News & Tidbits

No WMD connection to Syria
Hardly a shock really.. Seriously..

Iran?? Saudi Arabia perhaps??

Everyone is SO convinced that Saddam had WMD, if.... and this is again the fruitless attempt at TRYING to remain objective in this whole fucking mess...... *if* there were WMD, they aren't in Syria.. They aren't in Iran.. Anyone with a brain larger than a peanut (apologies to Jimmy Carter) realizes that those weapons are probably in some very distant nation, so far away from all eyes to see....

Which is a problem when you're dealing with such a myopic view of the world.......


Bolton facing issues
Anyone who isn't diplomatic, shouldn't be a diplomat... And if Colin Powell thinks you're going to be a fuck up -- damn, doesn't look good on your resume pal..


Social Security
War between the Dems and the Repubs starting up again.. *yawn* Wake me in 2006, will ya'??


Condi threatening Putin
Bush sent Condoleeza over to Russia to air concerns about how Putin and his party were alarming this administration into some sort of totalitarian regime??

Isn't that what DeLay and other conservatives are doing with their veiled threats about the Justices that need to be replaced and the subsequent threats about replacing the filibuster rules just to satisfy those that they want to seat ... well, we're sounding more communistic each day..


Freedom of Expression or Avoiding a potential conflict...
I heard an Air America story on the way home tonight about some people that were turned away at a Bush rally because they had signs that were not consistent with the majority: i.e. protestors.. The Majority Report was lambasting this administration and the Secret Service for intervening and removing these people who had signs of dissention about their respective point(s) of view.. (I have no idea what the signs said..)

Now..

I'm all in favor of Freedom of Expression, but I'm not in favor when that expression leads to a riot or altercation.. Differing opinions, fine.. Advertise them all you want.. Inciting, provoking or otherwise egging on a fight .... no.. When it may lead to arrests, damage or injury - at what point does Freedom of Expression become a threat to the security of the President?? Regardless if it's Clinton, Bush or someone else?? I think the Secret Service may act as they deem fit to insure a peaceful situation.. They are there to maintain order in whatever setting the President arrives.. That's their function.. I respect that because it's their lives on the line before Dubya's..

But what really got me thinking about the whole Freedom of Expression angle came from a newstory I saw today about how ABC is being threatened by Roger Murdoch and Fox for their portrayal of the smash hit: "American Idol".. Murdoch also owns the Fox News Channel - a seemingly conservative network destined to slant their biases as they see fit.....

Now that their credibility is being put to the fire - *yawns* - but seriously.. When we live at a time when there's the threat of potential lawsuits over the slanted bias of a slanted bias competition -- exactly what in the hell is going on?? I don't watch American Idol because I don't care who sings "My heart will go on" the prettiest.. A talent show; rather a slanted, biased talent show - will always be scandalous in nature..

It's the reality-show phenomenon that no one really understands..

It's the fact that networks are trying to score ratings.. To do so, they will put shows out there that will garner the best ratings for them.. Is it any wonder that there's so much grief after one of the finalists is "robbed" of their potential winnings??

Puh-leeeze....

What's really scary..

What really bothers me more than the "news story" of the "apparent threat from Fox" is the fact that American Idol is produced by the same folks that puts on Fox News.. Hannity and O'Reily all under the same umbrella.. What Murdoch has done with Fox is to be able to control programming - so as to continue to further his causes.. Fox News is the voice, American Idol would be the soul..

But when you look at the programming under Fox - there's a myriad of shows, all interwoven, cut from the same cookie cutter dough pattern that emerges.. It's a completely deceptive machine all controlled by the strings in the hierarchy of the Fox regime.. When that kind of bias is so prevalent, so under the radar, so seemingly invisible, it's remarkable, even a bit impressive that such manipulation was not only controlled, but planned to such a minute degree..

From it's news, it's programs, probably down to the products they endorse -- if it fits the agenda, it's rolled out for our consumption..

Scary isn't a word that doesn't penetrate the surface..

Horrifying..
Terrifying..
Unnerving..

Kinda reminds you of a certain administration's tactics, doesn't it??

The DeLay mess / A Deficit Soars

He speaks, and everyone holds their breath..

No, I'm not talking about Bush or Michael Moore..

But whenever the PR machine doesn't go in favor of this administration or the republican party, Karl Rove usually appears at just the right time to quell any anxiety that is going on in the party..

And the press becomes enamored to the point of fear as a result of it..

The whole Tom DeLay thing is actually pretty comical.. He's nothing more than a political cartoon, a caricature of what really exists under the skin of some of the Republican regime.. He's the untamed animal in a zoo that, up until this point, was in clear control of their emotions..

The whole veiled threat things gets me..

Even tho the "talking heads" out there are basically saying that it was taken out of context.. So when Karl Rove emerges from the bunker - all is calm - all is quiet - all is well..

The Damage Control Specialist has spoken..

We can all put this behind us because it's trivial because it has no relevance of the man - even though he clearly violated the laws that govern the conduct of every senator and member of the House of Representatives..

Think of what we've "waived off" during this administration:
- the 9/11 commission findings
- rising gas costs (no investigation)
- the Terri Schiavo case (how this doesn't violate the Constitution is beyond me...)
- and the whole Tom DeLay affair/debacle
- the bankruptcy bill & rising deficits on an astronomical trend

With a soaring deficit, we should take solace that our Vice President has said: "Reagan taught us deficits don't matter."

Interesting viewpoint of someone who clearly benefits when we're fiscally irresponsible and let the deficits run free.. (ala Haliburton)

...but then again, I guess it's okay to tell everyone what they have to do, to be fiscally responsible, when they justify it in their minds that they don't have to..

I found some irony over the past couple of days..

I noticed how many who voiced their opinions about what the next Pope should be like -- actually were speaking volumes even if they weren't really aware..

Most notably: the need for change..

Meaning, that many people *within* the Christian, Catholic religion -- believe that Pope John Paul II was a bit too conservative for the times.. Interesting..

So it proves that we can mindlessly follow someone who may be "out of touch" with our inner prohibitions - yet we're going to follow him off the cliff like some sort of lemming..

Secondly, was the need for the next Pope to be more in touch with the kids of today.. Again, very interesting considering this is the Pope that coordinated World Youth Day - for several years: a gathering of youth in a Catholic/Christian setting to find inner-spiritualism..

And to say that this Pope was out of touch.... Considering this Pope was doing something so unprecedented.... Considering others signalling a change in how the Papacy is considered....

It further proves that we may "go along" with those that we feel can lead us, but it doesn't necessarily mean we agree with them.....

Interesting....

The Passing...

I remember back in 1993 all of the fuss about his arrival to Denver.. The preparations that went into the week-long conference were *intense*.. The security.. The venues.. The excitement.. The fear.. The energy..

I didn't go..

But I marveled in the seemingly gentle nature of a man that minded no clock, touched whoever's hand he wanted, and be as carefree and easy going as a gentle whisper of a breeze..

The poise.. The grandeur.. The careful nature of his being.. The vulnerability.. The sage.. The intensity of what he represented..

The leader of one of the largest religions today..

In reflecting on what to say in this entry -- I considered a number of avenues.. I see a man who almost single handedly guided mankind to the dedicated Path - true to the Bible.. I also see a man who was so heavily rooted in his beliefs that anything that created one inconsistent doctrine after another..

I respect the man who lived for the common good and did everything in his power to spread that common good.. Even if I disagreed with many of his views, I admire the man who endured several hardships, scandals and unpopular opinions that would be a divisive wedge in many communities and across the world..

I realize that many look to the Bible and to the Pope as centers of reason.. A moralistic compass in the chaos of the world.. He may have been that - but most of his followers are not.. As what was brought out during the Bill Maher show recently - I find it problematic that followers can "pick and choose" what they want, when it suits their purpose.. O'Reily's attachment of the Christian Dogmas only reinforced the problem with religion today - that we can arbitrarily pick and choose -- for the convenience of what will apply to our lives..

I believe the Pope did what he thought was right.. He stood by his convictions.. Relied upon his understanding of the religious tenets that guided him for the 84 years of his life..

Those who looked up to him as their spiritual leader - will feel his loss.. We'll discover in the coming years, exactly how well he threaded the various religious segments together as one continuous quilt..

I cannot jump on the bandwagon that points fingers at the Pope's political/social beliefs.. His job is an incredibly demanding one.. While it's my ultimate choice to subscribe to those beliefs, it shouldn't be reflective of the man who fought valiantly on the side of man.. He treated every soul as sacred.. He was adamant about the death penalty as much as he was impassioned about the right to life..

I may not subscribe to all of his beliefs or ways of thinking, but I can admire the morality this guy had inside -- and how articulate, how persuasive and how passionate he was about humanity..

Pope John Paul II will be missed..