ThePete's Weird Quotient

I don't know why I do these stupid things:

Oh yeah! Because I'm bored with my dayjob. Heh-heh.

SUICIDE BOMBER KILLS 120+ IN IRAQ

Well, I'd like to wish a hearty congratulations to George W. Bush, for being indirectly responsible for another 120+ deaths in Iraq. It happened when a suicide bomber managed to blow himself up by driving into a crowd of Iraqi cops and army recruits. Over 150 were wounded in this, the largest single bombing since the Iraq Attack began. Of course, the article I'm getting all this from at NYTimes.com, doesn't bother to point out that there were a few individual American bombings that killed more Iraqis than this.

Anyway, congrats, Bush. It really was a good idea to go into Iraq!

OH yeah, and if you're curious how many Americans were killed in said bombing, the number is zero--but why does that matter?

Dead people are dead people, right?

VERMONTERS MOVE AGAINST IRAQ WAR

According to an article at CSMonitor.com a bunch of citizens from Vermont have managed to get resolutions in front of local lawmakers that speak out against the ever-continuing Iraq War. Sadly, these resolutions are tooth-free and can force the USG to do nothing even if they are passed.

Still, as the CSMonitor reporter suggests, they could represent a new grass roots movement to get the USMil out of Iraq.

Boy, that sure would be nice, wouldn't it?

Fingers crossed!

Read more about it in that article at the Christian Science Monitor website.

9 YR OLD SOCIAL SECURITY LOBBYIST

Well, the Repubs have proven it--they have no shame. According to an article at NYTimes.com, they've now got a 9 year old kid travelling the country ahead of Bush, going on about how great King George's plan to overhaul social security is.

Yes, that's right--they've got a 9 year old as the literal poster child for the new Social Security plan. His name is Noah McCullough and was essentially hired by a former aide to Senate ethics violation charge-lightning rod, Tom DeLay. Why does it not surprise me that an associate of Mr. Bribes would come up with this amoral plan to use a kid as a shill for this dubious new plan.

I mean, this is wrong on so many levels, it's not even funny. This kid isn't a concious human being yet. How many of us can remember what being 9 was even like?? I have no clear memories of that time in my life and I bet neither can most adults. Yet, this kid is being put on stages and being touted as a person you can trust. He hasn't been on this planet long enough to have listened to all the sides to politics. He doesn't understand how the world, let alone his government, actually works.

Sure, he may know trivia about the USG, but that doesn't mean he understands it.

What's really sad is all those stupid-ass Bush voters out there who bought all of Bush's other lies will actually decide they can trust this "smart" little kid.

He's a kid he can't be that smart because wisdom comes with experience and knowledge.

Don't be stupid and fall for this kid.

People who need/use children to fight their fights for them are pretty damn dispicable. Yes, I know the kid's mom is a Dem, but I think they're spineless, too--so her behavior makes perfect sense to me.

Read more about this story at the NY Times website.

February 26, 2005

At 9, He's Out Stumping for President's Social Security Plan

At 9, He's Out Stumping for President's Social Security Plan
By GLEN JUSTICE

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 - The battle over Social Security has been joined by an unusual lobbyist, a 9-year-old from Texas who has agreed to travel supporting President Bush's proposal.

The boy, Noah McCullough, made a splash with his encyclopedic command of presidential history, earning five appearances on the "Tonight" show and some unusual experiences in the presidential campaign last year. He beat Howard Dean in a trivia contest at the Democratic National Convention and wrote for his local newspaper about his trip to see the inauguration.

"He's very patriotic and very Republican," said Noah's mother, Donna McCullough, a former teacher and self-described Democrat. "It's the way he was born."

In a sign of how far groups go to carry their message on Social Security, Progress for America has signed up Noah, a fourth grader, as a volunteer spokesman. He starts on spring break from James Williams Elementary School in Katy, Tex.

Progress for America, which spent almost $45 million backing Mr. Bush last year, plans to lay out $20 million on Social Security this year. It has spent $1 million on television commercials and is working to send experts around the country. Among them are Thomas Saving, a trustee of the Social Security Trust Fund; Rosario Marin, a former United States treasurer; and one really, really young Republican. Noah will not be eligible to collect Social Security for nearly 60 years.

Noah will travel to a handful of states ahead of visits by the president and will go on radio programs, answer trivia questions and say a few words about Social Security. Though he is obviously not an expert (and not really a lobbyist, either), officials say the effort is a lighthearted way to underline Mr. Bush's message.

"What I want to tell people about Social Security is to not be afraid of the new plan," Noah said. "It may be a change, but it's a good change."

The trip was a brainchild of Stuart Roy, a former aide to Representative Tom DeLay, Republican of Texas, who recently joined the DCI Group, a political consultancy here with ties to the Republican Party and Mr. Bush.

The firm is heavily involved in Progress for America's efforts. The president of the organization, Brian McCabe, is a partner at DCI, and the organization contracts with the firm. In the 2004 campaign, the Progress for America Voter Fund paid DCI about $800,000, records show. Mr. Roy knew Noah because the boy lives in suburban Houston, part of Mr. DeLay's district, and the House majority leader has met him. "We'll have Noah there as the face of Social Security reform," Mr. Roy said. "It's about the next generation."

Noah became interested in presidents as a 5-year-old after a mock election in kindergarten. Today, he has more than 3,000 books on presidential history. He campaigned for Mr. Bush, speaking to Republican groups and handing out bumper stickers. After 27 trips to the first President Bush's presidential library at Texas A&M University in College Station, he scored a meeting with the former president.

Noah plans to run for the White House in 2032 - and he wants Social Security addressed before then.

"It will be bankrupt when I'm president," he said.

Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company

LEBANON GOV RESIGNS AMID PROTESTS

Lebanese ministers forced to quit
Huge celebrations have erupted in Beirut after the Lebanese government announced its resignation following two weeks of popular protests. (source: News.BBC.co.uk)

Yeah, try that in the US and see if it works!

Congratulations to the citizens of Lebanon--I hope a new government is really what you guys want and not just something some CIA spooks wanted.

My Grandmother RIP

Well, I kept TheBlog silent yesterday in honor of the passing of my mother's mother, my grandmother--Dorothy Johnson. She and I haven't been close in well over a decade, but when I was a kid, she used to call me her favorite eldest grandson. I was sad that I couldn't make it to the funeral yesterday. I had a shoot, a comic to edit, stacks of copy writing to do and a personal budget not too far away from a shoe-string. When you live paycheck-to-paycheck the way I do (which I don't recommend), you really can't take time off without having serious consequences.

Anyway, she was a very nice woman and lived a loooong life. Here's a picture of her at her 90th birthday party which I actually was able to make it to:

She passed away a week ago today at my aunt's house. Four days from today she would have been 94. Here's the obituary that my family (whom I am also not terribly close with) had to shell out $200 to get in the local paper:

Dorothy Herbert Johnson
Dorothy Herbert Johnson, 93, born March 3, 1911, in Whiting, Indiana, to Genevieve and Hugo Herbert. Teacher (Michigan City, IN; Pecatonica and Elmhurst, IL), Choir Director (Seward, IL), Girl Scout Leader (Pecatonica, IL); beloved wife of Dr. O.W. Johnson, loving mother of six; cherished Grandmother of fourteen peacefully passed away at her daughter’s home Monday, February 21. She received her BA and MS in Education from Rockford College. Preceded in death by her husband of 47 years and her brother, Victor Herbert. Visitation Sunday, 1 – 4:30pm, Toon Funeral Home, 4920 Main St, Downers Grove, IL. Funeral Service, Sunday 5pm, St Andrews Episcopal Church, 1125 Franklin St, Downers Grove, IL 60515. In lieu of flowers please send donations to St. Andrews Episcopal Church.

That's funny, my grandma wasn't a cartoon--I wonder why she was taken care of at a funeral home with a name like that... oh, I don't get my family. I like them just fine, but it seems like nobody really tries to stay in touch/contact with everyone else. It's funny, I'm the black sheep of the family--doing the "artist thing" yet most of my family are all successful yuppies and they use similar excuses as I do as to why they don't stay in touch.

They're busy with work, to tired when they get home from work, can't afford to visit, got a lot on their mind, etc. It's so funny to me since none of us are doctors, scientists or anything resembling truly important people. One of my uncles works for a religious TV station. Another (I think) works for Motorola. Another builds houses. One aunt is in the mental health field and the other is a teacher. Do any of those things sound like they should keep them from a phone for years at a time? How about keeping them from a computer? As for my cousins, I've no idea what they're all doing--can't keep track of all of them.

Still, in the world of instant communication that we all live in, why is it so hard for them to stay in touch?

Oh well.

Good luck, Grandma. I hope there is an afterlife and that you have a good time there. Please say hi to Hunter S. Thompson for me and tell him that I'm mad because he killed himself. Oh but DON'T have a drink with him--he'll probably spike it with something just to see your reaction.

DELAY TO FACE NEW CHARGES?

National Journal’s Saturday bombshell: DeLay cited with new House rules violations (source: RawStory.com) Here's an excerpt:

The prominent lawyer and former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who is being investigated by federal authorities for his lobbying efforts of an Indian tribe and his relations with House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), paid for DeLay and DeLay’s staff’s stay in an expensive London hotel in mid-2000.

Whoa--hang on a sec.

So, George W. Bush:

1) violates International Law by invading Iraq
2) violates Federal Law by manufacturing propaganda and masquerading it as news
3) totally screws the pooch on Iraq (no WMD, turns Iraq into Al Qaeda training ground)
4) gives medals to guys who helped him screw said pooch

and it's a "bombshell" when DeLay accepts a bribe from a lobbyist?

God should really stop blessing America now. Specifically God should stop blessing George W. Bush and his lackeys. They are getting away with SO much crap, it's really not even funny any more.

SO MUCH FOR PEACE IN PALESTISRAEL

Bomber Kills Four in Tel Aviv, Shattering Truce (source Reuters.com)

Damn, and I had just blogged on peace over there a couple weeks ago. It should now be interesting to see if Israel drops a nuke on the occupied territories in retribution.

SALON: MEDIA IGNORES GANNON

Remember this story about a gay-escort-cum-Repub-reporter Guestblogged about by Jen? Well, Salon.com now has an article on their website talking about how that Gannon/Guckert guy is being conveniently blown off by the mainstream media.

This is just another example of how the mainstream media is softpedalling the USG. Why are they doing this? Who knows at this point. Big Business in collusion with Big Government--HEY, isn't that FASCISM??

Oh well...

Check out that Salon article to read more about the media ignoring this story.

RICE PRETENDS US CARES ABOUT DEMOCRACY

So, according to an article from AP.org and News.Yahoo.com, US SoS Condoleezza Rice was expected to travel to Egypt during a whirlwind tour of the Middle East but cancelled it because of the Egyptian government having arrested an Egyptian political activist named Ayman Nour. Here's a clip from the article:

A senior U.S. official, citing Rice's displeasure with the arrest and other internal actions taken by the Egyptian government, said change was needed and she wanted to see what steps were taken before going to Cairo. The official spoke only on condition of anonymity.

On Capitol Hill, Rep. Adam Schiff (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif., said in an interview that he hoped Egypt "gets the strong message that the United States will not look the other way anymore, that the suppression of democracy is no longer a matter of purely domestic affairs in a country."

HA! This coming from a government that decided the volumes of evidence of irregularities in the 2004 election weren't enough to merit an official investigation.

This coming from the government that never bothered to address evidence that the 2000 election was fixed, too.

This from a government that had an official cancel a trip to Germany because it looked like the German government would arrest said official on warcrimes charges.

This from a government that counts such dictatorships as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan among its strongest allies.

I could go on--you know I could.

What a joke.

Give me one good reason to believe anything anyone in the USG says anymore.

Read that AP article about Rice's cancelled trip to Egypt at Yahoo.From AP.org and News.Yahoo.com:

Rice Will Go to London, Not Middle East

Fri Feb 25, 9:31 PM ET

By BARRY SCHWEID, AP Diplomatic Writer

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is deferring an expected trip to Egypt and other Mideast countries next week, confining her travels to a conference in London on assisting the Palestinian Authority.

The Middle East stops were never announced officially. But State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Friday in providing the revised schedule that there had been "some consideration to going out to the region at this time," especially since Egypt was to host a meeting between the G-8 economic group and the Arab League.

The decision not to go apparently caught Egypt off-guard. The country's major pro-government newspaper, Al-Ahram, reported Friday that Rice would be in Egypt next Saturday.

Egypt last Sunday postponed the G-8-Arab conference on promoting democracy in the midst of a dispute with the Bush administration over the jailing of a political activist.

Rice had registered her "very strong concerns" about the detention of Ayman Nour, the leader of an opposition party, when she met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit on Tuesday in Washington.

Boucher said she would reschedule a visit to the region "at a fairly early date."

A senior U.S. official, citing Rice's displeasure with the arrest and other internal actions taken by the Egyptian government, said change was needed and she wanted to see what steps were taken before going to Cairo. The official spoke only on condition of anonymity.

On Capitol Hill, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said in an interview that he hoped Egypt "gets the strong message that the United States will not look the other way anymore, that the suppression of democracy is no longer a matter of purely domestic affairs in a country."

Last week, Schiff introduced a resolution deploring Nour's arrest and calling on Rice to reconsider attending the Cairo conference.

Boucher pointed out, meanwhile, that Rice had met recently in Washington with Aboul Gheit and other Arab ministers.

She also will have a chance to confer with Arab officials at a conference beginning Tuesday in London to support the Palestinian Authority as it undergoes changes.

She will also meet with senior U.N., European and Russian officials in London on their "road map" they jointly produced in the hopes it would spur Israel and the Palestinians to hold negotiations on a settlement.

Some 30 delegations are expected to attend the London conference.

© 2005 The Associated Press