Gary Secondino: Politics

McCain: Special interests fatten war bill

Wed, 09 Apr 2003 16:43:23 GMT

Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona has compiled a list of more than two dozen provisions he calls objectionable because they were not requested by the Bush administration nor authorized by a congressional committee.

I like John McCain. Now as in 2000 he would get my vote for president.

Treasury chief rallies support for tax cuts

Sun, 06 Apr 2003 14:45:02 GMT

Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel - Seizing on news that the nation lost 108000 jobs last month, Treasury Secretary John Snow said Friday during a visit to Fort Lauderdale that the data provided fresh evidence for the need to pass President ...
West Wing Airing: Dividend-Tax Cut a Good Thing TheStreet.com
Bush official rallies business troops Miami Herald

WRONG! There is no connection between the two. Tax cuts during a time of deficit spending is bad policy and irresponsible leadership. Any politician who supports tax cuts when the US is in economic crisis at home is a financial terrorist against the Republic of the United States.

House cafeterias change names for 'french' fries and 'french' toast

Fri, 14 Mar 2003 06:28:41 GMT

It's reprehensible that our government officials are acting in such a petty manner. But then, you always get exactly what you voted for in a democracy.

Economic View: How to grow old gracefully

Sun, 02 Mar 2003 17:21:25 GMT

We are all getting older, but some of us are getting older faster than others. Three news items last week highlighted the impact of changing demography on the world economy: the latest United Nations estimates of population change; some testimony from Alan Greenspan, chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, to the US Senate on the implications of aging.
Psssst, Greenspan Is Not God, Pass It On Forbes
US is graying, Greenspan warns Taipei Times
Toronto Star - Boston.com

Mr. Greenspan is not a god, right. But I think he is a man with a pragmatic view of the world and the platform to express his view. If you follow his public statements you'll see he speaks his mind with consideration to the politics of the then current administration. Lately though his public comments appear to be increasingly at odds with the Bush administration. His remarks seem to be warning signals to the US about current domestic fiscal problems, a bleak economic future if changes are not made, and what those changes should be. I think Mr. Greenspan is in his endgame and will not be back for another term and this is his way of giving us a path to return to financial growth and fiscal responsibility.

Or perhaps Mr. Greenspan has recognized this administrations "politics is war and winning is everything" motto combined with their discompassionate approach to managing the assets of the United States for now and into the future and he disagrees and has spoken up. I believe Mr. Greenspan when he says "large deficits matter". The right answer, as everyone knows, is to not have deficit spending at all! Paying back every deficit dollar spent includes interest which is real money that's taken out of our economy. When that happens It hurts everyone except the rich. The poor and the retired on fixed income are hurt the most and that simply is not the action of a compassionate or responsible government.

Sen. Patty Murry: Bush Tax Plan Fails Families

Sun, 02 Mar 2003 15:09:05 GMT

While Bush claims the plan will provide an average tax reduction of $1,000, "what he doesn't say is that half of all taxpayers would get less than a hundred dollars," she said. "Our economy is in a hole, but rather than looking for a ladder, the president is reaching for a bigger shovel."

No light at end of economic tunnel

Sun, 02 Mar 2003 14:59:58 GMT

Glenn Hubbard has resigned as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers -- to spend more time with his family, of course. (Pay no attention to the knife handles protruding from his back.) Gregory Mankiw, his successor, is a very good economist, but never mind: When the political apparatchiks who make all decisions in this administration want Mankiw's opinion, they'll tell Mankiw what it is.

Bush's War On Workers

Sun, 02 Mar 2003 07:28:36 GMT

"It is a war of indirection and disinformation, of ambush and frontal assault, all designed to weaken unions, reduce their membership, sap their resources and energy, and limit their ability to oppose the administration and its corporate allies. "

Voodoo vs. 'Rubinomics

Mon, 17 Feb 2003 19:38:40 GMT

Large deficits matter.

Those three words sum up Alan Greenspan's testimony before Congress last week, testimony that will make it more difficult for the White House to get its proposed tax cuts enacted. That such an incontrovertible statement of basic economic thought could roil Washington and create problems for the Bush administration is an indication of how surreal, and cynical, budgetary politics have become.

Who Needs TIA? Big Brother is Already Watching Us

Mon, 17 Feb 2003 19:34:13 GMT

A former Santa Fe public defender who said he was handcuffed Thursday at the St. John's College library and interrogated by Secret Service agents for several hours said Saturday that he plans to sue the government for violating his rights. He said a lawsuit is the best way to make the point that he was mistreated. "I'm going to sue the Secret Service, Santa Fe Police, St. John's and everybody involved in this whole thing," he said. "The way our country is now, the only way people apologize anymore is with money. So I'm going to sue."

This Modern World

Tue, 11 Feb 2003 12:42:27 GMT

The days of outrage overload. [Salon]

Inside the secret government

Tue, 11 Feb 2003 12:28:37 GMT

This American Life: Secret Government (RealAudio stream).

It's a spine-tingling episode of This American Life, a wonderfully-engaging and entertaining radio program that mixes comedy with serious discussion of serious issues, which covers our new secret government by calling up the Justice Department and the victims and letting them tell their stories.

Act One covers the story of Jose Padilla, the man who was whisked away from his average criminal trial, declared an enemy combatant, placed on a military brig and not allowed to see a lawyer or a court until "the end of the war". The Justice Department says it was because he had serious discussions about a "dirty bomb" and they need all the information they can get from him. This American Life suggests it was to distract people from the FBI's misbehavior.

Act Two covers the everyday people who woke up one morning to find 25 FBI officers outside their door, were taken to solitary confinement for months without their family being told where they were, and then were flown back to their home countries.

Act Three covers the secret FISA court, which meets in secret to issue secret decisions about who the government can secretly wiretap. They'd never said no until the Government asked for broad new powers to override the the safeguards that were in place to prevent abuse of the court. That time they said no, and, at the request of some senators, told the public of their decision. The government appealed, to a secret court which had never met before. The ACLU, finding out about this, tried to fight it.

[found via GreaterDemocracy]

[Aaron Swartz]

Republican lawmaker slams database plan

Mon, 27 Jan 2003 03:50:08 GMT

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa is lending his voice to criticism of a Pentagon data-mining project that could result in detailed electronic dossiers compiled on Americans. [CNET News.com]

Pentagon database plan hits snag on Hill

Thu, 16 Jan 2003 02:41:04 GMT

A plan that would link credit card, health insurance and other databases--creating what critics have called a "domestic surveillance apparatus"--raises concern on Capitol Hill.
CNET News.com

ACLU Spooked by Domestic Spying

Thu, 16 Jan 2003 02:38:55 GMT

A new report by the American Civil Liberties Union raises concerns about the growth of U.S. surveillance in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. The group recommends legislation to protect Americans' privacy rights. By Julia Scheeres.

"I trust Bush with my daughter, but I trust Clinton with my job."

Wed, 15 Jan 2003 19:24:59 GMT

For the first time since 9/11, Mr. Bush's ratings have slipped below 60 percent in a new USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll that reflects growing unease with his approach on the economy and taxes, domestic policy and international threats. Craig Patterson, a 45-year-old ironworker in St. Louis worried about dwindling construction jobs, summed it up for USA Today: "I trust Bush with my daughter, but I trust Clinton with my job."

Fight Looms Over Who Bears the Biggest Tax Burden

Tue, 14 Jan 2003 09:12:59 GMT

Much of the looming battle over President Bush's $674 billion tax plan will be over two starkly opposed views about who bears the tax burden in America and who should. By Edmund L. Andrews.
New York Times: Business

December Employment Losses Over 100,000

Sat, 11 Jan 2003 14:57:12 GMT

San Jose Mercury News - The nation continued to lose tens of thousands of jobs in December, the Labor Department reported Friday, jolting forecasters who had expected a modest upturn in employment and suggesting that American business remains highly pessimistic ...
US economy loses 101000 more jobs in December San Francisco Chronicle
Jobless rate stays at 6% after widespread Dec. cuts Chicago Sun Times
London Free Press - New Republic - Voice of America - South Bend Tribune - and 205 related »
Google Business News

Stimulate This!
Nobody seems willing to say it so I will, there will be no broadbased economic recovery while Republicans control the US political system. Forget about Dubya's 10 year plan, I've seen it before with Reagonomics, the poor get poorer, the middle class gets more financially squeezed, and the wealthy get more wealthy. It's a different time with the same result. It's sad to see so many people who voted Republican, end up poorer as a result.
In order to balance my heavy cynicism I truly hope I'm totaly wrong and everyone gets back to work quickly and then the US leads the world in overt compassion for the less fortunate. Time will tell.

GOP leaders bend to Bush spending demands, but real test comes later

Sat, 14 Dec 2002 21:55:19 GMT

San Francisco Chronicle - President Bush seems likely to win his first spending fight with the new Congress early next year, but a sterner test of his commitment to fiscal restraint may come soon afterward should he seek billions more for war with Iraq and other items.
New Economic Team Will Spur Growth, Says Bush Voice of America
Transcript: Bush Presents New Economic Team, Agenda in Radio Address Washington File
Green Bay Press Gazette - Agriculture.com - Whittier Daily News - GovExec.com - and 36 related »
Google US News

Cardinal Law Resigns

Fri, 13 Dec 2002 12:09:01 GMT

The Pope has accepted Cardinal Bernard Law's resignation as the Archbishop of the Boston Archdiocese. The public outrage from the information gathered by the release of the churches records last Wednesday and a letter signed by 58 Boston priests finally motivated Cardinal Law to do the right thing. Cardinal Law remains in the church as a priest and a Cardinal. He also still faces ongoing investigations and testimony in front of the Grand Jury in Massachusetts next Tuesday.

Carter Accepts Nobel and Gives Message on Iraq

Wed, 11 Dec 2002 11:19:00 GMT

New York Times - OSLO, Dec. 10 [~] With an ear-to-ear smile and an air of sublime satisfaction, former President Jimmy Carter accepted the Nobel Peace Prize today, then used the vaunted platform to try to steer events away from an armed conflict in Iraq. Mr.
Peace Prize winner Carter honoured by Oslo torchlight parade Norway Post
Carter accepts Nobel prize Boston Globe
Guardian - Washington Post - Newsday - Detroit Free Press - and 504 related »
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N.Korean Ship with Scuds Stopped in Arabian Sea

Wed, 11 Dec 2002 11:10:20 GMT

Reuters - Spanish warships have intercepted a North Korean ship carrying hidden Scud missiles, but the United States said on Wednesday that the discovery was unlikely to affect its policy on the reclusive communist state.
N. Korean scud discovery rocks Tokyo Mainichi Shimbun
North Korean Scud shipment seized in Arabian Sea Middle East Online
The Globe and Mail - Chicago Sun Times - Aftenposten - CNN Asia - and 367 related »
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US warns Iraq against using mass destruction weapons

Wed, 11 Dec 2002 11:07:35 GMT

Times of India - WASHINGTON: The United States warned Iraq and other potential foes Tuesday not to use any weapons of mass destruction (WMD) against US troops in the event of war, vowing to retaliate with ...
US Warns It Would Use N-Arms Salt Lake Tribune
US will use Nuclear Weapons in response to attack from WMD Hindustan Times
The Tallahassee Democrat - News Journal - Tyler Morning Telegraph - CNN - and 36 related »
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Pressure increases on Cardinal Law

Mon, 09 Dec 2002 16:52:43 GMT

CNN - Pressure on Cardinal Bernard Law to resign increased Sunday with a large protest planned at Holy Cross Cathedral and the circulation among Boston priests of a letter calling on their boss to step down.
Priest merely fits the mold Boston Globe
Church panel wants a few words with Law Chicago Sun Times
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Churches warn of possible lawsuits

Mon, 09 Dec 2002 16:50:43 GMT

Los Angeles Daily News - Bracing for a new wave of sexual abuse lawsuits, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles warned parishioners in a letter read Sunday that a state law scheduled to take effect in January will allow alleged victims to revive decades-old claims against ...
From pulpit, priests challenge sex abuse law San Jose Mercury News
California Catholics face financial crisis BBC
Minneapolis Star Tribune - Centre Daily Times - WSET - Framingham Metro West Daily News - and 11 related »
Google US News

With Criticism Mounting, Cardinal Heads to Rome

Mon, 09 Dec 2002 16:49:02 GMT

New York Times - BOSTON, Dec. 8 Cardinal Bernard F. Law abruptly canceled his schedule this weekend and flew to Rome, as anger toward him mounted and some priests signed a draft of a letter calling for his resignation. A spokeswoman for the cardinal, Donna M.
Outspoken Newton priest gets ovation Boston Globe
Church Won't Explain Unscheduled Trip Washington Post
San Francisco Chronicle - Chicago Sun Times - MSNBC - The Battalion - and 496 related »
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He's in Rome to get his bosses stamp of approval to move the Boston Archdiocese into bankruptcy proceedings. Those documents from last week are loaded with smoking guns. I predict Bernard Law will be prosecuted for being an accessory to a crime.