Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Outsourcing Our Ports - To The Middle East

A company based in Dubai, U.A.E., Dubai Ports World, has purchased Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation, a British- owned company, which manages six U.S. seaports. The deal, at $6.8 Billion, will place Dubai Ports World in management of these ports.

In case you're interested, the ports they are tasking control of are: New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami, & Philadelphia. That's EVERY major East Coast port, and a state-run MiddleEastern country is going to run them? I don't even think that the old British company should have run them. You just can't outsource safety!

Dubai was the location of a nuclear technology sale, led by a Pakistani scientist named A.Q. Khan. More importantly, Two of the hijackers involved in the September 11 attacks were from the U.A.E. They also got money from Dubai-based banks.

There has been rising concerns in Congress over the sale. Congressmen, Senators & Reps., Democrats & Republicans, many do not believe that this sale is right. I wholehearted-ly agree. The President & his "servants", however, defended the deal. President Bush even threatened to use his very first veto of his Presidency in the event Congress tries to block it. Ooh, scary. I just hope Congress doesn't shove it's tail between it's lega and "bow to the Chief".

It was reported (yesterday, I believe) that the President had "no knowledge" of the sale, until it was complete. That's sad. It also shows one of two things: the White House staff conspires on political behind the President's back, then presents it to him with that famous Washington spin, OR the President really is an idiot, and he has all his staffers do his work for him.

Hey, I have a GREAT idea! After this is a done deal, let's outsource our Border Patrol to Mexico! It'll save money and decrease American jobs, all at the same time! And this Blog has just been outsourced to China!

-Adam (counting down the days to the 2008 election)

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Top 10 Presidential Blunders

Well, other than "Cheney" Fudd, there hasn't been too much political news . . .

I found this online. A survey, conducted by the University of Louisville's McConnell Center, asked presidential historians what the top "Presidential Blunder" ever was. Depending, you may or may NOT be surprised by the results.

Here's the finalists . . .

10. The Bill Clinton, for the Monica Lewinski scandal

9. Ronald Reagan, for the Iran-Contra Affair

8. John F. Kennedy, for allowing the Bay of Pigs Invasion

7. Thomas Jefferson, the Embargo act of 1807

6. James Madison, not keeping the U.S. out of the War of 1812

The Top 5 . . .

5. Richard Nixon, Watergate

4. Woodrow Wilson, not compromising on Treaty of Versailles

3. Lyndon B. Johnson, allowing Vietnam War to intensify

2. Andrew Jackson, opposing justice improvements for blacks after Civil War

And, the Number 1 "Presidential Blunder", is . . .

1. James Buchanan, for failing to avoid the Civil War

For more, including defined reasons, CLICK HERE.

-Adam

Source: CNN.com

Sunday, February 12, 2006

CHENEY SHOOTS FELLOW HUNTER

Cheney Accidently Shoots Fellow Hunter - From CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/02/12/cheney/index.html

This is the second of TWO new posts. Scroll down to see the other --

LIBBY, ABRAMOFF, BROWN, & DeLAY

LEWIS "SCOOTER" LIBBY, the former Chief of Staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, said that his "Superiors" authorized him to leak the name of (now) former CIA agent Valerie Plame. The funny thing is, since he was Cheney's CoS, he answers to only a few people. Mosthe President's Chief of Staff Andrew Card, his boss the Vice President, and the President himself are the ONLY people who fall into this category. He did not, however, name names.

For more, visit: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060210/ap_on_go_pr_wh/cia_leak

A few Senators, from both the Democratic & Republican Parties, said that V.P. Cheney SHOULD be investigated in the CIA leak probe. The probe is currently being carried out by Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald.

For more, visit: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11310787/

JACK ABRAMOFF, the embattled former Washington lobbyist, said that he had "met with the guy" (President Bush) at least half a dozen times. "TIME" magazine has run a photo of Jack Abramoff at an event at the White House. The President is in the foreground, and Abramoff is in the background. The White House has confirmed it IS authentic, proving that Abramoff has told the truth (so far) & that President Bush has been incorrect (or lied?).

Fore more, including THE PHOTO, visit: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11310507/

MICHAEL BROWN, the FEMA Director who was first removed from overseeing the Hurricane Katrina recovery and was eventually removed from his post, revealed that he has emails between him and the President. The emails supposedly show that Brown kept the White House informed on Katrina, possibly proving that the administration really DID know what was going on.

TOM DeLAY, former U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader who is caught up in the Jack Abramoff scandal, has been appointed to two key House Committees: the House Appropriations Committee & the Sub-Committee on Judicial Review. Both seats were left empty by former California Rep. Duke Cunningham, who oddly enough resigned over his own financial scandal. The KICKER: The Judicial Review Sub-Committee is charged with investigating the JACK ABRAMOFF SCANDAL ( THE ONE HE IS PART OF ! ! ! ).

Monday, February 06, 2006

State of the Union & Alito's First Vote & the IAEA

Again...Sorry. I figured I'd end up being behind someday. From now on I'll try to be better.

-- STATE OF THE UNION --
I'm sorry to say, it's been too long for me to remember the State of the Union clearly, so I'll try to call up points from memory and the Internet.

Admission of Recession . . .
The President admitted that our country's economy is in recession. This is the first time I recall him actually saying that. Before he's denied it. This leads us to. . .

The Economy . . .
The Budget, the President said, will help three goals: winning the war; protecting our homeland; reviving our economy. He also asked Congress restrain spending and acts in a fiscally responsible manner. (That will be hard!) Bush said he supports "extending unemployment benefits and direct assistance for health care coverage". He also encouraged "investment in factories and equipment, and speeding up tax relief so people have more money to spend". He asked that Congress pass his stimulus package.

Education . . .
Bush called for an upgrade of "Teacher Colleges" & teacher training, so teachers will be more qualified. He also wants a to "launch a major recruiting drive with a great goal for America: a quality teacher in every classroom". Bush said that "we need to prepare our children to read and succeed in school with improved Head Start and early childhood development programs."

Oil . . .
They say at one point or another, every American is addicted to something! Who would have thought it would have been oil? Bush called for increased energy production, so we be less dependent on foreign oil.

Homeland Security . . .
The President said that his "Budget nearly doubles funding for a sustained strategy of homeland security, developing vaccines to fight anthrax and other deadly diseases...increased funding to help states train and equip our heroic police and firefighters...improving intelligence collection and sharing, expand patrols at our borders, strengthen the security of air travel, and use technology to track the arrivals and departures of visitors to the United States". Stricter border enforcement," Bush said, "will help combat illegal drugs." (How 'bout protecting us against people who sneak over the border?)

Stand and applaud . . .
All the Democratic Congressmen stood up and applauded when Bush pointed ou that his privitazation of Social Security did NOT pass. Bush just stood there, looking at them, not knowing whether to smile or to make a mean face.

Healthcare and Retirement . . .
He wants to enact a patients' "Bill of Rights", modernize Medicare system to include coverage for prescription drugs, enact new safeguards for 401K and pension plans. He also called on corporate America to be more accountable to employees and shareholders.

USA Freedom Corps . . .
Bush encouraged people to help each other, their neighborhoods, their country, and the world. He invited people to join the new Freedom Corps, which focuses on responding in case of crisis at home; rebuilding our communities; and extending American compassion throughout the world.

The Environment and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina weren't talked about that much . . .

It boils down to this . . .
It sounds pretty good, but unfortunately, only half of what he called for will ever happen, and half of the things that DO happen will be screwed up, and NOT be as good as it sounds. You REALLY don't need me to sum up The State of the Union for you. It is, sadly, just like the other ones. It all sounds good, but you he doesn't get down into the facts of each of these things.

Where will all the money come from? What will be lost in comittees to get these programs passed? This speech promises the same things as last year.

To sum it up . . .
You either like it, or you don't!

For a transcript or to watch the speech, go to:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/01/20020129-11.html

-- IN CASE YOU MISSED IT --

They just grow up so fast . . .

Justice Samuel Alito made his first vote late last week. He split with Conservative Justices Roberts, Scalia, & Thomas, instead voting with the Liberals on the Court, upholding a stay of execution in Missouri.

In a 6-3 decision, The Supreme Court stayed the execution of Michael Taylor, who was convicted in 1989 of kidnapping, raping, and murdering Ann Harrison, a 15-year-old in Kansas City, Missouri.

Conservatives are saying this shows that he can be non-partisan. But making one vote to uphold a temporary stay does NOT prove to me, nor many others, that he is the best for the job. I'm not convinced yet, but as I have said before, only time will tell . . .

IAEA Referral . . .

The IAEA, the United Nation's nuclear watchdog group, recommended sanctions against Iran to the U.N. Security Council. That kind of pissed off Iran. If the Security Council decides to enact sanctions, which could be cut-offs in trade, U.N. troops in Iran, etc., then Iran may raise oil prices, or even cut off oil supplies to the United States and other countries.

The recommendations for sanctions are due to the fact that Iran is, most likely, developing nuclear power. While this COULD be used for energy, they are probably trying to build their first Nuclear Weapon. They may use it, or provide it to another country or a terrorist group.

-Adam

Super Bowl XL

Okay, first of all, I am SO sorry I haven't got around to updating this site. The State of the Union speech was, what, Tuesday? Wow, I'll try to keep this site updated more. Read above for the State of the Union post. This is my strong, but small, opinion of Super Bowl XL.

God, I HATE Pittsburgh!!! I'm sick about how Bill Cowers needed to "prove" himself to the owner by winning a Super Bowl. I'm sick about hearing about how Jerome Bettis is so "amazing" and how it would be SO great for him to win a Super Bowl before he retired (which he did). Most of all, I'm SO sick of how "great" they are. While yes, now, they are the best team this year, they weren't amazing. They were 6th seed (barely made it), and they barely won the Division against Indianapolis.

As you can probably tell, I am a Seattle fan. While they are a state away, they are the "home" team. They were VERY good this year, and I think they could, I know they could, have won if those Dumb Ref's weren't so frickin' blind, or maybe they were bias? Either way, there were SEVERAL bad calls against the Seahawks. Yes, they did make mistakes, sad mistakes, but I believe that the outcome could have been different if all those calls weren't so screwed up.

Maybe next year . . . Now scroll up and read about the State of the Union & Alito's first vote.