Scandals Take Toll on Bush

President Bush has claimed more than once that he is divinely led by God and is doing God's will. But the proof is in the pudding. Look at the people who surround and advise our president and see how Godly their influences are:

His very top advisor, Karl Rove, is being investigated for possible treason,
Cheney's no-bid contract with Halliburton is plagued with over charging the gov't by millions of $$$, mismanagement of funds, the firing of the head of a department for investing the no-bid contract as illegal, (to name a few),
House Leader DeLay indicted on money laundering charges (to name a few)
Senate Leader Frist investigated for illegal insider trading,
Bush's spiritual advisor and friend, Pat Robertson, claiming we should assassinate, (murder), a democratically elected leader, (and we are spreading democracy in the world)
(this reminds me of a saying: "Show me your friends and I'll tell you who you are")
the debacle in Iraq,
the Downing Street Memos showing Bush did manipulate intelligence to support the war, (if God so divinely led him, why did he have to lie about the facts?),
his policies to unprotected the environment for corporate gain,
his policies to ignore the poor and elderly, (remember he stayed on vacation and partying in San Diego until 3 days after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast as did VP Cheney, as did Condi Rice, least we forget),
his policies to promote his cronies who are unqualified for the high and important offices he assigned them to and then blame others when they fail in their jobs,
his banning of war photos of combat, coffins and head counts of America's maimed and Iraqi civilians dead...

All this makes me say that perhaps Mr. Bush did hear a calling. But in looking closely at the facts, perhaps what he heard was not God's will but maybe just his own. I think God would do a better job, don't you?
Kathleen
lablogtalk.blogspot.com

Cronism, Corruption & Cartoons

Troubled Waters War, storms, leak probes—and a growing array of ethics clouds. Dark days for the Republican Party.
By Howard Fineman and Eleanor Clift Newsweek
"...But it took the Republicans only 10 years to become yet another ruling party beset by charges of profligate spending, bloated government and corruption—a party led by two Texans, Bush and DeLay, who don't particularly care whether they are beloved outside their inner circle. To paraphrase David Mamet, the Republicans became what they beheld.

And there is much to behold. Michael Brown, the hapless yet arrogant former head of FEMA, managed to anger even putative Republican allies in an appearance before a House committee... Questions have already arisen about no-bid contracts awarded to companies with ties to one of Bush's closest political friends from Texas, former FEMA head Joe Allbaugh, who has denied any wrongdoing—and who, in any case, has the hide of a rhino.

The skin is a little more sensitive on the princely Senate majority leader, Bill Frist. Buffeted by the complex politics of his job, he now finds himself the subject of a full-scale investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. A physician, his substantial wealth is partly derived from HCA Inc., a leading managed-care and hospital company founded by his family back home in Tennessee. The SEC is examining Frist's decision to dump all the HCA stock from the "blind trust" in which he placed it after he was elected in 1994. The stock price dropped shortly after the sale. By Frist's account, he decided to initiate the sale last April, and says that he had no information that wasn't available to the public when he did so.

As Frist deals with new questions of insider trading, the White House continues to deal with old questions of insider leaking. The issue: who revealed the classified identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame, wife of Bush administration foe Joe Wilson? Last week Judith Miller, The New York Times reporter who had spent 85 days in jail for refusing to testify on the matter, cut a deal, winning freedom and revealing that her source was the same one others have identified: vice presidential chief of staff Lewis (Scooter) Libby. Miller's testimony is said to be the last being sought by Patrick Fitzgerald, the special prosecutor. He is expected to conclude his work soon, and may issue a report. If he does, it can be expected to include potentially embarrassing, if not necessarily criminal, actions and phone calls by insiders such as Libby and Bush political consigliere Karl Rove.

The DeLay indictment has gotten tons of ink. Even before last week, the now suspended majority leader had an astonishingly high "name ID" in the country, and a very low "favorability" rating. But Washington legal experts see the most serious threat to the GOP machinery in the widening federal probes of lobbyist Jack Abramoff. A hustler with ties to conservatives dating to his days in the College Republicans, Abramoff made it his business to do favors for DeLay—from arranging golf trips to sponsoring fund-raisers—in exchange for access to Leadership. If DeLay, as Hill insiders say, rose to power in part by being the "concierge" to House Republicans, Abramoff, in turn, rose by being concierge to the concierge.

Now the deputy concierge is under the microscope. He and a business partner were indicted by a federal grand jury in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., on charges that they tried to fraudulently purchase a fleet of gambling boats from a businessman who was later killed in a gangland-style hit. Abramoff, who denies any wrongdoing, was accused of having used his connections with members of Congress to facilitate the deal.

In Washington, meanwhile, a separate investigation is gathering speed. It has resulted so far in one arrest: David H. Safavian, the head of procurement policy at the Office of Management and Budget. A former lobbying partner of Abramoff's, he is accused of lying to the FBI about the assistance that he had given Abramoff on a lucrative land deal with the General Services Administration. Safavian, who has denied wrongdoing, is expected to be indicted this week. Investigators, NEWSWEEK has learned, are pressing him for information about Abramoff's dealings with members of Congress.
The Abramoff probe, originally centered on allegations that he had fleeced tens of millions of dollars from Indian tribes eager for gaming licenses, has complicated life at the Justice Department. Bush has nominated Timothy Flanigan, who had been deputy White House counsel, to be deputy attorney general—the key No. 2 position. But then Flanigan disclosed to Congress that, as a lawyer for the Tyco Corp., he had hired Abramoff to lobby on an obscure issue, the maintenance of certain offshore tax breaks. (Flanigan also told Congress that he had hired Abramoff in part because of the lobbyist's connection to DeLay.) Tyco paid Abramoff an eye-popping $1.7 million. Abramoff, according to Flanigan, claimed that he had lobbied Rove. (The White House says Rove has "no recollection" of talking to Abramoff about Tyco matters.)

Congressional investigators are even more interested in another $1.5 million that Tyco paid, at Abramoff's direction, to a company called Grassroots Interactive. Abramoff, who declined to comment, allegedly controlled the firm, but, according to Flanigan, didn't tell Tyco. Lawyers for the conglomerate later complained that Tyco had been ripped off by Grassroots Interactive. Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are pressing for answers about what happened to the cash.

In politics, timing is everything, and GOP officials worried that the many Abramoff investigations—not to mention a DeLay trial in Texas, if it comes to that—could take place next summer, just before the midterm elections. In the meantime, Leadership wrestled with their own characteristically crucial issues. Such as: who occupies the Majority Leader Suite in the Capitol? DeLay has moved out, but most of his official staff have remained. Blunt will not move in, officially, keeping his whip office as home base. Instead, Blunt, Dreier and Deputy Whip Eric Cantor will hover in the vicinity. So the office will remain officially vacant. It's symbolic evidence of Leadership—or the absence of it.

Cronism, Corruption & Cartoons

Troubled Waters War, storms, leak probes—and a growing array of ethics clouds. Dark days for the Republican Party.
By Howard Fineman and Eleanor Clift Newsweek
"...But it took the Republicans only 10 years to become yet another ruling party beset by charges of profligate spending, bloated government and corruption—a party led by two Texans, Bush and DeLay, who don't particularly care whether they are beloved outside their inner circle. To paraphrase David Mamet, the Republicans became what they beheld.

And there is much to behold. Michael Brown, the hapless yet arrogant former head of FEMA, managed to anger even putative Republican allies in an appearance before a House committee... Questions have already arisen about no-bid contracts awarded to companies with ties to one of Bush's closest political friends from Texas, former FEMA head Joe Allbaugh, who has denied any wrongdoing—and who, in any case, has the hide of a rhino.

The skin is a little more sensitive on the princely Senate majority leader, Bill Frist. Buffeted by the complex politics of his job, he now finds himself the subject of a full-scale investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. A physician, his substantial wealth is partly derived from HCA Inc., a leading managed-care and hospital company founded by his family back home in Tennessee. The SEC is examining Frist's decision to dump all the HCA stock from the "blind trust" in which he placed it after he was elected in 1994. The stock price dropped shortly after the sale. By Frist's account, he decided to initiate the sale last April, and says that he had no information that wasn't available to the public when he did so.

As Frist deals with new questions of insider trading, the White House continues to deal with old questions of insider leaking. The issue: who revealed the classified identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame, wife of Bush administration foe Joe Wilson? Last week Judith Miller, The New York Times reporter who had spent 85 days in jail for refusing to testify on the matter, cut a deal, winning freedom and revealing that her source was the same one others have identified: vice presidential chief of staff Lewis (Scooter) Libby. Miller's testimony is said to be the last being sought by Patrick Fitzgerald, the special prosecutor. He is expected to conclude his work soon, and may issue a report. If he does, it can be expected to include potentially embarrassing, if not necessarily criminal, actions and phone calls by insiders such as Libby and Bush political consigliere Karl Rove.

The DeLay indictment has gotten tons of ink. Even before last week, the now suspended majority leader had an astonishingly high "name ID" in the country, and a very low "favorability" rating. But Washington legal experts see the most serious threat to the GOP machinery in the widening federal probes of lobbyist Jack Abramoff. A hustler with ties to conservatives dating to his days in the College Republicans, Abramoff made it his business to do favors for DeLay—from arranging golf trips to sponsoring fund-raisers—in exchange for access to Leadership. If DeLay, as Hill insiders say, rose to power in part by being the "concierge" to House Republicans, Abramoff, in turn, rose by being concierge to the concierge.

Now the deputy concierge is under the microscope. He and a business partner were indicted by a federal grand jury in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., on charges that they tried to fraudulently purchase a fleet of gambling boats from a businessman who was later killed in a gangland-style hit. Abramoff, who denies any wrongdoing, was accused of having used his connections with members of Congress to facilitate the deal.

In Washington, meanwhile, a separate investigation is gathering speed. It has resulted so far in one arrest: David H. Safavian, the head of procurement policy at the Office of Management and Budget. A former lobbying partner of Abramoff's, he is accused of lying to the FBI about the assistance that he had given Abramoff on a lucrative land deal with the General Services Administration. Safavian, who has denied wrongdoing, is expected to be indicted this week. Investigators, NEWSWEEK has learned, are pressing him for information about Abramoff's dealings with members of Congress.
The Abramoff probe, originally centered on allegations that he had fleeced tens of millions of dollars from Indian tribes eager for gaming licenses, has complicated life at the Justice Department. Bush has nominated Timothy Flanigan, who had been deputy White House counsel, to be deputy attorney general—the key No. 2 position. But then Flanigan disclosed to Congress that, as a lawyer for the Tyco Corp., he had hired Abramoff to lobby on an obscure issue, the maintenance of certain offshore tax breaks. (Flanigan also told Congress that he had hired Abramoff in part because of the lobbyist's connection to DeLay.) Tyco paid Abramoff an eye-popping $1.7 million. Abramoff, according to Flanigan, claimed that he had lobbied Rove. (The White House says Rove has "no recollection" of talking to Abramoff about Tyco matters.)

Congressional investigators are even more interested in another $1.5 million that Tyco paid, at Abramoff's direction, to a company called Grassroots Interactive. Abramoff, who declined to comment, allegedly controlled the firm, but, according to Flanigan, didn't tell Tyco. Lawyers for the conglomerate later complained that Tyco had been ripped off by Grassroots Interactive. Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are pressing for answers about what happened to the cash.

In politics, timing is everything, and GOP officials worried that the many Abramoff investigations—not to mention a DeLay trial in Texas, if it comes to that—could take place next summer, just before the midterm elections. In the meantime, Leadership wrestled with their own characteristically crucial issues. Such as: who occupies the Majority Leader Suite in the Capitol? DeLay has moved out, but most of his official staff have remained. Blunt will not move in, officially, keeping his whip office as home base. Instead, Blunt, Dreier and Deputy Whip Eric Cantor will hover in the vicinity. So the office will remain officially vacant. It's symbolic evidence of Leadership—or the absence of it.

The History of Tom DeLay

For those of you who believe that ethics is the base for the GOP, I urge you to inform yourself on one of its most powerful men, Senate Majority Leader Tom DeLay. His fall will not be the end of the GOP Corruption as House Speaker Dennis Hastert appointed Rep. Roy Blunt, the Republican whip from Missouri and a disciple of Delay, as the new majority leader. Democrats aren't saints, and Lord knows they are not unified, but from the Bush White House on down, this government of the GOP stinks like a dead, poisoned fish.

If you are a Republican and chose not to read the following or any other information on the disclosure of the continued corruption from the 2000 rigged election, the special counsel investigation into whether White House senior adviser Karl Rove or others in the administration broke the law by leaking the name of the CIA's Valerie Plame, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) is under investigation for selling stock in his family's medical business just before the price fell sharply. The probe of well-connected lobbyist Jack Abramoff, a former close associate of DeLay, Cheney's Halliburton, Bush's torture memos on Abu Ghraib, Bush's Downing Street Memos, Bush's Cronyism, Bush's top aides indicted, and the list goes on then pat yourself on the back that this once great country is right in line with the Fall of the Roman Empire.

The Hammer fallsIt isn't just Tom DeLay. The vast corrupt money machine that funded the Republican Revolution is exploding before our eyes.
Rep. Tom Delay, R-Texas, talks to reporters on Capitol Hill Wednesday after resigning as House majority leader.
- - - - - - - - - - - -By Michael Scherer

Sept. 29, 2005 At its height, the first great political machine of the 21st century worked like this: In Congress, Texas Rep. Tom DeLay controlled the votes like a modern-day Boss Tweed. He called himself "the Hammer." His domain included a vast network of former aides and foot soldiers he installed in key positions at law firms and trade groups, a network that came to be called the "K Street Project." He gathered tithes in the form of campaign cash, hard and soft, and spread it out among the loyal. He legislated for favored donors. He punished those who disobeyed, and bought off those who could be paid.
Conservative activists, who had grown up in the heady days of Reagan's America, patrolled the badlands of American politics for new opportunities. None did it better than Jack Abramoff, a former president of the College Republicans, who had a taste for expensive suits. Abramoff opened a restaurant, Signatures, where the powerful came to be seen and, in many cases, treated to free meals from a menu that included $74 steaks. He pulled in tens of millions of dollars from Indian tribes and the Northern Marianas Islands to help fund other operations -- skyboxes at the MCI Center where DeLay could hold his fundraisers and all-expense trips to Scotland where DeLay and friends could play golf.
Others were drawn into the web as well. Abramoff kicked down money to his old college buddy Grover Norquist, an anti-tax crusader whose role was to keep the right-wing ideologues in line. He hired Ralph Reed, a former advisor to the Christian Coalition, who helped keep the religious right on good terms with the Republican leadership. He hired Michael Scanlon, a former aide to DeLay, as his assistant. He leaned on former lobbying colleagues, like David Safavian, who was working in the Bush administration and could do favors for his clients. Susan Ralston, Abramoff's former gatekeeper and executive assistant, went to work for Karl Rove in the White House.
For a while, the whole operation seemed unstoppable. DeLay, Abramoff, Norquist, Reed and Rove vanquished their Democratic opponents, winning election after election. The loyalty that ensued allowed for a historic cohesion in Congress. Tax breaks passed like clockwork, as did subsidies for favored industries and cuts to long-standing Democratic initiatives. The Democratic Party, which had ruled Capitol Hill for half a century, imploded in confusion.
But the machine may now be coming to an end. The prosecutors have arrived, and they are handing out indictments at a blistering rate. "It's a house of cards," says Norman Ornstein, a congressional scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. "Jack Abramoff has been the ace of spades, but Tom DeLay has been linked arm in arm with him." Now the house is on the brink of collapse, he added. "Everything that surrounded the K Street Project and what flowed from it ... all of that is under intense pressure."
On Wednesday, DeLay was indicted with two aides by a Texas grand jury, accused of flouting campaign finance laws by illegally sending corporate funds to GOP candidates in the state. Two months ago, Abramoff was arrested and charged with fraud in connection with a casino deal in Florida. On Tuesday, two employees of a company owned by Abramoff were charged with murdering the casino's former owner. Last week, the feds arrested David Safavian, who has been working in the White House, on charges of lying to investigators about a trip to Scotland with DeLay and Abramoff. Scanlon, the former DeLay aide who worked with Abramoff, is said to be cooperating with investigators, who are likely to file even more charges.
For those who have followed the machine from its inception, these developments are striking. "It represents the beginning of the end of an era," said Vic Fazio, a Democratic lobbyist at the law firm Akin, Gump and a former California congressman. "A powerful group of people who had consolidated their power in the mid- to late 1990s is now vulnerable to legal attack."
Even some conservatives have begun to distance themselves. "The Tom DeLay machine that he built, there were corruptive elements to it," said Stephen Moore, a longtime conservative activist who sat at the head table at a recent dinner celebrating DeLay's career. Moore, who founded the Free Enterprise Fund, still describes himself as a "Tom DeLay fan," who considers the congressman a "conservative hero." But he has misgivings as well. "All of these guys getting rich off this process rubs some conservatives the wrong way," Moore said. "It's going to be difficult for Tom to recover from this no matter what happens."
Read the rest: http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/09/29/delay/index.html

What the Polls Show

Is This March Mainstream or Radical? Read the Numbers.
Submitted by davidswanson on Sat, 2005-09-24 08:37. Media
http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm
Associated Press/Ipsos poll conducted by Ipsos-Public Affairs. Sept. 16-18, 2005. N=1,000 adults nationwide.

"As you may know, the U.S. Congress has appropriated 260 billion dollars to fight the war and help rebuild Iraq. What best describes how you feel about federal spending on the rebuilding of Iraq? We are spending too much. We are spending the right amount. We should spend more." Asked of half the sample
9/16-18/05
Spending Too Much 65% Spending Right Amount 27%S hould Spend More 6% Unsure 2%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"How confident are you that the money appropriated to rebuild Iraq is being spent wisely . . . ?" Asked of half the sample
9/16-18/05
Very 7% Confident Somewhat 28% Confident Not Too 31% Confident Not At All 33% Confident Unsure 1%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll. Sept. 16-18, 2005. N=818 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4.
" Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation in Iraq? "
.
Approve Disapprove Unsure 9/16-18/05
32% 67% 1%
5/20-22/05
40% 56% 4%
4/29 - 5/1/05
42 55 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"In view of the developments since we first sent our troops to Iraq, do you think the United States made a mistake in sending troops to Iraq, or not?"9/16-18/05
Made a Mistake 59% Did Not Make a Mistake 39% Unsure 2%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Which comes closest to your view about what the U.S. should now do about the number of U.S. troops in Iraq? The U.S. should send more troops to Iraq. The U.S. should keep the number of troops as it is now. The U.S. should withdraw some troops from Iraq. OR, The U.S. should withdraw all of its troops from Iraq." Options rotated
9/16-18/05
Send More 8% Same as Now 26% Withdraw Some 33 % Withdraw All 30 % Unsure 3%

CBS News/New York Times Poll. Sept. 9-13, 2005. N=1,167 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (for all adults). RV = registered voters
"So far, do you think that George W. Bush has developed a clear plan for getting American troops out of Iraq, or hasn't he developed one yet?"
9/9-13/05
Has a Clear Plan 21% Does Not 75% Unsure 4%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Should the United States troops stay in Iraq as long as it takes to make sure Iraq is a stable democracy, even if it takes a long time, or should U.S. troops leave Iraq as soon as possible, even if Iraq is not completely stable?"Prior to 6/04: "Should the United States troops stay in Iraq as long as it takes to make sure Iraq is a stable democracy, even if that takes a long time, or should U.S. troops turn over control to Iraqis as soon as possible, even if Iraq is not completely stable?"
9/9-13/05 2/24-28/05
Stay as Long as It Takes 42% 55
Leave ASAP 52% 40
Unsure 6% 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"In order to pay for the war with Iraq, would you approve or disapprove of the United States cutting spending on domestic programs, like education and health care?"
9/9-13/05
Approve 7% Disapprove 90% Unsure 3%

"In order to pay for the war with Iraq, would you approve or disapprove of eliminating the recent tax cuts?"
9/9-13/05
Approve 36% Disapprove 55% Unsure 9%
.
"Would you be willing or not willing to pay more in taxes in order to pay for the war with Iraq?"
9/9-13/05
Approve 20% Disapprove 77% Unsure 3%
.
"As a result of the United States' military action against Iraq, do you think the United States is more safe from terrorism, less safe from terrorism, or hasn't it made any difference?"
9/9-13/05
More Safe 30%
Less Safe 23%
No Difference 46% Unsure 1%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"How concerned are you that the war in Iraq is costing money and resources that are needed in the U.S. instead: very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not at all concerned?"
9/9-13/05
Very Concerned 53%
Somewhat Concerned 30%
Not Too Concerned 11% Not At All Concerned 5% Unsure 1%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"How much longer do you think the United States troops will have to remain in Iraq for less than a year, one to two years, two to five years, or will U.S. troops have to stay in Iraq for longer than five years?"
9/9-13/05
Less Than A Year 6%
1-2 Years 20%
2-5 Years 38%
Longer Than 5 Years 28% Unsure 8%

Joke for 9/25/05

Donald Rumsfeld is giving the President his daily briefing. He concludes by saying: "Yesterday, 3 Brazilian soldiers were killed". "OH NO!" the President exclaims. "That's terrible!" His staff sits stunned at this display of emotion, nervously watching as the president sits, head in hands. Finally, the President looks up and asks, "How many is a brazillion?"

Cartoon by Kirk

God Bless The GOP by JG Hertzler sung by Pat Roberston on a 700 Club Fundraiser

If tomorrow we pay gotta pay 10 bucks for a gallon of gasoline
The rich get richer, the poor get worse, like the weather in New Orleans
Still I’ll thank my God and his Son who speaks directly to me
Remember its all just intelligent design, God Bless the GOP.
I’m proud to be a Republican, at least I know I’m right
All you Godless Dems go “F “yourselves, just shut up and see the light
Then you’ll proudly stand up with your sign that says “God Really Hates All Gays”
All we really need to makes things right are a few more Tom DeLays.

And that's just a small taste of our song. If you'd like to hear more, send your dollars now to Pat Robertson. He'll use the funds to support a private coop to oust President Chavez or to pump up Mr. Rove's Spin Machine or help Tom DeLay with his lawyers' fees. Oh yes, I hear our Majority Leader Mr. Frist in now in leagel trouble as well. So in Jesus name, let's bail him out too because as you know, if he did do illeagel acts, it was to betterment of our cause and he was most likely lead by the Spirit as the Spirit does and only leads the GOP. Therefore any illeagel act commited by any and all GOP memebers is and should be excused. In any event, trust that your money will go to good use. All in the name of our lord. Lord who? you may ask. Lord only knows.

Bush Takes Responsibility

9/17 Names of the Dead

September 17, 2005
Names of the Dead
The Department of Defense has identified 1,893 American service members who have died since the start of the Iraq war. It confirmed the deaths of the following Americans yesterday:
SILVA, Alfredo B., 35, Sgt., Army National Guard; Calexico, Calif.; 40th Infantry Division.
SWANBERG, Shane C., 24, Lance Cpl., Marines; Kirkland, Wash.; Second Marine Division.

Cheney Cares for the People

Are We Safer 4 Years Later?

"...Our vulnerability is not just about dealing with terrorists or natural disasters. We are vulnerable and unsafe because we allow one in eight Americans to live in horrible poverty. We accept an education system where one in six children never graduate and most of those who do can't string a coherent sentence together. The middle class can't pay the mortgage or the hospital bills and 45 million have no health coverage whatsoever..." - An excerpt from Michael Moore's "To All My Fellow Americans Who Voted for George W. Bush"

"...Indifference is a weapon of mass destruction." Dennis Kucinich

Quote & Cartoon for 9/8/05

'Almost everyone I've talked to says, "We're going to move to Houston." What I'm hearing, which is sort of scary, is they all want to stay in Texas. Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality. And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this -- this is working very well for them." --First Mother Barbara Bush on the Katrina refugees in Houston.