ThinkFast: April 14, 2006
ThinkFast: April 14, 2006
64 percent of Americans “want all or some of the U.S. troops in Iraq to come home now,†according to a new USA Today/Gallup Poll.
Six senators have signed onto a bipartisan bill to curb the Pentagon’s plans to increase out-of-pocket healthcare costs on military retirees. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) said, “Especially in a time of war, it is unthinkable that the administration would even consider dramatically increasing healthcare costs for those who have sacrificed for our country.”
In a move “decried by some as state-sponsored segregation,” Nebraska’s conservative state legislature has divided the Omaha school system into three districts: “one mostly black, one predominantly white and one largely Hispanic.”
FEMA’s massive post-Katrina housing program has produced “vast sums of waste and misspent funds,” now likely to “top $1 billion and perhaps much more,” a series of government audits show.
President Bush’s spat with Harry Reid over immigration signals a shift to the right for Bush on the issue, the NYT notes. “[I]f Bush really wants compromise, why lash out at Reid? Or is he just looking for a face-saving way out of his guest-worker plan in light of conservative criticism?”
65,000: The number of Iraqis who have fled their homes for safer parts of the country, more than double the number from just two weeks ago, according to Iraq’s interior ministry.
Robert David Steele Vivas, the head of a private research company, is challenging John Negroponte, the director of national intelligence, to an information duel. Steele wants DNI to embrace the creation of an open source intelligence agency. Steele wrote to Negroponte, “Got game? I don’t think you do…if you have the balls to take me on publicly, between us we will make a compelling case for the national intelligence reform.â€
The Bush administration has been slow to spend money to stand up the Iraqi forces. According to the Congressional Research Service, the U.S. military has spent just 40 percent of the $7 billion appropriated in 2005 for the training of Iraqi and Afghanistan security forces.
And finally, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has some good advice for today’s college students: “Lesson 1: Don’t run across a college campus wearing a ninja mask. Lesson 2: If you must, don’t run past a group of federal law enforcement officers.â€
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“64% of all Americans…want US troops in Iraq to come home now”
The Republicans continue to hammer on the Democrats for ‘not having a clear message’ and I wonder if that’s an insult or just recognition that America is a nation of great diversity of motivation, philosophy, and direction, and only vague determinations truly serve it well.
But the suggestion that we’re headed in the wrong direction without mapping the actual path for a new course has given all Americans an opportunity to participate in the discussion of what a better future might look like – very democratic. Of course this demo-socialist approach flies in the face of traditional political theory, but so did guerrila warfare in the 1700s. In both cases it has delivered America from the clutches of an abusive ruling party.
There may be some very dramatic political changes this fall.
April 14th, 2006 at 9:19 amIt’s breathtaking to learn that the Pentagon would increase out of pocket helath care for veterans.
April 14th, 2006 at 9:23 amThe disrespect shown to those who have served added to the cavalier neglect shown to those who presently serve is shameful to say the least.
Why are not the VFW and other military organizations more vocal in their opposition to this administration instead of providing a backdrop on the stage behind the chump-in-chief?
As Senator Reid said earlier this week on the
April 14th, 2006 at 9:27 amEd Schultz Show…Whateve this President
says, believe just the opposite.
Give ‘em Hell, Harry!
64 percent of Americans “want all or some of the U.S. troops in Iraq to come home now,†according to a new USA Today/Gallup Poll.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but can I assume the other 36% are the ones who still support Bush?
April 14th, 2006 at 10:04 am#4 I think coma victims count too.
April 14th, 2006 at 10:08 amYou would have to be in a coma to support this administration. Or be one of the lucky 10% in the wealthy category.
April 14th, 2006 at 10:44 amHad enough? Demand better.
Waste in Katrina Response Is Cited
April 14th, 2006 at 10:48 amHousing Aid Called Inefficient in Audits
By Spencer S. Hsu
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 14, 2006; Page A01
“vast sums of waste and misspent funds”
“false starts and missed opportunities”
“inadequate planning and poor coordination”
“far too slow, bureaucratic, and inefficient”
“the housing effort is a failure with many causes, including institutional neglect, lack of funding, and poor planning, decision making and execution”
“basic lack of understanding”
“lack of planning”
“the government’s ‘inability to help thousands of Americans who were forced from their homes’ find housing ’simply unacceptable,’”
“lack of a housing policy for the Gulf Coast”
“the administration underestimated the scope of the disaster and tried to manage it piecemeal”
“‘They did not deploy all the resources they had’”
Post 6 Jules > see the thread above on the Exxon CEO > those Oil Cartel swindlers love the Bush Boy for letting them rob our nation blind for their personal fortune enhancements!
April 14th, 2006 at 11:15 am64 percent of Americans “want all or some of the U.S. troops in Iraq to come home now
Sounds like a mandate to me.
April 14th, 2006 at 11:16 amSupport the troops — Bring them home now.
Six senators have signed onto a bipartisan bill to curb the Pentagon’s plans to increase out-of-pocket healthcare costs on military retirees.
It’s astounding to me that there is any cost at all.
April 14th, 2006 at 11:18 amNebraska’s conservative state legislature has divided the Omaha school system into three districts: “one mostly black, one predominantly white and one largely Hispanic.â€
Yoo hoo, Nebraska? Brown v. Board of Education…check it out.
April 14th, 2006 at 11:20 amFEMA’s massive post-Katrina housing program has produced “vast sums of waste and misspent funds…â€
Once again, brought to you by Republican conservatives. Apparently only social & moral conservatives — not fiscal conservatives.
April 14th, 2006 at 11:23 amPresident Bush’s spat with Harry Reid over immigration…
Harry Reid: “Bush has as much credibility on immigration as he does on Iraq and national security.”
April 14th, 2006 at 11:30 am*slap!*
Robert David Steele Vivas, the head of a private research company, is challenging John Negroponte, the director of national intelligence, to an information duel.
JN should be able to take time out from his massage and pedicure appointments.
April 14th, 2006 at 11:32 amThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution has some good advice for today’s college students: “Lesson 1: Don’t run across a college campus wearing a ninja mask. Lesson 2: If you must, don’t run past a group of federal law enforcement officers.â€
I only wear my ninja costume in the privacy of my own home.
April 14th, 2006 at 11:35 amThe Bush administration has been slow to spend money to stand up the Iraqi forces. According to the Congressional Research Service, the U.S. military has spent just 40 percent of the $7 billion appropriated in 2005 for the training of Iraqi and Afghanistan security forces.
is it me or is this the first place that i’ve seen this worthless administration still having something in their pockets? I’m suprised they haven’t squandered all $7 billion and asked for 10 more by now. I guess they just have been too busy misappropriating funds elsewhere to go and suck this bone dry by now.
April 14th, 2006 at 12:07 pmThe Bush administration has been slow to spend money to stand up the Iraqi forces. According to the Congressional Research Service, the U.S. military has spent just 40 percent of the $7 billion appropriated in 2005 for the training of Iraqi and Afghanistan security forces.
is it me or is this the first place that i’ve seen this worthless administration still having something in their pockets? I’m suprised they haven’t squandered all $7 billion and asked for 10 more by now. I guess they just have been too busy misappropriating funds elsewhere to go and suck this bone dry by now.
April 14th, 2006 at 12:07 pmAnd finally, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has some good advice for today’s college students: “Lesson 1: Don’t run across a college campus wearing a ninja mask. Lesson 2: If you must, don’t run past a group of federal law enforcement officers.â€
I so need to move out of this crazy state
April 14th, 2006 at 12:19 pmBush likes to use the term “bipartisan” a lot, but I don’t think he knows what it means. He never misses an opportunity to blame a Democrat, even when it’s an outright lie.
April 14th, 2006 at 12:21 pm#18 – You could move to Idaho. :-)
April 14th, 2006 at 1:10 pmCareful what you wish for…
Check out Oprah’s Special Report: American Schools in Crisis
Part 1
Part 2
There were really two issues. One is what is being taught in today’s school and how. Two, the physical condition of schools and the lack of resources.
Kids are bored or lost in a sea of students, so they drop out (parents don’t help). Kids are in schools that are literally failing down around them, and they are learning, but due to lack of resources, they aren’t learning enough. Oprah held up a paper that had a headline that kids are afraid in school and want police protection and there are similar divisions elsewhere. There is a lawsuit brought by predominately black school district against other schools because they pulled out of the district and created their own athletic conference which is predominantly white.
The program kept stressing kids need college, but have they looked at colleges these days. They are more about partying than studying. And we still need plenty of plumbers, electrians, etc.
April 14th, 2006 at 1:14 pm64 percent of Americans “want all or some of the U.S. troops in Iraq to come home now,†according to a new USA Today/Gallup Poll.
Old GOP talking point: “Why do 64% of Americans hate America? Why do they want to hurt our troops’ morale?”
New GOP talking point: “The poll is slanted, it included too many Democrats and minorities! The poll should include white middle-class Republicans only!”
April 14th, 2006 at 1:16 pmYou could move to Idaho. :-)
Careful what you wish for…
Comment by Zookeeper — April 14, 2006 @ 1:10 pm
I lived in Boise for 14 months from 2001 to 2002. I liked it. Though most of my friends were from back East, Canada or California. Didn’t really connect to the locals. For example… Went out on a date with this guy who was raised in Idaho. Pocatello maybe? He told me, omn our date, that he was laughing at his father who thought he was cool because he’d been to California, considering how my date had been ‘every where’. As an avid globe trotter, I said “Oh really? Where’ve you been?” He said “You know – Boston, New York, Miami”. I figured it was just a different perspective.
April 14th, 2006 at 1:20 pm#23 – I thought you had said you lived in Idaho once before. I’ve been in Moscow for almost 6 years, and I love it. It’s a university town, so it’s a bit more liberal than other areas, except Boise. It’s strange that in the 13 years I’ve lived in Idaho, I’ve only been to Boise once. Too much sprawl and traffic — reminded me too much of the SF Bay Area, where I grew up. In the town I lived in previously, Orofino (pop. 3000), people used to brag that they’d only been to Washington or Montana. Weird! I’ve found that travelling (back & forth several times by car) and living all over the country (CA, OR, LA, VA, OH, NV, NM, & Gitmo Bay, Cuba) helps people be less fearful of people unlike themselves.
April 14th, 2006 at 1:50 pmToo much sprawl and traffic — reminded me too much of the SF Bay Area, where I grew up.
I lived in San Francisco too. Wouldn’t have thought to compare the two.
How’d you wind up in Idaho?
In the town I lived in previously, Orofino (pop. 3000), people used to brag that they’d only been to Washington or Montana. Weird! I’ve found that travelling (back & forth several times by car) and living all over the country (CA, OR, LA, VA, OH, NV, NM, & Gitmo Bay, Cuba) helps people be less fearful of people unlike themselves.
Comment by Zookeeper — April 14, 2006 @ 1:50 pm
I graduated high school with 3 black people and about 140 white ones. Nothing else. It wasn’t until I began to travel, like you, that I stopped fearing people who are different. And now, my friends are very differse. I prefer it that way. Boring to always agree with mirrored images of yourself.
April 14th, 2006 at 1:59 pmHow’d you wind up in Idaho?
After having kicked at my marriage for several years to see if it was dead, I left it in Oregon and moved to Idaho, where my parents lived. My dad needed office help, and I needed some skills after having been at home with my boys for 11 years. I loved the slower pace of life, so I stayed. Turned out I couldn’t make much of a living in Orofino, so I moved to Moscow when my oldest son started at the U of I — he’s autistic, so he wasn’t ready to be out on his own.
Moscow is great. It’s fun to watch the old farmer whip his head around looking at the university kid with a tattoo on his face, green hair and a ring in his nose.
April 14th, 2006 at 2:18 pm#26 – Sounds like you’ve had a colorful life! (Pun intended!)
I’ve lived in NM, VA, Wash DC, MD, TX, CT, now I’m back in TX.
It’s funny to watch fewer and fewer vehicles with the “W” sticker, and more and more with the “W” with a ban symbol over it!
The times, they are-a changin’!
April 14th, 2006 at 3:13 pm#27 – Thanks, Dem Soldier. You’ve gotten around a bit yourself! Military life can do that to you.
I think I’ve noticed more “Kerry” bumper stickers on Idaho cars lately. Since we live in a red, RED state, we don’t want people thinking WE voted for Incurious George!
April 14th, 2006 at 4:39 pmI so need to move out of this crazy state
Comment by unbelievable
What took you to Georgia? Other than a train, plane or automobile?
April 14th, 2006 at 5:32 pmTJM you have failed to answer the fundamental question, does the entire estate get transferred in some form or other or does the deceased get to “keep” some portion for use in the afterlife?
April 14th, 2006 at 8:18 pmSorry the response belongs in the thread about the estate tax….
April 14th, 2006 at 8:20 pmActually, this is ONE time I’m all for “segregation“…
…the right wing “conservative” al Crackers in red state Nebraska…
…are doing the Black and Hispanic kids a favor…
…by not having them be exposed to their racist inbred counterparts in the al Cracker Bushite community…
April 15th, 2006 at 10:42 amMoscow is great. It’s fun to watch the old farmer whip his head around looking at the university kid with a tattoo on his face, green hair and a ring in his nose.
Comment by Zookeeper — April 14, 2006 @ 2:18 pm
I’m sure your son loves having you close by :)
I used to get a kick out of the native Idahoans who would curse ‘All these damn foriegners who are moving here.” I’d ask them what foreigners and they’s say “Californians”. Okay…
April 15th, 2006 at 3:57 pmWhat took you to Georgia? Other than a train, plane or automobile?
Comment by Zookeeper — April 14, 2006 @ 5:32 pm
Career change. I couldn’t afford to do that in San Francisco. Plus I thought it would be easier since I grew up here and would be familiar with the system and the people. That part has been good.
Just not sure where to go. Somewhere more liberal no doubt :)
April 15th, 2006 at 4:00 pm