
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the best way to solve the drug problem to go after the drug dealers? Assuming that's correct, wouldn't it make sense to go after the corporations that employ illegal aliens rather than punishing the illegal aliens who are simply trying to make a better life for themselves and their families?Why doesn't George W. Bush simply crack down on corporations like Wal-Mart and the agricultural industry for their illegal exploitation of illegal immigrants? Then set up a H1-B type visa program for migrant workers interested in crop picking and other common jobs fulfilled by illegal immigrants?
The jobs clearly need to be filled, but GWB's 'solution' to this is basically saying that it's okay for corporations to hire illegal aliens. Not good.
Yahoo! News - Wal-Mart Audit Finds Labor Violations: By The Associated Press
"NEW YORK - An audit by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of about 25,000 employees uncovered thousands of labor violations, including minors working during school hours and workers not taking breaks or lunches.
The audit of 25,000 employees performed by Wal-Mart in July 2000 detailed 1,371 violations of child-labor laws, including minors working too late, too many hours in a day or during school hours. On more than 60,000 occasions, workers missed breaks and on 16,000 they skipped meal times, in violation of most state labor regulations."
Yahoo! News - Fox Woos Viewers with 'Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance'
Am I the only person who sees the hypocrisy in FOX creating and publishing TV shows that have a complete disregard for family values to the point that they're mocking the sacred vow of marriage while at the same time promoting 'family values' through their right wing news shows?
Am I the only person who sees the hypocrisy in FOX creating and publishing TV shows that have a complete disregard for family values to the point that they're mocking the sacred vow of marriage while at the same time promoting 'family values' through their right wing news shows?
The White House sure isn't afraid go after a very competent man for speaking his mind. How can the White House honestly say that George W. Bush is engaged in economic policy decisions when he's previously admitted that he doesn't read his briefings (kind of sad considering that he's married to a teacher). Everyone knows he's much too busy taking naps while his daddy's cronies plan the next unprovoked invasion of a sovereign nation to enrich his friend's corporations.
The Administration’s Changing Tone
The Administration Then: Bush Said He Needed O’Neill and His Cabinet of “Strong and Competent” Individuals. · "What my cabinet shows is that I am not afraid to surround myself with strong and competent people...a good executive is one that understands how to recruit people and how to delegate authority and responsibility." [President-Elect Bush, 1/2/2001]
· "I am not afraid to surround myself with strong and confident people…" [USA Today, 1/18/01]
· "I knew I needed to surround myself with really strong, competent, capable people." [Remarks by President Bush at the 2003 RNC Presidential Gala, 10/8/03, www.georgewbush.com]
The Administration Now: “We Didn’t Listen to [O’Neill’s] Wacky Ideas”
· “Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill's charge that President George Bush always meant to oust Saddam Hussein sparked an angry reaction Sunday. An unnamed White House official told the Washington Post that O'Neill's "suggestion that the administration was planning an invasion of Iraq days after taking office is laughable. Nobody listened to him when he was in office. Why should anybody now?"” [UPI, 1/11/04]
· “"We didn't listen to [O'Neill's] wacky ideas when he was in the White House, why should we start listening to him now," said a senior official. The official said he informed Bush of O'Neill's comments but declined to describe the president's reaction.” [CNN, 1/11/04]
The Administration’s Changing Tone
The Administration Then: Bush Said He Needed O’Neill and His Cabinet of “Strong and Competent” Individuals. · "What my cabinet shows is that I am not afraid to surround myself with strong and competent people...a good executive is one that understands how to recruit people and how to delegate authority and responsibility." [President-Elect Bush, 1/2/2001]
· "I am not afraid to surround myself with strong and confident people…" [USA Today, 1/18/01]
· "I knew I needed to surround myself with really strong, competent, capable people." [Remarks by President Bush at the 2003 RNC Presidential Gala, 10/8/03, www.georgewbush.com]
The Administration Now: “We Didn’t Listen to [O’Neill’s] Wacky Ideas”
· “Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill's charge that President George Bush always meant to oust Saddam Hussein sparked an angry reaction Sunday. An unnamed White House official told the Washington Post that O'Neill's "suggestion that the administration was planning an invasion of Iraq days after taking office is laughable. Nobody listened to him when he was in office. Why should anybody now?"” [UPI, 1/11/04]
· “"We didn't listen to [O'Neill's] wacky ideas when he was in the White House, why should we start listening to him now," said a senior official. The official said he informed Bush of O'Neill's comments but declined to describe the president's reaction.” [CNN, 1/11/04]
