The political WHEEL OF FORTUNE is spinning wildly for some high profile Republicans on this day. The BUSH administration is scrambling to get their markers on the right horse in the race for Californias governors house. Early on, DUBYA and his forces handpicked former LA mayor RICHARD RIORDON to unseat GRAY DAVIS, and give BUSH a friendly partner for the 2004 elections in a state where GEORGE W. BUSH did poorly in 2000. The administration masterminded the campaign, fed RIODON tidbits of policy and political ammunition so as to boost his chances to unseat DAVIS. But something funny happened on the way to the general election, unknown BILL SIMON smoked the White House choice for the jackpot prize. Who knew that SIMON, an ultra conservative compared to RIORONS moderate views, with no experience as an elected official, and an inherited family business to show as his resume, with a failed savings and loan scandal tarnishing his less than impressive credentials, would win easily over the more moderate republican? Certainly not the White House .Talk about swings of fortune. Could anyone be higher on the hog than former Mayor, and newly crowned price, Knight and king of the world RUDY GUILLIANI? He will be in LA on Friday March 8 to receive the RONALD REAGAN FREEDOM AWARD. All this apparently had little sway on New York State Supreme Court Judge JUDITH GISCH Wednesday. JUDGE JUDITH denied a request by GUILLIANI for joint custody, and upheld a limited visitation schedule that limits contact between the children, ages 12 and 15, and GUILLIANIS current girlfriend JUDITH NATHAN. The ruling forbids overnight visits by the children if Ms. NATHAN is present. Just when you think youve hit the jackpot, that damn bankrupt slot spins around to bite you in the ass .Can you believe that Independent Counsel ROBERT RAY is still in the news? He is the one who replaced now irrelevant KENNETH STARR in the ongoing investigation of BILL CLINTON and the plethora of scandals that dominated the White House in the waning years of his second term. RAY yesterday released what we only hope is the final report on the whole mess. And rather than tie it all up quietly, buy a gift certificate with the balance and go to commercial, RAY had to reach out and grab at VANNA WHITE. He had to get his last gasp of fame before he too goes away quietly, never to be heard from again. RAY not only reported the facts, as the imprimatur of his office allows, but he also had to add his two cents worth. . According to the counsel, President CLINTON committed perjury and obstruction of justice, and there was sufficient evidence to convict him of those crimes, but it was the wise and reasoned discretion of ROBERT RAY that spared the President the embarrassment of a trial, conviction and perhaps jail time. He let him off. How thoughtful? Can we buy this man a clue, Pat?
LOOKING FOR CLUES 12.3.01
The beat goes on for Attorney General JOHN ASHCROFTs search for clues into the terrorist threat in this nation. Along the way, he continues to obliterate the constitution and civil rights, as we know them. His latest pronouncement from his bunker at the Department of Justice was that religious groups "suspected of terrorist activity" would apparently be subject to the federal spying and eavesdropping that is fast becoming the government service du jour. All in the name of the war on terrorism, you know. "People who hijack religion and make out of it an implement of war will not be free from our interest" ASHCROFT said Sunday morning on MEET THE PRESS.
Wait. Does this mean ASHCROFT will now direct the focus of our nations law enforcement onto the hate and civil warmongering preached by the likes of JERRY FALWELL and PAT ROERTSON? Does the General mean what he says? After all, ASHCROFT claims the government is justified to infiltrate religious groups, which use their religious teachings to exact war upon this nation. How many Americans have died as a result of hate crimes, encouraged, perpetuated and ratified by the diatribes espoused by so called men of faith? The same men of faith, who after this nations worst tragedy spun statements that gays and lesbians were to blame. How many gays and lesbians are at war every day because some people feel empowered to hate as a result of these actions? What did these religious men think these words would do, engender compassion and understanding?
Of course not! They knew exactly the impact of their words! Like the thousands of others directed at gays and lesbians, other minorities, and woman who wish the freedom to control their decisions on childbirth. First, they knew they would garner sufficient attention to make the news, and thereby be heard by their frontline "grunts". You know, the ones who get their hands dirty fighting the daily battles, doing the work in the trenches.
Then they knew they could dance and spin and slip out of such irresponsible statements, without any liability. Can you imagine the outrage, if for instance JOHN ROCKER (you, know, the baseball player) had said them? But somehow, because this war is waged by a respected member of a recognized religion, the bombs float right through our "civil defenses" and are allowed to hit their targets, dead on.
Then they sit back, these men of God, cloaked in their robes, bathed in all their non-profit glory. They live on guerilla tactics, hit and run. Then they watch, as the effects of their payload ripple across the land, impacting the innocent in this country just trying to live their lives.
For once, I agree with JOHN ASHCROFT. Those terrorists who hijack religion to practice war on free, constitutionally protected Americans, whether they be gay, or black, or supporters of abortion, or anyone who isnt the same religion of these few "chosen", those religious frauds ought to get a lot more than the attention of our Justice Department. They ought to get the full force and effect of our law enforcement system. It ought slam into them like a cluster bomb, or a daisy cutter, and rip into their networks and tunnels of hate. They ought be smoked out, and dragged into the bright white of a courtroom to face the counterpart to freedom-justice. The same justice we are attempting to exact around the globe.
Shame on the Attorney General, our leader of justice, if he doesnt deliver on this freeing promise.