May 2006 Archives

Hey all. Sitting in an internet cafe in Hobart, about to head out for the day. Having a great time and will get some images up when I get a chance.

It is downright beautiful here and we've been visiting friends, having great experiences, and now (gasp!) I am about to get out on a highway in a car. Wish me luck!

Nothing of note, other than to wonder what the heck is going on back home. It is nice to see America from an external lense, but, seriously, for even being in an allied country, we REALLY, REALLY have an image problem with the outside world the likes of which even I wasn't aware.

Damn.

At least the Aussies still like us as individuals. Though they loathe the Connecticut Cowboy.

It seems the army is scrambling at best it can to meet recruiting goals and to send soldiers off to find George Bush's War on Everyone That Isn't White. Unfortunately, this has been without its challenges, not to mention its mistakes.

A roundup of a couple of disturbing trends can be found here>. Feel free to follow the links to learn about mentally ill soldiers being forced into combat and on the rise of gang presence in uniform. But hey, at least they had the foresight to release the contract of a recruit with autism.

But hey, I don't really blame the military for this. They didn't want to start a war in a country that didn't invade us. They didn't invite every terrorist on the planet to come shoot at them by screeching "Bring it on!" No, they're just as stuck with their civilian leadership as we are. The difference is, the Bushites are "just" busy taking away our freedoms. For our soldiers, the administration is trying to take their lives.

With that, I lead you to a Washington Post special edition called "In Their Own Words," about Iraq War veterans recounting their experiences both overseas and upon returning home.

"That's George Washington, the first President, of course. The interesting thing about him is that I read three -- three or four books about him last year. Isn't that interesting? " - Bush, in an interview with German newspaper Bild am Sonntag

Yeah, Bush is even giving interviews these days to deflect criticism or change his image, blah, blah, blah. You can read an appropriately grammatically screwed up version at the White House site or just revel in this bit where Bush says his proudest moment as president was catching a 7.5 pound perch; which, while impressive, probably should pale to some act performed as supposed leader of the free world.

You've heard how there are two sides to every story? Well, check out this piece of deception from the White House. I just feel bad for the baby.

What's even scarier? Bush and Poppy are talking up the concept of a Jeb Bush presidency. Hmm, the first one tanked the economy, the second is destroying civil liberties and trashing our military and international standing (not that the economy is that good either). Will Jeb finish the transition to us becoming a broke, Third World fractionalized theocracy? I freaking hope he doesn't get the chance.

But hey, it's not just me that's pissed off. Leslie in incensed that Bush was invited to Oklahoma State to give the commencement address. I mean, she's usually proud of her master's degree, but having this idiot a platform to bash science and technology on the same stage she once walked on to commemorate her scholastic achievements is pretty wrong.

But hell, let's not just bash George. Laura is along for the ride too. Check out. In one of the all-time quickest flip-flops ever, Laura turns on a dime concerning whether the national anthem should be sung in other languages. Seriously, she's taking this Tammy Wynett bit too far.

That said, George is a hypocrite about this whole thing himself. He used to sing the anthem in Spanish at campaign rallies.

Personally, it is more pandering to the racist right specifically and bread and circus crap in general to distract us all from asking actual important questions. Too bad we're all falling for it.

I just saw a news story stating that three years ago Bush gave his "Mission Accomplished" speech.

ThinkProgress has thrown together a table of what this has cost us since Bush's ridiculous blowhard BS.

At this point I think his follies have affected all of us, even those who back him without any legitimate reason anymore. It is a pity so many continue to do so.

First off, I didn't take a week off. I just really had a bad server build. Very, very bad.

Next, I'm not actually taking off today for May Day. I thought about it but my manager gave me the day off. So, it's *like* I'm protesting, but I'm actually trying to catch up on sleep. For those who have been under a rock for most of the year, here is some info, plus news reports from Chicago and Los Angeles.

Basically, I'm watching TV and trying to figure out when CNN became FauxNews. Nearly every talking head just doesn't seem to get it. They are asking questions like "Why would you do this?" and "Isn't there a better way?" Okay, for those who just don't care enough to try to figure things out, here's the deal. The GOP House is deeping deep into the well of racism in this nation. It isn't enough to grab an illegal alien and send them home. They have to be cast out as felons, criminals and enemies against the US. I mean, what the hell is that all about? It is one thing to preach homilies about people who don't support George Bush being traitors, but what bigoted, snot-nosed BS is it to make it a felony to want to have a job to support your family?

I mean, sure, those here illegally should have to face a penalty if caught. But, you know, so do the greedy businessmen who hire them en masse to save a few bucks when they otherwise wouldn't have to. Or...more pointedly, so should we as a society expect to pay more for those instances when immigrants, illegal and otherwise, perform those bottom-of-the-barrel jobs we can't or won't get off our butts to do.

I swear, I've never heard so much anger against people who actually want to work. This level of agonizing never even took place during the big anti-welfare drives in the 90s...and some of those folks really did NOT want to work a day in their lives.

LIke I said, I track it all back to racism. The House isn't shy about it. The Senate is trying to take the long view and worry about cultural changes; changes, of course, which will take place with or without illegal immigrants. No, this is just the GOP sinking to its worst levels of hatemongering and fear.

The world is changing, for good and ill. This country will change as well. And, instead of only being able to bomb civilizations back to the Stone Age when it comes to international issues, this nation can hopefully step up and do something productive about the changes happening here. At least, that's my hope.