Deficit up, financial accountability down

Two items to consider, two dots for Kerry/Edwards to connect in the campaign. The whitehouse is predicting a record budget deficit for 2004. They have simultaneously revised economic growth and employment up. If this follows the precedent set by Bush in other years, we can expect the administration to quietly revise the deficit upwards when the final numbers come in.

As you consider the idea that the nation's financial health is being progressively put in the hands of foreign creditors, mostly China and Japan, consider also the gross mismanagement with which this adminsistration approaches its business arrangements.

For example, an audit by the inspector general's office of the Coalition Provisional Authority has revealed massive fraud in Iraqi reconstruction contracts.I mean, the CPA didn't even keep records, for pete's sake.

U.S. civilian authorities in Baghdad failed to keep good track of nearly $1 billion in Iraqi money spent for reconstruction projects and can't produce records to show whether they got some services and products they paid for, an audit concludes.

Doesn't that just chap your hide? That's your tax dollar dissapearing into the pocket of a war profiteers because the administration didn't think they would have to secure the peace in Iraq.

Swift Boat Veterans for Truth not so seaworthy

I am getting a lot of traffic on the piece I wrote analyzing the GOP-sponsored Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. The original piece was written because I was pissed off at the utter lack of critical thinking displayed by the media as they reported on the fact that a group of veterans were stepping forward to oppose Kerry without reporting on why they were stepping forward. The original article included a long introduction about critical thinking, which probably isn't nearly as timely as the case study. If you want to read the original, here's If you only care about the lies of your opponent, you don't care much about the truth.

If you just want to read the case study, I created a stand alone called, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth not so seaworthy. I am sure that the GOP will continue to smear Kerry's service record. Please feel free to send this to as many friends, acquaintances and swing voters as you need to help win this small battle in the national argument.

Let them eat Prozac

In an unguarded moment the veneer of a conman's pitch can fall away to reveal a sheisters heart beating beneath the nice suit and killer smile.

You remember the Enron jerks caught on tape laughing while California burned and energy prices rose? Upon hearing that you knew what Enron was all about. Even though their ads say something different their actions and words tell the truth. And you know that if they are doing that at the bottom it is with the implicit approval at the top.

"Burn, baby, burn," the traders sang.

Now we have Susan Sheybani, an assistant to Bush campaign spokesman Terry Holt, on tape saying:

Why don't they get new jobs if they're unhappy -- or go on Prozac?

Now, you can say she's just a campaign worker and doesn't represent the Republican party. I'm not buying it. That attitude represents the complete contempt with which the modern Republican party dismisses the economic plight of ordinary people. Here's the top of the party, George Bush, saying the same thing in different words:

What an impressive crowd: the haves, and the have-mores. Some people call you the elite, I call you my base.

That's a Republican campaign slogan if I ever heard one: Forget about making a decent living, take plenty of prozac and Vote George Bush in 2004. Take their word for it. They'll be richer for it.

Obama is a Neodem and so am I

Daily Kos had a really good post yesterday about the heartburn the Obama's speech gives the GOP. Their answer?

It was a conservative speech.

Kos references a post atThe Corner at the NRO, which seems to think it was a Republican speech and an Andrew Sullivan post, which he rightfully tears apart.

Kos rightfully rips Sullivan for ignoring Obama's liberal positions but seems to ignore the part of the Sullivan post that reads:

Conservative values, Democratic compassion. In the constant churn and dialectic of American politics, this is a new fusion - and the Dems have found a young, racially diverse, eloquent voice. Can you think of any current Republican with that kind of fresh appeal and smart politics? Only Arnold comes close. The Republicans would love to have someone of Obama's caliber - but they have failed to attract them. That is their tragedy, and it is only deepened in a party that gave rise to Trent Lott and Tom DeLAy. Obama is the Democrats' hope. Heck, he is the hope for all of us.

Obama struck exactly the same chord with me. I call myself a progressive conservative. I am a proud new Democrat. The new Democratic party for which I am working hard to bring victory in November, is a reflection of Bill Clinton who said, " They need the country divided. We don't." It's a reflection of Obama's "It is that fundamental belief, it is that fundamental belief, I am my brother’s keeper, I am my sister’s keeper that makes this country work. It’s what allows us to pursue our individual dreams and yet still come together as one American family."

The new Democratic Party is going to be built from the bottom up by every stripe of people, including me, working at the very bottom. It's going to be built by progressive conservatives - people who hold fast to the very conservative ideals of liberty, equality, religious freedom, combined with a market economy yet seek to create a compassionate, socially progressive, environmentally friendly, internationally savvy government that truly, truly has the best interests of its people at its heart. That's conservative. That's progressive. From where I am sitting, that's a new Democrat.

Doctors Without Borders finds one frontier they won't cross

More evidence is mounting that Afghanistan is still one of the earth's dark holes of humanity. US policy there, far from fostering positive change, is contributing to more suffering and the creation of more enemies.

After 24 years of uninterrupted service in Afghanistan Doctors Without Borders is laying off their 1,400 aid workers and leaving. It's interesting to note that the US mistakes are two-fold. The first is the obivious fact that Bush invaded, toppled the Taliban, then switched military focus to Iraq before the country was secure. The second, and less obvious, points to a a danger for all who attempt to use the US military hammer to pound the guerilla/terrorist/counter-revolutionary nail:

The US-led coalition has made the situation worse by blurring the line between humanitarian work and military operations. During the war in 2001, Hawkins said, US soldiers were driving around in civilian clothes in white cars, taking on the appearance of humanitarian aid workers. In May, the Pentagon was forced to apologise for dropping leaflets in southern Afghanistan which promised humanitarian assistance if local people gave the coalition information about the Taliban and al-Qaida.

She despaired that military campaigns were employing "hearts and minds" strategies more and more often, making it difficult for aid workers to maintain their aura of all-important impartiality. If armies are handing out food assistance and medical equipment, it becomes harder for locals to tell the aid workers from the occupiers.

The subject of the military's increasing diplomatic influence combined with the complete lack of clarity of its role in conquering then rebuilding countries was explored brilliantly in Dana Priest's book, The Mission, published last year. How can we invade and conquer a country with special forces and pimply faced kids, then ask those same people to turn into mayors and dog catchers, doctors and construction workers? How will it work when the military purposefully corrupts the nation-building process by asking the natives to snitch for medicine and food, thereby painting bulls-eyes on the backs of aid workers for the sake of security? It won't. US taxpayers will be sponsoring an endless cycle of apparently random violence in the world's bleakest places. This cycle can only lead to the death, literally and figuratively, of aid organizations and the further entrenchment of anti-american ideologies. That's bad policy.

I have seen the future and his name is Barack Obama

Watching Barack Obama work his magic at the podium of the Democratic Convention on Tuesday night was like watching a young Arthur pull the sword from the stone. He was a brilliant and perfect capstone to Bill Clinton's work.

I hope people are as captivated by their messages as they are with their charisma. What they are saying makes a great deal of sense. After three and a half years of "Bring it On," snarling resistance to all transparent government, scripted press conferences in which nothing is said, nasty attacks on patriotism for asking simple questions and leaders who use one finger to mark their place in the bible while they pull the trigger with the other...we got to see what real patriotism sounds and looks like.

Three vote monte...

For anybody feeling uneasy about the integrity of the Florida elections, Paul Krugman has a bedtime story that won't make you feel any better.

With evidence coming to light that Florida election officials knew more than they are saying about the flaws in their electoral ponzi scheme, is it any wonder that Florida Democrats are sending letters to the UN?

People I like: Tom Tomorrow

Hey, Tom Tomorrow has a cool blog. Of course his cartoon is fun-ay, but him and his cohort Bob Harris are busy at the convention keeping people honest:

Well, that didn't take long...

President Jimmy Carter's "we cannot lead if our leaders mislead" speech was suddenly interrupted halfway through, just as he was getting to how the Bush administration's amorality has shattered American credibility.

Sean Hannity talking to William Bennett -- on the subject of morality, of course -- is obviously much more newsworthy.

UPDATE: Unlike the other nets giving the convention live coverage -- CNN, MSNBC, and PBS that I've been watching here -- Fox also talked through the national anthem.

Worse -- I can't believe my eyes -- unlike all of the above, plus ABC, CBS, and NBC, Fox actually talked over the Democrats' solemn remembrance of 9-11.

Because we all know that only Republicans have any right to remember 9-11.

Beneath contempt. Absolutely beneath contempt.

Welcome home Bill Clinton

Let me just say, Bill Clinton rocks. His speech tonight was pure gold for the Democratic party. Take these lines to the bank, John Kerry:

On the other hand, the Republicans in Washington believe that America should be run by the right people — their people — in a world in which America acts unilaterally when we can and cooperates when we have to.

They believe the role of government is to concentrate wealth and power in the hands of those who embrace their economic, political and social views, leaving ordinary citizens to fend for themselves on important matters like health care and retirement security.

Now, since most Americans aren't that far to the right, our friends have to portray us Democrats as simply unacceptable, lacking in strength and values. In other words, they need a divided America.

But we don't.

And,

Their opponents will tell you we should be afraid of John Kerry and John Edwards, because they won't stand up to the terrorists. Don't you believe it. Strength and wisdom are not opposing values.

They go hand in hand.

They go hand in hand, and John Kerry has both. His first priority will be to keep America safe.

And,

Now, how do they pay for that deficit? First, by taking the Social Security surplus that comes in every month and endorsing the checks of working people over to me to pay for the tax cuts. But it's not enough.

So then they have to go borrow money. Most of it they borrow from the Chinese and the Japanese government.

Sure, these countries are competing with us for good jobs, but how can we enforce our trade laws against our bankers? I mean, come on.

Please Mr. Kerry, take Clinton's tone as your own. Clinton didn't even mention Bush by name. But he ruthlessly exposed every Republican policy flaw. You can do that as well. Simplify and shorten up your speeches and compare and contrast, compare and contrast, compare and contrast.

People will get it. And send Bill Clinton on the road.

Kerry-- For a more perfect union. I love it.

Hoof in mouth disease

Anybody want to make a bet on how many times the SCLM will play the Teresa Kerry soundbite telling Colin McNickle to "shove it?" I am betting that by the end of the week, the count will be in the hundreds. shoot, it's only 2:30 in the afternoon and I have already seen it 10 times. Sigh, expect to see this crap on Hardball, Hannity and Colms, Scarborough Country ad nauseum.

Just for balance, according to the Note

Mrs. Heinz Kerry's remark speaks for itself, but to put the events in context, you should keep in mind that the journalist in question — McNickle — is an editorial writer for the extremely conservative Pittsburgh Tribune Review — which is owned by Hoover board member and Heritage trustee Richard Mellon Scaife.

The Washington Post has written of him "Scaife and his family's charitable entities have given at least $340 million to conservative causes and institutions — about $620 million in current dollars, adjusted for inflation. The total of Scaife's giving--to conservatives as well as many other beneficiaries--exceeds $600 million, or $1.4 billion in current dollars, much more than any previous estimate." (May 2, 1999)

I am sympathetic with Mrs. Kerry. Who wouldn't want to tell off a Scaife reporter? But she has to keep her cool. However much it's warranted, when you are giving a speech on civility of politics, you shouldn't tell the opposition to shove it. Why give FOX two or three weeks of talking points?

(secret aside: You go girl!)

A vote to make me poor: Part II

My first exposure to Thomas Frank came through his wonderful article, Lie Down for America, How the Republican Party Sows Ruin on the Great Plains, which appeared in April's issue of Harper's magazine. that article and some stupid conservative urban myth formed the inspiration for my June entry, If I vote for you, will you make me poor?.

Thomas is at it again. He has a new book out, What's the Matter with Kansas?: How Conservatives Won the Heart of America. He has also penned a recent editorial dealing with the absurd spectacle of senator after senator speaking in support of amending the constitution to ban gay marriage. If you have wondered like I have why this folly moved forward when it had absolutely no chance to win, read this article. Frank reminds us that winning aint everything. Sometimes, keeping alive the idea that conservative values are under attack by an imaginary cabal of "ultra-liberals" is worth the price of defeat. The op-ed originally appeared in the New York Times. If you don't want to pay for the reprint, read it here.

Frank relentlessly researches the economic model that leads to the wealth divide in this country as well as what is perhaps the most amazing and unlikely fact of the US political landscape: Republicans are supported wholeheartedly by the very people for whom its policies are economically disasterous. Eric Alterman comments on Frank's observations in his pithy column,Think Again, which he writes for the Center for American Progress.

900 and counting

Another casualty milestone has passed in Iraq. On Friday, the 900th American Soldier died in Iraq. We don't know how many contractors have died. Something like 5,500 have been wounded.

The Dreyfuss report has a good summation of the stories on this little blip on the media screen.

Ralph makes me ralph

The fact that Ralph Nader has made it on to the Michigan ballot through the hard work of the GOP should give knobby headed Nader supporters a long pause.

Consumer advocate Ralph Nader's quixotic presidential campaign says it submitted about 5,400 signatures to get on the Michigan ballot, far short of the required number of 30,000. Luckily for him, approximately 43,000 signatures were filed by Michigan Republicans on his behalf, more than meeting the requirement.

When Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at least we got some amazing music. What is Ralph getting out of this thing?