Mitchell Wade, in case you need some help remembering, is the CEO of MZM. His company held defense contracts with the U.S. Government. He was also convicted of bribing former Congressman "Duke" Cunningham, of San Diego, CA.
Now it turns out, that Mr. Wade, in order to try and reduce his sentence, has been cooperating with the Feds. How much cooperating? Well, let's see here. There are, after much discussion, now five members, or former members, of Congress being actively investigated.
Sure is a slow process. One might think that after getting Mr. Cunningham put away, it would be pretty quick work to get to the others. Not so. Mr. Cunningham, who was sentenced on 03/03/06, to 8 years and 4 months, was, it appears, the low hanging fruit. And, it was only after Mr. Wade was selected to spend some quality time in the U.S. Penal System, that these discussion began.
So, when do we get to find out who these five people are? No one is saying. At least at the moment. It seems as though we will have to wait a little longer to find out who else will have the opportunity to vacation within the confines of the University of Federal Prison.
It may be slow, but it seems to be working. We can only hope that with a new Administration, such activity will begin to pick up speed. And, I hope like hell, people like Tom DeLay, are losing sleep, as more and more light is shone down upon them.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Caviar
We have, over the past eight years, been fed bullshit, masquerading as caviar. We have been told, as recently as during the Presidential debates, by Mr. McCain, that the economy was doing great. His pal, Mr. Bush, agreed wholeheartedly, saying that the fundamentals of the economy were sound.
We "Support the Troops." You can hear it, still, dribbling from the lips of those who have done so little. First, they sent them into a war for oil. Based entirely upon, giving it the best spin possible, cherry picked evidence. They had no plan post Baghdad. They didn't provide the necessary equipment for those whom they had placed in harms way. When those troops came back they were shunted off to places where they could easily be ignored. The story of those placed at Walter Reed is instructive.
Last week, we were told that many of those who had been in the Gulf War in the early nineties were/are sickened. How many? How about 1 in 4. Twenty-five percent of those who were sent to the Gulf by GHWB, are afflicted by Gulf War Syndrome. The VA, for years, denied that any such thing existed. Refusing to care for those who had served. Until of course they were found to be shredding files of those who would be given care.
One would expect much better of this country. Especially, those in power who put those troops into the situation in the first place. But, even with the information in the previous paragraph, it gets worse. At any one time during the year, there are between 500,000 and a million homeless veterans in the United States. When they were asked to serve, they went without hesitation. When they need help, they are given the underside of a bridge.
A very large contingency of the GOP is quite vocal about reproductive rights. They block the doors of Abortion clinics. They will smile smugly, when damage is done to one of those clinics. And, many, really don't mind all that much when the medical staff at one of these places is murdered in the name of the Rights of the Unborn. With that in mind, there would be, the utmost attention given to those who are then born. No matter their circumstance.
Oh, if that were only true. What we have instead, is 700,000 children who went hungry in the United States in 2007. Add the adults and we have 36.2 Million who struggled with hunger. But, let us forget the adults. If we can. And, return to the children. Why, if children are so important, would there be any child who could/would not have enough to eat.
For that answer, please return to the first sentence, of the first paragraph of this diary. What is so injurious, is that those of us who were fed that bullshit, either believed it, or did nothing about what we knew were lies.
With a new President. With a new Congress. With a mandate from the people. A real mandate. And, not the idiocy presented to us by Mr. Bush. We can hope that together. As a nation. We can begin the process of caring for those who we know are the most vulnerable. And, in the most need of care.
We "Support the Troops." You can hear it, still, dribbling from the lips of those who have done so little. First, they sent them into a war for oil. Based entirely upon, giving it the best spin possible, cherry picked evidence. They had no plan post Baghdad. They didn't provide the necessary equipment for those whom they had placed in harms way. When those troops came back they were shunted off to places where they could easily be ignored. The story of those placed at Walter Reed is instructive.
Last week, we were told that many of those who had been in the Gulf War in the early nineties were/are sickened. How many? How about 1 in 4. Twenty-five percent of those who were sent to the Gulf by GHWB, are afflicted by Gulf War Syndrome. The VA, for years, denied that any such thing existed. Refusing to care for those who had served. Until of course they were found to be shredding files of those who would be given care.
One would expect much better of this country. Especially, those in power who put those troops into the situation in the first place. But, even with the information in the previous paragraph, it gets worse. At any one time during the year, there are between 500,000 and a million homeless veterans in the United States. When they were asked to serve, they went without hesitation. When they need help, they are given the underside of a bridge.
A very large contingency of the GOP is quite vocal about reproductive rights. They block the doors of Abortion clinics. They will smile smugly, when damage is done to one of those clinics. And, many, really don't mind all that much when the medical staff at one of these places is murdered in the name of the Rights of the Unborn. With that in mind, there would be, the utmost attention given to those who are then born. No matter their circumstance.
Oh, if that were only true. What we have instead, is 700,000 children who went hungry in the United States in 2007. Add the adults and we have 36.2 Million who struggled with hunger. But, let us forget the adults. If we can. And, return to the children. Why, if children are so important, would there be any child who could/would not have enough to eat.
For that answer, please return to the first sentence, of the first paragraph of this diary. What is so injurious, is that those of us who were fed that bullshit, either believed it, or did nothing about what we knew were lies.
With a new President. With a new Congress. With a mandate from the people. A real mandate. And, not the idiocy presented to us by Mr. Bush. We can hope that together. As a nation. We can begin the process of caring for those who we know are the most vulnerable. And, in the most need of care.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Mandate Center Left
As of today, there still seems to be lot of blather in the traditional media, and specifically the other side of the political spectrum, on how the US, is a center right nation. Let us save a lot of wasted time, effort and energy here, and call that thought for what it really is. Namely, bullshit.
Center right? No. This election was a repudiation of the right and it's politics and policies. There was a clear (as opposed to Bush) mandate for a move to the left. And, just so we know what left and right mean here, right means corporate, left means people.
To make the case, lets look at some interesting numbers, shall we? Of those who were surveyed, 64% believed that government should guarantee health care for all. For this item, self identified Republicans say that universal health care coverage should be a right for all Americans. What they mean of course, is US citizens. Since Americans would be all on the continent. So, lets just speak for ourselves here.
How about some other numbers? A full 73% of agree that large corporations pay too little taxes. Sounds a lot like redistribution of wealth there. What about that Republican whine that talking with the enemy is weak and traitorous? Well, 67% favor more diplomacy with our enemies. Was that just the Commie wing? No, just your typical center left US citizen.
Lastly, let us look in on the sex part of the left/right divide. Nearly two-thirds of US citizens agree with Roe v Wade. What with all of the noise from the Wurlitzer, one might think that the whole country, except for a few Democrats (Communists) favored such a thing. And what about gay marriage? Well, 58% of those queried, oppose an Amendment to the Constitution that would ban gay marriage.
On that last point, let us be clear. The LDS and their money stopped the gay marriage movement in California. That is very unfortunate for a lot of people. However, it will not be the final word. This will come up again. And, next time, there will be better organization, better planning and much better execution in this matter. Whether the christian wrong, in all it's iterations, likes it or not, this will come to pass.
Just for the hell of it. And, because I can, I think I'll throw in a couple of other items, number wise. A full 78% agree that investing in clean energy is important to revitalizing our economy. And, for ;the deniers of the world, 57% support reducing global warming pollution.
Center right? Not a chance in hell. The way forward (read progressive/liberal) is to move the country once again down the humane path of the center left. After the disaster that was the Bush era, it is time to clean our house of the pests and filth. It is time to air out and let the sun shine throughout.
Welcome back, US citizenry. To the center left.
Center right? No. This election was a repudiation of the right and it's politics and policies. There was a clear (as opposed to Bush) mandate for a move to the left. And, just so we know what left and right mean here, right means corporate, left means people.
To make the case, lets look at some interesting numbers, shall we? Of those who were surveyed, 64% believed that government should guarantee health care for all. For this item, self identified Republicans say that universal health care coverage should be a right for all Americans. What they mean of course, is US citizens. Since Americans would be all on the continent. So, lets just speak for ourselves here.
How about some other numbers? A full 73% of agree that large corporations pay too little taxes. Sounds a lot like redistribution of wealth there. What about that Republican whine that talking with the enemy is weak and traitorous? Well, 67% favor more diplomacy with our enemies. Was that just the Commie wing? No, just your typical center left US citizen.
Lastly, let us look in on the sex part of the left/right divide. Nearly two-thirds of US citizens agree with Roe v Wade. What with all of the noise from the Wurlitzer, one might think that the whole country, except for a few Democrats (Communists) favored such a thing. And what about gay marriage? Well, 58% of those queried, oppose an Amendment to the Constitution that would ban gay marriage.
On that last point, let us be clear. The LDS and their money stopped the gay marriage movement in California. That is very unfortunate for a lot of people. However, it will not be the final word. This will come up again. And, next time, there will be better organization, better planning and much better execution in this matter. Whether the christian wrong, in all it's iterations, likes it or not, this will come to pass.
Just for the hell of it. And, because I can, I think I'll throw in a couple of other items, number wise. A full 78% agree that investing in clean energy is important to revitalizing our economy. And, for ;the deniers of the world, 57% support reducing global warming pollution.
Center right? Not a chance in hell. The way forward (read progressive/liberal) is to move the country once again down the humane path of the center left. After the disaster that was the Bush era, it is time to clean our house of the pests and filth. It is time to air out and let the sun shine throughout.
Welcome back, US citizenry. To the center left.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Mr. President Elect, Barack Obama
What we witnessed, in the election of Mr. Barack Obama yesterday, is nothing short of one of the most historic events in the history of the United States of America. A person of color, not only won the election, but won it in what can be called no less than a mandate.
Mr. President. You won the race for the Presidency not because you were black. But, despite it. Your opponent, who used dog whistles, innuendos, and sometimes outright racism to thwart your advance, instead failed miserably.
Mr. President. Although your opponent tried to paint you as inexperienced, it was you who maintained the steady hand when the economy went into a tailspin. The man of experience ran around flapping his arms and showing his complete lack of ability to lead. You asked questions an looked for a solution.
Mr. President. During the race, your opponent, who claimed the military/POW cloak as his own, showed his utter disregard for Veterans by voting against the New GI Bill. By continuing to back the failed Iraq policy. And, by making every effort to distance himself from those who will be forever scarred by that policy.
These are just a few of the reasons we now have the privilege of calling you Mr. President Elect. Is it my fervent hope and deepest desire that you succeed in your new venture. For all of us have a stake in it's outcome.
Mr. President. You won the race for the Presidency not because you were black. But, despite it. Your opponent, who used dog whistles, innuendos, and sometimes outright racism to thwart your advance, instead failed miserably.
Mr. President. Although your opponent tried to paint you as inexperienced, it was you who maintained the steady hand when the economy went into a tailspin. The man of experience ran around flapping his arms and showing his complete lack of ability to lead. You asked questions an looked for a solution.
Mr. President. During the race, your opponent, who claimed the military/POW cloak as his own, showed his utter disregard for Veterans by voting against the New GI Bill. By continuing to back the failed Iraq policy. And, by making every effort to distance himself from those who will be forever scarred by that policy.
These are just a few of the reasons we now have the privilege of calling you Mr. President Elect. Is it my fervent hope and deepest desire that you succeed in your new venture. For all of us have a stake in it's outcome.
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