OCTOBER 2005

BUSH IN A BOTTLE

John Chuckman

There have been rumors of Bush taking to the bottle again. Since alcoholics are never cured, this is possible. The stress of having his ineptitude so publicly displayed as it was in New Orleans and of having his every major policy collapsing before his eyes would certainly tend to push him in this direction.

There are also rumors of very ugly behavior towards associates and especially anyone bringing unwelcome news.

These rumors have sparked stories of the dangers of a drunken President, but I think these stories are misguided. If true, Bush's drinking is a development we should welcome. There is, in fact, less danger from a drunken Bush, and his return to drinking would provide one of the most fitting possible outcomes for his destructive, miserable time in office, a political version, if you will, of time wounds all heels.

His handlers will not allow him to do anything truly dangerous. Neo-cons are moral ciphers, but they are not suicidal. Remember the precautions taken during Nixon's last days in office when he was gulping whiskey by the tumbler? Not only will a Bush back on the bottle effectively be side-lined, but all his ghastly entourage will be forced to spend their remaining time trying to hide the facts.

In the meantime, I think it would be helpful, as well as a fitting political statement, for all concerned Americans who can afford the cost to send a gift bottle of Bourbon to the White House. Who knows, it might just speed things along?

Blame Katrina!
THE DISH vol 8. No.39
www.thedish.org
No one wants to take the blame for the slow national response to the dire predicament of the victims of hurricane Katrina. With all those poor folks wading in water screaming for help, roasting on rooftops and huddled in pitiful masses like residents of some Third-World country, the US' image took another serious hit on George W. Bush's watch.  Even Karen Hughes may find it difficult to mend it.

As a consequence of Katrina, for the first time in nearly five years in office, Bush is paying lip service to grinding poverty in the US gulf region.  Like 9-11, Bush is belatedly all over the natural disaster, even though there has been no opportunity to stand on a pile of rubble with a bullhorn to threaten Mother Nature with armed retaliation.

With his leadership and his approval ratings in the toilet, no one would be surprised if he declared another war.  However, a war on poverty would mean adopting programs that benefit the poor.  Actually improving conditions for the poor would entail changing the nation's distribution of income, a thought certain to offend Bush and his base's trickle-down capitalist sensibilities.

Despite all his grandiose speeches, it is hard to imagine Bush jettisoning his conservative agenda, i.e., dismantling the New Deal's Social Security and other social welfare programs, and instead devising some clever programs that benefit the less fortunate.

On closer inspection, what Bush is really proposing will do little to change the nation's distribution of income.  Given some of the hinted at plans to rebuild the Gulf Coast, a boatload of no-bid contracts or bids for buddies, including Bush pal, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, will make the rich richer.  And, we can blame Katrina, a hurricane with a ghetto-girl's name. How ironic!

First, Bush has proposed reimbursing faith-based organizations for their good works, a prospect that turns the whole concept of charitable giving on its head.  It makes churches, synagogues and mosques, if they qualify, no different than other corporations that sup at the federal trough.

A lot of things, otherwise unthinkable, are being contemplated and justified because of Katrina.  For instance, deploying military forces in a natural disaster, rather than the National Guard.  This could be the end of posse comitatus, which prohibits using soldiers to police civilians.  Its demise
has been on the neo-con agenda and discussed on blogs since 9-11.  On cue, like trained pups, some members of Congress will introduce legislation that uses Katrina to justify amending posse comitatus.

Likewise, conservatives will push for the use of federal dollars to fund private and religious schools.  Every since whites fled urban areas and inner city public education, there has been an effort afoot to help fund private and religious schools.  The Katrina tragedy will provide one more
opportunity for conservatives to bring up school vouchers.  Look for it in your local news.

In the final analysis, after the glare of national attention fades, poor folks rescued from the wrath of Katrina will be forgotten.  Many will languish in FEMA-furnished trail parks, their fortunes little changed even after the nation spends more than $200 billion.



Disgruntled feels: Cheap!  Talk is cheap!  Less than an expensive pair of shoes; it costs nothing to dismiss black folks in New Orleans singing the blues.  In the role she knows best, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice went to Alabama to put a black face with a voice saying, 'Bush cares about black people.'  Someone needs to inform Condie that she has served in this black-face capacity a few times to many.  She has lost her credibility, if she had any.  Now, instead of being the nation's diplomat, Karen Hughes fills her shoes, and Condie is reduced to talking to folks in the cheap seats, 'cause no one else will listen.

Disgruntled wants to know: George W. Bush pledged to spend whatever it takes to rebuild the Gulf Coast region.  The possibility of spending $200 billion, the amount spent killing people in Iraq, is not out of the question. Current spending and tax cuts will not change.  Deficit spending is the only
other source of funds.  When will Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan explain to Bush and Congress the consequences of out-of-control deficit spending?

Disgruntled says: In the immediate aftermath of hurricane Katrina, Republicans chided critics of the Bush administration's response for 'playing the blame game.'  It proved to be quite an effective ploy, much like calling those that did not support the war 'unpatriotic.'  Now, it is time to assess the response to the natural disaster and record lessons learned; the first thing former FEMA director Michael Brown does is blame state and local officials for being dysfunctional.  Good grief Charlie
Brown!

Cynthia McKinney
ANSWER, United for Peace and Justice Anti-war Rally
Washington, DC
September 24, 2005

If we didn't know it before, we certainly know it now.

A cruel wind blows across America. Starting in Texas and Montana, and
sweeping across America's heartland, it's settled here in Washington,
DC.  And despite our presence today, it continues to buffet and batter
the American people.

This cruel wind blew disenfranchisement into Florida and Ohio.

It blew hardheartedness into the Capitol.

Division across our land.  And wretchedness in high places.

The American people have been forced to endure fraud in the elections of 2000 and 2004, criminal neglect on September 11th, a war started on deliberately-faked evidence, the outing of a CIA agent to cover up the truth, and now criminal incompetence in providing  our security.

When hurricane survivors had lost everything, and it was there for all America to see, sybaritic men, wrapped in self-righteousness, worked to save their jobs instead of the people. As dead bodies lay strewn about the New Orleans Superdome, military recruiters blew into Houston's Astrodome to reap the harvest.

This ill wind that engulfs our country is also global in its impact. It dipped into the Caribbean hitting Haiti and Cuba; it reached into Latin America to slap Venezuela; it swept death, greed, and destruction across Africa into Eastern Congo; and it breathes occupation onto the peoples of Iraq and Palestine.

But just as sure as an ill wind now blows, it doesn't always have to be so.

The people, united, can stop wars.

We can stop injustice; and we can stop indifference.   The people, united, can tear down the mightiest walls of oppression.

These ill winds have brought us high crimes and more than misdemeanors.  But they've also brought us together: one answer, united for peace and for justice.

Let's stay together. Because we have to get rid of these ill winds and breathe fresh breath into a new jet stream of life.

We can do it, ya'll, because they can't fool us anymore.

Thank you!