Friday, September 30, 2005
Why Were The Conservatives So Strongly Opposed to David Dreier as Temporary Majority Leader?
When House Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay was indicted, Speaker Denny Hastert announced that Rep. David Dreier (California) would serve as Majority Leader. Later in the day, Hastert announced that Dreier would share those duties with Rep. Roy Blunt (Missouri). By the end of the day, Dreier was out, and Roy Blunt was Majority Leader.
The various published stories on Hastert's about-face cited Blunt's personal plea for the job and a revolt by conservatives against Dreier.
Although nothing has been mentioned in the mainstream media, I cannot help but wonder if one of the reasons the ultra right wingers fought against Dreier had something to do with the persistant rumors and stories about his homosexuality. Swing State Project, which provides campaign and election news on key races around the country, posted an interesting piece this week about how the recent attention Dreier is receiving may rekindle the stories.
It's sad, but many Republicans really believe that homosexuality is simply a sinful lifestyle. I feel sorry for Dreier. His whole life is being a Member of Congress. He knows that if he comes out, he will lose it all.
The various published stories on Hastert's about-face cited Blunt's personal plea for the job and a revolt by conservatives against Dreier.
Although nothing has been mentioned in the mainstream media, I cannot help but wonder if one of the reasons the ultra right wingers fought against Dreier had something to do with the persistant rumors and stories about his homosexuality. Swing State Project, which provides campaign and election news on key races around the country, posted an interesting piece this week about how the recent attention Dreier is receiving may rekindle the stories.
It's sad, but many Republicans really believe that homosexuality is simply a sinful lifestyle. I feel sorry for Dreier. His whole life is being a Member of Congress. He knows that if he comes out, he will lose it all.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Tom DeLay Indicted -- Finally
House Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay was indicted today with two associates for criminal conspiracy in a campaign fundraising scheme.
Finally.
Essentially, DeLay and his indicted co-conspirators set up a money laundering scheme to funnel corporate campaign contributions through the Republican National Committee to Texas state Republican candidates, since direct corporate contributions are against the law.
Two of DeLay's other associates were indicted earlier this year for improper fundraising.
DeLay will have to step down as Republican Majority Leader because of the indictment. In anticipation of this indictment, he tried earlier this year to change the House rules so he would not have to step down if charged with a crime, but the public uproar was too much for the normally compliant, and intimidated, Republican rank and file.
Tom DeLay's indictment is yet another example of Republican corruption. I am so disgusted.
Finally.
Essentially, DeLay and his indicted co-conspirators set up a money laundering scheme to funnel corporate campaign contributions through the Republican National Committee to Texas state Republican candidates, since direct corporate contributions are against the law.
Two of DeLay's other associates were indicted earlier this year for improper fundraising.
DeLay will have to step down as Republican Majority Leader because of the indictment. In anticipation of this indictment, he tried earlier this year to change the House rules so he would not have to step down if charged with a crime, but the public uproar was too much for the normally compliant, and intimidated, Republican rank and file.
Tom DeLay's indictment is yet another example of Republican corruption. I am so disgusted.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Bush Scandal Fatigue
I am so tired of Bush, the worst president ever, and I am tired of Republicans, who control all branches of the federal government.
I am tired of thinking about the election problems -- both elections -- that resulted in Bush winning by dubious means.
I am tired of thinking about all the lies Bush told -- along with Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice and others -- that got us into the war in Iraq. Lies that are costing people their lives every day.
I am tired of thinking about Bush's indifference and incompetence following Hurricane Katrina.
I am tired of thinking about Cheney's boys at Halliburton (where he was chairman) ripping us off with Iraq reconstruction -- and now with New Orleans and Gulf Coast reconstruction.
I am tired of thinking about House Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay and the multitude of investigations into his shady dealings.
I am tired already of thinking about Senate Republican Majority Leader Bill Frist's sale of his stock in his family's company just before bad news was released and the stock price fell.
This administration is the worst ever -- the most corrupt ever. But no body is ever held accountable. We have no Congressional investigations, no calls for impeachment. Nothing.
Is it because people have seen how viscious the Bush folks can be in attacking anyone who dares to disagree with them? (Ask Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame. Ask former Senator Max Cleland.)
Or is it because no body really cares?
I am disgusted. I wish I were out riding the Harley.
I am tired of thinking about the election problems -- both elections -- that resulted in Bush winning by dubious means.
I am tired of thinking about all the lies Bush told -- along with Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice and others -- that got us into the war in Iraq. Lies that are costing people their lives every day.
I am tired of thinking about Bush's indifference and incompetence following Hurricane Katrina.
I am tired of thinking about Cheney's boys at Halliburton (where he was chairman) ripping us off with Iraq reconstruction -- and now with New Orleans and Gulf Coast reconstruction.
I am tired of thinking about House Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay and the multitude of investigations into his shady dealings.
I am tired already of thinking about Senate Republican Majority Leader Bill Frist's sale of his stock in his family's company just before bad news was released and the stock price fell.
This administration is the worst ever -- the most corrupt ever. But no body is ever held accountable. We have no Congressional investigations, no calls for impeachment. Nothing.
Is it because people have seen how viscious the Bush folks can be in attacking anyone who dares to disagree with them? (Ask Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame. Ask former Senator Max Cleland.)
Or is it because no body really cares?
I am disgusted. I wish I were out riding the Harley.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Senate Republican Leader Bill Frist Facing Two Investigations Into His Recent Stock Sale
Senate Republican Leader Bill Frist's family founded and runs HCA, Inc., which owns a chain of hospitals. Frist himself owned a bunch of it in what was supposed to be a blind trust. Just before the stock tanked, dropping on concerns it would not meet earnings expectations, Frist sold all of it.
First, Frist's spokesperson said he sold it to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. But that didn't wash, because he had fought selling it for years, and even got the Senate Select Committee on Ethics to say it was alright for him to keep it, even though he was routinely dealing with legislation to benefit the company, such as limiting patients ability to sue for malpractice.
Now Frist expects us to believe that after resisting criticism for years, and after seeking Ethics Committee approval to keep it, out of the blue he decided to sell the stock -- and it had nothing to do with the pending release of information that the company would not meet its earnings projections.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, which investigates lots of stock market fraud cases, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, are both investigating Frist's sale of his stock.
People inside the beltway and out have been talking more and more about the arrogance of power -- how the Republicans, who control all branches of government, just do whatever they want and expect to get away with it. Frist is yet another example.
First, Frist's spokesperson said he sold it to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. But that didn't wash, because he had fought selling it for years, and even got the Senate Select Committee on Ethics to say it was alright for him to keep it, even though he was routinely dealing with legislation to benefit the company, such as limiting patients ability to sue for malpractice.
Now Frist expects us to believe that after resisting criticism for years, and after seeking Ethics Committee approval to keep it, out of the blue he decided to sell the stock -- and it had nothing to do with the pending release of information that the company would not meet its earnings projections.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, which investigates lots of stock market fraud cases, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, are both investigating Frist's sale of his stock.
People inside the beltway and out have been talking more and more about the arrogance of power -- how the Republicans, who control all branches of government, just do whatever they want and expect to get away with it. Frist is yet another example.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Republican Lobbyists, Congressmen, White House Nervous as Abramoff Probe Widens
Last week White House staffer David Safavian was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice and making false statements (that is, lying) about dealings with Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Safavian was head of procurement for the White House Office of Management and Budget.
The probe is growing. The noose is tightening. Lots of Republicans around town are nervous.
Bloomberg News reports the widening probe into Abramoff's shady activities is getting too close to home and threatens, as Bloomberg puts it, "leading figures in the Republican heirarchy that dominates Washington."
The Bloomberg story details some of Abramoff's dealings with Republicans, including funding international trips for House Majority Leader Tom DeLay -- who called Abramoff "one of my closest and dearest friends" -- and working with Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio to insert language into the Congressional Record supporting Abramoff's acquisition of a casino ship company. Abramoff has been indicted on wire fraud charges in connection with that purchase.
Republican sleaziness is not news -- it's a given. It will be interesting to see how far the Justice Department / FBI probe will get before the White House puts a stop to it.
The probe is growing. The noose is tightening. Lots of Republicans around town are nervous.
Bloomberg News reports the widening probe into Abramoff's shady activities is getting too close to home and threatens, as Bloomberg puts it, "leading figures in the Republican heirarchy that dominates Washington."
The Bloomberg story details some of Abramoff's dealings with Republicans, including funding international trips for House Majority Leader Tom DeLay -- who called Abramoff "one of my closest and dearest friends" -- and working with Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio to insert language into the Congressional Record supporting Abramoff's acquisition of a casino ship company. Abramoff has been indicted on wire fraud charges in connection with that purchase.
Republican sleaziness is not news -- it's a given. It will be interesting to see how far the Justice Department / FBI probe will get before the White House puts a stop to it.
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Bush Drinking Again?
I don't read National Enquirer, but I couldn't help noticing their story that Bush is hitting the bottle again.
Whether it's true or not, millions of people are going to see the headline in the supermarket checkout line and wonder.
Whether it's true or not, millions of people are going to see the headline in the supermarket checkout line and wonder.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Why Do I Blog? I Miss It When I Don't
I am relatively new to blogging. I'm not really sure why I do it. I don't have a big ego that needs regular stroking, so it's not that. But as I pointed out the other day, I miss it when I don't.
The Rock Creek Rambler, an interesting DC-based blogger, asked that question. I agree with him. I'm not sure why I do it. I do it, as he pointed out, because it's there.
And I miss it when I don't have the time to do it.
The Rock Creek Rambler, an interesting DC-based blogger, asked that question. I agree with him. I'm not sure why I do it. I do it, as he pointed out, because it's there.
And I miss it when I don't have the time to do it.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Bush Dragging Down Rest of Republicans
His approval rating is at an all time low. Six in ten Americans disapprove of his job performance. The bungled Katrina recovery and renewed questions about how he got us into Iraq are causing Americans to question not only him, but also the whole Republican Party.
Republican bosses are worried Bush will drag the whole gang down in the 2006 elections.
A story by Ron Fournier of the Associated Press details the results of the new AP-Ipsos poll that shows that 42% of the country would cut spending in Iraq to help pay for Katrina recovery, and nearly 30% favor postponing or canceling Republican tax cuts.
For the good of the country, I am counting the days until that idiot is out of office. Without a doubt, he is the worst president ever.
Republican bosses are worried Bush will drag the whole gang down in the 2006 elections.
A story by Ron Fournier of the Associated Press details the results of the new AP-Ipsos poll that shows that 42% of the country would cut spending in Iraq to help pay for Katrina recovery, and nearly 30% favor postponing or canceling Republican tax cuts.
For the good of the country, I am counting the days until that idiot is out of office. Without a doubt, he is the worst president ever.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Too Busy to Post -- I Hate It
Work has consumed me for the past two weeks -- taking away my blogging time.
I had a great August and first few days of September when I was riding around the South on the Harley, but when I got back to work the day after Labor Day, way too much stuff had built up. I am still digging out from underneath the pile of junk on my desk, and still dealing with the crisis of the day, but I am starting to see some daylight.
I hope to be back posting and pontificating again shortly. In the meantime, check out Democratic Underground's Top Ten Conservative Idiots list.
I had a great August and first few days of September when I was riding around the South on the Harley, but when I got back to work the day after Labor Day, way too much stuff had built up. I am still digging out from underneath the pile of junk on my desk, and still dealing with the crisis of the day, but I am starting to see some daylight.
I hope to be back posting and pontificating again shortly. In the meantime, check out Democratic Underground's Top Ten Conservative Idiots list.
Monday, September 12, 2005
FEMA Director Brown Quits. Duh!
FEMA Director Michael Brown quit today "in the best interest of the agency and in the best interest of the president."
He said he wants the media to focus on "the good things that are going on" and not on him.
Look for Republicans to pile on Brown and to say now that he is gone all our problems are behind us.
He said he wants the media to focus on "the good things that are going on" and not on him.
Look for Republicans to pile on Brown and to say now that he is gone all our problems are behind us.
Newsweek: How Bush Blew It
Newsweek has a very compelling story on the inner workings of the White House handlers and Bush's thought process (or lack thereof).
The piece points out that Bush has surrounded himself with people who agree with him, and he equates disagreement with disloyalty. The piece has an amusing recounting of the debate among senior White House staffers over who would deliver the bad news that Bush should cut his long vacation by a couple of days to address the disaster. Naturally, they made the lowest ranking guy do it.
With Bush's approval ratings at an all time low, many Americans are counting the days until he is out of office.
I saw a sign somethere -- I think it was Internet coverage of a MoveOn.org event, that, referring to the federal government's mishandling of the Katrina relief effort, said:
I couldn't have said it better myself.
The piece points out that Bush has surrounded himself with people who agree with him, and he equates disagreement with disloyalty. The piece has an amusing recounting of the debate among senior White House staffers over who would deliver the bad news that Bush should cut his long vacation by a couple of days to address the disaster. Naturally, they made the lowest ranking guy do it.
With Bush's approval ratings at an all time low, many Americans are counting the days until he is out of office.
I saw a sign somethere -- I think it was Internet coverage of a MoveOn.org event, that, referring to the federal government's mishandling of the Katrina relief effort, said:
"This is what you get when government is in the hands of people who hate government."
I couldn't have said it better myself.
Friday, September 09, 2005
FEMA Chief Brown Relieved of Duty
MSNBC is reporting that FEMA Chief Brown is being relieved of his duties as a result not only of his poor performance, but also for apparent discrepancies in his resume.
He said he was "assistant city manager with emergency services oversight" in Edmond, Oklahoma, but it turns out he was really an intern!
Brown was in this job because he was a major campaigner and contributor to Bush.
When will it end with this mis-Administration?
He said he was "assistant city manager with emergency services oversight" in Edmond, Oklahoma, but it turns out he was really an intern!
Brown was in this job because he was a major campaigner and contributor to Bush.
When will it end with this mis-Administration?
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Tom DeLay's PAC Indicted
The Associated Press is reporting that one of Tom DeLay's political action committees has been indicted for accepting illegal contributions and for making unlawful expenditures.
DeLay himself wasn't indicted by this particular grand jury.
When will it end with this guy? When will he be put away? When will the voters turn him out?
DeLay himself wasn't indicted by this particular grand jury.
When will it end with this guy? When will he be put away? When will the voters turn him out?
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
I'm Numb From Katrina, and Sick of the Fingerpointing
I haven't posted in a while because I have been on my annual 2,500 mile Harley ride to visit my family in Mississippi.
I rode out the storm with my mother, and spent time with my sisters and my brother. They all live in the Jackson area, which is 175 miles inland. Even that far away from the coast, Katrina had just been downgraded to Category 1 when it got there. Fortunately, my family had only minor damage to their houses, mostly tree branches in the yard. They had no electricity for nearly a week, however -- and my mother still has no power -- but they fared much better than the folks on the coast and in New Orleans.
Having seen what has happened to Mississippi -- my home state -- and to New Orleans -- one of my favorite cities in the world -- I am just numb. I have stopped watching TV altogether -- partly because of the grim scenes, and partly because I am just sick of the grandstanding and fingerpointing on the part of the Bush mis-administration. I agree with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin who angrily denounced administration officials who held press conferences and staged photo opportunities to make people think they were doing something. He told them not to hold any more press conferences until they actually did something.
I guess it's understandable why Bush wouldn't push too hard to help the folks on the coast and in New Orleans. Poor people don't vote often, and when they do, they don't vote Republican.
I rode out the storm with my mother, and spent time with my sisters and my brother. They all live in the Jackson area, which is 175 miles inland. Even that far away from the coast, Katrina had just been downgraded to Category 1 when it got there. Fortunately, my family had only minor damage to their houses, mostly tree branches in the yard. They had no electricity for nearly a week, however -- and my mother still has no power -- but they fared much better than the folks on the coast and in New Orleans.
Having seen what has happened to Mississippi -- my home state -- and to New Orleans -- one of my favorite cities in the world -- I am just numb. I have stopped watching TV altogether -- partly because of the grim scenes, and partly because I am just sick of the grandstanding and fingerpointing on the part of the Bush mis-administration. I agree with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin who angrily denounced administration officials who held press conferences and staged photo opportunities to make people think they were doing something. He told them not to hold any more press conferences until they actually did something.
I guess it's understandable why Bush wouldn't push too hard to help the folks on the coast and in New Orleans. Poor people don't vote often, and when they do, they don't vote Republican.
