Month: July 2003

U.S. Rep. Harold Ford, a member of his party’s congressional Blue Dog caucus and of the equally moderate-to-conservative Democratic Leadership Council, continues, somewhat conspicuously, to try to find a middle way on Iraq and other national controversies. But, like Massachusetts senator John Kerry, whom he supports for president, Ford may be edging toward a position of sharper opposition to President Bush on some key issues.

In a statement scheduled for release on Tuesday, Ford stayed well clear of the accusations of dishonesty that some Democrats have levied at Bush concerning the simmering WMD issue, but he called upon the president to publicly address the issue of “whether intelligence was twisted or exaggerated.”

As Ford noted, “In January, the President came before the Congress and delivered a compelling case for immediate military action to be taken against Iraq. The case was predicated on Iraq possessing weapons of mass destruction that could be used against our interests at home and abroad.”

Ford himself subsequently voted with a congressional majority to authorize Bush’s use of appropriate force to quell such a threat. A successful military campaign in Iraq targeting its then leader, Saddam Hussein, ensued — but unrest and guerilla action have continued, and American troops seem consigned to an indefinite presence. . Ford’s statement expresses misgivings both about his vote for the war resolution and about the prospect of a quagmire in Iraq:

“As much as I wanted a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, I believed that the President had sound intelligence to justify an invasion and a comprehensive plan in place to stabilize Iraq after a successful military campaign.”

But, says the Ford statement, “Since President Bush declared the military effort successful and over in May, assertions about exaggerated claims of weapons of mass destruction and poor postwar planning abound. As a matter of fact, it is obvious from daily news reports that the Administration is struggling with bringing stability to Iraq. Moreover, a group of senators returning from the region last week report that our soldiers are growing restless and that Iraqis are less supportive of the U.S. presence.

“Over the weekend, another disturbing claim was made by a respected foreign service officer — that he had informed the Administration that the reports of Iraq attempting to purchase uranium from Niger were false. In spite of this, President Bush repeated these reports publicly and prominently in his State of the Union Address.”

Ford’s statement concludes by “urging” Bush “[w]ith all the specificity the President can spare — and without compromising the safety of the 146,000 troops who are struggling to maintain stability in an increasingly hostile environment” to “address the nation and the Congress in order to answer questions about whether intelligence was twisted or exaggerated and to discuss plans to rebuild Iraq.”

FROST FOR A DAY (JACK EATON, BEWARE!)

The dog days of summer have arrived, and how.

We’d like to challenge the heat, but not today, not now.

Memphis sports creep along like sand through time,

Not much in the way of news, so come on . . . let’s rhyme.

The Griz say Banks, no wait, we like Bell.

Another point guard in The Pyramid? Jerry, do tell.

Tennessee has the lottery, Senator Cohen . . . he won.

But oh, for the ball that could have landed us LeBron.

A new Redbirds era began with a coach called Sporty.

His players were less “Grease,” more like “Get Shorty.”

The losses multiplied, wins you can’t pay for.

The only solution, said the Cardinals, is a guy named Sheaffer.

Need a baseball story with some Hart and some style?

When Bo left for St. Louis, he left with a smile.

Fifteen for thirty? You’ve got to be kidding.

The rookie gave the veterans their lessons in hitting.

Speaking of the Cardinals, what of their pitching?

So many trouble spots, LaRussa’s been itching.

How many games can be saved by Fassero?

There’s no Cy Young awaiting Kiko Calero.

Ah, but the Cubs stole the spotlight when Sammy’s bat broke.

Enough cork in that wood to make a Redbird choke.

“My bad,” said Sammy, let’s forgive and forget.

Imagine if such a cry came from a Yankee or Met!

How about Clemens, two milestones . . . one night.

He shut the ‘Birds down, nary a Cardinal in flight.

When the Rocket finds Cooperstown, which cap will he wear?

In Gotham it may not matter, but in Beantown . . . they care.

Where was Tiger when the pros came to town?

Once again much too busy, turning more money down.

David Toms won his title as Mr. Nike took a pass.

The FESJC may miss Woods, but it doesn’t miss class.

Turning to NASCAR, Kenseth has first place.

But would you know this guy if he happened to kiss your face?

Where’s Gordon, where’s Junior, where’s Stewart, where’s Rusty?

Their rides come up short, while mine just gets dusty.

How about Penny in that cap and gown?

He surprised us again . . . this remains his hoop town.

Earl Barron marched through The Pyramid as well,

Never taller, not once, when he played for Coach Cal.

July’s a month for biking, both near and far.

Lance Armstrong’s the man, best thing on wheels since the car.

When cancer attacked, he battled, fought . . . stepped forth,

He won the Tour de France, then a second, third, and fourth.

Back to baseball, the All-Star game you say?

Hideki and Ichiro came a long, long way to play.

No Clemens, no Maddux, no Johnson, no Schilling.

The pitching will be handled by a coalition of the willing.

Bye-bye Big East, said the Hurricanes of Miami,

Hello ACC . . . those ‘Noles will make your palms clammy.

And what of our Tigers? Mid-major at best.

Conference USA, alas, is too weak a test.

Thank heavens our games didn’t distract the Bard,

Though had he been a ballplayer, he’d surely have been a Card.

This poetry stuff can be rough, somewhat scary,

Next week it’s back to prose, back to — ho hum — commentary.

STRIKE THREE, MR. PRESIDENT!

NAPA — I am blessed to be celebrating the Fourth of July this year in the Napa Valley, the most American of places, a splendid locale where fine wines, fine weather, and fine friends are combining to make this, for me at least, a perfect holiday. In these crowded political and economic times, even a newspaper publisher needs down time.

But while reading the baseball box scores in the San Francisco Chronicle this morning, a thought came to me about the larger “game” being played by the Bush Administration in Iraq while we celebrate this great national holiday.

As far back as the summer of 2001, the Bush Administration was clearly spoiling for a fight in Iraq. And in March, the President went to the plate ready to “swing for the fences” when it came to Saddam Hussein and the country he ruled. When the American team took the field, there was no question that he was trotting out the varsity team.

But alas, George W. Bush has struck out. Mightily.

Strike One was his use — deliberate or otherwise — of clearly tainted evidence as his rationale for that war. No weapons of mass destruction have been found, nor at this point appear likely to be discovered. Either President Bush has surrounded himself with incompetents (called strike) incapable of giving him accurate intelligence information, or he himself played a role in misrepresenting that information (swinging strike) to the American people and the world.

Strike Two was the President’s decision to go it alone in Iraq, against the wishes of a majority of the members of the UN Security Council. Yes, he put together a “coalition of the willing,” including as it did Britain, Australia and Spain, and whatever other minor countries’ support could be bought. But for the first time in our nation’s history since that organization’s foundation in 1945, the United States has taken military action — a pre-emptive strike, at that — in clear defiance of the wishes of the majority of the members of the United Nations. Had we had the “show of hands” on the Security Council which Mr. Bush promised would be taken (in his March 10th press conference) but never was, the USA would have found itself on the outside looking in, for the first time ever facing the vetos of at least two of the Council’s permanent members. If this wasn’t an indication of how questionable his call to action was, I do not know what would be. I do know that FDR was turning in his grave, and that generations of American foreign-policy makers, both Republican and Democrat, were shaking their heads in shame.

Strike Three has come in the aftermath of this misguided Iraqi war, after that war was “won,” as the President declared in May. Since that famous declaration, dozens of Americans have perished, and Iraq is fast descending into chaos. “Quagmire” is the word used increasingly to describe the situation on the ground in that troubled country, a country where 24 million people are at best uneasy about the occupation of their homeland by 150,000 foreign “liberators,” liberators who know next to the nothing about Iraqi languages, cultures, and values. This is a recipe for complete disaster, and a situation that any reasonably competent American political and military leadership should have forseen and prevented. Or else considered other options besides this misguided, ill-fated war.

Strike Three, and you’re out, Mr. Bush! That should be the mantra chnated by the Democratic Party leadership, and shouted from the treetops. That should be the clarion call that Party, if it had any gumption at all, would be making to the American people.

Indeed, the “outing” of a President who is at best utterly incompetent and at worst, well, far, far worst should be a first priority of the Democratic Congressional leadership. Robert Byrd speaks out eloquently on this subject in the Senate almost daily; think of the national impact if each and every House and Senate Democrat were to do the same. It wouldn’t hurt, either, if responsible, patriotic Republicans in the Congress did the same. On this of all days, every American who cares about and loves his country should be thinking about how we might restore our nation’s integrity, honor, and good name in the world.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND!

WMDs LOCATED!

I am happy to announce the WMD’s have been located. For months, we have been told WMD’s are out there. Because of WMD’s, our troops are still suffering casualties daily in Iraq. According to George Bush, Dick Cheney, Don Rumsfeld, Colin Powell, and Condeleeza Rice, WMD’s pose a great threat to the world. Imagine how surprising it is to learn the WMD’s have been prolifterating right here in the good old U.S. of A.

Such weapons include psychological, political, and propagandizing devices. Those who launch the attacks know thousands could become more hopeless and apathetic, but their fundamental motive is to strike constant and continued fear and panic in millions of Americans. In an effort to better inform readers on the threat to America, this Weapons of Mass Deception Guideline is being offered.

“Perpetual War Makes Us Safer” Mindcontrol

History: Since September 11, 2001, we have been told by George W. Bush that we are at war, and that being at war will bring freedom and peace to the world.

Weapons: Exploitation of 9/11, the American flag, fundamentalist Christianity, the Republican Party

Delivery System: Media outlets- especially television news ; AM talk radio- especially Rush Limbaugh; most members of Congress; the White House

Symptoms: Certitude, intolerance, banal speeches, right wing punditry passed as objective journalism, failure of public to express dissent due to fear of being called unAmerican.

Treatment: Perpetual War mindcontrol often takes months or years to take its toll. Voters often cannot pinpoint it right away, because many elected officials publicly claim to oppose it, but eventually captitulate to the will and wishes of George W. Bush by refusing to stand up to his wrongheaded ideas of pre-emptive and ceaseless military invasion.

During the Presidential debates of 2000, George W. Bush said, “ I would be very careful about using our troops as nation builders. I believe the role of the military is to fight and win war and therefore, prevent war from happening in the first place.” Shock and awe.

“It’s Not the Economy, It’s the War, Stupid” Germfare

History: For three years, we been told by Bush, the economy is getting better and will rebound soon. We have been told the largest tax cut in the history of our nation will benefit working middle-class Americans and that another interest rate cut will stimulate the economy.

We have been told the record number of personal bankruptcies do not matter and that the corporate criminals who blew our pension plans will be be punished. We have been told the growing unemployment rate is only a temporary problem. Blah blah blah blah blah.

Weapons: Distortion of Facts about who is benefitting from tax cuts, attempts to privatize retirement accounts, social security, and the healthcare system.

Delivery System: Alan Greenspan; The Wall Street Journal; MSNBC; Financial Talking Heads on television networks; the Republican Party; George W. Bush

Symptoms: Unemployment rates at a 9 year high, government surpluses lost to skyrocketing debt, elimination of taxes on corporations and wealthiest Americans, scamming of retirement funds, corporate criminal corruption with no penalties, millions with no healthcare or access to prescription drugs.

Treatment: Making the next generation as poor as church mice will not be an easy problem to solve. Driving this country further into debt by financing war without end, and tax cuts for only the wealthiest, is hard to treat, as long as Republicans are in power. The best treatment will be to elect leaders who want peace and prosperity for all Americans.

“United We Stand” Propaganda Warfare

History: The first use of propaganda warfare took place in 2000 after George W. Bush was selected by the Supreme Court justices who had been appointed by his father. The American public was told he was elected by voters, although all the votes were never counted.

Weapons: Complicity by media to allow fabrications, exagerrations, and cover ups of facts regarding corruption and deception by this government.

Delivery System: Most media outlets; the Republican Party; Ari Fleischer; the entire Bush cabinet, George W. Bush.

Symptoms: Confusion, Distrust, Apathy, Hopelessness

Treatment: Turn off and tune out. Question the Bush administration and start asking why the right wingers who voted for him say dissenters are un-American, un-patriotic, or un-Christian.

Register to vote and get facts on all candidates running for the Presidency.

By using Weapons of Mass Deception, the Bush administration has managed to tank the economy, put government into debt for generations, run roughshod over two centuries of civil liberities, and launch unending global war. This has happened in less than 30 months.

The American public should enact an Emergency Alert System that will be activated by all voters at the direction of the White House and Congress. It should be sent out to a national network of grassroots efforts coast to coast. Action should be taken immediately so that the Weapons of Mass Deception are detonated immediately.