ThinkFast: April 3, 2006
NASA administrator Michael Griffin recently said to a Houston audience: “The space program has had no better friend in its entire existence than Tom DeLay. … He’s still with us and we need to keep him there.” Griffin now denies that statement was an effort to solicit votes for DeLay because, under the Hatch Act, a partisan endorsement cannot be made by a federal employee acting in an official capacity. The Office of Special Counsel is investigating.
President Bush’s new Medicare drug plan is so confusing “even the parents of the Michael Leavitt, secretary of the Health and Human Services (HHS) Department, ended up picking a plan that put their retiree medical coverage at risk. And this after Leavitt helped his parents in making their initial selection.”
An official British “narrative†about the events leading up to last year’s July 7 London bombings states that Iraq war was a “contributory factor.†The report, ordered by home secretary Charles Clarke, claims that the war radicalized the bombers and provoked extremism among British Muslims.
Civil war watch: “Nearly eight times as many Iraqis died last month in execution-style sectarian killings as in terrorist bombings carried out by insurgents, new US military statistics show.”
Meanwhile, “more Iraqis than ever have been buying, carrying and stockpiling weapons, adding an unnerving level of firepower to Baghdad’s streets.â€
After receiving a $200 million contract during the “flush, early days of reconstruction in Iraq,†U.S. construction firm Parsons Inc. has finished only 20 of the 142 primary health clinics they were hired to build over two years. The project was “expected to lay the foundation of a modern health care system for the country.”
1,000: The number of internal e-mails Rep. Tom DeLay gave to federal prosecutors as a “Christmas present†for their ongoing corruption investigation. The “prosecutors are far from finished†with the probe, and “it’s unclear if the e-mails will clear or help implicate DeLay.â€
As many lawmakers resist the administration’s plans to establish permanent bases in Iraq, the Pentagon is already spending millions of dollars to establish at least six “enduring bases” in Iraq.
With hurricane season two months away, President Bush has been struggling to recruit a new federal emergency management chief after seven candidates turned the job down. Acting FEMA director David Paulison is reportedly expected to soon be named Michael Brown’s official successor.
And finally: Condoleezza Rice has banned Playboy and Penthouse from State Department newsstands. “Alerted by an aide that the skin magazines, partially clad in brown paper covers, were placed beside newsmagazines and close to candy, nuts, and stuffed animals, she said, ‘I want them out.‘”
Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments section?
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Don’t worry condi, your picture WON’T be in any of thoes mags.
April 3rd, 2006 at 9:20 amThe article about Iraqis arming themselves to the teeth brings to mind something the gun-lovers here have been saying for a long time: that nobody can protect you; you have to arm yourself. Essentially, then, Iraq and the United States are today pretty much the same: unsafe, ruled by lawlessness, and with a heavily armed populace prepared to go down with blazing guns. What did that young fellow say? “Just let them try to take it [my gun].” Where have I heard that before? “They can have my gun when they pry it from my etc. etc. etc.”
America and Iraq. Peas in a pod. Gun-lovers paradises. Iraq is their kind of country, where gun-made law reigns over man-made law. And they welcome the same thing here. What a revolting mess.
April 3rd, 2006 at 9:38 amThe note about Michael Leavit’s parents is giving me a good laugh to this Monday morning. Everything Bush&Co touch turns into a fiasco. But it’s comforting to know that skin magazines will be forbidden at State. All’s right with the world.
April 3rd, 2006 at 9:42 am#3–You stole my thought. In a world where Seniors can’t figure out what the hell their health care should be, and where the commercials for it advertise “help each other out”, at least Condi knows what the important stuff lays.
I wonder if there’s a coorelation between a lack of nudie mags and the inability to recruit a new FEMA director……hmm…..
April 3rd, 2006 at 9:49 amI’m disappointed if Michael Griffin spoke up for Tom DeLay. Griffin is a truly fine NASA administrator, especially following beancounter O’Keefe. My guess is that DeLay DID push money toward NASA—Texans of both parties like to bring bacon home to Houston. And Griffin knows NASA needs money for it’s missions.
I think Griffin is a little like Werner von Braun—he cares about space and tries to be pragmatic about everything else. (Of course, von Braun’s building V-2s was a more serious ethical mistake than making a statement supporting Tom DeLay…)
April 3rd, 2006 at 9:55 am“Nearly eight times as many Iraqis died last month in execution-style sectarian killings as in terrorist bombings carried out by insurgents, new US military statistics show.â€
Somehwere I read that within a nation that different sects with armed militias fighting each other is refered to as Civil War.
I wonder what the reaction is going to be in Washington when the Iraqis under the demands of Condi and Bush start full out warfare for the prize of running Iraq.
“Meet the new boss, same as the old boss” - the Who
April 3rd, 2006 at 10:00 amCivil war watch: “Nearly eight times as many Iraqis died last month in execution-style sectarian killings as in terrorist bombings carried out by insurgents, new US military statistics show.â€
How is this better than Saddam Hussein?
April 3rd, 2006 at 10:22 amIs Condi another Bush Admin member who doesn’t read news? How could she not know after all these years there are news stands and that those news stands sell magazines?
Or is this even worse, a kin to George Bush Sr. grocery store oblivion? How could you not know men’s magazines are at newstands?
April 3rd, 2006 at 10:25 amAs many lawmakers resist the administration’s plans to establish permanent bases in Iraq, the Pentagon is already spending millions of dollars to establish at least six “enduring bases†in Iraq.
But, Bush said we don’t have enough money to fund the reconstruction after Hurricane Katrina… Yeah, his priorities are America and American people. How are people still missing his biggest lie of all?
April 3rd, 2006 at 10:26 amAnd finally: Condoleezza Rice has banned Playboy and Penthouse from State Department newsstands.
While I personally think such publications are garbage, I do understand the freedom of the press. Apparently, based on this and past behavior, Ms. Rice does not. Should we start requiring our governing official to read the Constitution? Sheesh.
April 3rd, 2006 at 10:30 amThe current strife in Iraq was born of the basic weakness of western thought - We assume that all you have to do to make democracy work is take out the dictator and put in elections. It doesn’t work that way.
I think the other issue there is that there is more then one faction fighting, and not all of the factions want the same things from their government. You probably have at least a few who are actively fighting against what they percieve as theocracy in and amongst those fighting western imperialism. All of this plus a real power vacuum, and you have a civil war on your hands. It might be a good idea if someone took the time to get to know the combatants. We see a lot about X Mosque getting blown up and a lot of it is attributed to religious strife, when if you think about it the KKK had a thing about blowing up churches.
That said, onto Delay. It sounds like he is trying to follow an old book-keepers trick. Bury them in paper, and they will never find anything.
That nobody in disaster management wants to work for Bush is kind of understandable. I suppose nobody wants to here they are doing one heckuva job when the next big Hurricane hits.
The permanent bases bit is more or less to be expected and at this point you would be hearing about them if Kerry had won the last election. Face it, chances are America is going to be in Iraq for a long time, and it wouldn’t be a good idea to do as the English did in the trenches during WWI and not get comfortable.
Bush’s handling of Medicare sounds like a general screwup, so it has pretty much turned out as we all expected.
And lastly, when the playmates start talking about how the conservative bit in neo-conservative is more a reflection of penis size then policy, it might just end up costing the Repubs some votes. That said the mag should have been behind the counter, not next to the sweets.
April 3rd, 2006 at 10:33 amTwo choice nuggets:
And,
April 3rd, 2006 at 10:37 amyea, but, unbelievable, and jeff - i’m with condi on this one - it has nothing to do with “freedom of the press” - there are plenty of places to pick up that copy of playboy and such - after all, it’s the State Department newsstands.
April 3rd, 2006 at 10:47 amyea, but, unbelievable, and jeff - i’m with condi on this one - it has nothing to do with “freedom of the press†- there are plenty of places to pick up that copy of playboy and such - after all, it’s the State Department newsstands.
Comment by katy — April 3, 2006 @ 10:47 am
We’ll have to disagree then. I think the newstand offers what sells, ans as long as they are responsible with how they display it and who they sell it to (which it sounds like they were), then, freedom of the press and of speech are very much a part of it.
Besides, I personally think we’re too puritanical in this country about nudity. I think it gives women the wrong message that their bodies are some how sinful, when none of us control what we get. I’m not saying I’m for posting naked women everywhere either, but if some guy want sto buy a magazine with some, then well, it’s his Constitutional right.
April 3rd, 2006 at 10:57 amI came into work this morning and in the cafeteria they had the TV’s tuned to FOX. The news story they seemed to be covering relentlessly was the military cargo plane crash. This pisses me off. There are thousands of plane takeoff and landings every day without incident and FOX was choosing to show the one that crashes. No wonder there are people who are afraid to fly with the media, like FOX choosing to cover the negative rather than all the positives. I blame FOX directly for the slump in airline earnings. I would venture to say that over the years FOX has not covered a single successful take off or landing, yet they have absolutely no problem covering a negative event like this. Absolutely irresponsible!!!
April 3rd, 2006 at 11:02 amCivil war watch: “Nearly eight times as many Iraqis died last month in execution-style sectarian killings as in terrorist bombings carried out by insurgents, new US military statistics show.â€
How is this better than Saddam Hussein?
Comment by unbelievable
Because Saddam was killing about 2000 a month and had been doing it for twenty years.
April 3rd, 2006 at 11:10 amI would venture to say that over the years FOX has not covered a single successful take off or landing, yet they have absolutely no problem covering a negative event like this. Absolutely irresponsible!!!
Comment by Mark — April 3, 2006 @ 11:02 am
I’ve been reading “A Culture of Fear” on why Americans are afraid of the wrong things. It was a book Michael Moore had referenced in “Bowling for Columbine”. And so far, it’s definitely the media who are instrumental in scaring the living shit out of people for the sake of entertainment.
I turned the televison set off when I also realised how materialistic is makes people. I refuse to watch or read advertisements anymore. Life is just so much easier with less things to clean, fix, maintain, service, move, etc.
There truly is very little to fear in this life. Yet, the media will turn the most innocent things into the most fearful if it will ratchet up their ratings another notch. So much for responsible journalism.
April 3rd, 2006 at 11:23 amBesides, I personally think we’re too puritanical in this country about nudity. I think it gives women the wrong message that their bodies are some how sinful, when none of us control what we get. I’m not saying I’m for posting naked women everywhere either, but if some guy want sto buy a magazine with some, then well, it’s his Constitutional right.
Comment by unbelievable
I totally agree. I think there should be more half naked women running around in “duck skirts” and show through tops. No one over 40 though and no fatties.
I have some very tasteful nudes I’d like to post if someone would be kind enough to show me how to do it.
April 3rd, 2006 at 11:24 am“Besides, I personally think we’re too puritanical in this country about nudity. I think it gives women the wrong message that their bodies are some how sinful, when none of us control what we get.”
April 3rd, 2006 at 11:25 ami totally agree with you there, unbelievable - but, though i don’t know the physical layout of the “state dept. newsstands”, i’m guessing they are located inside official buildings and so it’s not like a walgreen’s or such with pedestrian walk-ins… how does “playboy” and the like fit in with that environment?… “there’s a time and place…” just sayin’…
Because Saddam was killing about 2000 a month and had been doing it for twenty years.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — April 3, 2006 @ 11:10 am
2,000 x 12 months = 24,000 x 20 years = 480,000 Iraqi people.
We’re almost there in only 3 years.
April 3rd, 2006 at 11:25 amAAAAACK!!! TALK ABOUT BAD TIMING!
April 3rd, 2006 at 11:28 amhow does “playboy†and the like fit in with that environment?… “there’s a time and place…†just sayin’…
Comment by katy — April 3, 2006 @ 11:25 am
katy, I do know what you’re saying. I’m just very leery of this Administration controlling things while wiping their feet all over the Constitution. Today she pulls the Playboys and tomorrow she has them stocking Bibles. At what point do we lose our right to object because we tolerated everything else up to that point? That’s just my concern.
Besides, Playboy is for teenage boys who can’t get a real woman yet, and balding, middle-aged perverts who can’t get a real woman still (see comment above yours for proof) ;)
April 3rd, 2006 at 11:31 am“As many lawmakers resist the administration’s plans to establish permanent bases in Iraq, the Pentagon is already spending millions of dollars to establish at least six “enduring bases†in Iraq.”
That’s funny. I can hear Rummy now. “OK, fine, no permanent bases in Iraq. Jerry, get me the plans for those new enduring bases we’ve been talking about will ya?”
HA!
April 3rd, 2006 at 11:34 am“…tomorrow she has them stocking Bibles. At what point…”
at THAT point, definetely!
(i know what you mean and we mostly agree - a good thing!)
April 3rd, 2006 at 11:36 am2,000 x 12 months = 24,000 x 20 years = 480,000 Iraqi people.
We’re almost there in only 3 years.
Comment by unbelievable
Don’t be ridiculous.
April 3rd, 2006 at 11:38 amDon’t be ridiculous.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — April 3, 2006 @ 11:38 am
Pot meet Kettle
April 3rd, 2006 at 11:43 amDon’t be ridiculous.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — April 3, 2006 @ 11:38 am
You started it.
http://www.iraqbodycount.net/database/
April 3rd, 2006 at 11:46 amTo I-RIGHT-I;After you finish choking on Limbo’s thick cigar,you might need to get your brownshirt cleaned.
April 3rd, 2006 at 11:50 am(i know what you mean and we mostly agree - a good thing!)
Comment by katy — April 3, 2006 @ 11:36 am
My father died after a 12 year battle with cancer when i was 27. He used to tell me to find the good in everything, because if you don’t learn from an experience, you’ve wasted the opportunity.
The only ‘good’ I seem to find from the Bush Regime is that they’ve re-instilled a sense of skeptism in the government that Thomas Jefferson had hoped for. :)
April 3rd, 2006 at 11:50 amCNN
April 3, 2006
Sen. Obama hits administration’s energy policies
Isn’t that what Bush did?
April 3rd, 2006 at 1:34 pm#31 - Isn’t that what Bush did? Absolutely. Dry drunks R us.
I wish Obama would speak up more. And I REALLY wish he would support Feingold’s censure motion. I was disappointed about that.
April 3rd, 2006 at 2:22 pmBy the way, since this is an open thread, has anyone seen the movie “Slither?” Even though that type of movie isn’t my cup of tea, my sons talked me into going to see it on Saturday. I recommend seeing it if you like movies that are absolutely DISGUSTING, and yet rolling in the aisle FUNNY.
Nathan Fillion from “Firefly” and “Serenity” is in it, as well as the freaky shower nozzle chick from 40 Year Old Virgin (don’t know her name).
Check it out!
April 3rd, 2006 at 2:29 pmSpeaking of willful deception, here’s more uncovered today:
L.A. Times releases the number of wounded troops in Iraq at more than 17,400:
http://www.latimes.com/ news/ nationworld/ wounded/ la-na-wounded-series,0,936394.special
April 3rd, 2006 at 4:20 pmI don’t care about the removing of Playboy and Penthouse which is fine because Condi isn’t liberal since those mags usually publish articles that goes against right wings.
Maxim and FHM are still being sold at those newsstands which those women from state dept. wants them removed…(according to the article via link) but they won’t be because Maxim cater to right wings. (I know cuz I have read Maxim and just found out that they likes Bush and those right wing folks.)
April 3rd, 2006 at 5:08 pmFunny thing is, if Maxim and FHM in America are anything like they are over here, they come across as trying to be like Playboy but somehow managing to miss both the nudity AND the class. It’s kind of like they want to be skin mags but just don’t have the balls to go through with it.
April 3rd, 2006 at 5:35 pmI have diabetes and high blood pressure problems. I have been without medication for 2 weeks because the plan I picked would not start until Apr. 3. I went in today to pick them up and couldn’t because the computer was down and they could not access the plan. Now I will have to wait 2 more days.
Up until this time my medicines have cost very little as I only had to pay the copay. They informed me today that this plan which is supposed to be one of the better ones will require me to pay more. I live on less than $600 a month. I thought that this was supposed to make it so seniors would not have to chose between food and medicines.
To hell with the good semaritan ass in the WH.
April 3rd, 2006 at 11:18 pm#24 IRI
I can actually see the humor in that.
April 4th, 2006 at 12:18 amUpdate to #37: The drugs will cost me over $100.00.
April 4th, 2006 at 12:22 pmUpdate to #37: The drugs will cost me over $100.00.
Comment by Wills
I suggest you get some help and choose another plan (if that’s still possible). My mother’s drugs are not costing her any more than they did before. Good luck.
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