Americans making move to hybrids and driving less. Bush’s approval ratings directly parallel gas prices. (larger image here) Note that they’ve charted the recipocal of the gas price (ie. higher is cheaper). Graph by Professor Pollkatz.
Category: Politics
Political commentary and awareness
The Presidency, Representing the People
I came into this world shortly after Richard Nixon took office. I can’t say much on his presidency but he proved to be a fantastic politican in his post-presidency.
Of Gerald Ford, what can I say other than Chevy Chase. Of his presidency, I knew only that one day I could grow up to be president, and that meant something.
I understand the distaste some people have for Jimmy Carter. I’ve read the information that relates today’s Iranian issues to his presidency while others say he laid ground work to avoid today’s problems; let’s not forget the 1953 CIA-engineered coup to oust Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh. We have fiddled with Iran for a long time but the U.S. betrayal of the shah in 1978 was bad. I liked Carter as a president. I think his post-presidency has been amongst the best with his involvement in human rights and Habitat for Humanity.
Personally, Ronald Reagan has been a favorite of mine. I don’t understand why some people still talk down of his 8 years but that could simply be my ignorance of politics. And, if anything, we got the pleasure of Land of Confusion from his presidency!
George Bush, Sr. I liked, had respect for, and trusted as a president.
Bill Clinton comes in second as my favorite president during my lifetime (pre-me I like the Roosevelts quite a bit). Clinton made a huge mistake with the sex scandal. We as a society made a larger mistake by making an issue of the sex scandal instead of letting it quietly go away. Politically, he did great things!
George W Bush, Jr remains the only president I cannot respect. I feel he represents his own interests and not those of the people. I feel he has worked to damage democracy and has laid the groundwork to see the United States as a facist government. Although I support my president, despite these views, I cannot wait to see him leave office.
The following video is an artistic and well edited depiction of George W Bush, Jr that captures his attitudes and pompousness that so rubs me wrong. Nice work D. Ledonne! Warning! The video contains imagery that some may find upsetting or disturbing. Also, the word "nigga" is repeated frequently.
Music video of DJ RX’s “Who’s the Nigga” from his album ‘The Party Party.’ President George W. Bush shares his grand vision for the future for the USA–creating a united America with justice and democratic representation for all.
Rice on Iran: ‘We can’t let this continue’
The countdown is on! Anyone want to place bets on when we go in? I’m betting within 30 days we have bombers in the air and troops moving across the border.
WASHINGTON (CNN) — U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday that it is “time for action” on the international demands for Iran to cease its uranium enrichment activities.
[Source]
US to nuke Iran
So, did anyone not see this one coming?
US considers use of nuclear weapons against Iran
WASHINGTON (AFP) – The administration of
President George W. Bush is planning a massive bombing campaign against
Iran, including use of bunker-buster nuclear bombs to destroy a key Iranian suspected nuclear weapons facility, The New Yorker magazine has reported in its April 17 issue.One former defense official said the military planning was premised on a belief that “a sustained bombing campaign in Iran will humiliate the religious leadership and lead the public to rise up and overthrow the government,”
the possible use of a bunker-buster tactical nuclear weapon, such as the B61-11, to insure the destruction of Iran’s main centrifuge plant at Natanz
“There are very strong sentiments within the military against brandishing nuclear weapons against other countries,” the magazine quotes the Pentagon adviser as saying.
The adviser warned that bombing Iran could provoke “a chain reaction” of attacks on American facilities and citizens throughout the world and might also reignite Hezbollah.
“If we go, the southern half of Iraq will light up like a candle,”
[Source]
Which of course is one reason we are in Iraq. (in my opinion)
Bush Gets Scolded
A member of GW’s audience in NC gave him his mind.
“While I listen to you talk about freedom, I see you assert your right to tap my telephone, to arrest me and hold me without charges, to try to preclude me from breathing clean air and drinking clean water,” real estate broker Harry Taylor told Bush at a town hall meeting. “I have never felt more ashamed of nor more frightened by my leadership in Washington.”
Presidential Approval Ratings Continue to Fall
GW’s approval ratings shown graphically.
Special thanks to Tim for the link.
The New FU Government
Anyone remember GW’s finger flipping video?
BOSTON, March 27 (UPI) — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia startled reporters in Boston just minutes after attending a mass, by flipping a middle finger to his critics. …making the obscene gesture and explaining “That’s Sicilian.”
Sicilian for what? "I have no sense of propriety"?! [Source]
And I’m reminded that Cheney told a senator to "F*&k yourself."
Our current administration gives me the feeling that our forefathers worked hard to establish this country and now its just the polticians playground…not very different than a man working hard to build wealth for his family only to have his children squander and not appreciate the wealth.
ICANN settles with Verisign
Those not in the business might not know that Verisign owns Networking Solutions (until 1999 the only company allowed to sell domain names). Network Solutions was sold to Verisign from SAIC. SAIC is a fantastic company but due to the nature of their work can create good bureaucracy. Verisign still has ties to SAIC.
ICANN oversees the assignment of domain names and ip addresses.
The board of the Internet Corp. for Assigned Names and Numbers said Wednesday it has approved a set of agreements settling a dispute between ICANN and VeriSign Inc. (VRSN) (VRSN).
ICANN said the settlement includes a new registry agreement relating to the operation of the “.com” registry.
I bet this settlement implies an increase in the cost of the .com tld.
DIY Abortion – Janes Clinics
This is not a topic I usually comment on but Continue reading DIY Abortion – Janes Clinics
Help Stop Interstate 3!
Interstate 3 is a horrible conception and unless the public steps up to the plate and contacts their representatives billions of dollars will be wasted and the ecology of the Southeast forever changed! I was composing a lengthy opposition to I-3 when Blogger deleted my account so my research was lost. Fortunately, the Stop I-3 Coalition has stepped up to the plate to bring public awareness to this disaster that has been forming since 2004. Contacting your representative is EASY! Explaining to your grandchildren why the Great Smoky Mountain National Park died and why the Southeast no longer has a wilderness is HARD.
Billions of dollars are being allocated to build a road that reduces current routes by only 15 miles. This money should be spent to build electric rails along existing interstate corridors instead of irrevocability changing the landscape and environment of the Southeast. Modern trains can be equiped to transport cars like ferries so arguments that a rail system would be useless are invalid.
It is my personal believe that this is a military inspired route to expedite transportation of weapons from Oak Ridge to the coast (an unfounded and unproveable statement — but it is a straight line!).
Please click MORE to read the full email from Stop I-3. Please, if you contact your representative about nothing else, just contact them about this. Put a stop to Interstate 3!
Happy President’s Day!
Bah. I was going to upload a patriotic image and after getting it all prep’d I realized that whatever $5/hour artist made it put the flag up backwards.
For all you government workers, enjoy your day off.
Of Grasshoppers
Student: Do guns hurt people?
Master: Guns don’t hurt people. Dick Cheney hurts people. [Source]
see also: Commentary on the Cheney shooting
Saving the Internet
Alright! Let’s hear it for Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.)! A politician that understands with the telcos are doing. Earlier I posted "Large Telcos Want To Kill The Internet". Rep. Rick Boucher explains:
Essentially, what these executives are proposing is the creation of a two-lane Internet where larger, more established websites with financial resources could squeeze out smaller, emerging websites. …
Internet2, a nonprofit partnership of universities, companies and affiliate organizations, including federal agencies and laboratories, has been studying this matter and has demonstrated that a multitrack Internet model is unnecessary to assure quality of service. Internet2 has for the past seven years deployed an advanced broadband network to more than 5 million users and has learned that in a network with enough bandwidth there is no congestion and no bits need preferential treatment because all of them arrive quickly enough to assure excellent quality, even if intermingled.
I find it somewhat sad that our speed over the last mile, that is from the switch to the house, is so slow.
In countries such as Japan and Korea, network speeds over the last mile of 100 megabits per second (mbps) are common. In the United States, our typical speed is less than 1 mbps.
Special thanks to Tom Maszerowski of My Likes and Dislikes for pointing out Rep. Rick Boucher!
Commentary on the Cheeny shooting
I can’t hold back any longer! I was in tears when I heard this on NPR yesterday. My thoughts on Cheney’s hunting accident:
- US VP Can’t Shoot Dick
- Cheney takes lawyer joke too far
There. I’m done.
Large Telcos (Comcast, Verizon, AT&T, etc) Want to Kill The Internet
If you aren’t following, haven’t heard, or don’t understand the news about the large telecommunications companies wanting a “tiered Internet,”
“We don’t want to replicate the cable model on broadband Internet,” Gigi Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge, a Washington-based advocacy group focused on digital rightssaid. “We don’t want the Internet to turn into cable whereby the pipe owners decide on content and services.”
then this hypothetical conversation from 2019 should help.
Consumers should, and do, want Internet Freedom.
Net Neutrality is also supported by FCC Commissioner Michael Copps, considering it (Net neutrality) one of the most pressing technological issues:
“Our open and vibrant and free-wheeling Internet is the last place where we should allow toll bridges to be erected. Every American has a stake in how this turns out.”
Ben Scott, policy director of the media reform group Free Press:
“These pricing schemes are simply poorly disguised discrimination. Requiring Internet companies to pay for high-speed access to the Internet when they’re already charging consumers for the same service means consumers will ultimately pay twice.”
“The scheme will stifle innovation and competition by effectively denying access to start-ups that can’t afford to pay for access to high speeds.”
Get ready to contact your representative!
