Everyone interested in political strategy must read the lastest post by the Moose (www.mooseblog.org)
He recommends the Democrats quickly present an alternative to the cronyist corrupted Republican Party of Bush.
As I've said before, americans are sick of the corruption and partisanship on display on cable news, talk radio and within editorial pages.
They want leadership, they want an active though restrained government, they want a positive vision for the future, a way gradually out of Iraq, an end to cronyism and political favors and most importantly a distinct message free of contradiction (I'm talking to you John Kerry).
Americanlogic predicts the next few months will get worse, more deaths in Iraq, more corrupted public officials, more pork, more reckless tax cuts (estate tax), and more talk from the credit card president about the need to stay on his failed path in Iraq.
The call is out for a democrat with guts and vision.
Talk to McCain.
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
on a much less political note
We here at americanlogic would like to endorse two television shows.
The first is "Dirty Jobs" on the discovery channel. Hosted by the suprisingly witty Mike Rowe, the show features truly dirty jobs. An example: Septic tank inspector. If it sounds horrendous, that's because it is. Rowe goes deep into what he calls "the bowels of hell," literally.
Next up is "Dog the bounty hunter" on A&E. This guy should be running the CIA, FBI, Defense Department, heck even the Oval Office. This show is gripping and reinforces the obvious: its all about family and tradition. The man has a passion for what he does and will have you shouting with satisfaction with each capture.
The first is "Dirty Jobs" on the discovery channel. Hosted by the suprisingly witty Mike Rowe, the show features truly dirty jobs. An example: Septic tank inspector. If it sounds horrendous, that's because it is. Rowe goes deep into what he calls "the bowels of hell," literally.
Next up is "Dog the bounty hunter" on A&E. This guy should be running the CIA, FBI, Defense Department, heck even the Oval Office. This show is gripping and reinforces the obvious: its all about family and tradition. The man has a passion for what he does and will have you shouting with satisfaction with each capture.
sick and tired
Talking points.
Sanctimonius politicians.
Lunatic Pundits.
Here are the facts: A Republican majority leader has been accused of corruption. That's it. This is not about how many Democrats or Republicans Earle (gasp!, a Democrat) convicted or failed to convict. It's not about revenge. It's not about partisanship. It's about whether or not a public official broke the law. Period. If I have to listen to Ann Coulter short circuit being an apologist for a man who has a history of dirty tricks and ethical problems, all my future blogs will consist of this: AHHHHHHHH!
If Delay is convicted, I want to see the Coulter's, the Hannity's, the Blunt's, the very people who have poisoned the Republican party, get on their respective soap boxes and admonish Delay.
Meanwhile, the Democrats are in hiding.
Sanctimonius politicians.
Lunatic Pundits.
Here are the facts: A Republican majority leader has been accused of corruption. That's it. This is not about how many Democrats or Republicans Earle (gasp!, a Democrat) convicted or failed to convict. It's not about revenge. It's not about partisanship. It's about whether or not a public official broke the law. Period. If I have to listen to Ann Coulter short circuit being an apologist for a man who has a history of dirty tricks and ethical problems, all my future blogs will consist of this: AHHHHHHHH!
If Delay is convicted, I want to see the Coulter's, the Hannity's, the Blunt's, the very people who have poisoned the Republican party, get on their respective soap boxes and admonish Delay.
Meanwhile, the Democrats are in hiding.
Bush/Delay 2005
White House press secretary Scott McClellan said the president still considers DeLay a friend and effective leader in Congress.
“Congressman DeLay is a good ally, a leader who we have worked closely with to get things done for the American people,” McClellan said. “I think the president’s view is that we need to let the legal process work.”
Shameful. Another wasted opportunity for the president to distance himself from the cronyist GOP, wait a minute.. he epitomizes the cronyism of the current GOP.
“Congressman DeLay is a good ally, a leader who we have worked closely with to get things done for the American people,” McClellan said. “I think the president’s view is that we need to let the legal process work.”
Shameful. Another wasted opportunity for the president to distance himself from the cronyist GOP, wait a minute.. he epitomizes the cronyism of the current GOP.
hysteria
Once again, the folks at National Review have been handed their talking points.
They, in particular Jonah Goldberg, are pushing the Brownie defense of a "hysterical media"as the culprit in the days after Katrina.
Now, it must be said the cable news networks can go overboard (Miles O'Brien and his search for a displaced dog). However, I don't think american bodies floating beside freeways packed with refugees can be attributed to the "hysterical" media.
Goldberg's view is directly related to the reports of the exaggeration of deaths in the Superdome following the storm. We'll give him that, but to use Brownie's talking points speaks volumes about how desperate the conservative base is to resurrect Bush.
www.nationalreview.com
They, in particular Jonah Goldberg, are pushing the Brownie defense of a "hysterical media"as the culprit in the days after Katrina.
Now, it must be said the cable news networks can go overboard (Miles O'Brien and his search for a displaced dog). However, I don't think american bodies floating beside freeways packed with refugees can be attributed to the "hysterical" media.
Goldberg's view is directly related to the reports of the exaggeration of deaths in the Superdome following the storm. We'll give him that, but to use Brownie's talking points speaks volumes about how desperate the conservative base is to resurrect Bush.
www.nationalreview.com
you think?
Last week on "Realtime with Bill Maher" NBC correspondent Andrea Mitchell made the following admission:
MITCHELL: Well, I think you can. It doesn't always happen. I've been looking back at all of this -- it's one of the reasons I wrote the book -- and I think there has been self-censorship. And that since 9-11, or after 9-11, there was sort of a rallying around -- and understandable sort of patriotic effect -- and I think reporters were less challenging. (courtesy HBO.com)
Yes Andrea there was a "rallying" around effect. However, we needed the media to ask the important questions when it came to premptively declaring war on another country.
Americanlogic feels this was a dark moment in journalism.
MITCHELL: Well, I think you can. It doesn't always happen. I've been looking back at all of this -- it's one of the reasons I wrote the book -- and I think there has been self-censorship. And that since 9-11, or after 9-11, there was sort of a rallying around -- and understandable sort of patriotic effect -- and I think reporters were less challenging. (courtesy HBO.com)
Yes Andrea there was a "rallying" around effect. However, we needed the media to ask the important questions when it came to premptively declaring war on another country.
Americanlogic feels this was a dark moment in journalism.
Mike, John and Cindy
The prevailing thought throughout the MSM (I haven't really got a sense of the blogosphere's reaction) is that Michael Brown presented himself as an arrogant, miserable excuse of a human being. And after seeing some of the tesimony, I couldn't agree more.
People or entities who are to blame for the hurricane response: the hysterical media, Governor Blanco, the state of Louisiana, Ray Nagin, the Superdome, the people inside the Superdome, Department of Homeland Security.
Person or persons who escaped blame: President Bush, Michael Chertoff and Michael Brown.
A sickening, revolting display of buck passing that is sure to become legend.
-John McCain once again proved his presidential mettle by meeting with Cindy Sheehan on Thursday for a discussion of the war in Iraq. His honesty and candor were not suprising, however Sheehan's description of McCain to the Associated Press as a warmonger is silly and proves she's in bed with the crazed sect of the american left. We can't begrudge her for demanding answers for a premptive war but we can say her position is significantly weakened.
People or entities who are to blame for the hurricane response: the hysterical media, Governor Blanco, the state of Louisiana, Ray Nagin, the Superdome, the people inside the Superdome, Department of Homeland Security.
Person or persons who escaped blame: President Bush, Michael Chertoff and Michael Brown.
A sickening, revolting display of buck passing that is sure to become legend.
-John McCain once again proved his presidential mettle by meeting with Cindy Sheehan on Thursday for a discussion of the war in Iraq. His honesty and candor were not suprising, however Sheehan's description of McCain to the Associated Press as a warmonger is silly and proves she's in bed with the crazed sect of the american left. We can't begrudge her for demanding answers for a premptive war but we can say her position is significantly weakened.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
my sense
From what i've gathered from several news sources is that Michael Brown aka "Brownie" has taken a big chug of the Rovian Kool Aid, i.e blame the locals.
He regrets not sitting down with the Governor of LA and mayor of NO and stressing the need to work together. He also claims it was fatigue that prevented him from the knowledge that people were stranded in the NO Superdome, which he said shouldn't have been used as a shelter. Brown also stressed to whoever was listening that they should not expect a rapid response from FEMA, stating we should not expect more than the government can deliver.
I want to expound on that last point. What really are we to expect from our government in times of crisis? Wrangling? Indecision? Partisanship?
Or perhaps, quick and decisive action is needed. Another question: why does Michael Brown, a man who clearly has a distaste for bold action, have a position at FEMA?
To their credit, the congressional committee certainly did not sit back and listen to the talking points:
"I'm happy you left" said Christopher Shays
"I don't know how you sleep at night. You lost the battle," said Kay Granger of Texas.
All Brown could do was offer up a sad reminder of the incompetence of this administration.
He regrets not sitting down with the Governor of LA and mayor of NO and stressing the need to work together. He also claims it was fatigue that prevented him from the knowledge that people were stranded in the NO Superdome, which he said shouldn't have been used as a shelter. Brown also stressed to whoever was listening that they should not expect a rapid response from FEMA, stating we should not expect more than the government can deliver.
I want to expound on that last point. What really are we to expect from our government in times of crisis? Wrangling? Indecision? Partisanship?
Or perhaps, quick and decisive action is needed. Another question: why does Michael Brown, a man who clearly has a distaste for bold action, have a position at FEMA?
To their credit, the congressional committee certainly did not sit back and listen to the talking points:
"I'm happy you left" said Christopher Shays
"I don't know how you sleep at night. You lost the battle," said Kay Granger of Texas.
All Brown could do was offer up a sad reminder of the incompetence of this administration.
Real winners of the Bush era
Of all the parties that will be sad to see the end of the Bush term it will be big business:
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Eighty percent of the $1.5 billion that's been let out in contracts for recovery efforts down in the Gulf has gone to no-bid contracts. It's a deal with one company, no competition; $60 million has gone to a Halliburton subsidiary represented in the lobbying world by Joseph Allbaugh, the former FEMA director for President Bush; $100 million has gone to Bechtel, which is still in a controversial situation for perhaps unsubstantiated charges in the Big Dig up in Boston. (courtesy Hardball with Chris Matthews 09/26/05)
Americanlogic despises cronyism.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Eighty percent of the $1.5 billion that's been let out in contracts for recovery efforts down in the Gulf has gone to no-bid contracts. It's a deal with one company, no competition; $60 million has gone to a Halliburton subsidiary represented in the lobbying world by Joseph Allbaugh, the former FEMA director for President Bush; $100 million has gone to Bechtel, which is still in a controversial situation for perhaps unsubstantiated charges in the Big Dig up in Boston. (courtesy Hardball with Chris Matthews 09/26/05)
Americanlogic despises cronyism.
national address
It's time for a national address from the president.
subject: Iraq
Past presidents have used the national address from the Oval office as a platform for resurrecting their standing amongst the american public. Some of these have worked (Reagan, Iran Contra "I don't remember, but if I did I'm sorry"), some haven't (Carter's malaise speech).
If Bush simply states the reasons why its important that we stay in Iraq, the public will go along with him if they are provided with an exit strategy.
Invoking September 11th doesn't cut it anymore. Bush needs to admit failure on several fronts: planning, listening to advice, reason. Follow that up with a plan of action. How soon can the Iraqi police force be fully trained? More importantly, when are troops coming home?
Bush's chosen legacy is Iraq. Give us a timetable Mr. President.
subject: Iraq
Past presidents have used the national address from the Oval office as a platform for resurrecting their standing amongst the american public. Some of these have worked (Reagan, Iran Contra "I don't remember, but if I did I'm sorry"), some haven't (Carter's malaise speech).
If Bush simply states the reasons why its important that we stay in Iraq, the public will go along with him if they are provided with an exit strategy.
Invoking September 11th doesn't cut it anymore. Bush needs to admit failure on several fronts: planning, listening to advice, reason. Follow that up with a plan of action. How soon can the Iraqi police force be fully trained? More importantly, when are troops coming home?
Bush's chosen legacy is Iraq. Give us a timetable Mr. President.
Brownie
"“FEMA is a coordinating agency, we are not a law enforcement agency,” he said.
“It is inherently impractical, totally impractical, for the federal government to respond to every disaster of whatever size in every community across the country,” Brown said
MSNBC.com
This guy still works for FEMA.
“It is inherently impractical, totally impractical, for the federal government to respond to every disaster of whatever size in every community across the country,” Brown said
MSNBC.com
This guy still works for FEMA.
worth noting
at least we know someone is doing their job:
The second-in-command of Al-Qaida in Iraq, Abu Azzam, was shot and killed by U.S.-led forces in Baghdad on Sunday, the U.S. military confirmed on Tuesday.
Azzam, a financier and religious aide to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was shot and killed while hiding out in a high-rise apartment building in the capital, the military said.
-Reuters
this kind of news should come from the president himself.
The second-in-command of Al-Qaida in Iraq, Abu Azzam, was shot and killed by U.S.-led forces in Baghdad on Sunday, the U.S. military confirmed on Tuesday.
Azzam, a financier and religious aide to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was shot and killed while hiding out in a high-rise apartment building in the capital, the military said.
-Reuters
this kind of news should come from the president himself.
Monday, September 26, 2005
god I hate this
"I would like to say to Cindy Sheehan and her supporters, 'don't be a group of unthinking lemmings.' It's not pretty," said Mitzy Kenny of Ridgeley, W.Va., whose husband died in Iraq last year. The anti-war demonstrations "can effect the war in a really negative way. It gives the enemy hope." (courtesy MSNBC.com)
No, having Rumsfield on the job gives them hope. It's this kind of mentality that drives people to the Left. On the other side of the coin, its the Left's squelching of any dissent amongst its ranks that drives people to the Right. The debate is then reduced to a "who's crowd was bigger" argument.
Come on people.
No, having Rumsfield on the job gives them hope. It's this kind of mentality that drives people to the Left. On the other side of the coin, its the Left's squelching of any dissent amongst its ranks that drives people to the Right. The debate is then reduced to a "who's crowd was bigger" argument.
Come on people.
where's that other party?
Americanlogic is waiting for someone, anyone in the Democratic Party to offer a vision to the american public.
God knows they are thirsty for a government that is competent, sensible and more importantly, respectful of american tradition of dignity and respect.
During the Roberts confirmation, we have seen several Democrats free themselves from the bondage of interest groups to actually think for themselves! Hillary Clinton not being one of these people. Neither is John Kerry.
These democrats are slaves to a system that gave us the credit card president. Teachers unions and the family research council are one and the same to us.
it's time for one of the parties to embrace individual thinking. Democrats, look to Russ Feingold and Patrick Leahy for inspiration.
God knows they are thirsty for a government that is competent, sensible and more importantly, respectful of american tradition of dignity and respect.
During the Roberts confirmation, we have seen several Democrats free themselves from the bondage of interest groups to actually think for themselves! Hillary Clinton not being one of these people. Neither is John Kerry.
These democrats are slaves to a system that gave us the credit card president. Teachers unions and the family research council are one and the same to us.
it's time for one of the parties to embrace individual thinking. Democrats, look to Russ Feingold and Patrick Leahy for inspiration.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
if only that 51% knew
"Military officials told President Bush on Sunday that the United States needs a national plan to coordinate search-and-rescue efforts following natural disasters or terrorist attacks." courtesy MSNBC.com
"It's a choice between an America that leads the world with strength and confidence, or an America that is uncertain in the face of danger" President Bush, campaign speech February 2004
"It's a choice between an America that leads the world with strength and confidence, or an America that is uncertain in the face of danger" President Bush, campaign speech February 2004
Saturday, September 24, 2005
time to leave
We here at americanlogic, like most americans, are sick of Iraq.
Don't get us wrong, seeing that thug Saddam Hussein in his underwear was not only disturbing, but quite satisfying. It's always good to see brutal thugs demeaned in this way.
However we must look at the situation we face in this now terrorist haven.
Before we do that, let's us review the reasons we have been given for declaring premptive war on this once former ally.
WMD - we saw the presentation by Colin Powell to the UN and must say we were concerned. Now we know those concerns were unwarranted. The smoking gun was a peashooter. Endless amounts of information are available to readers interested in the biggest scam perpetrated on the american public ever, so we won't get into it.
okay, WMD was really the only reason the country supported this war initially, the prospect of nuclear holocaust doesn't sit very well with most people.
So, were are we now? Daily casualties, growing insurgency, fumbling towards an Iraqi constitution that is bound to fail with so much at play here. But really, after seeing the shame that was Katrina, do we really care about a Iraqi constitution when americans are left to rot on freeway's?
The credit card president thinks we should. He also thinks that pulling out will send a signal to the terrorists that they've acheived victory. Problem is, this isn't a big ten footbal game. It's a nightmare of incompetence, brutality and source for endless pessimism about our future.
Get the Iraqi police force trained. Let them spill blood for their country and their constitution. We should withdraw.
Let's remember, this war was not thrust upon us. There was no middle of the night sneak attack by Hussein's republican guard. This was a war of choice sold to us by idealists who are more concerned about Iraqi womans choices than our own.
time for realism.
Don't get us wrong, seeing that thug Saddam Hussein in his underwear was not only disturbing, but quite satisfying. It's always good to see brutal thugs demeaned in this way.
However we must look at the situation we face in this now terrorist haven.
Before we do that, let's us review the reasons we have been given for declaring premptive war on this once former ally.
WMD - we saw the presentation by Colin Powell to the UN and must say we were concerned. Now we know those concerns were unwarranted. The smoking gun was a peashooter. Endless amounts of information are available to readers interested in the biggest scam perpetrated on the american public ever, so we won't get into it.
okay, WMD was really the only reason the country supported this war initially, the prospect of nuclear holocaust doesn't sit very well with most people.
So, were are we now? Daily casualties, growing insurgency, fumbling towards an Iraqi constitution that is bound to fail with so much at play here. But really, after seeing the shame that was Katrina, do we really care about a Iraqi constitution when americans are left to rot on freeway's?
The credit card president thinks we should. He also thinks that pulling out will send a signal to the terrorists that they've acheived victory. Problem is, this isn't a big ten footbal game. It's a nightmare of incompetence, brutality and source for endless pessimism about our future.
Get the Iraqi police force trained. Let them spill blood for their country and their constitution. We should withdraw.
Let's remember, this war was not thrust upon us. There was no middle of the night sneak attack by Hussein's republican guard. This was a war of choice sold to us by idealists who are more concerned about Iraqi womans choices than our own.
time for realism.
Mr President, fire Rumsfield now!
Staggering: (tip andrewsullivan.com)
www.hrw.org/reports/2005/us0905
If you too sickened to read the rest of this report, i'll sum it up for you:
Since the invasion of Iraq America has been torturing prisoners on a fairly routine basis. Remember my post from yesterday about Abu Ghraib? You might as well spit in the face of every veteran. Men were blown up on beachheads so we could have this?
And the credit card president is culpable.
www.hrw.org/reports/2005/us0905
If you too sickened to read the rest of this report, i'll sum it up for you:
Since the invasion of Iraq America has been torturing prisoners on a fairly routine basis. Remember my post from yesterday about Abu Ghraib? You might as well spit in the face of every veteran. Men were blown up on beachheads so we could have this?
And the credit card president is culpable.