A Closer Look Here, There and Everywhere
by Trish PurcellChanging your story and hoping nobody will notice:
On the subject of WMD in Iraq, Bush said (December 2005), "knowing what I know today, I would have still made that decision." This effectively made the presence of WMD irrelevant. Now Rove is saying that had the President known Iraq did not possess weapons of mass destruction, the United States would not have gone to war. I guess he doesn’t realize you can’t just do a 180 anymore what with videos of everything you say all over the Internet.
Changing your position while claiming not to have changed your position:
Diane Feinstein and Ron Wyden have repeatedly insisted that the revised Army Field Manual be set as the standard across the board for interrogation techniques. Now these same Senators are talking about the need for "flexibility" in "extreme cases" or using noncoercive measures only "to the greatest extent possible" or the need for "special measures" in times of heightened threat. Both Senators claim they have not changed position while continuing to talk about the need for flexibility. I guess they think you can have “some torture” and “no torture” mandates at the same time.
Wanting to “be a Senator” as opposed to wanting to serve your country:
Loudmouth blowhard, Chris Matthews said he wants to “fulfill his boyhood dream of becoming a senator.” He hasn’t declared any interest in serving the people, the country, or any cause – just in being a senator. .Matthews is a wealthy celebrity who sees absolutely no problem with establishing residency in a state (Pennsylvania) and using his wealth to achieve his boyhood dream of personal self-aggrandizement. As political journalist, David Sirota, says, “He's spent his entire life as a principle-free political gossip in Washington - a human embodiment of all that is sick and wrong with Beltway culture.” Amen to that.
Not adding to the dignity of our Surpreme Court:
Justice Samuel Alito, retaliated for Joe Biden’s questions and negative vote in his confirmation hearing three years ago. Exposing his petty vindictiveness in an after dinner speech, Alito took jabs at the Vice-President elect for something Biden did, not recently but 20 years ago. Way to go Alito. Your fellow justices must be so proud.
MSNBC political news reflecting opinions more than reporting actual news:
Despite complementary statements by media types about Chuck Todd being the best, very knowledgable, etc. there isn’t much evidence of this excellence in his results as director of political news. Among his numerous fumbles was his decision to uninvite Kucinich to the Las Vegas primary debate last January. When someone meets the criteria for inclusion in a debate, why does a political hack get to decide the American people don’t need to see and hear that person? This week, regarding Illinois Govenor Blagojevich’s arrest, Todd had a real “looking stupid” moment in an exchange with Norah O’Donnell attempting to make news where there was none. It went like this: NORAH O'DONNELL: Can Obama avoid being tainted by all of this? CHUCK TODD: It depends on your definition of taint. Oh wow! How profound.
Between media figures and politicians, the contest for “Dummy of the Year” is a close race.
And lest we forget - Bush had claimed recently with (I think) Charlie Gibson that if he "had" known there were no WMDs in Iraq, he is not sure what he would have done re: invading. This was just after stating that his one big regret was the failure of accurate intelligence leading up to his decision to invade. You have to just love the way Bush, Rove et al are attempting to re-write history even as we watch, and even as "the real truth" is all very well documented on video etc..
There is really no end to Republican sliminess. Consider how they just defeated that "measly" (compared to the Wall Street bailout) loan to the auto industry that might insure the safety of 2 1/2 million jobs at least during the holiday season. The BIG hang-up for Republicans in the Senate? The mantra that the UAW members make too much money compared to the rest of the "foreign automobile" workers in the US. Of course, what they fail to mention is that they have lied about just how much the UAW members really make. The actual wages are much more competitive than they have led us to believe. And the real problems with the auto industry have to do with management decisions, not the workers. And, the $14 billion would not actually go to the auto industry if after three months they did not come up with an acceptable restructuring plan. And, and, and!
Also, you never hear it mentioned often that auto workers in other countries get healthcare paid for by the state. The auto companies don't have to spend large sums of money to insure them, as is the case in the "greatest nation in the world," which is also the ONLY industrialized nation without universal health care! Oh the horrors of "socialism!" Or is that the horror of "so-called" conservatives that are clueless as to the real meaning of the word, or the problems that face average citizens in a 21st century world?
And, is it only me, or is it puzzling how the Democrats can't even get things passed in the Senate when they have the majority? The Republicans still seem to run the place! Are we being played by two parties pretending to have different goals? I often wonder.
I also wonder about that, Stephen. And I wonder as well why lowering worker's wages was non-negotiable for a $14 billion loan that was conditional on producing a viable plan. But at the same time, $290 billion plus was handed out with no conditions, no restrictions, and no required viable plan, to the Wall Street Wizards who got us into this mess.
Funny how that works! The big boys just get what they ask for but the workers feet are held to the fire. Makes you wonder what their goal is. Are they trying to turn the U.S. into a country with two classes - the very rich and the poor?
Trish, you have to love the way the Republicans are going after the American blue collar workers. Wasn't this the party that was trying to win the presidency based on their total admiration for "Joe the plumber?" I still think Hypocriticans would be a better name for their party! Or Liarcrats. Or Self-servocrats.
The one silver lining in all this is that PERHAPS???? the diehard blue collar Republicans around the nation will FINALLY!!! "GET" how their party screws them at every turn in the road. Yes, they are trying to create those two classes. That's been pretty obvious to many of us for a long time now, and hopefully it will begin to sink into the consciousness of the right wing base, if you can get them to realize that all their bible thumping won't save them from the greed and uncaring of their own party leaders!