AM Feed - June 19: President Bush's Eyeball Diplomacy
Hot Topics
- President Bush’s decision-making process has often relied on snap judgments and gut feelings instead of well-balanced analysis of available information. Bush’s “do what feels right” thought process has led to embarrassing situations before – remember when he sized up Russian leader Vladimir Putin by sensing his soul? Now he’s at it again: During his recent trip to Baghdad, Bush claimed he was there to “look Prime Minister [Nouri al] Maliki in the eyes—to determine whether or not he is as dedicated to a free Iraq as you are.” Maliki, who is a bit of an unknown quantity as a leader, passed Bush’s oh-so-rigorous inspection. “The administration has made a major policy decision, to put all its chips on the Maliki government and then double down,” said former ambassador Richard Holbrooke. [link]
- It has been revealed that Julia Willis-Leon, stepdaughter of Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA), holds a second job working for a lobbyist who has business before the House Appropriations Commmittee, which Lewis chairs. Willis-Leon was paid between $40,000-$50,000 last year for her role as a “strategic partner” at Potomac Partners DC LLC. (Willis lives in Las Vegas, by the way.) Six of the firm’s 13 clients have business before the Appropriations Committee, but President Richard Alcade denied that Willis-Leon was hired for her connection to Lewis. [link]
- House Speaker Dennis Hastert’s (R-IL) shady real estate dealings appear to be unraveling more with each passing day. Hastert netted a seven-figure profit on land he bought outside of Chicago – land that just happened to be near a federally-funded highway project that he supported. Hastert paid $11,000 per acre for the piece of land in question back in 2002 – and sold it at the end of 2005 for $36,000 per acre. [link]
Quote of the Day
”[Karl Rove]’s making a political speech. He’s sitting in his air-conditioned office on his big, fat backside saying, ‘Stay the course.’ That’s not a plan.” – Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), on Meet the Press
Morning Snark
- We’re not saying that President Bush is being too hasty in his judgment of Prime Minister Maliki, but most people take longer than that to inspect fruit at the grocery store.
Comment
- bush, as usual, is short on facts, but long on conclusions.
What an upside down world! bush is a failure, yet the Repugs give him what he wants. And, unfortunately, the Dems have not found their voice.
— micki Jun 19, 13:00 # - Though I agree that the Republicans are not offering any important solutions to any of the problems facing us as a nation, I am beginning to feel skeptical of the mantra about the Democrats. Is it that they don’t have any ideas or that the media is telling us that? Is it a bit like the myth of the liberal media? What liberal media? Where’s that? Today several Dems are proposing legislation that supports the troops and veterans in tangible ways. Here are two quotes from a site created by veterans:
First, there are growing concerns about service members redeployed from the U.S. back to Iraq for a second tour after being diagnosed with a serious mental health problem, and some have committed suicide. That is why we ask you to urge the Senate to adopt an amendment sponsored by Senators Barbara Boxer and Joe Lieberman requiring a credentialed mental health professional to sign off before a service member diagnosed as having a duty-limiting (or serious) mental health condition can be ordered into a war zone.
Second, we are troubled by reports of veterans who are not aware of government benefits and services. That is why we urge you to ask the Senate to adopt an amendment sponsored by Senators Russ Feingold, Patty Murray, Barack Obama, Ted Kennedy and Jack Reed requiring the military to provide comprehensive” Transition Assistance Program briefings about healthcare, employment, and other benefits so veterans don’t miss out on benefits with time limits, such as healthcare and educational assistance.”
These are indicators of what Dems care about, real solutions to serious problems that for whatever reason don’t make it to the 6 o’clock news. Also, Al Gore who is in some ways the emeritus spiritual leader of the party has done a fabulous job of calling attention to one of the most pressing potential crises in our history as a species, global warming. Doesn’t that count as visionary?
Just some thoughts.
— Jane Jun 19, 13:58 # - And good thoughts they are, Jane – I wish I could comment at length, but I’m using a computer at a library and I’m allottedan hour and I have a lot of other stuff to do in that hour – I’ll try to sound off later…
— John Jun 19, 14:12 # - The more I see of Murtha the better I like him. He asks the right questions and responds intelligenly . No wonder Rove wants to slander him. We need to know where the Occupation of Iraq is headed and why the Troops which we support both in spirit and financially are not getting the support of their commander.
— Rosalie Stern Jun 19, 15:19 # - I have been a loyal Democrat since I cast my first ballot 37 years ago, but the stand My party has taken on ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION disgusts me. I always thought that the Democrat Party was the party of the American worker, but the way the Party leaders in the Senate support AMNESTY, it seems to me they have sided with big business. If that is the case I will abandon the Democratic Party and become a Libertarian or an Independent. The late great leaders of the Party are probably rolling over in their graves
— Bob Brock Jun 19, 20:05 # - Well, it looks like the politbureau in D.C. have gotten me on their list. The font on everything is so small it just looks like ink droplets in a line.
Hope y’all are doin’ better.
— Winston MacDhai Jun 20, 00:47 # - Winston – go to View (Internet Explorer) and Text Size and select a larger print.
— jen Jun 20, 11:45 #
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