For one thing, it was starting to bore me. For another, I figured that only someone who was dead could miss the level of corruption, lies and manipulation from which we are currently suffering. I don't know of anyone who's in FAVOR of any of these idiots. And, I mean Demos or Repugs.
But, this .. this was shocking. Here we have a quote from today's G8 conference in St. Petersburg, Russia:
From Daily Kos
From CNN, Bush urges the model of "Iraq democracy" on a what-must-be-assumed-to-be-astonished Vladimir Putin:
"I talked about my desire to promote institutional change in parts of the world, like Iraq where there's a free press and free religion, and I told him that a lot of people in our country would hope that Russia would do the same," Bush said.
But what CNN originally failed to point out was Bush's response. Here's the transcript from Think Progress, where you can also see the video of the exchange.
BUSH: I talked about my desire to promote institutional change in parts of the world, like Iraq, where there's a free press and free religion. And I told him that a lot of people in our country would hope that Russia will do the same thing. I fully understand, however, that there will be a Russian-style democracy.
PUTIN: We certainly would not want to have same kind of democracy as they have in Iraq, quite honestly.
BUSH: Just wait.
This from the man who sums up diplomacy with this gem: "Different words mean different things to different people." Someone please keep this man away from unscripted events. World peace might very well depend upon it.
Now, I ask you - if now isn't the time to take our country back, when is?
DJHJD
Saturday, July 15, 2006
The real danger to us from the Middle East
This morning, from a cave somewhere in Pakistan, Taliban Minister of Migration, Mohammed Omar, warned the United States that if military action against Iraq continues, Taliban authorities will cut off America's supply of convenience store managers. And if this action does not yield sufficient results, cab drivers will be next, followed by Dell customer service reps.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Fuzzy math
July 13, 2006, 8:12PM
From the Houston Chronicle
Slight decrease in the projected federal budget deficit offers little cause for celebration.
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
SUPPOSE a physician infected 100 patients with malaria and subsequently cured seven of them. The healthy patients might be a testament to the doctor's restorative powers, but the entire exercise would not be edifying or praiseworthy.
A similar logic applies to claims about the wisdom to be seen in federal tax and spending decisions.
The federal budget deficit for fiscal 2005 was $318 billion. The White House projects that the deficit for 2006 will be $296 billion. Given the unrestrained spending that has characterized this Congress, Americans must be grateful the deficit is projected to be no higher. However, $296 billion, the fourth-highest deficit recorded in U.S. history, provides little cause to break open the champagne (or freedom wine, according to taste).
To its credit, the Republican Party's conservative base has begun to express outrage at Washington's irresponsible spending policies. Terrified of losing their base, President Bush and Republican leaders in Congress have seized upon the deficit figures as proof that they represent the party of fiscal responsibility. The lower deficit projection, Bush and House Majority Leader John Boehner say, results from tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003.
Voters, aware that the 2007 deficit is due to rise again to $318 billion, can decide how much credence to give that claim when they go to the polls in November. Whatever the case, the reduced budget figure for 2006 deserves to be seen in context.
In 2001, before the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the federal budget was in surplus. After the 2001 tax cuts and economic shock from 9/11, tax revenues declined in 2002-2003. Only in 2006 have tax revenues, adjusted for inflation and population growth, climbed higher than they were in 2000.
The truth is that when the United States' huge economy is healthy, tax revenues rise whether tax rates are raised, lowered or kept the same. Revenues rose when Ronald Reagan won tax cuts, and they rose when Bill Clinton secured tax hikes.
Tax cuts do spur economic activity and can help to lift the economy out of recession. But the administration's own Treasury Department analysis finds that tax cuts account for less than half of 1 percent of the economy's 3 percent-4 percent annual growth.
If tax cuts are spurring an economic boom, why is the federal budget still running a huge deficit after four years of solid economic expansion? The budget ought to be in surplus.
Furthermore, the budget figures do not take into account the hundreds of billions of dollars the nation will spend fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Following long custom, the administration has budgeted not a single dollar to pay for future combat operations, even in the middle of a global struggle against determined enemies.
As both Republicans and Democrats acknowledge, this year's $294 billion deficit estimate should be $180 billion higher to reflect the spending of every penny of the annual Social Security surplus the government collects from U.S. workers. That money should be used to buy down the national debt to prepare for the wave of baby boomer retirements, not squandered on bridges to nowhere and other so-called budget earmarks.
Democrats in Congress have their own large spending ambitions, but they have no hand in crafting the budget and are not even given a chance to read appropriations bills before a vote is taken.
In the last five years, federal spending has added $3 trillion to the national debt. Placed against that backdrop, a $12 billion drop in the federal deficit deserves no more than a polite nod of recognition.
From the Houston Chronicle
Slight decrease in the projected federal budget deficit offers little cause for celebration.
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
SUPPOSE a physician infected 100 patients with malaria and subsequently cured seven of them. The healthy patients might be a testament to the doctor's restorative powers, but the entire exercise would not be edifying or praiseworthy.
A similar logic applies to claims about the wisdom to be seen in federal tax and spending decisions.
The federal budget deficit for fiscal 2005 was $318 billion. The White House projects that the deficit for 2006 will be $296 billion. Given the unrestrained spending that has characterized this Congress, Americans must be grateful the deficit is projected to be no higher. However, $296 billion, the fourth-highest deficit recorded in U.S. history, provides little cause to break open the champagne (or freedom wine, according to taste).
To its credit, the Republican Party's conservative base has begun to express outrage at Washington's irresponsible spending policies. Terrified of losing their base, President Bush and Republican leaders in Congress have seized upon the deficit figures as proof that they represent the party of fiscal responsibility. The lower deficit projection, Bush and House Majority Leader John Boehner say, results from tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003.
Voters, aware that the 2007 deficit is due to rise again to $318 billion, can decide how much credence to give that claim when they go to the polls in November. Whatever the case, the reduced budget figure for 2006 deserves to be seen in context.
In 2001, before the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the federal budget was in surplus. After the 2001 tax cuts and economic shock from 9/11, tax revenues declined in 2002-2003. Only in 2006 have tax revenues, adjusted for inflation and population growth, climbed higher than they were in 2000.
The truth is that when the United States' huge economy is healthy, tax revenues rise whether tax rates are raised, lowered or kept the same. Revenues rose when Ronald Reagan won tax cuts, and they rose when Bill Clinton secured tax hikes.
Tax cuts do spur economic activity and can help to lift the economy out of recession. But the administration's own Treasury Department analysis finds that tax cuts account for less than half of 1 percent of the economy's 3 percent-4 percent annual growth.
If tax cuts are spurring an economic boom, why is the federal budget still running a huge deficit after four years of solid economic expansion? The budget ought to be in surplus.
Furthermore, the budget figures do not take into account the hundreds of billions of dollars the nation will spend fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Following long custom, the administration has budgeted not a single dollar to pay for future combat operations, even in the middle of a global struggle against determined enemies.
As both Republicans and Democrats acknowledge, this year's $294 billion deficit estimate should be $180 billion higher to reflect the spending of every penny of the annual Social Security surplus the government collects from U.S. workers. That money should be used to buy down the national debt to prepare for the wave of baby boomer retirements, not squandered on bridges to nowhere and other so-called budget earmarks.
Democrats in Congress have their own large spending ambitions, but they have no hand in crafting the budget and are not even given a chance to read appropriations bills before a vote is taken.
In the last five years, federal spending has added $3 trillion to the national debt. Placed against that backdrop, a $12 billion drop in the federal deficit deserves no more than a polite nod of recognition.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
The first letter of mine that the Chronicle is likely to publish
On July 12, Bernie Bryl wrote to complain of the noise levels at Intercontinental Airport.
These complaints mystify me; Intercontinental Airport was built in the middle of undeveloped ranch and woodland almost forty years ago. There were no residential areas there, and the North Harris college campus that is mentioned was founded four years after Intercontinental Airport was opened.
Everyone who is complaining of the nuisance that Intercontinental Airport poses made a choice to be there, knowing that the airport was there first. Beginning in 1969, the airport has operated continuously at that location, and any development, residential, commercial or educational, knowingly established themselves underneath an airport's traffic pattern at a time when jet engine noise was many, many times louder than it is now.
These complaints are without merit, and should continue to be ignored by local, state and Federal government officials. Intercontinental Airport is a huge economic engine for our region, just as is the port. Strangling it to accommodate people who chose to be in harm's way makes no sense.
These complaints mystify me; Intercontinental Airport was built in the middle of undeveloped ranch and woodland almost forty years ago. There were no residential areas there, and the North Harris college campus that is mentioned was founded four years after Intercontinental Airport was opened.
Everyone who is complaining of the nuisance that Intercontinental Airport poses made a choice to be there, knowing that the airport was there first. Beginning in 1969, the airport has operated continuously at that location, and any development, residential, commercial or educational, knowingly established themselves underneath an airport's traffic pattern at a time when jet engine noise was many, many times louder than it is now.
These complaints are without merit, and should continue to be ignored by local, state and Federal government officials. Intercontinental Airport is a huge economic engine for our region, just as is the port. Strangling it to accommodate people who chose to be in harm's way makes no sense.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Director of Irony
source article
Rahm Emanuel looks to save the nation $100K by doing the "Director of Lessons Learned" job for him:
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the President said we continue to be wise about how we spend the people's money.
"Then why are we paying over $100,000 for a 'White House Director of Lessons Learned'?
"Maybe I can save the taxpayers $100,000 by running through a few of the lessons this White House should have learned by now.
"Lesson 1: When the Army Chief of Staff and the Secretary of State say you are going to war without enough troops, you're going to war without enough troops.
"Lesson 2: When 8.8 billion dollars of reconstruction funding disappears from Iraq, and 2 billion dollars disappears from Katrina relief, it's time to demand a little accountability.
"Lesson 3: When you've 'turned the corner' in Iraq more times than Danica Patrick at the Indy 500, it means you are going in circles.
"Lesson 4: When the national weather service tells you a category 5 hurricane is heading for New Orleans, a category 5 hurricane is heading to New Orleans.
"I would also ask the President why we're paying for two 'Ethics Advisors' and a 'Director of Fact Checking.'
"They must be the only people in Washington who get more vacation time than the President.
"Maybe the White House could consolidate these positions into a Director of Irony."
Rahm Emanuel looks to save the nation $100K by doing the "Director of Lessons Learned" job for him:
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the President said we continue to be wise about how we spend the people's money.
"Then why are we paying over $100,000 for a 'White House Director of Lessons Learned'?
"Maybe I can save the taxpayers $100,000 by running through a few of the lessons this White House should have learned by now.
"Lesson 1: When the Army Chief of Staff and the Secretary of State say you are going to war without enough troops, you're going to war without enough troops.
"Lesson 2: When 8.8 billion dollars of reconstruction funding disappears from Iraq, and 2 billion dollars disappears from Katrina relief, it's time to demand a little accountability.
"Lesson 3: When you've 'turned the corner' in Iraq more times than Danica Patrick at the Indy 500, it means you are going in circles.
"Lesson 4: When the national weather service tells you a category 5 hurricane is heading for New Orleans, a category 5 hurricane is heading to New Orleans.
"I would also ask the President why we're paying for two 'Ethics Advisors' and a 'Director of Fact Checking.'
"They must be the only people in Washington who get more vacation time than the President.
"Maybe the White House could consolidate these positions into a Director of Irony."
Kids (from Maine) say the DARNDEST things...
The American flag stands for the fact that cloth can be very important. [...] You can tell just how important this cloth is because when you compare it to people, it gets much better treatment. Nobody cares if a homeless person touches the ground. A homeless person can lie all over the ground all night long without anyone picking him up, folding him neatly and sheltering him from the rain.
School children have to pledge loyalty to this piece of cloth every morning. No one has to pledge loyalty to justice and equality and human decency. No one has to promise that people will get a fair wage, or enough food to eat, or affordable medicine, or clean water, or air free of harmful chemicals. But we all have to promise to love a rectangle of red, white, and blue cloth.
Betsy Ross would be quite surprised to see how successful her creation has become. But Thomas Jefferson would be disappointed to see how little of the flag's real meaning remains.
Charlotte Aldebron, wrote that in '02 for a competition in her 6th grade English class while attending Cunningham Middle School in Presque Isle, Maine. Four years later, it seems even more relevant. (Hat tip to Nonie3234 for the link)
School children have to pledge loyalty to this piece of cloth every morning. No one has to pledge loyalty to justice and equality and human decency. No one has to promise that people will get a fair wage, or enough food to eat, or affordable medicine, or clean water, or air free of harmful chemicals. But we all have to promise to love a rectangle of red, white, and blue cloth.
Betsy Ross would be quite surprised to see how successful her creation has become. But Thomas Jefferson would be disappointed to see how little of the flag's real meaning remains.
Charlotte Aldebron, wrote that in '02 for a competition in her 6th grade English class while attending Cunningham Middle School in Presque Isle, Maine. Four years later, it seems even more relevant. (Hat tip to Nonie3234 for the link)
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Oh, yeah - tax cuts are responsible for the decrease
From Talking Points Memo
President Bush is out saying that his tax cuts are responsible for the deficit this year being lower than his economists predicted earlier this year and slightly lower than the actual deficit last year. But is someone going to mention that the tax cuts are the prime reason we have record deficits to begin with? President Bush came into office with surpluses. He ran up the deficits, structural deficits created by his tax cuts. Or have we forgotten that?
Late Update: There's a good editorial making this point in The New Republic a few weeks back. Unfortunately, it's behind their subscription wall. But I'll give you this snippet: "Halving a deficit you inherited would be something to brag about. Halving a deficit you created, not so much. You don't see Bush's former chief domestic policy adviser Claude Allen boasting that he has returned half the merchandise he filched from Target." And as the editors point out, this would be the case if the claim of reducing the deficit were true, which it turns out not to be. Oh well. News editor dorks who got taken in can seek absolution where?
President Bush is out saying that his tax cuts are responsible for the deficit this year being lower than his economists predicted earlier this year and slightly lower than the actual deficit last year. But is someone going to mention that the tax cuts are the prime reason we have record deficits to begin with? President Bush came into office with surpluses. He ran up the deficits, structural deficits created by his tax cuts. Or have we forgotten that?
Late Update: There's a good editorial making this point in The New Republic a few weeks back. Unfortunately, it's behind their subscription wall. But I'll give you this snippet: "Halving a deficit you inherited would be something to brag about. Halving a deficit you created, not so much. You don't see Bush's former chief domestic policy adviser Claude Allen boasting that he has returned half the merchandise he filched from Target." And as the editors point out, this would be the case if the claim of reducing the deficit were true, which it turns out not to be. Oh well. News editor dorks who got taken in can seek absolution where?
Who got raises at the White House?
From Daily Kos
Let's see who the White House values, and who it doesn't...
President Bush's most senior aides -- the ones who hold the coveted title of "assistant to the president" -- recently received a $4,200 cost-of-living bump-up in compensation and now earn a top pay rate of $165,200, according to an internal White House list of staff salaries. The list was compiled by the administration for the year that ended June 30 and is displayed both alphabetically, and by dollar ranking, below. Those at the bottom of the White House staff pay scale -- the folks answering phones and responding to the president's mail, for example -- remain stuck at last year's pay floor of $30,000, according to a year-to-year comparison of White House data obtained by National Journal.
Heh. Those at the bottom didn't even get scraps. A BIG ZERO pay raise.
And who is the decider of those salaries?
White House salaries and job titles are largely controlled at the discretion of the president.
Anyone surprised?
Republicanism in all its glory.
Meanwhile, Think Progress mocks the $106K+ paid to Stuart Baker for being -- this is no joke -- the Director for Lessons Learned. The two ethics advisors ($114.7K and $100.5K) and the Director of Fact Checking ($46.5K) are also clearly doing little to earn their salaries.
Let's see who the White House values, and who it doesn't...
President Bush's most senior aides -- the ones who hold the coveted title of "assistant to the president" -- recently received a $4,200 cost-of-living bump-up in compensation and now earn a top pay rate of $165,200, according to an internal White House list of staff salaries. The list was compiled by the administration for the year that ended June 30 and is displayed both alphabetically, and by dollar ranking, below. Those at the bottom of the White House staff pay scale -- the folks answering phones and responding to the president's mail, for example -- remain stuck at last year's pay floor of $30,000, according to a year-to-year comparison of White House data obtained by National Journal.
Heh. Those at the bottom didn't even get scraps. A BIG ZERO pay raise.
And who is the decider of those salaries?
White House salaries and job titles are largely controlled at the discretion of the president.
Anyone surprised?
Republicanism in all its glory.
Meanwhile, Think Progress mocks the $106K+ paid to Stuart Baker for being -- this is no joke -- the Director for Lessons Learned. The two ethics advisors ($114.7K and $100.5K) and the Director of Fact Checking ($46.5K) are also clearly doing little to earn their salaries.
Bush pleased with massive deficit
From Daily Kos
By kos on deficit
Bush wants high-fives all around for yet another massive budget deficit.
Today, the Office of Management Budget projected a $296 billion federal deficit for fiscal year 2006. Bush held a press conference arguing that this is a vindication of his economic policies.
Actually, it would be the fourth largest deficit of all time. Here's the top five:
1. 2004 (George W. Bush) $413 billion
2. 2003 (George W. Bush) $378 billion
3. 2005 (George W. Bush) $318 billion
4. 2006 (George W. Bush) $296 billion (projected)
5. 1992 (George H. W. Bush) $290 billion
When President Bush came into office, he inherited a surplus of $284 Billion. At that time, the Bush administration predicted a $516 billion surplus for 2006.
I remember when Republicans thought deficits were bad. Now they are celebrating them.
By kos on deficit
Bush wants high-fives all around for yet another massive budget deficit.
Today, the Office of Management Budget projected a $296 billion federal deficit for fiscal year 2006. Bush held a press conference arguing that this is a vindication of his economic policies.
Actually, it would be the fourth largest deficit of all time. Here's the top five:
1. 2004 (George W. Bush) $413 billion
2. 2003 (George W. Bush) $378 billion
3. 2005 (George W. Bush) $318 billion
4. 2006 (George W. Bush) $296 billion (projected)
5. 1992 (George H. W. Bush) $290 billion
When President Bush came into office, he inherited a surplus of $284 Billion. At that time, the Bush administration predicted a $516 billion surplus for 2006.
I remember when Republicans thought deficits were bad. Now they are celebrating them.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Monday, Monday ver. 824.01
Catching up after a lost week is a bit tough, especially when your motivation didn't come with the computer repair.
I'm about to re-do five tax returns, and then print them out for delivery. Very fun stuff.. then, it's time to work my booty off, in anticipation of delivery this course work TOMORROW. Yarg.
Tomorrow, I have to deliver all of my online content. I think I have it all designed, and know what I'm going to say.
And, I have about 1/3 of the materials already completed. So, up early to complete and send off the work, no IM and no email until it's all done.
Got a bunch done today; it's amazing what one can accomplish when the tax and mortgage software is working properly. Have tomorrow dedicated to the online course content, and then all the rest of the week reconstructing a client's books for the last two years. I like having work to do.
Ah, Bram's driving up. He's so excited that I could find the G35 like his to be the car for me. He keeps talking it up. Chuck and I are going tomorrow to look at one (and an FX35, also, which is Chuck's preference.) The G35 is stunning, though, and has a LOW stock number, which suggests that they've had it a while.
I'll stick up some pictures here in a second.
Secret Agent Man was suddenly back in touch today. Oof. That man, I swear.
I'm about to re-do five tax returns, and then print them out for delivery. Very fun stuff.. then, it's time to work my booty off, in anticipation of delivery this course work TOMORROW. Yarg.
Tomorrow, I have to deliver all of my online content. I think I have it all designed, and know what I'm going to say.
And, I have about 1/3 of the materials already completed. So, up early to complete and send off the work, no IM and no email until it's all done.
Got a bunch done today; it's amazing what one can accomplish when the tax and mortgage software is working properly. Have tomorrow dedicated to the online course content, and then all the rest of the week reconstructing a client's books for the last two years. I like having work to do.
Ah, Bram's driving up. He's so excited that I could find the G35 like his to be the car for me. He keeps talking it up. Chuck and I are going tomorrow to look at one (and an FX35, also, which is Chuck's preference.) The G35 is stunning, though, and has a LOW stock number, which suggests that they've had it a while.
I'll stick up some pictures here in a second.
Secret Agent Man was suddenly back in touch today. Oof. That man, I swear.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Sunday - more rain, or .. is it clearing up?
It looks like it could be clearing up. Laundry is underway. I'm watching a VERY strange movie called "Tarnation," about a guy from Houston, and his growing up in foster homes, having a mother who is schizophrenic. The movie is a montage of pictures, video, super 8MM and answering machine messages. It's .. um .. bizarre.
Bram is off somewhere - he was looking for a chair or something. Chuck loaned me his car for tomorrow - it's a lovely car, but it's so TINY. Holy schmoly.
Church today was good. I talked about "Doubt," and we kicked around the idea of what happens when you lose your goals or bigger picture. It was quite a conversation.
Mikey's flying to Newark tomorrow, and he's panicked. He hates to fly. Nothing I tell him makes a difference. I don't know whether he's trying to make me crazy, since he knows I'm an airline geek, or whether he's really this scared.
Talked today about the car thing. As I told Chuck yesterday, what I REALLY want is for the Universe to cough up the car or the resources for the car. And, I want .. I'm not sure. Maybe I need to get clear about that. Yarg.
I have so much to do. not having my computers working has really screwed me up.
Bram is off somewhere - he was looking for a chair or something. Chuck loaned me his car for tomorrow - it's a lovely car, but it's so TINY. Holy schmoly.
Church today was good. I talked about "Doubt," and we kicked around the idea of what happens when you lose your goals or bigger picture. It was quite a conversation.
Mikey's flying to Newark tomorrow, and he's panicked. He hates to fly. Nothing I tell him makes a difference. I don't know whether he's trying to make me crazy, since he knows I'm an airline geek, or whether he's really this scared.
Talked today about the car thing. As I told Chuck yesterday, what I REALLY want is for the Universe to cough up the car or the resources for the car. And, I want .. I'm not sure. Maybe I need to get clear about that. Yarg.
I have so much to do. not having my computers working has really screwed me up.
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