Posts from ‘February, 2006’

The committee’s clear preference for window dressing over imposing any meaningful, substantive change in the rules governing lobbyists comes as no suprise. Lott and the Republicans need to be able to tell voters they did something.

However, at the very end of the news story about this, there is a remarkable exception to the committee’s window-dressing strategy . . .

As if the popularity of iPods, other MP3 players and plugged-in cell phones isn’t enough to endanger people’s future ability to hear, add in overamplified rock concerts, nightclubs, movie theaters and the idiots who cram enough high-decibel sound system power into a small vehicle to make the ground shake beneath busy intersections.

The people he deals with, listens to and accepts campaign donations from are having the time of their lives. We’re sure they tell him constantly that he’s doing a heck of a job. If you’re in that fortunate crowd, you’re probably highly satisfied, too.

We’re not sure what to make of the lede on this Washington Post story, “House and Senate Endorse Conflicting Budgets,” but we’ll credit the writer with daring to be different.

As more information surfaces about the Dubai Ports World deal, two faulty aspects of Bush administration management become clear. . .

We’ve got a great idea that will resolve this whole messy business of the Dubai Ports Co. wanting to take over six major U.S. seaports, despite the extreme objections of 90-some percent of the U.S. population.

Quote: “What is it about this administration and the company of lobbyists? On that Texas hunting trip, Vice President Cheney’s hostess and designated spokesperson was Katharine Armstrong, who is a lobbyist for Parsons, which is an engineering and construction firm with a home office in Pasadena, Calif., and a lot of business in post-invasion Iraq. . .”

Maybe if Iraqis have to foot the bill to restore the mosque, they’ll do whatever it takes to keep it from being blown up again. That’s the sort of tough-love, self-reliance approach our neocon president should feel right at home with.

President Bush dropped in on Ohio today to pump up Republican support and raise money for one of his most ardent supporters in the Senate.
The event was held at the home of Mark and Margie Hauser in the Indian Hill suburb of Cincinnati. Mark Hauser is an insurance company CEO. Some 150 guests were [...]

So, after this slipshod beginning, Bush expects everyone to take it on his word and accept the alleged due diligence of his appointees. He expects us to believe having a Mideast Arab country that was one of only three nations in the world to recognize the Taliban operate six major U.S. seaports represents no threat to U.S. security.