And Today's Living in A Bubble Award Goes to...

Laura Bush. The First Lady made some comments over the weekend. First, she impressed upon the press corps the seriousness of shoe throwing, "it was an assault" said Laura...twice. I guess the whole invasion that cost a hundred thousand lives, was something less than an assault, a kerfuffle, perhaps a tussle, or a bit of fisticuffs. But seriously, can't those people show a little gratitude?

Next she said the whole shoe throwing incident was a sign that Iraqis are more free than ever. Under Saddam, Laura informed us, the shoe thrower would have been imprisoned and beaten. Now, shoe throwers are only ... imprisoned and beaten.

Next, she reminded people that her husband's presidency was not a failure. Hint -- if you have to make the argument that something you did was not a failure, you are already behind the eight ball.

Lastly, she reminded everyone that America was safe from terrorist attack during her husband's presidency. Except for the attack on 9/11. But nobody could have predicted that. Except those bookworms who write the Presidential Daily Briefings her husband is supposed to read after Garfield and before he rides his bike.

Chastity Schmastity

A new study just released reveals that so called "chastity pledges" and their attendant rings and ceremonies do little to decrease teenage sex. The AP also reports that premarital sex is on the rise in Islamist Iran.

From Texas to Tehran, Dallas to Dubai, its a bad day for fundamentalist prudes everywhere. If they could just control those damn kids....

Where Have All The Leaders Gone

Lee Iaccoca has a new book out called "Where Have All The Leaders Gone?" In it, he wonders aloud how so much of our current malaise has come to pass without any serious opposition. His conclusion is that there are no authentic and courageous leaders out there.

BS.

I don't think this generation has lacked for leaders. If you look back at the last twenty years there have been plenty of folks who warned us about the pitfalls of the course we were on, and pointed us on a new path. Plenty of people warned us about global warming. Plenty of people warned us about de regulated markets. Plenty of people warned us about unchecked globalization. Plenty of people warned us about the dangerous gulf between us and the Arab world. Plenty of people warned us about a pre emptive invasion of Iraq. Many of these people were positions of some prominence and were able to gain at least a modest platform for their views. The trouble was the awe inspiring ability of the status quo to marginalize these people, make them seem like fools, pessimists, out of the mainstream wackos, or zealots. The problem isn't a lack of leaders. The problem is that between the mainstream media, talk radio, and the collective and highly organized voices of big business, big money and big religion, we have been ardently busy crucifying as many leaders as we can find.

Equality is Among Us

Trapped in a airport recently, I read a story in Newsweek about a lesbian couple who adopted a child. About five years after the adoption, one of the women rediscovered her Baptist faith, rediscovered her heterosexuality and rediscovered the "sinfulness" of her lesbianism.

She has subsequently moved out of the couple's home, and is seeking full custody of her daughter with the help of a conservative christian legal foundation.

A sad story no doubt, but really, it is proof that equality is upon us. Only now, lesbian couples can muck up their relationships and scar their children in the same way straight couples have seemingly perfected.

Quote of the Day

The problem with the Republican Party is there are too many wooly mammoths like me wandering around. It’s time to kill us off. Just slaughter us all. Drive us into the tar pits and move on.

Republicans working in leadership and the trenches are largely old, white, male, out-of-touch, out of ideas, technology averse, and living in the past.

(Mark MacKinnon, prominent GOP consultant on the TheDailyBeast.com)

This Week In The News

This week a new law went into effect in South Dakota requiring any doctor who provides abortion services to inform their patients that by choosing an abortion they are 1) destroying a human being and 2) increasing their own chances of suicide. Critics of the law, including the New England Journal of Medicine note that the first statement is a matter of faith not fact and the second statement is without any scientific support. Undeterred, members of Pro Life South Dakota are working on a new law requiring all parents to certify that the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus are real and actual people and not believing in them will increase your chances of an unhappy childhood.

This week, President George W. Bush dodged a shoe thrown at him by an Iraqi journalist. The President was in Bagdhad to deliver a speech inwhich he described his five year war and occupation as a "gift to the Iraqi people." Asked if he planned any further gifts to Iraq, the President said he was looking at "pestilence, plague, and mass botulism, but I don't think they could top this..."

This week, the Republican National Committee announced further measures in its effort to burnish the image of President George W. Bush. On the heels of their semi- successful "Who Knew?" campaign (described here last week), the RNC is rolling out Project "Stop Blaming the Past." Aimed at criticism that Bush's invasion of Iraq, creation of massive budget deficits and ignoring of global warming will plague the planet for generations, SBP hopes to paint anyone who still talks about Bush's eight year reign as "stuck in the past," "not looking at the future," or "engaged in partisan blame games." The RNC's Jennifer Flowers noted, "We think this is a winner. It plays into the uniquely American habit of thinking in six month intervals. Plus, it sounds so hopeful and 'can do'...."

This week, President Elect Barak Obama came under fire for asking portly evangelical mouthpiece Rick Warren to deliver the invocation on Inauguration day. Warren has publicly stated that he believes homosexuality is a sinful disorder like pedophilia, opposes any form of gay marriage, and believes that jews cannot attain salvation." Defending his boss' pick, Obama flak Dave Paulson noted, "Listen ... we are trying to start this thing on a bipartisan note. And nothing shuts up the right wing like throwing them some homosexuals to devour. I mean, this is like a dog with a bone. It should keep them busy for at least a month...."

This week, Rev. Rick Warren defended his stance on homosexual marriage. Between bites on a enormous sandwich, Warren noted that he does not believe homosexuality is the worst sin, that he has dined with homosexuals, and that many in his congregation care for homosexuals inflicted with aids. "I'm no bigot," argued Warren. " I believe homosexuals can eat. I believe they are entitled to medical care. I just don't think they deserve the same rights as you and me... that's reasonable right?"

This week, the Associated Press released a study revealing that the 116 banks who received federal bailout money lavished their top executives with over $1.6 billion in compensation in 2007. That figure would have covered the bailouts of 53 of the banks. Apprised of the study, President George W. Bush stated, 'There are those who say that American capitalism is a rigged game, where the winners are not held accountable, and the rich just keep getting richer. Well this study clearly shows that the critics are wrong.... wait ... [of mic] if we want them to be wrong shouldn't the study come out different? Hold on.... get me someone at the Fed.. tell 'em we need a new study.... this study all ... facty...."

WTF..

Today Christopher Cox announced that he will launch a probe into why the SEC (which he chairs)did not investigate credible allegations against Bernard Madoff. The allegations reportedly go back ten years.

It is getting to the point where investors are going to view putting money in our markets the same way they view investing in Zimbawe, Nigeria or the DRC.

So We Jailed the Guards...

The Senate Armed Services Committee released a report Thursday about the abuse of detainees in Abu Ghraib prison. Its conclusion:

...former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other senior U.S. officials share much of the blame for detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba ... " Rumsfeld's actions were a direct cause of detainee abuse at Guantanamo and influenced and contributed to the use of abusive techniques ... in Afghanistan and Iraq"

So much for bad apples...

Salute

Salute to Muntader al-Zaidi, a/k/a shoe throwing guy. For doing what millions of Americans did not have the courage to do for eight years.

Only a truly arrogant and solipsistic man would appear in front of the Iraqi people and call the invasion and occupation of their homeland a "gift." In a way, this simple act of defiance is so fitting. While most Americans hemmed, hawed, searched around for some reason to justify or deadly actions, and came up with some logic defying moments, Mr. al -Zaidi cut through the mustard.

This Week In The News

This week, Roman Catholic Cardinal Jorge Medina, denounced pop icon Madonna ahead of her first performance in Chile. Medina criticized Madge's "impure thoughts" and "lustful enthusiasm." The Cardinal gave his remarks during a homily in a mass commemorating (yes commemorating) the death of August Pinochet, the US backed dictator who ruled Chile from 1973-1990 and was responsible for the death of thousands of Chilean dissidents. Upon inquiry, the Catholic seminary in Chile confirmed that they do not teach a class in irony. Said seminary Rector Stephen Puffnblow, " We focus the curriculum more on creating moral credebility...stop laughing."

This week, Republican Senators defeated a $15 billion bailout bill for the domestic auto industry. After a press conference in which they denounced the elitists in the Democratic party who were out of touch with ordinary Americans, the assembled GOPers spontaneously formed a veritable conservative chorus line while they sang "We'd like to thank you Herbert Hoover/for really showing us the way..."

This week, President George W. Bush finished signing various executive orders designed to cement his legacy. Many of the orders further roll back environmental protections, protections of endangered species, and the deregulation of various industries. Asked about his sudden burst of energy, The President angrily retorted, "From the economy, to the Middle East to the environment, you aren't going to forget W any time soon. I am George W. Bush dammnit. And when I f-ck something.. its stays f-cked for a while..."

This week, the mainstream press reported on a memo released by the White House to all staffers containing talking points for discussing the Bush Administration after it leaves offices. Among the accomplishments listed in the memo are "restoring dignity to the office," and keeping Americans safe from a second 9/11 style attack. According to rumors confirmed by TWN, finding a glimmer of success for the Administration was hard. In fact, after receiving input from various departments, the West Wing was forced to delete some of its most prominent accomplishments such as "excellent hygiene," no sex in the oval office," and "only limited typos in international correspondence." According to the White House Press office, the memo was part of a larger effort to influence coverage of the President's legacy. Called "Project Who Knew?," the effort is aimed at portraying the Bush Administration as the victim of completely unforeseeable events. Examples: "Who knew that if you ignored the Army Corp of Engineers and didn't fix levees, they would break? "Who knew that if you let bankers sell securities without any idea of the risk involved,they may cause a financial collapse? "Who knew Iraq was actually composed of a bunch of fractious groups that didn't like each other and would not like us?" "Who knew you should actually take a warning in a Presidential Daily Briefing seriously?"

This week, NBC released a poll indicating that many Americans now deny voting for George W. Bush even once. Given the fervency of W's supporters in 2004, TWN hit the road to find out why so many Americans are now ashamed of their vote. In Metarie Louisiana, Bobby Fartable responded, "Dude... after his first four years, I thought he was great. I mean who knew he would be so clueless in the next four years." In Braylon, KY Tommy Escanaba noted, "As a religious man I was initially attracted to the President's strong support for life.... except for the lives of people in the Middle East ... or the lives of US servicemen, ...or the lives of the poor... or the lives of people in Louisiana." Tracy Poleax of Columbia, MO noted, "In 200 he just had that great furrowed brow look that made him look so serious and thoughtful, and he made everything look just so easy. But by 2004 all we got was the chimpy look when someone asked him a question, like he was some baboon that was shorted a banana..."

This week, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.... ohh its too easy..

Senate GOP Dooms Auto Bailout

Despite the urging of the White House, the Senate GOP is set to kill the auto bailout bill passed by the House. A bad move for the country. A bad move for the GOP.

You can debate the efficacy and ideological purity of the bailout all you want. The bottom line is that a GM or Chrysler bankruptcy will put at least one million people out of work right away and the ripple effect will be wide and long. The resulting crisis among suppliers would drag down Ford and some of the transplants as well. That will be devastating in this stage of a very fragile recovery. (If we can even call this a recovery.) Neither consumer confidence nor the markets will get any traction.

As for the GOP, part of their recent electoral set back was the distinct feeling that the Republicans were out of touch economically. Sen. McCain's lack of a credible or cohesive economic policy only reaffirmed the drift of the party from economic fundamentalists to shills for Wall Street and the wealthy. Add this to the fact that the GOP backed a very expensive bailout of major banks (and at least one insurance company) and you have a very nice pitch that the GOP has abandoned even the appearance of representing ordinary Americans. (Mind you, the GOP's support for blue collar America was always a wafer thin bit of cynical image manipulation.)

W Who?

In a new NBC/WJ Poll, only 33% of those surveyed admitted they voted for President Bush once. 52% denied ever voting for him. Uhmmmm....

Seriously, there were a lot of good reasons to vote for W. Among those I have heard:

He is a man of(silly and made up)faith.

He has a strong commitment to life (for fetuses).

He comes from a good family.

He will protect us from all the things Dick Cheney says threaten us.

The oil industry really needed a friend in government.

Things were going so well at the end of his first term.

Things go better when the rest of the world views us as a slightly retarded, but incredibly dangerous, child.

I really liked his position on global warming.

I got sick off all those smart aleckly Clinton people thinking they were smarter than everyone else. I mean what does Al Gore know?

There was no way I was going to vote for a Nobel Laureate or a decorated veteran and multi term Senator when I could vote for Bush.

He was so successful in his business career.

Face it. If you voted for this guy, its time to revisit your process for making major decisions. Step one: "unhook nitrous oxide..."

Entitled Workers

With the auto bailout saga coming to a crescendo, many pundits and shills have pointed to the Big Three's "entitled workers" as part of the problem. By entitled workers, the pundits actually mean the hourly unionized workforce, and in uniquely American fashion, they suggest that the key to economic prosperity is to pay people less. These folks tend to float a figure of $73/ hr as representing the B3's labor costs.

Of course, nobody actually gets $73/hr. That number was created by the B3 during collective bargaining. It includes 1) an hourly wage, vacation pay, and overtime pay ($40), 2) the cost of benefits ($15); and 3) legacy costs or the cost of retiree healthcare($10). The hourly wage component plus the benefit component is only $10 higher than the wages/benefits paid by Honda, Toyota and Nissan (about $45/hr).

So let's imagine that we cut the B3's hourly workforce cash to $45/hr. And let's imagine we can eliminate the $10 in legacy costs. The result, each B3 car would be a whopping $800 cheaper. In other words, not much difference. Labor costs are just not the big scary monster we make them out to be.

In fact, labor costs will be decreasing soon, as the new UAW contract says that new hires will get about one half the hourly wage their predecessors got. Moreover, the cost of retiree healthcare is beeing shifted to union.

So don't worry, autoworkers will soon loose their place in the middle class and the pro business pundits can perhaps take a day off -- without pay.

Sit Down in Illinois

According to the news, workers at a window factory outside Chicago are occupying their plant after being given two days notice of its closure. (Sounds like a WARN violation.) The workers would recieve no severance or credit for unpaid vacation days. The workers and their supporters are targeting Bank of America, who cut off financing to the company (Republic Windows). Several Democrats and a few Republicans have said that the bailout money BOA recieved was intended to avoid situations just like this and that financing should be made available to keep the plant running.

Two levels to this. At the grassroots, we see a recognition by working people that they are entitled to more than corporate America says they get. A counterpoint to our usual narrative that tells working people that "sh-t happens," and they get what the "market" determines. On a political level, we see an effort to cut out the Bank's discretion and channel bailout money in ways that benefit ordinary Americans, perhaps something we should have thought of first.

I Didn't Say It...

From an interview with British actress (and one of my celebrity crushes) Emma Thompson:

Women in their 20s are looking for a financial help to allow them to afford a comfortable life, and women in their 30s are searching for someone to impregnate them before it’s too late. Only a woman in her late 40s can actually, at last, be interested in what turns her on.

Discuss amongst yoursleves....

Chris Matthews to Run for Senate

Word has it that tv journalist Chris Matthews is eyeing a Sentate run. I remember Mathews when he was lauding the President's "tremendous leadership moment" of landing on an aircraft carrier amid a banner reading "Mission Accomplished."

Here is Matthews on the President in 2003:

We're proud of our president. Americans love having a guy as president, a guy who has a little swagger, who's physical, who's not a complicated guy like Clinton or even like Dukakis or Mondale, all those guys, McGovern. They want a guy who's president. Women like a guy who's president.

We'll see where this goes. But I do have some advice for Mr. Matthews: I think the stupid f-cking twit thing has played itself out.

in The WSJ of All Places....

Today the WSJ editorial page allowed Ethan Nadelman to pitch his argument for legalizing drugs. While the placement of such an editorial may be a shock, the Journal has always had a libretarian streak. My own opinion is that if you have not already jumped on this train, your more delusional than any addict. Nadelman's key point:

Consider the consequences of drug prohibition today: 500,000 people incarcerated in U.S. prisons and jails for nonviolent drug-law violations; 1.8 million drug arrests last year; tens of billions of taxpayer dollars expended annually to fund a drug war that 76% of Americans say has failed; millions now marked for life as former drug felons; many thousands dying each year from drug overdoses that have more to do with prohibitionist policies than the drugs themselves, and tens of thousands more needlessly infected with AIDS and Hepatitis C because those same policies undermine and block responsible public-health policies.

And look abroad. At Afghanistan, where a third or more of the national economy is both beneficiary and victim of the failed global drug prohibition regime. At Mexico, which makes Chicago under Al Capone look like a day in the park. And elsewhere in Latin America, where prohibition-related crime, violence and corruption undermine civil authority and public safety, and mindless drug eradication campaigns wreak environmental havoc.

There really is no salient public health argument for drug prohibition. The evils wreaked by drugs are genarlly more attributable to their illegal status than their actual physical properties. The only argument left is cultural: legalizing drugs would be a permissive act that will lead us to the path of societal ruin. We'd being giving in to those damn hippies.

But that is just so much balderdash. The repeal of prohibition did not deliver the death blow to Western culture that prohibitionists foretold, and alcohol is a much more dangerous and adictive drug than many. Americans have a deep relationship with pharmaceuticals legal and illegal. The structure of our capitalist society virtually guarantees that to be the case. If we as a society want to limit drug use or abuse, we have no evidence that our current drug laws assist us in that endeavour. Perhaps if we discard the straitjacket of prohibition, we may be able to actually ameliorate the unintended consequences of drug abuse.

Update: You saw it here first. Legalize marijuana but make it illegal to buy, sell or consume weed without a federal or state tax stamp. Tax stamps cost $5 an ounce. The recession will be over in short order.

Oh Bull Sh--T

Wondering what Karl Rove is doing in retirement? Not retiring. He is becoming the full time defender of the Bush legacy. And its hard work. Last night is NYC, Rove advanced the argument that, had they known that Saddam had no WMD, we would have never invaded Iraq. In other words, the gameplan is to shift blame to "failed intelligence." Trouble is, the Administration was already off message in 2005.

Here is President Bush with Brit Hume in 2005:

Hume: So, if you had had this -- if the weapons had been out of the equation because the intelligence did not conclude that he had them, it was still the right call?

Bush: Absolutely.

Rove's play is also comical in light of all we know about the Vice President's attempts to manufacture evidence of WMD and cherry pick intelligence that supported only a pro invasion view. This Adminstration was not duped by bad intelligence.We were duped by this Administration. The longer we evade the truth and make excuses, the more likely we are to repeat our mistakes.