politics>

LYING IN THE BUSH 6.9.03 MEMO MENOS Does anyone care that President BUSH lied to the American people to commit our forces to war? Former BUSH official JOSEPH C. WILSON told the world on MEET THE PRESS Sunday that he was the secret CIA envoy who was sent to Niger by Vice President CHENEY to investigate rumors that Iraq was trying to acquire enriched uranium from the African nation. WILSON returned with word that the story was false. He proceeded to inform the CIA, the STATE DEPARTMENT, the NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, and Vice-President CHENEY. Yet the rhetoric made its’ way into the President’s State of the Union speech. And the phony connection was in large part the justification Pr4ime Minister BLAIR used to mollify the British into backing the war. WILSON told the Washington Post. "It really comes down to the administration misrepresenting the facts on an issue that was fundamental for going to war." Facts, that Vice-President CHENEY pushed the CIA to get to find. And when they found them to be untrue, they used them anyway. It should be noted, WILSON is no bleeding heart liberal. He is a 23-year veteran of American diplomacy, including being the top American official in Iraq before the Gulf War. President HERBERT WALKER BUSH praised him for his contributions to the effort in 1991. And now WILSON is leading the charges that this President BUSH lied to the American public. "This is not some minor dispute over a footnote to history but rather raises the possibility of one of the most egregious misrepresentations by a U.S. administration. What could be more cynical and impeachable than fabricating a threat of rogue nations or terrorists acquiring nuclear weapons and using that to sell a war?" How about stonewalling the public commission investigating the 9.11 tragedy? Word yesterday from THOMAS KEAN and LEE HAMILTON in charge of the nearly invisible investigation into the events that led to that disaster, that the BUSH administration is hindering the inquiry. The JUSTICE DEPARTMENT and the DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE are fighting requests for information, and more shocking,, insisting that government officials be present for all interviews with staffers regarding the incident. That is right out of the communist playbook. Are they kidding? Could there be a more blatant attempt at intimidation and control of testimony? What could the government be hiding? I thought President BUSH and Attorney-General ASHCROFT were committed to fighting terrorism and protecting the American people? What possible reason could they have for thwarting the commission looking into 9.11? Senator JOHN McCAIN this week warned government agencies that stonewalling the commission’s investigation will only give rise to conspiracy theorists and those who distrust the government. Recall President BUSH was reluctant to appoint the commission in the first place, and his initial appointee of HENRY KISSINGER as chairman had to resign for possible conflicts of interest. Why isn’t congress investigating this matter in open televised hearings? If we are privy to the private sexual activities of our president, having been parsed under microscopic detail by senate and congressional inquiries, then surely we should be witness to the scrutiny of official, paid duties, and possible violations thereof, of government employees, in the course and function of their jobs. Especially when the security of the American people is at stake. Government serves no more important function that the protection of its citizens. As former ambassador WILSON said on MEET THE PRESS about the BUSH administration, "It begs the question, ‘What else are they lying about?’". HALLOWED BY THY NAME? 6.16.03 MEMO MENOS FRANK KEATING said it, but boy was I thinking it. I was reading the paper last Thursday and was floored by the settlement in the Phoenix area by Bishop THOMAS O’BRIEN to the tune of $57 million+, so he could avoid jail time. He admitted to reassigning priests accused of molestation without notifying the new parishes. In other words, he conspired with accused criminals, and aided and abetted their flight from justice. In return for the quick settlement he was granted immunity from criminal prosecution. It’s not that different a story that has been unfolding in archdioceses countrywide. What was stunning was the speed with which the Phoenix boys ponied up. Negotiations had been underway only 5 days, when the Bishop agreed to pay the big bucks for some 250 plaintiffs. The money will come from the churches budget, and not insurance. So just imagine how many needy families will go without, so the church can "cover" the dastardly deeds of its brethren. It’s unbelievable. Put aside the underlying allegations, which span years upon years and boggle the mind if they are even fractionally true. Never mind that, for now. Think about why a man of the faith, a man committed to spreading the word of God, and dedicated to helping others and doing God’s work would pay $57 million to protect criminals? It makes no sense. But the story just keeps getting better. Friday’s paper had the nasty feud between FRANK KEATING and Los Angeles’ Cardinal ROGER MAHONEY boiling over for all to see. KEATING is the public relations guy appointed by the church itself to head up a civilian investigatory committee, which in essence was empanelled to help anesthetize the festering wound the church is sporting over this whole issue. KEATING, a conservative Catholic with a bit of an attitude was going to get to the bottom of things, so the Justice Department, or the congregation, or the general public wouldn’t. On the occasion of the empanelling of the committee KEATING told the press "We are here because we want our faith restored…We want to help excise the criminals and predators." But MAHONEY would have none of it. KEATING it seems has been having a hell of a time getting information from the bishops, including one ROGER MAHONEY. Can you imagine it? They’re still covering up! One of the things KEATING wanted to glean was a list of all the priests nationwide accused of molestation. MAHONEY would not allow it. So in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, KEATING said "To act like La Cosa Nostra, and hide, and suppress, I think is very unhealthy." MAHONEY took umbrige and vowed to have KEATING removed. Come Saturday, and KEATING resigns, just before the conference of bishops in St Louis this week which marks the 1 year anniversary since the committee and KEATING were born. To be fair, KEATING never intended to hold the post longer than a year, and he claims he was going to resign this week in any event. I was a bit perturbed on Sunday after reading this, but like the rest of the country, I was going to let it all slide by. I mean, there is no bigger story, as far as I’m concerned, if the Roman Catholic Church in America is a criminal enterprise. There is nothing morally more corrupt. There is no greater harm to our society. Surely the Catholic church as a criminal enterprise operating in our own backyard, shit-in our own living rooms is more threatening to the peaceful and prosperous function of our country than some phantom WMD’S. And there is no greater irony and flagrant display of hypocrisy that you can dream up. But, we all seem to be cool with it, so I got over it. But then Monday, the story out of Phoenix of the arrest of Bishop O’BRIEN, the very same bishop who last week thought he had cut the deal to avoid criminal prosecution in the molestation scandal. He apparently was involved in a hit and run on Saturday evening. A couple witnessed the bishop hit a pedestrian, and chased him done, got a partial license plate, which led to the bishop’s residence. There the cops found a smashed windshield and dented fender on a car that only the bishop drives. At first O’BRIEN denied any recollection of hitting anything, though admitting he was driving in the area. Later he confessed he thought he had hit a dog, or that someone through something at his windshield, so he kept going. The pedestrian weighed 235 pounds, and was hit by a second automobile and later died. What would compel a bishop to hit and run? Was he wasted? He was coming from a Saturday evening confirmation ceremony, yet there are reports that the bishop has admitted to having "a sip of wine". Could he have been escorting a minor home? Even if we take him at his word, a leap of faith it would appear, why wouldn’t he stop even if he thought he had hit only a dog? He didn’t even hesitate. Do these high holy men have no fear of God? To leave an injured pedestrian on the side of the road to die-how did Bishop O’BRIEN think that was going to play upon his arrival at the pearly gates? Is it all just an act, or do you have to embody the spirit of the religion you represent when you become a bishop? These guys really are nothing more than crooks. KEATING put it plain and simple in a press conference on Monday explaining his choice of language on the subject: "I make no apology. To resist grand jury subpoenas, to suppress the names of offending clerics, to deny, to obfuscate, to explain away-that is the model of a criminal organization, not my church." Add to that, to hit and run and leave pedestrians for dead. On Wednesday morning, Bishop THOMAS O’BRIEN resigned from his post. Despite his maneuverings, the bishop may find himself behind bars for quite some time. "A criminal organization", and this story is just beginning… THE LEGACY DUBYA-REVISITED 06.18.03 MEMO MENOS At some point and time during the BUSH presidency, DUBYA is going to have to stand up and account for his actions. Nearly 3 full years in, it is still common to hear BUSH or one of his supporters bemoaning the CLINTON administration's efforts as the cause for some terrible situation in which we find ourselves. Yesterday, it was DICK MORRIS whining that President CLINTON didn't enforce immigration policy, and that's why there are so many illegal immigrants in the US today. (Pulllease! What is DICK MORRIS' claim to fame anyway? How did he rehabilitate himself from the weasel who was caught red nosed with a prostitute? He and MARV ALBERT must have cut deals with the devil that would make MADONNA envious.) Anyway, before 9.11, wasn't GEARGE W. BUSH making noises that he was going to overhaul immigration? There was so much talk of amnesty Mexicans in this country, and a sweeping new agreement to be worked out with President-elect VICENTE FOX. It wasn't about compassion, conservative or otherwise, it was about converting vast numbers of traditional democratic voters to the new Bush republicanism. But then tragedy struck. September 11th was a wake-up call for us all. It's hard to lay the blame for such an outrageous act on any administration, though that hasn't kept republicans from trying to pillory CLINTON with this disaster. The terrorist attack was a clear indication of a serious deficiency in our intelligence community. BILL CLINTON was at fault there too. Recall how he hampered the CIA by preventing them from paying spies, and all that. And if he wasn't so preoccupied with the MONICA thing... Well, nearly 2 full years have gone by, and we are reminded on a near daily basis of the stunning inefficiency, indeed, the ineptitude of our intelligence community. It took 7 years to catch a hillbilly backwoods terrorist who was blowing up abortion clinics. We still have no clue about who perpetrated the anthrax scare soon after 9.11. BUSH undertook 2 major military strikes against foreign terrorists, OSAMA BIN LADEN and SADDAM HUSSEIN. Yet, neither has been captured. And we apparently have no idea where they are, or whether they still pose a threat. Then there is the list of intelligence missteps associated with the 2 wars. Afghanistan is deteriorating back into the hotbed of terrorist foment that we intended to eradicate. There are still Al Qeuda roaming the hills and caves of that country. Iraq remains a killing field for Americans, dying off at 1 a day since the war "ended". And, still, we have not found WMD. The local population hasn't exactly celebrated our acts of liberation, much to the surprise of the defense department and the CIA. And, despite President BUSH pontificating in his numerous speeches on the matter, we really aren’t any surer that SADDAM HUSSEIN no longer poses a threat, than we were before the war. If our intelligence is correct, and that's an uneasy if, HUSSEIN could likely have tons of WMD, as well as oodles of cash, and he could be anywhere, planning just about anything, with BIN LADEN for all we know. Why haven't we seen the intelligence triumvirate, TENET, ASHCROFT and MOELLER account for their inactions? Surely heads must roll. No one has taken a fall over the events of 9.11. In fact, there has been only lip service to the start of a formal, public inquiry into what went wrong. I seem to recall independent counsel upon independent counsel, and JANET RENO shaking and stammering her bold self before congress nearly every week. And over what? You'd think the repeated and complete collapse of our once vaunted intelligence community to the tune of thousands of casualties would warrant some bi-partisan inquiry, not to mention a president who lied to the country as a justification for war. Can you imagine if CLINTON had used a forged document in his state of the union speech, calling for pre-emptive strikes against anther nation? He would have been hung from the portico, and by Senators KENNEDY and BIDEN at that. Matters around the rest of the globe are anything but reassuring. North Korea could be the most troubling spot on the planet, and BUSH has done little to manage things there. Despite the administration's attempts to lay KOREA on CLINTON'S lap, it is BUSH who rattled the sleeping dog, and has exacerbated the tense climate with the North Koreans every step of the way. KIM CHONG-IL for one reason or another did not seek to test the limits of Commander-in-Chief CLINTON. I don't know about you, but as an American, I have no burning desire to travel to, say, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia or the Philippines. These places have not benefited from some great BUSH doctrine of peace and freedom. In fact, there aren't many places the world over that I, as an American, feel welcome to visit. BUSH is defending our freedom at the cost of our safety and mobility. I'm not sure the trade-off works when you get right down to it. Crime, a shrinking phenomenon under BILL CLINTON, is steady and rising. And why wouldn't it be? Millions of people are out of work thanks to GEROGE W. BUSH. Unemployment is near record highs. States are facing gargantuan shortfalls, triggering cutbacks in key goods and services provided by local government, like unemployment benefits, health care, child-care and education. No child left behind is a joke. What about the children of low-income earners in this country? Under the president's tax cuts, millions of them were not only left behind, they were cut out completely. TOM DELAY may yet succeed in segregating them and their families from the tax relief. BUSH has managed to stir up class warfare in America with his questionable fiscal policies. The haves have more, and the have-nots have less and less. Where CLINTON built a bridge to the 21st century for everyone to walk over, BUSH has constructed diamond lanes and user permits for the privileged and the few. The environment has taken hit after hit under this administration, so much so that CHRISTINE TODD WHITMAN, who started out this presidency as a conservative, looks more like JANE GOODALL as she resigns her post and fades further into obscurity. Once a rising star in the Republican Party, she was completely neutralized by BUSH. And he has systematically set out to reverse the CLINTON legacy on the environment. President BUSH presided over some of the worst corporate scandals in history. In fact, it was many of his good buddies who were at the center of these scandals. The stock market, largely in part, took a deep hit and is far from the roaring highs during BILL’S watch. Deficits are once again a part of the economic landscape, and there is no end in sight. Nearly everyone, even the rich who are the primary beneficiaries of BUSH policies, is worse off financially than they were 5 years ago. Our civil liberties perhaps have taken the biggest hit, thanks to the iron hand of General ASHCROFT. How ironic that DUBYA prosecuted a war so women in the Middle East cast off their veils, yet in the foyer of the Justice Department, lonely statues must be shrouded in cloth, lest ASHCROFT be offended. He is a pit bull compared to JANET RENO, and that's not a good thing. The MARTHA STEWART case is a good example. How can ASHCROFT justify that she faces the rest of her life in prison, yet KEN LAY remains free from any charges to this date? Why hasn't the Justice Department aggressively gone after the Catholic Church over the molestation scandals, and continuing cover-up? FRANK KEATING is right-it is an ongoing criminal operation, but not on ASHCROFT'S radar screen. Instead, he chooses to imprison doctors who help terminally ill patients end their misery, or cancer and AIDS patients trying to alleviate the side effects of their chemotherapy with medical marijuana. No matter they have the laws of their state on their side. ASHCROFT knows what is best for us all. And that includes wiretaps in our homes, indefinite detention without knowledge of the charges, the right to call witnesses or the right to legal representation. The list of shame goes on. BUSH has shown complete disdain for the inclusion of moderate justices in his recommendations to the Senate. As a result, democrats have filibustered two particularly partisan nominees in an unprecedented move. The specter of a bitter, divided fight over a Supreme Court nominee looms. Republicans used to be about less government, and less government intrusion into our lives, our businesses and the states. No more. On the BUSH watch, our government has experienced unprecedented growth, with the addition of the HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT. The ever-expanding war on terror holds the prospect of ever increasing defense department budgets. And the idea of nation building and peacekeeping efforts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Iran, Syria, North Korea and the Philippines does not allow for less spending anytime soon. After disengaging from the crisis in the Middle East for 2 plus years, BUSH now is knee deep in alligators on the issue. With little of the credibility, world leadership skills or diplomacy to help insure success, he has jumped in feet first where greater men before him have drowned. I'd say the future looks difficult at best. But, at some point, as President BUSH kicks off his campaign for re-election, he must bear the responsibility for his actions. I mean, after 4 years at the wheel, how much longer can you keep blame CLINTON for everything? INAUSPICIOUS START FOR REPUBLICANS 11.18.02 MEMO MENOS In a shocking development, the newly empowered Republican leadership failed in their first efforts at ramming through legislation in the hastily called lame duck session of congress. The House unexpectedly rejected a much lobbied Bankruptcy Reform bill in a procedural vote on the rules for the legislation, 243-172. An astonishing 87 Republicans broke rank with party leadership in voting against the rules, essential for bringing the bill to a vote. In a panic, the House leaders quickly jettisoned the abortion provisions from the bill which were the cause for the rejection, and passed the legislation at 2am Friday morning. But the Senate refused to schedule a vote during this lame duck session, and experts agree it will take a great effort to resuscitate the reforms next year. The bill had been coveted by banks and credit card lenders for years, as it would have made discharge of credit card debt by personal consumers more difficult. Passage was stalled by Democratic Senators, chiefly CHARLES SCHUMER, on the surprisingly thorny issue of discharge of court imposed penalties against anti-abortion activists. But Congressman HENRY HYDE, the Republicans point man in the anti-abortion movement, had championed a compromise that cleared way for passage of the bill in the Democratically controlled Senate. TOM DASCHLE had dragged his feet so that a vote was not scheduled on the bill in lieu of the other pressing matters the Senate handles as the session came to a close, but passage, particularly in light of the recent election results, was deemed a forgone conclusion. President BUSH has been waiting to sign the legislation into law. So, it was a great surprise that Speaker DENNIS HASTERT, and newly elected majority leader TOM DELAY made such a major miscalculation. The religious right, giddy with the prospects of newfound power, apparently got a bit greedy. They figured they could jettison the compromise language in the bill for a hard line position essentially giving anti-abortion activists a safe harbor in bankruptcy as a way to escape any criminal sanctions they may receive as a result of their activities in frustrating the operations of abortion clinics. In the past those activities have included blocking access to clinics, bomb threats, actual bombings and even attempted and actual murder of doctors who perform these functions. So the question is, why is the religious right so concerned about protecting criminals? After all, abortion in this country is legal. And if a court of competent jurisdiction imposes criminal sanctions upon a criminal wrongdoer, what possible justification could there be for allowing that individual to escape culpability through bankruptcy. I mean, if we are going to shackle Americans with the burdens of their debts arrived at perhaps through illness without adequate insurance, or debts incurred as a result of a failed entrepeneurial effort, or even piled up bills because of irresponsible spending, then surely we should expect someone who flaunts the authority of the laws in this country to pay whatever fines a court finds to be owing. I can stomach the idea that Republicans go to bat for corporations who really don’t need a voice in Washington. MBNA and CAPITAL ONE are really hurting you know. But if the newly gained Republican majorities are going to be using their influence to come to the aid of criminals in this country, then we may be due for another watershed Republican embarrassment along the lines of Watergate. Greed and power nearly always lead to a big fall, and the religious right is going to give President GEORGE W. BUSH a run for his money. Let’s see if he has the leadership savvy to keep them in check. Meanwhile, look for another attempt at bankruptcy reform next year. MBNA and CAPITAL ONE aren’t going away that easily. THE LEGACY DUBYA, REVISITED 9.25.02 MEMO MENOS When we last checked, they were not readying the quarry for the bust of GEORGE DUBYA BUSH at Mount Rushmore. Despite his shameless photo op with the majestic site in the background recently, there is still a treacherous path for BUSH to negotiate to gain re-election in 2004, much less a favorable dispensation from history. As we sit today, we are at war with terrorists around the world; we are desperately trying to restructure the American intelligence community to more adequately deal with the threat of terror on our home soil; we are embarking on a massive restructuring of the government to create a cabinet department for homeland security: and, we are preparing to go to war with Iraq under a newly espoused doctrine of first strike preemption. The Middle East is in the midst of a meltdown, with no solution in sight. And OSAMA BIN LADEN and thousands of his legions remain at large, eluding capture and disposition by American might. The stock market is in record decline, shrinking this week to levels not seen since the early 90’s. News from the Census Bureau today is that the number of people living in poverty is on the increase in the United States, and what’s more, income levels for the middle class have fallen for the first time since 1991. Crime is on the rise, and more disturbing, hate crime is increasing. Health care coverage for Americans is worse, not better than in 2000 despite the campaign promises from candidate BUSH. Clinics, which provide services to the bottom half of the country, those with little or no insurance, are closing. America is under a threat level yellow and advised to be vigilant. President BUSH has a real handful of critical issues to deal with as the midterm elections approach, yet all he seems focused on is war with Iraq. Does anyone really believe an attack from IRAQ is imminent? Such a war can only damage whatever credibility we have internationally for our fight against terrorism, not to mention the devastating effects on our sputtering economy. The administration has yet to balance a budget, and the deficits can only increase if the military establishment is in control of foreign policy over the next how many years. There is no talk of exit strategies if we do invade Iraq. How long will it take to clean house and institute a regime change? Nobody knows. Wasn’t it President CLINTON who was accused of "wagging the dog" in 1998, prior to the elections? How ridiculous that now seems. We were in the midst of an economic boom, crime was dropping and incomes were rising, everyone had jobs. CLINTON and the Democrats didn’t need a war to run on, they had a record. This administration had better get to work on one. And, if it is going ridding the world of terrorists, then so be it. But they at least ought to get that right. Where is BIN LADEN? Is he alive? We need answers to this, and soon. What of the rest of the terrorist organizations in the Middle East? If we’re going ride herd on these guys let’s get to it! Just what is the policy on YASSER ARAFAT and the Palestinians? Our problems with the Muslim world will not be solved without at least an attempt to provide an independent state for these people. We cannot side with ISRAEL when it is convenient, and then oppose them as we did this week with resolutions in the UN. We need a cohesive, coherent and determined policy to bring about peace in the region. To ignore the linkage of turmoil in the Middle East and the current terror threat we live under is naïve. Establishing a Palestinian state would seem to be the logical path to peace, yet BUSH has taken no steps in that direction. Ousting SADDAM HUSEIN, and setting up shop in IRAQ to divvy up oil for FRANCE and RUSSIA, among others, in return for their support for American imperialism will do nothing to improve Arab-American relations, even if we rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction. To the contrary, it will only make matters worse. Much worse. If we are at a yellow stage of alert now, get ready for red baby. And what do we think is going to happen to ISRAEL once we begin bombing Bagdad? And, if the new BUSH doctrine of preemptive strikes is allowed, how can we possibly oppose it when CHINA wants to "prevent" war with TAIWAN, or NORTH KOREA does it to SOUTH KOREA, or RUSSIA to GEORGIA, or, or, or. President BUSH needs to take some bold leadership steps if he is to ever be mentioned in the same breath as LINCOLN or WASHINTON. He has shown the ability to grow in the office he holds. He has the support of the American people and the attention of the world. Going to war is not the path to greatness. How about sitting down face to face with SADDAM? If, as Secretary RUMSFELD states "we do not covet his land", then why not make some attempt at diplomacy, mano y mano. President REAGAN did it with GORBACHEV when our two countries were bitter enemies. It started us down a path to glasnost and the eventual crumbling of the "evil empire". Indeed, it is REAGAN’S legacy, the defeat of communism and the successful culmination of the Cold War. How about BUSH going to ARAFAT’S compound and standing with him in his recent efforts to condemn terrorism in Palestine and enlisting his efforts to identify HAMAS and other terrorist Islamic groups? In return BUSH could make real and concrete gestures towards the establishment of a homeland for these oppressed-the Palistinians. Perhaps then BUSH could get real support from the moderate Arab states, to stand up in unison and really make a difference in the growing schism around the world between extremist Muslims and Americans. Now that would be the stuff of legacy and legend. THE LEGACY DUBYA 4.18.02 Towards the end of the CLINTON administration, there was all too much talk about BILL and his legacy. Never mind that he had the parties in the Middle East closer than ever before to an historic, and incredibly important peace settlement. Hindsight reveals that all so clearly, now. Never mind the impossible hours and the Herculean effort that our former president expended. The cynical press along with a cadre of vocal conservative partisans pounded BILL CLINTON on his way from office. They said he was shamelessly trying to pad his "legacy". They said he was trying to divert attention from the scandals of his administration. And CLINTON keeps on taking the hits, recently being blamed for the state of affairs in Palestine by both ARI FLEISCHER and President BUSH, their belated apologies notwithstanding. So it is interesting to speculate on what kind of legacy GEORGE DUBYA may achieve. Just last evening conservative DICK MORRIS, one of CLINTON’S advisors (before the prostitute scandal), mused on CNN’S NEWSNIGHT that BUSH might one day end up on Mt. Rushmore. As laughable as that is, it could come true should the President succeed in his war on terrorism. That battle grows more difficult each day. Secretary of State COLIN POWELL has returned, having accomplished little or nothing. While, certainly, BUSH cannot be blamed for failing to bring peace to a region that has been at war for eternity. It is his policies that have failed. They have been inconsistent if not incoherent. He has critics on both the left and right on his handling of the Middle East. And BUSH has an ever-expanding heap of other trouble on his hands, none of which lends itself to a favorable legacy, much less a chiseled profile in granite. Events of this past weekend indicate an administration reacting to world developments in a fumbling manner. On Friday Venezuelan President HUGO CHAVEZ was toppled in a military coup, after his polices and the eventual killings of protestors eroded his support from the armed forces. CHAVEZ was elected with the strong backing of the poor yet his policies were beginning to smack of cronyism and corruption. He is cozy with CASTRO, and proposed to place the oil business in his country, the major export from Venezuela, in the hands of some unsavory people close to him. This didn’t sit well with demonstrators, though it appealed to the BUSH administration. They failed to timely denounce the coup and were very slow to support the democratically elected CHAVEZ. Talks were had with his successor, administration sources have since reluctantly admitted. Yet the very next day, to the surprise of the administration, CHAVEZ was reinstated to power by an uprising from the very poor that elected him. It’s not the first time BUSH officials made the wrong political calculus. In the California gubernatorial election BUSH handpicked former Los Angeles mayor to be the Republican challenger to Governor GRAY DAVIS. Just one little problem, BILL SIMON beat him in the primary. The point man for President BUSH on Latin American policy is OTTO REICH, who as it were, was not approved by the Democratically controlled Senate, but rather installed by BUSH when the Senate was out of session. I seem to recall President CLINTON catching all kinds of hell for making similar appointments during his term. Senator CHRISTOPHER DODD, the main detractor to the appointment of REICH, says the administration’s performance on the issue is lacking "more adult supervision". REICH is not new to controversy. He was an official in the REAGAN administration and deeply enmeshed in the IRAN-CONTRA scandal. His inaction on the ARGENTINE financial collapse has drawn criticism as well. He is favored by BUSH no doubt for his ultra-conservative stance on Cuba, but his performance in Latin America is so far less than stellar. The BUSH administration is facing pressure from throughout the world for two recent actions pertaining to trade. The President recently imposed tariffs of up to 30% on steel imports which has the WTO and the European Union poised to retaliate with similar levies on steel exported by the US. Similar action was taken on textiles, to the dismay of Pakistan which had hoped its cooperation in the war on terror would leave them in better stead vis-à-vis trade with the United States. Textiles are the main industry in Pakistan, and the decision earlier this year has Pakistanis feeling betrayed to say the least. That decision doesn’t bode well for the stalled war on terror. Could we have toppled the Taliban without the courage and support from Pakistan’s President MUSHAREEF? Is this how we repay him? The Defense Department, despite daily tour de force performances by Secretary DONALD RUMSFELD, is on the retreat. The Washington Post this week is reporting that the BUSH administration screwed up by not capturing OSAMA BIN LADEN at Tora Bora. He remains at large, as do nearly all of the top commanders of Al Queda, despite months and months of what we are being told is a successful war in Afghanistan. OSAMA taunts us, now daily, with newly released video slaps in the face. Yesterday, in Afghanistan the military killed 4 Canadians in a friendly fire mishap, injuring twice that many, all of them involved in a training mission there. It is not the first such friendly fire incident. And the international community continues to kick and scream about the administration’s position that detainees at Guantanamo Bay have no right to lawyers and can be held indeterminately without being charged. How long can we show such disdain to the principles of our own Constitution, international treaties and basic human rights? Worse still, just when and how badly will this come back to bite us in the ass when our own soldiers or citizens are at the behest of others less principled than we? Army Secretary THOMAS WHITE refuses to step down despite a list of burgeoning scandals in which he may have been involved as an Enron executive. Did he violate insider-trading laws when he profited more than $12 million from his sale of that company’s stock. Did he use government aircraft to fly around the country looking for homes to purchase? And was he responsible, or did he have of the faulty accounting practices that led to the massive failure of the company. Arthur Andersen, the entire firm, has been criminally indicted in that scandal which cost so many people their life savings and vast others, their jobs. Meanwhile a top ranking general, who is supposed to report to Commander-in-Chief BUSH, refuses to step down, and apparently fails to acknowledge any sensitivity to the ethical conduct becoming a government employee at such altitudes. Speaking of Enron, how is it there is no independent counsel to investigate this scandal. It has trails that lead around and about the White House, the President, the Vice-President, and members of his cabinet and armed services, yet it apparently draws little interest from Attorney General ASHCROFT. Explain to me once again why a President that steals away for some quick sex in the White House merits an international investigation leaving no stone unturned, while the collapse of one of the country’s largest companies as a result of fraud, corruption and misrepresentation, with devastating financial results effecting literally thousands if not millions of people has not yet resulted in an indictment of even one Enron official? It is absolutely baffling to me! Note, not a word on the economy, which is less than blazing; the looming bankruptcy of Social Security which hasn’t benefited from the BUSH tax cut or the vanishing surplus; skyrocketing health care costs along with the growing gaps in coverage; and the budget deficit and the prospect of years of deficit spending to fund the unlimited and exorbitant defense and homeland security needs. What chance is there for favorable resolution of these issues given the fact that BUSH’S strengths lie in the foreign policy realm? I’d say the jury is still out on the Rushmore thing. send us your comments/complains: bill@manmademultimedia.com

back to top © 2002 Manmade Multimedia, Inc.