May 3,  2004  Monday


Iraq Costs Surge, May Force Bush to Shuffle Funds, Seek More
Bloomberg - 5-3-04
... Many of the same members of Congress who criticized Bush's handling of the Iraq war costs also said they would be supportive if the president came to them ...
Refusal to tally war's price costs public needed debate - Yahoo News
 

Intelligence: A Double Game
MSNBC -5-3-04
... that top Bush administration officials have been briefed on intelligence indicating that Chalabi and some of his top aides have supplied Iran with "sensitive ... PENTAGON PAL GAVE IRAN SECRETS: MAG - New York Post

 Short-sighted decisions
Newsday, NY - May 2, 2004
... Chalabi himself cast a shadow of doubt over the ... At the time the West encouraged him to attack Iran. ... learned in the Milosevic case, the Bush administration will ...

The only time I've noticed Bush's hand to be steady is when he is picking the pockets of taxpayers.

Do you remember 'Baghdad Bob,' the guy we all laughed at because he was saying things that were completely crazy? Well, President Bush sounds like Washington Bob right now. He‘s saying, “It‘s only a few troublemakers. It‘s a few rotten eggs that we‘re fighting over there.” Are you kidding? Is he joking? Bill Maher

 "I was going to start off tonight telling some self-deprecating jokes, but then I couldn't think of any mistakes that I had made to be self-deprecating about. In my recent press conference, John Dickerson of Time magazine asked the question about what I considered my biggest mistake. It was an excellent question that totally stumped me. I guess looking at it practically; my biggest mistake was calling on John. Or take that one about Cheney and me answering questions together. That was a toughie! So from now on, Dick and I will be holding joint press conferences." George Bush at the White House Correspondent's Dinner

Torture At Abu Ghraib

American soldiers brutalized Iraqis. How far up does the responsibility go?

by SEYMOUR M. HERSH

Posted 2004-04-30 "The New Yorker" … There was stunning evidence to support the allegations, Taguba added—“detailed witness statements and the discovery of extremely graphic photographic evidence.” Photographs and videos taken by the soldiers as the abuses were happening were not included in his report, Taguba said, because of their “extremely sensitive nature.”

The photographs—several of which were broadcast on CBS’s…

Good Pictures of our Soldiers

Remember, it was a US soldier who reported the abuse of the Iraqi prisoners.

 

The-World-Is-A-Safer-Place-Without-Saddam News

 

 

Disturbing News

 

 

 

HEAVY THINKING

It started out innocently enough. I began to think at parties now and
then - to loosen up.

Inevitably, though, one thought led to another, and soon I was more than
just a social thinker.

I began to think alone--"to relax," I told myself--but I knew it wasn't
true. Thinking became more and more important to me, and finally I was
thinking all the time.

I began to think on the job. I knew that thinking and employment don't
mix, but I couldn't stop myself. I began to avoid friends at lunchtime
so I could read Thoreau and Kafka. I would return to the office dizzied
and confused, asking, "What is it exactly we are doing here?"

Things weren't going so great at home either. One evening I had turned
off the TV and asked my husband about the meaning of life. He spent that
night at his mother's.

I soon had a reputation as a heavy thinker. One day the boss called me
in.

He said, "Shirley, I like you, and it hurts me to say this, but your
thinking has become a real problem If you don't stop thinking on the
job, you'll have to find another job."

This gave me a lot to think about.

I went home early after my conversation with the boss. "Honey," I
confessed, "I've been thinking--"

"I know you've been thinking," he said, "and I want a divorce!"

But honey, surely it's not that serious."

"It is serious," he said, lower lip aquiver. "You think as much as
college professors, and college professors don't make any money, so if
you keep on thinking, we won't have any money!"

"That's a faulty syllogism," I said impatiently, and he began to cry.
I'd had enough. "I'm going to the library," I snarled as I stomped out
the door.

I headed for the library, in the mood for some Nietzsche, with NPR on
the radio.

I roared into the parking lot and ran up to the big glass doors.

They didn't open. The library was closed.

To this day, I believe that a Higher Power was looking out for me that
night.

As I sank to the ground, clawing at the unfeeling glass, whimpering
Zarathustra, a poster caught my eye.

"Friend, is heavy thinking ruining your life?" it asked. You probably
recognize that line. It comes from the standard Thinker's Anonymous poster.

Which is why I am what I am today: a recovering thinker. I never miss a
TA meeting.

At each meeting, we watch a noneducational video; last week it was "Dumb
and Dumber."

Then we share experience about how we avoided thinking since the last
meeting.

I still have my job, and things are a lot better at home.

Life just seemed . . . easier, somehow, as soon as I stopped thinking.

Soon, I will be able to vote Republican.


Sent in by Cindy

Republican Shenanigans

Business/Tech News

The true axis of evil in America is the brilliance of our marketing combined with the stupidity of our people. George Bush has $180 million to spend. With that kind of money, he could convince Americans to drink paint, and he probably will.
— Bill Maher
Host, HBO's 'Real Time'

 

EMAIL

The pictures recently coming out of Iraq are most disturbing. It is unfortunate some of our young troops initiated or followed more mature direction to participate and be photographed involved with these indecent and inhuman actions.

Will there be Legislative hearings or disciplinary action? No Senator or Congressperson has family in Iraq, good Christian boys and girls would not do that -- than it must be the gays and people that voted for Clinton who are responsible.

I am amazed there is so much talk by the religious right about gays and their personal relationships, but no public outrage from them about the immorality and inhuman treatment of Iraq prisoners. Pick and choose morality, must not be a verse in the Bible covering Iraq.

Bill C
Tampa, FL
 

Don't you know that the right wing brought all that honor and integrity to the White House by pointing out that gay marriage will ruin all marriages and that John Kerry's Vietnam medals are evil?  These are the subjects that are important to the right wing.

One guy actually has honor and integrity, although I will admit that John Kerry certainly is not burdened with charisma, and the other guy only has the words ‘honor and integrity.’ He‘s never connected them to anything.  Bill Maher
 

Today in History - May 3

 

 

"With enough money, you can convince people of anything. And that is what George Bush does. He is one of the most cynical presidents we‘ve ever had, I believe, because with that kind of money, he plays on people‘s fears, he plays on people‘s ignorance, and he plays on people‘s shortsightedness."  Bill Maher

Assorted News

Good News

 

They were both rich kids in the ‘60s. One of them went to where the bullets were flying and one of them found a way not to go and then he lied about that.  Bill Maher

Odd News

 

 

 

A Chinese star chart thought to date from the 7th century AD which maps the heavens with an accuracy unsurpassed until the Renaissance period, according to French experts who carried out the first detailed analysis of the chart, which will be released Monday May 3, 2004. The spectacular Dunhuang star chart will go on show at the British Library in London later this month, is the oldest manuscript star map in the world and is one of the most valuable treasures in astronomy. (The British Library Handout, PA)

Peace.