Foreign Media does it again: Tells us what's really happening in our own country.

The Independent reports that Dubya wants to set things up in Iraq so that the U.S. has long-term control of the country and he can claim "victory" before he leaves office. This deal would secure our military presence in Iraq no matter who wins the election in November.

The Guardian reports that Katrina victims are being booted out of their FEMA trailers. One last twist of the knife, eh? First the government doesn't respond, then they do but they fuck it up, then they stick everyone in tiny trailers that have formaldehyde in them, then they kick survivors out. Nice.

A Series of Odd Events

• The animals running the Burmese government aren't giving cyclone victims the food that has been donated by various other countries. Instead, the victims are getting moldy biscuits and old rice to eat. It is believed that the good stuff is being horded in military warehouses. What a bunch of jerks! (That's me, being diplomatic.)
• "Chubby" gays need love too. Now they have their own dating site. Interesting choice of words, I say. (Oh, and if you're at work, or if you value your own eyesight, you probably don't want to click on that link!!)
• You think Senator Obama's ex-pastor is nuts? Just listen to John McCain's pastor -- he's a certifiable whack-job. He actually says, "We get off on warfare" in the video. True, yes, but still frightening to see this crazy guys' message endorsed by a former POW. That's not odd at all, McCain! Geez!
• Einstein's views on god are explained in a recently discovered letter he wrote. Interesting how the American news media hasn't covered this at all...

More Opinons on the Economy

Moe, over at Jezebel, thinks Wall St should go fuck itself. I concur. The country probably wouldn't be in so much trouble if lenders hadn't been so damned greedy for the past few years, giving out loans to anyone and everyone without so much as checking an applicant's ability to actually repay said loan. What, did they think the bubble would never pop? All bubbles eventually burst. Oh, and There are no guarantees in the stock market.

However, don't fret! Our old pal Dick says "we're [just] going through a rough patch." Ya think? Bet he doesn't lose any sleep at night, since his financial well-being is tied up in Halliburton, which is doing quite well, thanks to our unending war in Iraq (and our distraction from Iraq, thanks to fears about the economy).

Economist Joseph Stiglitz says:

"Think about it this way: the war has cost each American family about $30,000. That's more money than some families make in a year. For others, it might not bankrupt them, but it could sure make a difference. It's about the price of a new car - whether you wanted to buy the car or not."

Wow. A new car I'll never have.

Actually, it's not the "car" I'm upset about. It's the blind leadership we've had in politics and the financial world for the past few years that makes me sad. Five years after starting the Iraq war, Dub-Dub has the gall to say it has been "worth it." Wow, what planet is he living on?

Thanks, Donnie.

Another instance of we coulda got em, but we didn't. Sigh. Everyone knows it's better to nip something in the bud than try to contain it after it's bloomed into a monster. Everyone except the current Administration, that is.

I gotta agree

I am disappointed that Congress caved and sent the Dubster a no-strings attached bill for funding the Iraq war. Back in November, I thought things would actually start changing, but somehow the Dems we elected have forgotten why we voted for them --- to get us the hell outta Iraq! Who cares what El Prez will or won't sign! He's the one who got us into this mess and he's got a ridiculously LOW approval rating. If you ask me, that means no one likes him or his policies. For pete's sake, Congress, grow some fucking balls and start turning the ship around! I am talking to you, Nancy Pelosi --- where's The End of this war? I don't want to wait until 2008. I'm tired of the lies, the backsliding, the wishy-washiness, the crap. Where the hell did my democracy go?!

Iraq

Apparently the folks at White House is scaling back their chatter on 'progress' in Iraq. Perhaps it's because there hasn't really been any?

Oh Dubya, things are just falling apart, aren't they? Vulfee is caught up in a World Bank scandal (involving a ladyfriend, no less [ewww! a female actually likes the spit-do guy?!]), your pal Gonzales has a case of amnesia so bad he could star in a soap opera, and your pet war is an ever-growing glorious hot mess.

Dub, I want a divorce. This president-citizen relationship thing isn't working for me; it has completely unraveled. It's funny--if you were running a company instead of a country, you'd have been hauled off months ago, stripped of your title, and put in a padded room to await counseling on your delusions of grandeur.

Time fo' some news

Wiccans finally get approval to have pentacles on their gravestones. Dubya doesn't mind sending them to die in Iraq, but he does mind if they rest in peace under the [peaceful] religious symbol of their choice.

Infant mortality rates in the Southeast, especially the Mississippi Delta, are on the rise. Perhaps the MS state legislature could worry about the health & quality of life of Delta citizens instead of trying to ban abortion? Oh, and NOT cutting Medicaid and CHIP services?

Finally, Boris Yeltsin died. That man sure could cut a rug!

So what do the ladies get?

When nutso suicide bombers of the Muslim persuasion die in the course of violently offing their enemies and innocent bystanders alike, it is well known that said crazies believe they get to go to heaven and frolic with 72 virgins since they martyred themselves for the faith.

So what do female suicide bombers get? A harem of hot guys to fool around with for eternity? Nope. They get to be the boss of the 72 virgins their former husbands in life will be shagging. Huh?!

And people wonder why I have such a hard time giving credit to religion's (any religion's) afterlife stories. What a load of cracked-out crap!