Republican Debt Perception

Good Morning Bloggers! Since I seem to have drifted into my summer season, which is more about playing outside than writing about politics, I'll still do my best to get angry about something. Let's see, how about what I like to call the most recent Republican Brainwashing Initiative (RBI 2.0). Let's face it, the majority of them (non-tea-party-folk) have been relatively silent for a while. I think that seems to be changing.

I think our Republican friends are beginning to stir a little more these days. It seems they've been listening to FOX "News" (RBI central) long enough now [since their election losses] for some of their more heinous brainwashing to take full effect. At least in my world, they've begun to share. They're beginning their usual blame game, and unfortunately facts have little to do with how they assess or assign blame.

The lies have begun to flow like girly-poop in a man-sized Texas toilet. In the same way Ronald Reagan's fake legacy blossomed after a a few years (I guess they forget faster these days - must be the drugs in our water), George W. Bush is beginning to emerge as a competent president who ran a highly successful foreign policy and economy. The signs are there that he is destined for honor and glory within the party. I must admit, you have to admire them for their ability to turn anybody, even the biggest loser, into a hero.

Unfortunately, and equally perplexing, President Obama is now the one responsible for everything bad that's happening in the world - especially the bad bits they're mostly responsible for.

I could ramble on (as I usually do - to get the facts right) with a laundry list of BS they're beginning to buy into again, but that would be exhausting for all of us, and I want to go play outside. So, let's focus. What are the far-right screw-ups - the ones who drink their own Kool-Aid - really annoying me most about these days? What propaganda pisses me off the most?

I know! It's that latest false factoid being spewed on FOX "News" day and night these days - not to menation the lesser media minions. Hannity, O'Reilly, Cavuto and the rest are all talking about it ad nausea. They even have their creepy-crawlies Coulter and Matlin carrying the water on other networks. I guess it must be an edict from the top, wherever that top is these days.

What is it? It's their claim - which my friends and family now believe - that Barack Obama has now contributed more to the federal debt than any president before him. It's BS, but they keep saying it.

The claim is outrageous. It has no bases in fact. The federal debt remains the responsibility of the Republican Party, since their leadership created over 90% of it. Barack Obama has contributed to less than 1% of the federal debt so far, and his annual budget deficit is still overwhelmingly the product of George W. Bush.

A matter of fact, George W. Bush is reponsible for contributing the most to the federal debt. Now that's a fact you can take to the bank.

Of course, the far-right will ignore the obvious facts. A matter of fact (sorry, it's a fun word), I'm pretty sure we'll have somebody crapping those very same Republican BS-talking points in response to this very post.

As always, the Republicans are lying to the American people and to themselves. As you can see by the chart above, George W. created the largest annual deficits in American history. Incredibly, those annual deficits would be even higher if war borrowing had been included on the federal books. Barack Obama has included those negatives since taking office, which has increased the debt

I know it had to be done, but I wonder if the Republicans will get away with painting us with their own stink of irresponsibility. Unfortunately, our own honesty may become a liability in 2012.

In my humble opinion, because of these and other lies, the Republicans have no honor. They are liars, plain and simple. The Republican leadership/elite will do or say anything to regain their power, and that includes massive doses of propaganda. We can only hope the American people will not fall for it again. "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me." Let's hope that shame remains a distant memory.

Just to be clear, the facts about the federal debt are simple. I have reviewed them on this blog numerous times. The overwhelming majority (over 90%) of today's federal/foreign debt was created during the leadership of the Republicans. They borrowed to lower taxes. It was done mostly under Ronald Reagan, George Bush, and George W. Bush. Bill Clinton lowered the debt. Those are the facts (see the chart below).

Like most Democrats, I can't stand the way President Obama is forced to spend to salvage today's broken economy, but to blame him for the debt is tantamount to blaming the Democrats for starting the Iraq War. They may have been involved to some degree, but the blame lies clearly at the feet of the Republican Party.

I will probably be writing about some of the other bits and pieces of propaganda the Republicans are pushing these days, but let's leave those for another time. Today it's all about the way they're lying about the money.

What do we ordinary American citizens do? We do what's right, and tell the truth. Please, keep talking to your friends and family about the facts. Tell the truth about the lies. I don't care how many times we have to say it, it's important to get our message out. WE ALL NEED TO TELL THE TRUTH!

WE MUST NOT allow those at FOX "News," or similar-slimy-corrupt-propaganda-fake-news-outlets, to poison the minds of the American people. We need to keep reminding our friends and family the truth about what really happened, and most important, about what really went wrong.

Thursday's Political Rant - Michael

PS - I know most have to work, but I'm taking a break at noon to join a group of protesters in front of Dianne Feinstein's office on Santa Monica Boulevard at noon this afternoon. If you're in LA, please consider joining us to call on her to support a strong public option as part of health care reform. If not, please think about contacting your representatives. It's the only way to prevent the private-sector from robbing us of affordable health care. Thanks - MB

I am So Disappointed President Obama

Good Morning Readers! I must once again criticize my favorite new world statesman, President Barack Obama.

As many of you know, I was a major critic of George "the eavesdropper" Bush's warrantless wiretap program. I still consider the phone companies that cooperated with the Bush administration criminally liable, despite their new congressional immunity. Now, sad to say, President Obama has decided to join the dark side on this issue.

Unfortunately, President Obama and his Justice Department have decided to continue the Bush "we're above the law" policies and represent the government in court battles brought by citizens and organizations who felt their privacy was violated. Yes, it's sad but true, the Obama Administration has decided to support the Bush legal arguments for immunizing his Administration and government agencies from lawsuits surrounding the National Security Agency's eavesdropping efforts.

The right to privacy in the United States, enshrined in the US Constitution after the American revolution, should be more important to President Obama. The man was a constitutional professor for God's sake. His desire to continue with the Bush policies is a a serious breach of trust. They were wrong. He is wrong. I am both shocked and disappointed.

We need the right to privacy. The US government should not have the right to listen to our conversations, read our mail/email, or invade our privacy in any way. It's not about whether one administration is benign or more responsible; it's about the people's right to their own privacy.

For heaven's sake, whistleblowers have come out and reported government abuse already. They have reported how American citizens, even politicians, were listened to by the Bush Administration. Who knows how deep the rabbit hole goes? Can you say? If not, the government's ability to listen should be restricted.

We need to protect ourselves against corrupt power in this world. Technology makes us too vulnerable. I don't care if you call me paranoid, for history and precedence are on my side. We need protections against abuse before it's too late and big brother becomes a reality.

Constitutional scholars have universally condemned the government's past, and now present, position on the issue. The American people need to stand up for what is right. I don't care if we do support President Obama, if he's wrong, we need to fight him. We need to fight anybody who tries to take away our right to privacy.

Incredibly, the Obama Administration is going beyond any previous legal claims put forth by former President "the scumbag" Bush. All I can say is WOW! Responding to a lawsuit filed by a civil liberties group, the Justice Department has decided to argue that the government was protected by "sovereign immunity" from lawsuits because of a little-noticed clause in the Patriot Act.

It's OUTRAGEOUS! The Obama Administration is saying that government agencies cannot be sued for wiretapping American citizens even if there was intentional violation of US law. They maintain that the government can only be sued if the wiretaps involve "willful disclosure" -- a higher legal bar. I'm not a lawyer, but I if it smells like crap, it's crap. That is BS!

This is the first sign that the Obama Administration plans to support one of the worst crimes of the Bush Administration. It's also a very serious breach of trust to those of us who supported President Obama, because without a doubt most of us believed he would choose civil rights over government rights. It turns out we were wrong.

This is serious people. In the same way we fought to get President Obama elected, we need to fight against his Administration when it's wrong. Please join me to express your disappointment and work to change his position. I love so much of what the President is doing, but not on this issue. Of course, if anybody can help me understand why he may be choosing this path, please enlighten me. I'm at a loss.

Wednesday's Political Rant - Michael

AIG is a Foolish, Republican Distraction

Good Morning Readers! The news lately has been filled with both Republicans and Democrats screaming bloody murder over the completely unjust bonuses being paid by AIG. I agree there have been lots of mistakes made and that everything should be done to stop those payments, however, I also believe the right wing is driving the scandal to distract from the more important reforms.

Republicans haven't had a lot to crow about lately, so they're thrilled the Democrats dropped the ball involving something as controversial as bonus payouts to failing Wall Street bankers. Sure, AIG under the Obama Administration should have seen this coming, but it's still a GOP distraction.

The GOP operatives pushing this scandal are only interested in political gain. It's a scandal within a scandal. They are conveniently ignoring the fact that Bush and Paulson paid the first installment without any congressional involvement and without excluding bonuses the same way, because they too were afraid of employee lawsuits. Subsequent Capitol Hill and Treasury negotiators were also concerned about employee lawsuits. They were worried about increasing liabilities, something lawmakers care a lot about these days. They all had bigger fish to fry.

That's at the heart of the matter, yet nobody seems to have the balls to talk about it. It's all about politics now, and the Republican spin machine is doing its best to strum the last Democratic nerve. The only thing the Republicans are concerned about is a "gotcha" moment, and the Democrats on Capitol Hill are falling for it all hook, line and sinker. Only President Obama has had the nerve to take responsibility while asking us to focus on the big picture. I agree with him. Let's do it!

The AIG Financial Products Corporation, which is now being dismantled by government appointed executives, is the real scandal. The bonuses are horrible, but the real story is why the financial products division of AIG ever came into existence. Let's not forget the regulatory changes led by Senator Phil Gramm of Texas, Newt Gingrich, and the rest of the Republican Congress during the waning days of the Clinton Administration started this national nightmare. They know it, but for some reason rank and file Republicans ignore it, and average Americans never talk about it.

Sure, Clinton signed it under extreme pressure, and he was wrong to do it, but the real culprits were the Republicans who destroyed the walls that stood between banks, speculative investment brokerage firms, insurance companies, and the rest. Those protections were put in place after things went horribly wrong during the last Republican depression. They were designed to manage greed, PROTECT the free market from its darker side, and in the end keep the wolves out of the hen house. It was the REPUBLICANS WHO DESTROYED IT!

Of course, their deregulation was made worse by the fact that regulators were undermined by the Bush Administration. Oversight was weak at best. The Bush Administration was without a doubt a REACTIVE regulator. They didn't believe in the protections. They didn't do their job. I don't care what my right wing readers say, the Bush Administration could have done more to prevent the crisis. They had the data, they knew about AIG and the $50 TRILLION plus DERIVATIVES market, and they knew about the risk to the whole economy. They did NOTHING! They were at least negligent, and at worst conspiratorial.

My dinner party debates always feature a Republican blaming Congressman Barney Frank, Senator Christopher Dodd, and the usual Democrats for not reigning in Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. What they never admit is how the Bush Administration had the authority, through dozens of regulatory agencies, to reign in the risk across the board. Many economists feel that most administrations would have done so. It was the Bush Administration, along with the Republican belief in small and unobtrusive government, that failed the American people.

Therefore, let's be angry about the greed on Wall Street, but I think it's more important to keep our eyes on the prize. Let's make sure the Democrats and the Obama Administration do everything necessary to reverse the regulatory changes that allowed the Bush Administration to look the other way. Let's FORCE future Republicans to regulate the risk by creating strong and principled new laws.

Let's reform until we can't reform any more. AIG is the critical patient that needs to be isolated and treated, but it's the Republicans and their broken philosophies about government and the market that represent the deadly contagion. Let's find a vaccine and a cure! Let's make sure we never become victims of their greed and stupidity again.

Thursday's Political Rant - Michael

It's a Bad Time for a Trade War People

Good Morning Readers! I thought I might be a little less angry today - compared to yesterday's rant - by discussing a topic and taking a position that may shock some of you, at least those who consider me a radical, Republican-Bush-hating menace to society. Believe it or not, I plan to defend a program created by the Bush Administration, and one that unions despise. I know, it shocks me too.

It involves the right of Mexican trucks to enter the United States. The program started under the Bush Administration and was bitterly opposed by many Democratic lawmakers and by the Teamsters Union. Lawmakers are preparing to cut off the money for the one and a half year-old pilot program that opened the way for up to 500 Mexican trucks from 100 operators to drive deeper into the United States.

Originally the U.S. has allowed only a few Mexican trucks to drive beyond a southern border buffer zone, although it agreed under the Clinton Administration, under the North American Free Trade Agreement, to allow Mexican trucks full access to U.S. roadways beginning in 1995.

As far as I can tell from my research, Mexico allowed the same access for U. S. truckers. Fair is fair! President Clinton negotiated and signed the agreement, and unless they start to pick and choose NAFTA clauses too, it's up to us to keep it. Congress, especially Democrats, must give in on this one. Mexico can take retaliatory action by placing very expensive tariffs on U.S. goods.

Who knew, but after Congress announced its intention to kill the program last week, Mexico said it would increase tariffs on 90 industrial and agricultural goods, likely to include politically sensitive farm products. John Deere and the rest of agricultural America are already hanging by a thread. Congress can be so stupid some times.

You see, Mexico was smart and thought ahead by obtaining a judicial ruling in 2001 under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) allowing it to impose sanctions, so Congress is playing with fire - an especially hot fire during this horrible JOB KILLING recession. How can you weigh the Teamsters against the farm workers? It doesn't work that way. We have to find a better solution.

We cannot afford sanctions from one of our LARGEST TRADING PARTNERS at this time! It's too risky for rural America. Thousands of jobs are at risk. (Btw, screw you Republicans who accuse me of being a West Coast elitist. I do care about the red states too, even if they don't know how to vote properly.)

The sanctions, which Mexican officials say are set to be imposed later this week, will be one of the largest acts of retaliation against US exports. US goods exports to Mexico totalled $151.5 BILLION last year. On Monday, Gerardo Ruíz Mateos, Mexico’s economy minister, said: “We believe that the action taken by the US is wrong, protectionist and in clear violation of NAFTA.”

The White House and U.S. trade representatives are supposedly examining all possible options, but but that won't help keep American JOBS when the Mexicans decide to make good on their threat. The only option is for Democrats to tell the unions that farm jobs are important too, and that sometimes one union has to BACK DOWN and try to solve this problem in a more creative win-win fashion - such as help the Mexicans improve their trucking industry, or negotiate benefits for our truckers in Mexico. There must be a better solution.

The Senate is considering a $410 billion House-passed spending bill that halts funding for the Mexican truck program. Two years ago, the Senate voted 74-24 to cut off the program's funding. Voting with the majority at the time were Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Interestingly, now that George Bush is gone, Senate Republicans don't even plan to keep supporting the program. It makes you wonder whether they only supported the program to get the Hispanic vote in the first place - they could assume the Southern trucker vote was in the bag. That would be my guess. They're hard to figure out when it comes to this issue. They hate unions, yet they also don't like the idea of Mexican truckers taking American jobs.

They're sort of schizophrenic on this one. Border state Republican nut job Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, who tried to keep the money flowing in 2007 on behalf of George Bush, is now giving up and moving on. Oh let's face it, they really didn't care in the first place. For them, it was all about getting a few labor, or worker-bee, votes from people who they think can't even spell trucker, must less drive one properly.

The really weird open question for me involves the union claim that Mexican trucks are unsafe. The unions are claiming that most Mexican trucks entering the US are run by so-called “drayage” operations that use older vehicles more likely to fail inspection tests. Scary, especially on wet roads!

However, it's still an open, and political, question because a study funded by the US Department of Transportation - under George "he lies too easily" Bush found that when comparing like with like, Mexican trucks were often safer than their US counterparts. Can we trust that report? My gut tells me no, but who knows. US trucks are run ragged and can look pretty rough sometimes. Regardless, the issue of truck safety is important and should still be resolved.

The Mexicans have been extraordinarily patient on this issue, and I think we need to address it for the good of the economy, for the Mexican and American worker, for the safety of American roads, and to stop a ridiculous new trade war. President Obama and Democratic leaders should come up with a big picture solution fast, and stop this before it gets any worse. They are our neighbors, our friends, and they deserve a reasonable solution.

Tuesday's Political Rant - Michael

Bush and the Patriots Who Stole Billions!

Good Morning! It's conspicuous by its absence in the media, but the US Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, the Army's criminal Investigation Command and the Justice Department NOW BELIEVE people in the US military and those in the BUSH Administration stole billions in cash that was sent to Iraq on pallets for reconstruction shortly after the fall of Saddam.

They're reporting that US military personnel and Bush appointees may have intentionally misspent or pocketed over $50 billion in American taxpayer dollars. $50 BILLION! That far exceeds the scope of the Wall Street bailout theft, making it potentially the "greatest fraud in US history."

They report the money is simply unaccounted for because many of the contractors and sub-contractors simply disappeared. They haven't been able to track it down! It's an INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF MONEY - enough money to bailout every broken state and local government in the US, and it's GONE!

What can we - the law abiding citizens of this nation - say except thank you once again to our Republican friends who SUPPORTED and STILL SUPPORT some of the greatest thieves in US history. George Bush, Dick Cheney, and the whole CORRUPT bunch of lying, scheming, scummy "patriotic" Republicans who raided the treasury over the past eight years!

What really bugs me is how ordinary Republicans continue to deny that Bush and his people were involved in any war profiteering or theft. They act like the whole Bush Administration was just a victim of bad luck and unfortunate circumstances, or they blame the Iraqis. When are they going to WAKE UP and SMELL THE SCUM for who they are? When are they going to start to use the brain God gave them? It's denial on a national scale.

More and more evidence hits the news every day about how the American people were screwed, and they still deny it. Instead, they spend all their energy whining and complaining about petty issues like how our elected officials are fulfilling their campaign promises by spending our money on us - hardworking Americans. Unless something changes soon, then the majority of Americans will begin to see them as nothing but loyal Republican WHACK JOBS!

When you add this possible theft to the long list of waste and war profiteering already proven during the BUSH YEARS, the Bushies and the Republicans will undoubtedly go down as the greatest thieves in the history of the republic. Republicans like to call themselves the "party of small government" or "low taxes." What a joke! If justice prevails, they will always be the "party of crooks," as law enforcement and historians begin to prove how they stole billions, if not trillions, from the American people.

Tuesday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

Republicans and Fear

Hello Bloggers - As many of you already know, I've been on the "Save American Justice" bandwagon lately hoping for leading Democrats and Obama to take a strong position against the Bush lawbreakers since the inauguration. Unfortunately, I may be giving up on convincing our Republican friends based on numerous recent debates.

To be blunt, I'm having trouble meeting ANY Republicans - yes, I mean ANY - that are willing to admit that Bush went too far. They always defend Bush as honest at first, but when pressed with the facts they always turn to a "laws and the Constitution be damned" response. The "he kept us safe" and "that's all that matters" argument always prevails. Many finish with "the ends justify the means" even if they don't always realize they're saying it.

No matter what I say to them, our nation's founding principles of justice, humanity, and fair play during wartime mean very little to today's frightened Republican minority. They are completely uninterested in fair play these days. They seem almost brainwashed.

Our nation's "rules of engagement" have been pretty much the same since George Washington fought the British. Our founding father was a great example of fair play, despite the atrocities committed at that time. A few Americans have been charged with war crimes during past wars, but so far America has been considered a role model on how to act during times of crisis. American presidents have been pretty great leaders, representing our higher ideals during conflict, by and large.

America helped create the international conventions that guide civilized modern conflict - to the best of our ability at least. We always fought to protect civilians and prisoners, no matter how horrible they were, for decades. We didn't waiver on our principles in the past despite enemy atrocities and crimes. We always took the high road, hoping to serve as a good example of what is right in the world. Until Bush and his sheep-like Republicans, we were a shining example of good in the world - that "shining city on a hill" that Reagan liked so much.

The Republicans I've been talking to recently all seem willing to do "whatever it takes" to keep us safe. They all seem unconcerned with past rules of engagement. They seem to feel that "everything has changed in the world." I'm sure our forefathers would disagree with them if they could share some of their horror stories. I don't care what you say, but this nation has faced horrible enemies for over two centuries, and I'm sure we can handle a few thousand religious, pirate-like zealots, without abandoning our principles.

Bush and Cheney somehow brainwashed a large part of America into profoundly changing their national mindset. "9/11 changed everything" is a phrase they use far too often, and one that should be eliminated from our national debate. Their "war on terror" is also counterproductive.

The conservatives I've debated seem perfectly comfortable with the idea of torture ("on Americans if necessary" was said), eavesdropping ("on AMERICANS too" was mentioned), open-ended suspension of habeus corpus, soldiers on our streets, detention camps, neighborhood informants, private armies, and even genocide against those who they say "threaten our existence." It's very black and white with them. There is a rancid, ugly fear out there today, and it's mostly coming from Republicans. Let's hope our democracy holds; a potential dictator could have a field-day with today's Republican minority.

Bush, Cheney and the irresponsible right-wing media have helped turn a large chunk of Americans into pathetic, frightened cowards. Yes, if that applies to you, that's what I consider you - a COWARD! Yes, I said it, a COWARD!

That's what I've been calling my Republican friends who espouse undermining our national principles out of fear. You see, I would rather we risk our lives, and remain brave Americans, than sacrifice the best of what this nation is about - justice and human decency - out of fear. YES, I said it, and I mean it. OUR LIVES, ALL OUR LIVES, EVEN YOURS! For God's sake Republicans, grow a pair! Trust me, I'll feel the same way if we're attacked again. Being attacked will change NOTHING!

Just like our soldiers, we need to stand-up for what we believe in. Our nation needs to be an example for good in this world. No matter how bad they get, we need to stay above it. We need to always treat our enemies as human beings. Justice should not be sacrificed at the alter of fear. I will never stop fighting to preserve our national honor and system of justice. We need to fight to remain a just and honorable nation.

Monday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

Call to Action: Support John Conyers Now!

Good Morning Bloggers - I'm very happy this morning to rave about how House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), is calling for a "Blue Ribbon Commission" to fully investigate the Bush administration. That is GREAT NEWS!

Conyers published a 487-page report yesterday entitled, Reining in the Imperial Presidency: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the presidency of George W. Bush. I know he's not a federal prosecutor, but it's a start. In it he makes 47 recommendations "designed to restore the traditional checks and balances of our constitutional system," along with the Blue Ribbon Commission to bring Bushies to justice.

"Even after scores of hearings, investigations, and reports, we still do not have answers to some of the most fundamental questions left in the wake of Bush’s Imperial Presidency," Conyers said in a release. "Investigations are not a matter of payback or political revenge – it is our responsibility to examine what has occurred and to set an appropriate baseline of conduct for future administrations."

On January 6th, Conyers introduced a bill that, if passed, would create the "Commission on Presidential War Powers and Civil Liberties," which would seek to root out President Bush's abuses. EVERYBODY NEEDS TO SUPPORT THIS BILL! IT IS VITAL TO AMERICAN JUSTICE!

So, this will be my new cause, and call to action. I will contact my representatives today, especially my Congressmen Henry Waxman, and encourage everybody who agrees with me to please do the same. This is a very serious issue. It's not a left/right issue, it's about American justice.

We need to make sure Conyers gets the support he needs, along with his allies. I will be writing more over the next few weeks to make sure we keep focused. If Obama isn't going to take action, than we need to support those who will, starting with Conyers. I will volunteer, donate, and do EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to make sure the truth comes out, and justice prevails.

Wednesday's Rave/Call to Action #1 - Michael

PS - Here's a great Paul Krugman Op-Ed from the Herald-Tribune discussing the topic.

Bush Snubs Obamas for John Howard

Hello Bloggers - Despite far right rantings to the contrary, the truth is that Blair House should be available for the incoming first family ANYTIME during the entire period of transition.

The Obama family asked to move in early January so their kids could settle into a routine and go to school, but the Bush Administration declined the request. They also refused to offer any other diplomatic residence as an alternative, suggesting a hotel. That, of course, angered many Obama supporters like myself. Feel free to scroll down and read my December 31st rant entitled Bush Ignores Protocol to the Very End.

Well, the Washington Post discovered WHO will be staying at Blair House, thus kicking President-elect Barack Obama and his family to the curb. They will be at the less than secure Hay-Adams Hotel. It's one of Bush's best war buddies, John Howard, the former Australian prime minister and leading member of President Bush's coalition of the willing in Iraq.

Slapping the face of the American electorate, Howard and his entourage will be bunking at Blair House despite the Obama's wishes that week. Other Freedom Medal winners, former British prime minister Tony Blair and Colombian President Álvaro Uribe, declined Blair House. My guess is they knew it would be controversial during a time of transition. They decided to be more diplomatic.

There are other DAYTIME events scheduled at Blair House - all hosted by Laura Bush. The events are considered minor, intimate diplomatic affairs, and could easily be held across the street at the White House. Unfortunately, Laura declined to move them. She is WRONG!

There are no other overnight visits up until January 15th when the Obama family is finally being allowed to move in, so it does beg the question WHY the Bushes are forcing the new first family into an unsecured hotel. I guess we'll never know.

The right wing will claim the Obamas want the residence too early. BS! The timing is up to the NEW first family. The Bushes should respect it. The minor events at the house should be moved, especially John Howard's stay.

The Bushes are being disrespectful to the Obamas, tradition, protocol, and the AMERICAN PEOPLE. They should have made an effort to accommodate them at Blair House. It's that simple.

Wednesday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

Another GOP Attempt to Shift the Blame

Good Morning Bloggers - Well, it looks like the conservatives are trying to spin more webs to cover their butts after the economic downturn. I must admit though, the latest is one of their best. It's just complicated enough that might cause some people to believe it.

Unfortunately for them, it's also simple enough for others to dismiss it outright. Outgoing US Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson is now saying that "a failure to address the rise of emerging markets and resulting imbalances was partly to blame for the global financial crisis," according to a Financial Times interview published today.

Interesting! What failures? Who failed? The interesting part is that he leaves those answers to the reader; he is VAGUE throughout the interview. You're supposed to guess. He keeps saying "global" because he wants to leave the reader with the idea that it was a global mistake, and not due to our own domestic laws or decisions. In other words, Republican decisions.

Paulson told the Financial Times that "imbalances between fast-growing nations which save, such as China, and those who spent were at the root of the problem." What a fancy way to try and make us seem like an innocent victim! Paulson, you're a piece of work. I believe you no longer have credibility. You are now part of the problem and MUST GO!

Yes, we are the nation "who spent," and it's for that reason, along with extremely unregulated and overly-complex markets, WE are the culprits. WE created the worldwide imbalances due to our own laws and policies - or lack of them.

Name another nation on the planet that allowed for derivatives markets that gambled 50+ trillion dollars based on no real assets? I challenge anybody to come up with a better example of a more out-of-control, economically irresponsible country than us? I dare you.

WE didn't have to spend; WE were encouraged to spend based on changes to our legal and economic system. It was Republican "lazy capitalism" that created markets where people were ENCOURAGED to spend; that encouraged LARGE BUBBLES to grow, and eventually POP!

We became a nation of speculation, immediate gratification, and unsustainable returns. WE created the problem. "Global imbalances" is just another conservative Republican attempt to shift the blame. It's a FREAKIN SMOKESCREEN people!

"Excesses ... built up for a long time, (with) investors looking for yield, mis-pricing risk," Paulson told the Times. That's just DOUBLETALK people! Those were OUR "EXCESSES" created by a HUGE TRADE DEFICIT with the third-world (that politicians should have addressed long ago) and Republicans eliminating regulation creating highly capitalized and RISKY markets.

It was OUR FAULT no matter what Paulson says. WE LEAD THE CHARGE FOR EXCESS, no matter what Paulson says.

I'm tired of reacting to these people. I wouldn't have responded IF he had just described the WHO and the WHY! Instead, the whole interview was one big attempt to make the "deciders" look less culpable.

THEY are to blame, and they shouldn't get off the hook. They're trying to find ANY BS EXCUSE to escape it. Any reasonably intelligent person can read Paulson's interview and see the smokescreen.

One red flag is how the theory is only supported by the same conservative economists who got us into this mess, and who are also motivated to cover their butts and save their reputations. It's just one big elaborate SPIN!

None of it makes any sense. IF we had acted responsibly as a global market player there would NOT have been excesses. Not to mention, if the markets had been safe, the "excesses" would have been safe. It's as simple as that people.

The whole idea that global imbalances caused the crisis is just another example of conservative Republicans looking for a scapegoat for their own pathetic mistakes. It's a specialty of theirs. Pass the buck comes naturally to them. In other words, they're lying sacks.

It doesn't matter how "sophisticated" the argument sounds, it's BS!

Friday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

Expert Toady and Torture Tsar Needs a Job!

Hello Bloggers - The great wheel of life that moves the karmic forces of the universe appears to be spinning in the wrong direction for at least one in that criminal gang we call the Bush Administration.

I have the great pleasure to report that past thug, hired gun, and torturer-extraordinaire, Bush Administration Lawyer and Attorney General, Alberto - "the ghoul" - Gonzales, has admitted this week to be interminably UNEMPLOYED!

Yes, it's incredible. I always thought that Republicans hired Republicans, no matter how tainted they were with other people's blood. I guess I was wrong. It would appear that even repulsive Republican law firms have their standards. They "are skittish” about hiring him, Gonzales personally reports.

The man is under fire from the Justice Department and the entire Democratic opposition in the US Congress for his role in the political firings of nine US Attorneys, along with other suspicious behavior under investigation, mostly involving law-breaking related to White House record-keeping.

He says he considers himself a "victim of the war on terror.” WOW! What a CROCK of BS! He's the VICTIM now? I heard that Hitler felt the same way after losing his power, just before he killed himself. There you go Alberto, another way out!

The 53-year-old former judge and corporate lawyer told the Wall Street Journal, “What is it that I did that is so fundamentally wrong, that deserves this kind of response to my service?” UNBELIEVABLE! First of all, what service? Unless you call finding legal arguments designed to destroy the American justice system service, I don't see it Alberto.

The whole thing is scary. They all seem to enjoy the same "I didn't do it," Bart Simpson-like ability to distance themselves from their own crimes - both big and small, it doesn't matter. What incredible denial!

He says he’s delivered a FEW paid speeches, done mediation work and some arbitration. In the interview, he also said he’s writing a book but hasn’t yet found a publisher. If you ask me, he's angry that he HASN'T PROFITED from his role the way most Bushies have profited - in the MILLIONS AND BILLIONS!

Any "tell all" book, despite my personal desire to witness the exposure, wouldn't be worth the paper, and the publishers know it. The man has NO CREDIBILITY! Let's hope he NEVER finds a publisher, or a good job, and is forced to become a notary public (yea, right), or worse.

The Journal describes him as "flummoxed" by the amount of rancor leveled at his stewardship of the Justice Department, saying he wasn’t the one to blame. THEN WHO WAS YOU FREAKIN LUNATIC! “For some reason, I am portrayed as the one who is evil in formulating policies that people disagree with,” Gonzales said. “I consider myself a casualty, one of the many casualties of the war on terror.” Again, WOW!

How dare you! You little piece of crap! There are THOUSANDS OF CASUALTIES in the war on terror, and millions of injured, and YOU ARE NOT ONE OF THEM! You dishonor them all by that comparison. You are nothing but a narcissistic, disgusting little toady-like outre worm of a lawyer that happens to be scorned by the lowest of the low.

It is true that allies, Iraqis, Afghans, international "unlawful combatants" (a term you documented by the way), and honorable Americans have died because of your old boss, but you sir do not deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence with them. You are nothing compared to them.

You didn't even have the guts to tell Congress the truth when given the opportunity to help the nation, which also might have helped clear your name. You have been caught in LIE AFTER LIE, and nobody trusts you anymore. You are a liar! How many employers, especially law firms, need liars?

Sorry dude, but you are now what we like to call Bush debris, just like Bush himself. It is a term we use for Bush and his goons, the power slags who sold their souls, yet continue to exist without honor or ethics. Why not just go find a hole to crawl in, and leave us civilized people alone. Why not go work for Cheney in the UAE?

Like so many of his ilk, the man will never admit to what he did wrong. He will probably repeat the same BS about how he didn't do anything up until the point they close the jail cell door, or he drops dead.

No matter, he will always be the poster boy for the darker, more reprehensible parts of public service. His law-and-constitution-be-damned approach will be used to illustrate HOW NOT to represent the people or the president. All we can hope is, like most of the Bush Administration, justice ultimately prevails.

Wednesday's Political Rave #1 - Michael

Bush Ignores Protocol to the Bitter End

Good Morning Bloggers - I wish I could stop writing about Bush altogether, but it appears that he keeps doing things that deserve a response from WE THE PEOPLE! This time it's about respect, or the lack of it.

Generally historians credit the Clinton/Bush transition in 2001 as being relatively smooth, especially when you consider the bad blood. The Clintons were extremely cooperative at the time, despite the bitter impeachment battle and multiple other Republican attacks. It is true there was some damage by employees, but like any office move, few transitions end without some damage.

Today's transition seemed to be going relatively smooth, except for one very important new development: BLAIR HOUSE! The Bush family, above most others, knows that Blair House - across from the White House - is ALWAYS RESERVED for the incoming first family.

IT IS THE RESIDENCE OF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT at the time of transition. Unfortunately, it isn't this year, during this transition. The Bush family has decided to slap the Obamas in the face, forcing them to check into a hotel.

I'm sorry, the corporate media may be ignoring it, but I need to point out just how RUDE and DISRESPECTFUL the Bush family is for denying the residence. It is outrageous! The Obamas arrive in Washington this weekend and are forced to book into a hotel because the Bush Administration said the "official residence was full." OUTRAGEOUS!

For those who think I'm overreacting and think there are more important things to focus on, I would like to say that I agree with you. HOWEVER, this is IMPORTANT too. The inaugural celebrations are designed to turn a candidate into a president, and they were created as a process, and the incoming first family's residence is an important part of that process.

We might not be hearing much about it, but in Washington circles the Bush Administration has effectively thrown the new first family on the street. A hotel does not show them much respect, not to mention it offers little protection during celebrations where security risks are everywhere. They at least should have offered the Lincoln bedroom.

The President-elect traditionally prepares for the inauguration and the transition while staying at Blair House. It is the OFFICIAL government mansion, second to the White House and RESERVED for heads-of-state and incoming first families.

Obama was told to look elsewhere because the building was booked up for farewell parties and events to mark the end of the Bush administration. I must admit, it gets me VERY angry. I doubt the Obamas can do anything, but I wish they could.

I think it's important for us - or the PRESS - to find out WHO is staying at Blair House during the time the Obamas require the residence. We should CALL THEM OUT and SHAME THEM for staying, knowing the president-elect and his family need the residence.

Again, for those unconcerned, it's also worthwhile pointing out that Blair House is considered a safety zone by the Secret Service. This is a very serious breach of protocol that proves once again the lack of respect Bush has for the American people, the inaugural process, and the safety of the next president.

Wow, I'm getting tired of slamming the OFFENSIVE MORONS now living in the White House. I need Obama to take office so I can begin to focus on more important issues. Despite my misgivings, I still think it's important to document the lawbreaking, worldwide destruction, and basic lack of respect shown by the Bush Administration. They continue to offend the American people and the world, and we will ALL rejoice when they are gone.

Wednesday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

The Brave Don Quixote de La Pentagon

Good Morning Bloggers - I think one of the most interesting lawsuits out there right now is the one alleging conspiracy "to facilitate the terrorist attacks and purposefully fail to warn those inside the Pentagon," that contributed to injuries suffered by April Gallop and her two-month-old son on 9/11.

She filed a civil suit on Monday against former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Vice President Dick Cheney and former US Air Force General Richard Myers, who was acting chairman of the joint chiefs on 9/11. She included other unnamed persons with supposed "foreknowledge of the attacks." That's pretty intense, and very interesting.

The 15 page complaint is a long shot, but many 9/11 observers believe it is a well crafted attempt that documents plenty of conspiracy, fraud, mismanagement and negligence. It all sounds pretty scary, and if true, could change the whole face of the 9/11 attacks.

If you ask me, the whole Bush Administration has been one big attack of fraud and negligence. I like the idea of justice here, but if April Gallop is allowed to recoup her damages from the Bush Administration's criminal activities, it begs the question whether we all should be able to. Let's face it, the last eight years have been laced with conspiracies to defraud us all, and we all deserve some justice.

Sorry, that's harsh. April and her son were physically harmed, so go for it April! I love your courage in the face of such overwhelming odds. You're a modern-day Don Quixote in many ways, using whatever means to strike at those who threaten you and her family. I admire you. I hope you win it.

Saturday's Political Rave #1 - Michael

Madoff and the American Market Meltdown

Good Morning Bloggers - I love prognostication, predicting all kinds of world events, mostly in business and politics/world affairs.

So, I would like to share a little theory I have that isn't being discussed much yet. Unless Obama can prevent it, we are facing years of American decline. Not because of domestic problems alone, but due to A LOSS OF RESPECT AND TRUST IN THE WORLD. Now, to speculate.

Our American financial system has been the envy of the world for over a century. We took the best parts of the British system and over time developed many advancements that helped build it into the wealthiest on Earth. I won't go into all the historical details that made it great, but suffice to say that it developed into the most trusted system.

Ignoring many citations, allow me to say that things are not looking good. The nightmare of the Bush Administration and its lack of oversight is the main reason why so many people around the world are now losing faith in the American financial system. Despite huge investments worldwide, the incompetence of the Bush years has resulted in instability and market turmoil.

I would argue there have been many final straws - that broke that proverbial camel's back, but the most recent and offensive was the announcement of potential billion-dollar writedowns worldwide caused by exposure to the Madoff hedge fund mess. Foreign losses alone could run as high as $11 billion (€8 billion).

Europe's largest financial companies and institutions revealed their exposure in the billions, and the European governments who own large percentages of those companies are due to lose billions in taxpayer money. That is not good news people. Those were our FOREIGN CUSTOMERS.

Think about it people! What Americans aren't hearing on their cable and local news is HOW ANGRY AND BETRAYED FOREIGN INVESTORS ARE FEELING RIGHT NOW. It's a main topic of daily conversation in the foreign media. It's only Americans who aren't talking about it. To be clear, they're angry at many countries, especially Iceland, but they're VERY ANGRY with US. Actually, to be blunt, they're FURIOUS!

This is serious people. The American financial system is LOSING MORE THAN JUST MONEY, IT'S LOSING THE TRUST OF CUSTOMERS WORLDWIDE. So, ask yourself, what is usually the result of a loss of trust. Well, in most businesses it means the customers will stop doing business with you. That has some pretty serious ramifications for Americans.

Once things begin to get back to normal, and foreigners stop buying American financial instruments based on a worldwide panic, they will begin to withdraw from American financial institutions. They will look to countries that will enforce regulations and promise stability. They're not like Republicans, they value financial stability above all else.

The result will inevitably be a falling dollar, higher interest rates, less investment, and a VERY SLOW ECONOMY due to our overwhelming debt (thanks to you Republicans) that will be very difficult to manage.

The real IRONY here is that Republicans still think they're trusted by people when it comes to money. I hear it everyday with my Republican friends. They still believe they know what's best when it comes to the economy. It's amazing. It never ceases to amaze me just how good Republicans are at lying to themselves and others. They have a true gift.

Well, like most things when it comes to Republicans, it's a lie. Average Americans and people worldwide have started to see that American market deregulation and Republican-led economic theories have created market chaos. WE have LOST CREDIBILITY and they don't even see it. Then again, they never do.

People everywhere (except rich Republicans) have lost both respect and trust in the American system. Unless Obama can assuage our customers, then we are looking at many years of being the world's bad boy. Foreign investment will be harder to find.

In a way the nation will be like it was in the early 1800s, saddled with debt and unable to borrow money. The only difference this time is we don't have tons of natural resources to sell and cheap labor to offer an industrial revolution. That is, of course, unless we're willing to make some pretty drastic changes to our system.

So, there you have it. We can only hope that Barack Obama and his brilliant team will do something to restore that respect and trust. It amazes me, but I really believe that my countrymen, especially Republicans, fail to see the whole picture. It's important people. We need to learn, to care, and to be aware of what's happening in the world. We need to care about how they see us more than ever. We can no longer afford to turn inwards.

Republicans are especially ignorant. They need to stop believing the propaganda. I don't care what FOX "News" says, we do not have the best of everything. Learn the FACTS people. We need to learn to see the forest through the trees. We need to be less xenophobic and more global. Unless we can do it, I predict severe hardship for America in the future. I welcome your perspective.

Tuesday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

Democrats Can Be Such Idiots!

Hello Bloggers - I would like to write straight from the heart this morning and say I think we Democrats can be such IDIOTS! What the hell is wrong with us? We allow ourselves to be played by the corporatists and the Republicans like a bunch of fools. How you ask?

Think about it? There's TONS of evidence that "pay for play," or more accurately pay to play, has been BIG over the past eight years within the Bush Administration, maybe even within the past Republican Congress. There has been circumstantial evidence of it involving dozens if not HUNDREDS of cases stretching through all levels of government. So, what has Congress done about it? TALK, TALK, and more BS TALK! The Interior Department alone was PAY to PLAY heaven, and you hardly saw it covered in the press.

All of of sudden this MORONIC FOOL of a governor Rod Blagojevich of Illinois is caught on tape by the Elliot Ness of the Justice Department, Patrick -the guy who failed to push the Scooter Libby case all the way up to Rove, Cheney or Bush - Fitzgerald, and we Democrats act like the sky is falling. Why should we worry at all about this case? One Democratic idiot gets caught on tape and we allow the compass needle of questions involving governmental ethics to point in our direction. Give me a freakin break!

Let's stop worrying about Blagojevich! The man's a FOOL! Let Fitzgerald figure it out. Let's KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN CRIMINALITY! Let's use their Rovian tactic and turn the spotlight on their crap while our idiot is being prosecuted. Let's take advantage of the fact that the media is TALKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES to point the finger AT THEM! Stop allowing them to control it! Take control of the topic!

Come on Democrats, stop acting like idiots. Let's not allow them to dictate the terms of the national debate, much less the conversation. We need to talk about their CORRUPTION! We need to talk about their CRIMINALITY! We need to GET ANGRY about THEM! They did MOST OF THE DAMAGE, and we need to keep talking about it. Blagojevich is NOTHING compared to what they've done over the past eight years. He's a minor thug compared to the Bushies.

Please, if anybody from the press is reading this, use this opportunity to talk about the real criminals in government. Democrats, please use this opportunity to TURN THE TABLES ON THEM! Let's stop being played like fools. This is THEIR ISSUE, not ours. For all those who want to keep talking about our extremely LIMITED corruption, I have a t-shirt you can buy. Feel free to email me and I'll make sure you get it.

Thursday's Political Rant #2 - Michael

Republican Justice is Not Blind

Hello Bloggers - For the record, I want to be perfectly clear that I AM THRILLED they arrested Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich today on charges of conspiring to get financial benefits through his authority to appoint a senator to fill the vacancy left by Barack Obama.

The man's a PIG! Any politician capable of what he's alleged to have said and done should be arrested. HOWEVER, I also want to say that I think it's EQUALLY APPALLING that the Bush Administration has suffered few arrests despite a MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE against them. JUSTICE IS NOT BLIND in this country. IT IS BIASED based on who is in power.

I think it's important to point out that as long as Republicans are in power, as long as they continue to have their people within the NSA and elsewhere, the only political lawbreakers will be Democrats. Please join me and write your representatives to look into WIRETAP ABUSE! Do not trust that this will end with the transition. Obama has enough on his plate. Congress should act! Republican operatives need to be identified and eliminated!

Tuesday's Opinion #2 - Michael

"Torture Tsar" May Be "Perp Walked" Soon

Hello Bloggers - I think we should be very happy today, since The Washington Post is reporting that the federal prosecutor appointed by Attorney General - the law is relative - Mukasey is about to take action.

Nora R. Dannehy was assigned the job of examining the "haphazard, arbitrary and unprofessional" conduct of Alberto - the torture tsar - Gonzales. She is now supposedly "meeting with defense lawyers, dispatching subpoenas and seeking information about the events, according to legal sources familiar with the case," the Washington Post reported this morning. Read more on The Raw Story.

This is fantastic news! He was one of Bush's WORST HENCHMEN. He supported torture and fired good people for political purposes. He's one of the worst of that horrible crowd - and that is saying something. He did Bush's bidding more than most.

So, it looks as though we might finally get some action. As I've said many times, I've been fighting for indictments and perp walks for over two years now. I don't know if the prosecutor is thinking he broke any big laws, but watching Gonzales suffer is enough for now.

Hopefully this is only the beginning of his long road into being tortured by life itself. I hope he is indicted and goes to jail, but I guess we'll have to wait and see. Keep your fingers crossed.

Wednesday's Political Rave #1 - Michael

Bush Spying and Telecom Immunity Goes to Court Again

Good Morning Bloggers - One of the greatest battles fought against the despicable Bush Administration and the Republicans over the past few years involved immunity for the telecoms.

Earlier this year the Bushies sought to immunize people and companies who broke the law. They were being sued by many groups because they willingly gave our private customer data to US intelligence agencies before and after 9/11 WITHOUT a warrant. My own AT&T was one of the worst corporate "snitches," but there were others. I was a big supporter of those lawsuits.

For those who weren't aware of the battle, it involved a heated Congress where many fought very hard to keep it from passing. The domestic spying bill that angered so many of us passed in July. In a bold and unprecedented move, Congress voted to kill the lawsuits and grant retroactive amnesty to any phone companies that helped with the surveillance.

American history will never the same in my opinion. It was one of Congress' darkest moments. It reminded me of the Alien and Sedition Acts before the Civil War. Unfortunately, in one his darker moments, President-elect Barack Obama was among those who voted for the law.

Other Senate Democratic TURNCOATS who made speeches in favor of the bill and Bush were Senator John D. Rockefeller (D-WV) and my own Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA). I wrote all of them over many months and none of them gave a good answer for domestic spying or why they believed the telecoms should receive immunity for breaking the law.

So, now the battle has one last test. David Kravitz of Wired is reporting that a federal judge today in San Francisco is deciding whether to hear a case to determine if the law is constitutional. It will affect the nearly four dozen lawsuits filed by civil liberties groups and class action attorneys against AT&T, Verizon, MCI, Sprint and other carriers - they claim the cooperation violated federal wiretapping laws and the Constitution.

I think we should all keep a close eye on this case if it proceeds. Congress trashed the Constitution, so it will be interesting to see if the courts help piece it back together. I believe that a Constitutional Amendment should have been necessary to make that kind of law.

They spied on Americans WITHOUT WARRANTS guaranteed by the Constitution BEFORE AND AFTER 9/11! That is a FACT! You Republicans can argue it all you want, but there is plenty of evidence supporting it. It's even accepted by the criminals at the Bush Administration.

We are supposed to be a nation of laws, not of whatever is convenient for a particular group in power at the time. Congress FAILED us, as usual. They should have voted against that law. Diane Feinstein FAILED me.

It should not be allowed to stand. We can't write any more letters to our Senators, for that time has come and gone. All we can do is HOPE that the courts do their job. All we can do is HOPE that sanity returns to those in power again.

Tuesday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

Outrageous Bush Administration Ignored Disaster Warnings AGAIN!

Good Morning Bloggers - I hope you had a good Thanksgiving and weekend. It was beautiful here in Southern California. I would like to talk about a new AP story this morning that is saying the Bush administration ignored plenty of warnings that the current economic MELTDOWN was on its way.

I know many of you Republicans out there like to say that 9/11 was not the Bush Administration's fault. Most historians disagree. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that the Bush national security team ignored plenty of warnings from the outgoing Clinton Administration and from intelligence agencies. Many historians blame them for the disaster. It happened ON THEIR WATCH.

Now there is evidence to suggest that the Bush economic team ignored warnings of the economic disaster. According to the AP, they "backed off proposed crackdowns on no-money-down, interest-only mortgages years before the economy collapsed, buckling to pressure from some of the same banks that have now failed." They supposedly "ignored remarkably prescient warnings that foretold the financial meltdown."

"The administration's blind eye to the impending crisis is emblematic of its governing philosophy, which trusted market forces and discounted the value of government intervention in the economy. Its belief ironically has ushered in the most massive government intervention since the 1930s."

If you go back to the very beginning of this blog, you can read some earlier posts where I give my own first-hand exposure to the type of mortgage sellers described in the AP story. I worked across the hall from one - it launched months after Bush won the office. It was obvious to anybody watching that it was a new kind of mortgage business - it was obviously predatory.

So, it appears that the Bush Administration is not only going to be known for one of the worst and most deceitful foreign policy blunders in American history, the Iraq War, but it will also be proven over time that it could have prevented TWO OF THE WORST DISASTERS EVER TO HIT THE NATION - 9/11 and the 2008 Economic Meltdown.

I hope you Republicans understand exactly how much damage you caused. You elected a MORON! I know that you never admit it, but it's true. You caused more damage in eight years than any foreign power could ever aspire to. Your success at installing that IDIOT was the worst thing to happen to this nation since the Civil War. You devastated us.

Bush keeps saying in various recent interviews discussing his "legacy" that he never compromised his principles. He's like a broken record talking about his principles. SO THE HELL WHAT? Principles are important, but there's more to being a leader.

Why doesn't he regret his JUDGEMENT? He never regrets how he ignored relevant facts and made bad decisions. The man had/has NO INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY and HORRIBLE JUDGEMENT! I challenge any of you to defend the Bush Administration. Go ahead, I dare you. This is a blog, use it!

Incredibly, your support for McCain/Palin, two more bottom-of-their-class-bottom-dwellers, shows that you haven't learned your lesson. I only hope that you learn a thing or two about governance over the next four to eight years, and abandon that unbelievable willingness to elect fools as leaders.

Hopefully the majority of Americans, especially independents and fair-minded Republicans, will realize that voting based on fear, narrow moral views, or simple passion is not enough. We must always vote for the most qualified individual. We must always try to elect the person who understands the issues, subtleties and complexities of this very complicated world. I sincerely hope we never have to suffer through this again.

Monday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

Political Rave: Congress May Expose Possible Spitzer Witch Hunt

Hello Bloggers - After living in NYC for a while I admit that I'm a huge fan of Eliot Spitzer, but I also admit that a Governor should not be caught paying prostitutes - big time conflict of interest on many levels.

I also agree with many of the conspiracy theorists that he was a possible victim of a Bush Administration hit job.

I think they were trying to knock him out of power. I haven't been bothering to talk about it, but I am THRILLED to see the New York Times do a piece on it. It deserves to be investigated. The Times is reporting that a congressional panel will ask why an eight month federal investigation into a prostitution service led to the exposure of Spitzer, and then pretty much disintegrated. It looked like they were out to get Spitzer? Doesn't it?

The prosecutor has said that politics played no role in the pursuit of Spitzer, but that has not satisfied many of us. Spitzer spent his career pursuing Wall Street wrongdoing, and many of us believe that he created a few grudges. Many wanted him to fall.

Even though I believe there are many pressing issues related to Bush that should be investigated, I'm still happy to hear the House Financial Services Committee will be looking into it. They plan to hold hearings that could include testimony from the United States Treasury’s law enforcement unit, along with Spitzer’s bank, North Fork, and HSBC, a bank used by a company connected to the prostitution service. I've read a lot about the issues involve, and it sounds pretty good to me.

Of course, Republicans are screaming about how the Democrats are interested in political "retribution." What the hell are they talking about? What is wrong with exposing Bush Administration witch hunts? No government should be allowed to destroy good people over small issues (like Gingrich did to Clinton, which I still think was wrong) to wipe out their power.

What if Democrats, while in power, tried to expose Republicans who sleep around or hire prostitutes, just to destroy their power base? I think that would be wrong too. Law enforcement needs to expose those situations quietly. They don't need to destroy lives, careers, and families over something that amounts to rogue behavior, or a weak constitution. People make mistakes of the "heart." Do you feel comfortable casting the first stone?

The bigger question is whether the Bushies were trying to keep him from exposing larger crimes they were committing - in New York, on Wall Street? It sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

I'll be keeping an eye on this one. I think it will come out that the Bush Administration destroyed Spitzer to keep him from exposing their own wrongdoings in the financial sector. I wonder how many lives the Bushies destroyed over the past eight years to cover their tracks? I'm sure the number's very high. Hopefully it will eventually be revealed, and justice will prevail. Well, I can hope.

We pride ourselves on giving people second chances. He did so many good things to help New York and the nation. He deserves our respect, not our derision. Think about forgiving him this Thanksgiving, and let's try to bring him back.

Wednesday's Political Rave #1 - Michael

Political News: Listen to Rachel Maddow

Good Morning Bloggers - As many of you who read this blog know I'm a HUGE fan of Rachel Maddow.

I think she has a fantastic grip on politics, but unlike Chris Matthews, she approaches it from a more humane perspective. She thinks about how it affects people, or even individuals. Therefore, I guess you could say that I am also from the Rachel Maddow School of political thought.

She, like me, is worried that Democrats will let the Bush Administration off the hook for many of their worst crimes - or any of them for that matter. "Moving on" involving Bush felonies is unacceptable.

Only cold political types would agree with that approach in my opinion. The Bush Adminstration ruined lives and destroyed families. They need to be brought to justice. It should not be a debate.

Rachel is right, and I hope she continues to remind the nation. She mentions it in whole or part often on both Air America's and MSNBC's versions of her Rachel Maddow Show. Both are brilliant.

Here are her latest comments. I recommend listening. She is right. We need to care. We need to stay vigilant. We need to keep writing our representatives to make sure they don't get away with their crimes. Trust me, I write often. I suggest you do the same.

Wednesday's Political News #1 - Michael