Saintless

Think Progress says CNN is reporting that Tony Snow is stepping down. Dana Perino will be taking his place as Chief Propagandist, aka President’s Liar to the Public.

The Bush administration has begun it’s fall, and there aren’t many left to go.

On a side note, Snow is saying he’s leaving because he needs to make more money. Here’s Snow a year ago, regarding his salary:

MR. SNOW: I think my salary’s like $162,000 or $163,000.

Beyond the fact that he’s obviously making well above the average American’s salary, I find it interesting that Snow’s reaction to cancer is that he needs to make more money.

Let’s compare that to Elizabeth Edwards. The first time she was diagnosed, right at the end of her husband’s presidential campaign:

Well, I have, you know, told the doctor when we met her, I said, ‘I have 40 years of plans.’ I need 40 years, you know? That’s all I’m asking you for is another 40, because I’ve got so much that I want to do. We’ll stay here and get treatment through the end of the school year. At about the end of the school year, we’ll sell the house in Washington and move back to North Carolina with– bought some land in a rural area next to a farm with cows and a creek and a pond. And the kids can grow up in the kind of surroundings that we think are going to be really healthy for them. And continue to get my follow-up treatments down there. And we’ll see what life has to offer.

And recently, about the time her husband announced his ‘08 bid:

“We’ve been confronted with these kind of traumas and struggles already in our life,” Edwards said. “When this happens you have a choice — you can go and cower in the corner or you can go out there and be tough.”

Elizabeth Edwards added: “We’re always going to look for the silver lining — it’s who we are as people.”

I can’t help but notice the difference, and while I’m not campaigning for John Edwards, I respect that he and his wife chose what was more important to them. They clung to what mattered. And Tony Snow has also clung to what matters to him. The money. Just a little confirmation about why I’ve never trusted him.

Tags: Dana Perino, Elizabeth Edwards, resignation, Tony Snow, White House Press Secretary

Mother Jones has a story titled School of Shock that turned my stomach.

It starts off:

Rob Santana awoke terrified. He’d had that dream again, the one where silver wires ran under his shirt and into his pants, connecting to electrodes attached to his limbs and torso. Adults armed with surveillance cameras and remote-control activators watched his every move. One press of a button, and there was no telling where the shock would hit—his arm or leg or, worse, his stomach. All Rob knew was that the pain would be intense.

Every time he woke from this dream, it took him a few moments to remember that he was in his own bed, that there weren’t electrodes locked to his skin, that he wasn’t about to be shocked. It was no mystery where this recurring nightmare came from—not A Clockwork Orange or 1984, but the years he spent confined in America’s most controversial “behavior modification” facility.

BoingBoing sums The Judge Rotenberg Education Center up this way:

The school is run by a rogue behaviorist who uses discredited “punishment” techniques — electroshock — on children as young as nine to change their personalities. Matthew Israel, the school’s $400,000/year executive director, straps homemade, overpowered shock apparatus to children (including severely autistic and retarded kids) and has his staff administer strong shocks for even minor infractions. Some children have been shocked thousands of times a day, and several children have died at the school.

This school was investigated by the New York State Education Department and here is the list Cory Doctrow put together of the findings:

* Staff shock kids for “nagging, swearing, and failing to maintain a neat appearance” and once threatened to shock a girl who sneezed and then asked for a tissue.
* Some students must “earn” meals by not displaying certain behaviors. Otherwise they are “made to throw a predetermined caloric portion of their food into the garbage.”
* When students enter and leave the school each day, “almost all” are wearing some type of restraints, such as handcuffs or leg shackles.
* “Students may be restrained”–on a four-point restraint board or chair–”for extensive periods of time (e.g. hours or intermittently for days).”
* Some students are shocked while strapped to the restraint board.
* A “majority” of employees “serving as classroom teachers” are “not certified teachers.”
* Rotenberg’s marketing reps bestow presents on prospective families–”e.g. a gift bag for the family, basketball for the student.”
* Although the center has described its shock device as “approved” by the fda in its promotional materials, it “has not been approved.”
* The facility collects “comprehensive data” on behaviors it seeks to eliminate, but “there was no evidence of the collection of data on replacement or positive behaviors.”
* The facility makes no assessment of the “possible collateral effects of punishment such as depression, anxiety, and/or social withdrawal.”

What I want to know is – why aren’t they in jail? If a parent did that to their child, they would most certainly be jailed for child abuse. How can a supposed school get away with it? What is wrong with our country?

Tags: child abuse, The Judge Rotenberg Education Center

Here’s an idea that just might work:

For three hours during a townhall meeting last night, Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) “was verbally flogged by hundreds of his constituents for no longer supporting the quick withdrawal of troops from Iraq.” “There is only one way to end an illegal and immoral war, and that’s to end it,” said Zamme Joi. “You have screwed up, my friend. You have screwed up and you have to change course,” another constituent said. “We don’t care what your convictions are,” said Jan Lustig of Vancouver, “you are here to represent us.”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3bLqQ-nQIw]

So, how do we pin Matheson down, and let him know that Utah Democrats want out of Iraq, and a lot of the Republicans do, too. I’d love to participate in giving him a verbal tongue lashing for making the wrong decision on that, and other issues such as Habeas Corpus.

Tags: Representative Brian Baird, Representative Jim Matheson

Generation Obama Salt Lake City launched last Saturday, with about 25 people in attendance at the BBQ. Most of the faces were familiar, though we did meet a couple of new people. We all signed public supporter cards, so the campaign can use our names as endorsers. Here are most of the children who were in attendance:

Drake, Preston, Victoria and Autumn all made their own "Kids for Obama" t-shirts, and Chase wore the extra one I made. They all spent time designing and coloring their own Obama signs at the BBQ, too.

This shows most of the attendees, including Ivonna, the "Momma for Obama" who was featured in news reports during the sign-making for the Obama rally recently. Ivonna also arranged for us to have PA equipment for the BBQ, allowing everyone to hear Barack during the Generation Obama conference call, and to listen to music during the BBQ.

Maria and Kim sit near while Autumn and Chase work on their Obama signs.

I'm guessing they were watching Theo grill, hoping the food would hurry and get done!

This BBQ generated a lot of excitement, and great ideas, and also served as a good time to have an impromptu steering committee meeting. The purpose of Generation Obama, GO, is to get the younger generation involved in the campaign, and allow them to use their excitement and energy to help transform the nation. We will be having a fundraiser at a local club on September 14 or 15. Theo will be announcing the details, soon. Theo will also be organizing the contact information that we have, so that it can be better used by our group and for mobilizing voters for the primary on February 5.

A big "thanks" goes to Mark, Nikki, Theo, Ivonna, Strider and Jenee for helping put the event together, and set it up. We have an amazing group, and the Obama campaign even knows it, considering that Barack specifically pointed out that SLC was one of the limited number of cities who were invited to participate in the GO launch. 

I hope that anyone interested in being part of Generation Obama will join the group. You don't have to be "under 40", as long as you're young at heart! 

Tags: Generation Obama, Kids For Obama, organizing

So, CNN thinks Michael Chertoff is going to replace Alberto Gonzales. Mr. Chertoff happens to be the head of Homeland Security. So, who is going to get his job?

CNN Video is reporting that Clay Johnson III is the likely replacement.

Let’s take a look at Mr. Johnson’s qualifications, currently serving as the Deputy Budget Director.

Of course, he’s a Bush Loyalist. Not that there would be any doubt among Americans, since Bush only appoints Loyalists. In case there is, though, the final proof is the George W Bush doll that he keeps on his desk.

In fact, Mr. Johnson is so loyal, that he’s apparently been given the rare privilege of spanking the President’s dog, Barney.

Bush has known Mr. Johnson since they were in prep school, and Mr. Johnson has served his country uhh, his state George W Bush in the past as his Gubernatorial Chief of Staff, in Texas.

In fact, King George chose Mr. Johnson for the Chief of Staff position because:

“I want someone whose primary interest is me – George Bush – and who doesn’t hope to parlay this into something and isn’t trying to curry favor with this one or that one,” Bush told Johnson and his wife, Anne Sewell Johnson, over lunch.

Taking a look at Clay Johnson III’s bio, I see nowhere that he’s got an ounce of relevant experience, though. (I’m doing something rare and putting the whole thing here, assuming that it will likely change in the near future)

Clay Johnson III
Deputy Director for Management
Office of Management and Budget

Clay Johnson III

Clay Johnson is the Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget. The Deputy Director for Management provides government-wide leadership to Executive Branch agencies to improve agency and program performance. Prior to this he was the Assistant to the President for Presidential Personnel, responsible for the organization that identifies and recruits approximately 4000 senior officials, middle management personnel and part-time board and commission members.

From 1995 to 2000, Mr. Johnson worked with Governor George W. Bush in Austin, first as his Appointments Director, then as his Chief of Staff, and then as the Executive Director of the Bush-Cheney Transition.

Mr. Johnson has been the Chief Operating Officer for the Dallas Museum of Art and the President of the Horchow and Neiman Marcus Mail Order companies. He also has worked for Citicorp, Wilson Sporting Goods and Frito Lay.

He received his undergraduate degree from Yale University and a Masters degree from MIT’s Sloan School of Management. In Austin, he helped create the Texas State History Museum, and was also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas Graduate School of Business. In Dallas, he served as President of the Board of Trustees for St. Marks School of Texas, and as a Board Member of Equitable Bankshares, Goodwill Industries of Dallas, and the Dallas Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization.

So, that leaves me scratching my head, wondering how Johnson’s Bush doll, experience spanking Barney and undying loyalty to Bush are going to protect our homeland?

(h/t Think Progress)

P.S. I wonder if the Bush doll looks like this?

Tags: Alberto Gonzales, Attorney General, Bush Loyalists, Clay Johnson III, Corrupt Establishment, Department of Homeland Security, George W Bush, Michael Chertoff

We’re all probably aware that Bush rejected the comparison of Iraq to Vietnam, more than once.

We’re also probably aware that Bush recently compared Iraq to Vietnam.

“One unmistakable legacy of Vietnam is that the price of America’s withdrawal was paid by millions of innocent citizens whose agonies would add to our vocabulary new terms like ‘boat people,’ ‘reeducation camps’ and ‘killing fields,’ ” Bush told a receptive audience at the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention.

Beyond pointing out that “I was against it before I was before it”, I was floored when I heard that statement. Just floored.

So, while Bush may no longer reject the comparison of Iraq and Vietnam, Vietnam definitely rejects it.

HANOI, Vietnam – President Bush touched a nerve among Vietnamese when he invoked the Vietnam War in a speech warning that death and chaos will envelop Iraq if U.S. troops leave too quickly.

People in Vietnam, where opposition to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq is strong, said Thursday that Bush drew the wrong conclusions from the long, bloody Southeast Asian conflict.

“Doesn’t he realize that if the U.S. had stayed in Vietnam longer, they would have killed more people?” said Vu Huy Trieu of Hanoi, a veteran of the communist forces that fought American troops in Vietnam. “Nobody regrets that the Vietnam War wasn’t prolonged except Bush.”

’nuff said.

Tags: George W Bush, Vietnam War

I’m hoping to make it, to this, and providing I don’t have another meeting that I have tentatively scheduled, I will be. The protest is called “Stand up for Peace”, and is going to be at Liberty Park, instead of downtown like most of them are.

Here is part of what the MoveOn email I got about it said (emphasis mine):

We learned yesterday that the White House and pro-war donors have put together a massive $15 MILLION media fund to keep the war going.1 It’s an enormous ad buy—and it’s aimed at stopping Republicans from breaking with the president now that it’s clear that the surge has failed.

Now is the time to fight back. We don’t have super-rich corporate donors to match a $15 million ad campaign—but we do have each other. There are millions of us around the country and we’re getting together next Tuesday to tell Congress that the time to stand up to President Bush and redeploy our troops out of this unwinnable civil war in Iraq is NOW.

We’re gathering at vigils all over the country to honor those who have given their lives in this war and tell Congress and the media that we can’t afford another years worth of casualties. If enough of us show up we can counter the White House spin with real people and real voices.

and

The White House front group, “Freedom Watch” is running ads in more than 20 states and they’re targeting mostly Republicans, but some Democrats too. They’re trying to convince voters and members of Congress that the “surge” is working and that Congress should give Bush more time.

But the truth is time has run out on the White House policy in Iraq. The “surge” is a total failure. Consider these key facts:

* 2007 is already the bloodiest summer for American troops since the war began.2
* There has been little to no progress on the political benchmarks that the president said the “surge” would help accomplish.3
* 64 percent of conservative foreign policy experts say the escalation is having either a negative impact or no impact at all.4
* 7 out of 10 foreign policy experts support redeployment of US troops out of Iraq.5

This big ad blitz is happening now because this September is going to bring the biggest showdown on Iraq since the war began. The White House will try to convince Congress to let them continue their reckless policy in Iraq and if they succeed we could be in Iraq for another 10 years.6

We have to show up in force on Tuesday, before Congress returns to D.C. for the big September fight, and show them that voters want our troops out of the religious civil war in Iraq now—not in six months, not in a year, now.

Sources:

1. “Democrats Refocus Message on Iraq After Military Gains,” Washington Post, August 22, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2905&id=11075-6917764-6W5lge&t=6

2. Iraq Index, Brookings Institution, August 20, 2007
http://www3.brookings.edu/fp/saban/iraq/index.pdf

3. Ibid

4. The Terrorism Index, Center for American Progress, August 20, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2906&id=11075-6917764-6W5lge&t=7

5. Ibid

6. “Petraeus: Iraq ‘Challenges’ to Last for Years,” Washington Post, June 18, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2888&id=11075-6917764-6W5lge&t=8

Tags: Freedom Watch, MoveOn, protest, surge, White House

Thanks to Widgetbox and Open Congress, I now have an easy way to keep an eye on what my representatives are doing.

Widgetbox allows you to submit the URL of any blog and create what’s called a Blidget. Open Congress has a feed for all of the Senators and Representatives, so all I had to do was join Widgetbox, which I’d already done. Then click “Submit Blidget”, and paste the RSS feed link from the representative’s page on OpenCongress. Out came this:
Get great free widgets at Widgetbox!

I’ve made Blidgets for
Senator Bennett,
Senator Hatch, and
Representative Matheson, or you can create your own. You can see mine on the right side of this blog, if you scroll down a bit, and there’s a link by each of them if you’d like to add them to your own blog.

If anyone wants to make one and needs more help, just let me know.

Tags: Blidget, blog goodies, OpenCongress, Representative Jim Matheson, Senator Orrin Hatch, Senator Rob Bennett, Widgetbox

Russ Feingold, of the Progressive Patriots Fund, sent me an interesting video today. You can read the story behind it on the Progressive Patriots Fund web site.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivaTo6b2F7M]

One of the things I thought about as I read the signs was that I think almost anyone could agree that these are all qualities our next president should have. But our ideas of how each candidate matches up to them are very different.

I’m not really certain if anyone reads this blog, but if you do, post a comment and let me know how some of the descriptions apply to your choice of candidate, or if you’re undecided, how they apply to one or two of your top choices.

And consider adding your own descriptions to the “My President” collection.

Tags: Progressive Patriots Fund, Russ Feingold

Two years ago:

THE PRESIDENT: You know, I’ve heard this theory about everything was just fine until we arrived, and kind of “we’re going to stir up the hornet’s nest” theory. It just doesn’t hold water, as far as I’m concerned. The terrorists attacked us and killed 3,000 of our citizens before we started the freedom agenda in the Middle East.

Q What did Iraq have to do with that?

THE PRESIDENT: What did Iraq have to do with what?

Q The attack on the World Trade Center?

THE PRESIDENT: Nothing, except for it’s part of — and nobody has ever suggested in this administration that Saddam Hussein ordered the attack. Iraq was a — the lesson of September the 11th is, take threats before they fully materialize, Ken. Nobody has ever suggested that the attacks of September the 11th were ordered by Iraq. I have suggested, however, that resentment and the lack of hope create the breeding grounds for terrorists who are willing to use suiciders to kill to achieve an objective. I have made that case.

Tags: 9/11, George W Bush, Iraq, terrorists