The Obama administration’s policy on Israel is misguided, puts too much emphasis on the issue of settlements and ignores the bigger threat of a nuclear-armed Iran, a U.S. delegation of Republican congressmen visiting Israel said Thursday.
The Cons tripped over themselves rushing to microphones to denounce Democrats during the Bush “presidency” when Democrats questioned foreign policy plans that were clearly not in America’s best interest.
Had a Democratic contingent done the same thing from 2001-2008, you can be sure the corporate media would have been only too happy to spread the Cons’ disruptive message. Now that Obama is in office, it’s suddenly okay to criticize the President’s initiatives and prerogatives.
Something short and sweet this morning. While perusing the headlines, I came across this CNN article, with the headline “Poll: 71 percent think Iraq spending hurts economy”.
This is like saying 7 out of 10 Americans can count. If we’re borrowing money at the rate of billions per month to occupy Iraq, that’s billions we don’t have to spend on climate change or education or health care or investment firm bailouts.
But the quote of the day from Bush is this: “I think actually the spending in the war might help with jobs … because we’re buying equipment and people are working. I think this economy is down because we built too many houses and the economy’s adjusting.”
Hillary Clinton’s campaign suddenly doesn’t like how the Texas Democratic Party conducts their caucus-primary. Funny that they had no arguments when polls showed them likely to win. I’ll say again she’s doing nothing to endear herself to me. With regard to November: if she continues on this path of scorched-earth policy, I will not vote for her. I levied complaints against how Bush got into office. It would be disingenuous of me to forgive Hillary for doing similar things.
Turkey continues military operations in northern Iraq, with the U.S. providing intelligence and tactical support. This is a clear indication of destabilization of the region. Some irony: “U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who arrived in Ankara, the Turkish capital, Wednesday night, told reporters he intended to advise Turkish leaders that their incursion into northern Iraq must last no more than a few weeks. He also planned to tell them that the military operation should be complemented by political efforts to resolve the grievances of the Kurdish minority in eastern Turkey. But Turkey ruled out specifying a timetable for an end to the offensive.”
It’s interesting that the U.S. is demanding an arbitrary timetable for Turkish operations, something they refuse to consider for their own. “Do as I say, not as I do” is typical from a strict-father world-view.
*****
Update
I totally forgot to include this juicy piece: $4 gasoline is news to Bush. Color me surprised that Mr. 29% has no idea what most Americans are facing. His solution? Make his tax cuts permanent. It’s got to be hard to ignore reality to this degree.
Bush talked some about science and energy matters tonight. Some details and my analysis below.
“To build a future of energy security, we must trust in the creative genius of American researchers and entrepreneurs and empower them to pioneer a new generation of clean energy technology.”
We apparently must trust in that genius up to the point where his political hack appointees redact every scientific conclusion brought forward and actively work to threaten researchers’ work. But entrepreneurs can get some tax breaks. Heh.
“Let us fund new technologies that can generate coal power while capturing carbon emissions.”
Repeat after me: there is no such thing as clean coal. Solar and wind are cleaner. Let’s work on those, ‘kay?
“Let us increase the use of renewable power and emissions-free nuclear power.”
Yes to the first. Heck no to the second. True to Republican values, it appears they want to build nuclear (nukular if you’re Bush) plants now and let future generations deal with the nuclear waste.
“And let us complete an international agreement that has the potential to slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases.”
There’s an international agreement now and we’ve thus far refused to sign onto it. It’s not a matter of one existing or not, it’s a matter of stop acting like a petulant child and working with the rest of the world.
“The United States is committed to strengthening our energy security and confronting global climate change.”
Bulls***. Maybe the citizens are, but our politicians clearly are not. Bush and Cheney jump when the Saudis say to and leading Republicans maintain climate change is a hoax. That’s not taking things seriously.
“So I ask the Congress to double Federal support for critical basic research in the physical sciences and ensure America remains the most dynamic nation on earth.”
I enjoy the hypocrisy here. Bush’s budgets have consistently underfunded science research and we’re becoming less dynamic with each day. NREL almost lost their funding in the past couple of years and other labs in Colorado are having their budgets cut this year, following cuts last year. You have to think science is real before you can talk about its funding.
“In November, we witnessed a landmark achievement when scientists discovered a way to reprogram adult skin cells to act like embryonic stem cells. This breakthrough has the potential to move us beyond the divisive debates of the past by extending the frontiers of medicine without the destruction of human life.”
We still don’t know how useful these manipulated lines will be. Scientists know much more about embryonic stem cells. And when I hear Republicans call for fertilization clinics to be closed, I’ll buy into this ‘human life’ nonsense they bring up.
“So I call on the Congress to pass legislation that bans unethical practices such as the buying, selling, patenting, or cloning of human life.”
And no human-animal hybrids. All these things are among the most critical issues we’re facing today. Almost as important as scary brown people who hate our freedom.
