Wolves in Sheep's Clothing, Part I

Earlier this week, President Obama's administration pressured Citigroup to reverse the company's decision to accept delivery of a new $45 million corporate jet. Citigroup initially declared on Monday that it could not comment on the purchase of the airplane due to security reasons. A few hours later, Citigroup reversed its stance by claiming that the company signed a contract in 2005 for a replacement aircraft as part of a plan to decrease the amount of company planes and reduce operating costs. The company's Public Relations Department alleged that "Refusing delivery now would result in millions of dollars in penalties". However, the next day, a spokesperson from Citigroup informed CNN that "We have no intent to take delivery of any new aircraft".

It is extremely important to keep a couple of things in mind when it comes to Citigroup: (1) The company has received $45 billion in economic assistance from the federal bailout plan and (2) Aside from the 23,000 jobs already eliminated last year, the company has announced plans to cut 52,000 more positions. By the way, the luxury jet that Citigroup planned to purchase is a Dassault Falcon 7X, which is extremely rare and only seats twelve passengers.

The news from Citigroup is right on the heels of the resignation of John Thain from Merrill Lynch for various offenses. First, the media has reported that Thain personally approved $1.22 million to be spent in the renovation of his office shortly after he was named Chairman and CEO. Aside from spending $800,000 to hire celebrity designer Michael Smith, Thain's decorating expenses included, among other things, $131,000 for area rugs, $87,000 for a pair of guest chairs, $68,000 for a nineteenth century credenza, $35,000 for a toilet, $25,000 for a mahogany pedestal table and $1,400 for a trash can. Thain also used $230,000 in company money to pay the annual salary of his personal chauffeur. Even more dastardly than those actions are the fact that Thain authorized annual bonuses (typically issued in January) to be paid in December of last year. The primary issue with this is that these bonuses were extracted from the money provided by the federal government for the economic bailout.

Extremist of the Day

On a recent broadcast of the conservative "The Mike Gallagher Show", Rep. Steven King (R-IA) provided his ridiculous views concerning President Obama's plans to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay by the end of the year: "Let’s just say that, that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of 9/11, is brought to the United States to be tried in a federal court in the United States under a federal judge, and we know what some of those judges do, and on a technicality, such as, let’s just say he wasn’t read his Miranda rights...He is released into the streets of America, walks over and steps up into a U.S. embassy and applies for asylum for fear he can’t go back home because he spilled the beans on al-Qaeda. What happens then if another judge grants him asylum in the United States and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is on a path to citizenship?"

The scary thing about King's statements is that I have heard normal, everyday Americans utter even more extreme comments. In fact, some individuals have actually expressed their concerns that, when the Guantanamo Bay prison closes, Mohammed would be automatically released into public life. That would be akin to Timothy McVeigh, the American who killed 168 of his fellow Americans in Oklahoma City, being allowed to simply walk free in the United States if the federal penitentiary in which he was being held had been closed before he was executed. Of course, anyone with an eighth of a brain should realize that Mohammed would not be granted the ability to do so. At the same time, the opponents of President Obama would be unable to cite a specific example of when someone responsible for as many deaths as Mohammed or McVeigh was released from an American prison. With that being said, it is important to remember that, in an older posting, I documented the fact that the Bush administration's actions violated the 106-year-old Cuban-American Treaty. The treaty limits the use of Guantanamo Bay to "coaling or naval stations only, and for no other purpose", which obviously does not permit the various detainment and torture operations conducted by the Bush administration. Furthermore, the treaty also prohibits any individual, partnership, or corporation from establishing "a commercial, industrial or other enterprise" within Guantanamo Bay. However, the U.S. military base contains a McDonald's restaurant, two Starbucks outlets, a Subway restaurant and other American concessions.

For All of Those Fathers Out There

A letter that President Obama wrote to his two daughters, Malia and Sasha, was recently published in "PARADE".

Dear Malia and Sasha,

I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom and that, as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I've missed these past two years and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey.

When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me -- about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.

I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential -- schools that challenge them, inspire them and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college -- even if their parents aren't rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity.

I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you'll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other.

Sometimes we have to send our young men and women into war and other dangerous situations to protect our country -- but when we do, I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, that we try our best to settle our differences with others peacefully and that we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and women safe. And I want every child to understand that the blessings these brave Americans fight for are not free -- that with the great privilege of being a citizen of this nation comes great responsibility.

That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for equality because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean something.

She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better -- and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It's a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should be.

I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you've had. Not just because you have an obligation to give something back to this country that has given our family so much -- although you do have that obligation. But because you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.

These are the things I want for you -- to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure.

I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House.

Love, Dad

Our New President

Twenty-fours after yesterday's inauguration of President Barack Obama, I am still on cloud nine. If you did not witness this amazing event, WHAT IN THE WORLD IS WRONG WITH YOU? Aside from the numerous subtle digs at the debacle known as the Bush administration, the following excerpts are some of the best from President Obama's inauguration speech. (By the way, if you wish to either read or watch the entire speech, you can go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/inaugural-address/.)

• "My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you've bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors."
• "Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America: They will be met."
• "Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions -- that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin again the work of remaking America."
• "Now there are some who question the scale of our ambitions, who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short, for they have forgotten what this country has already done, what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose and necessity to courage."
• "To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."
• "As we consider the role that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages."
• "With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that, when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter and, with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."

Hallelujah!

Today is Inauguration Day for Barack Hussein Obama, the 44th President of the United States. I always felt that, when this day came, I would be just as excited about Mr. Bush leaving the White House as I would about President Obama entering. However, I am so euphoric about President Obama's presidency that all I can and want to say about Mr. Bush is "Goodbye to bad and dangerous rubbish!". Although I am not a religious person, the lyrics from a song by Leonard Cohen with the same title as my posting best describe my feelings right now: "I'll stand before the Lord of Song, With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah."

Don't Let the Door Hit You

Hopefully this will be my very last posting on Mr. Bush. (However, with what we have seen from him and his administration over the last 8+ years, I highly doubt it.) Earlier this week, Mr. Bush thankfully conducted the final press conference of his administration. Although he admitted to certain mistakes (not the ones he should have), he primarily defended his stances and policies. The following excerpts from Mr. Bush's press conference clearly define his complete arrogance and his total lack of remorse. I have included some of my comments as well.

Bush: "Through it all, it's been -- I have respected you. Sometimes didn't like the stories that you wrote or reported on. Sometimes you misunderestimated me."

Bush: "The problem with the outcome of the initial round of the debate was that some people said, well, Republicans don't like immigrants. Now that may be fair or unfair but that's what -- that's the image that came out."
The Harrowdown Hill: If the image is fair, are you saying that Republicans actually don't like immigrants?

Bush: "Look, there's plenty of critics in this business; I understand that. And I thank you for giving me a chance to defend a record that I am going to continue to defend because I think it's a good, strong record."
The Harrowdown Hill: The role of President of the United States is not a business. The position requires the office holder to protect the citizens of this country. You, on the other hand, have consistently turned your back on so many people in need.

Bush: "I view those who get angry and yell and say bad things and, you know, all that kind of stuff, it's just a very few people in the country. I don't know why they get angry. I don't know why they get hostile."
The Harrowdown Hill: I'm not sure which is more frustrating: the fact that you think that there is only a small amount of individuals who vehemently disagree with you and your actions or that you don't know why we are so angry and hostile. Keep reading and find out.

Bush: "I have often said that history will look back and determine that which could have been done better or, you know, mistakes I made. Clearly putting a 'Mission Accomplished' on a aircraft carrier was a mistake. It sent the wrong message. We were trying to say something differently but, nevertheless, it conveyed a different message. Obviously, some of my rhetoric has been a mistake."
The Harrowdown Hill: Really? Out of everything inherently wrong with the Iraq War, the fact that you hung that ridiculous banner 2,079 days ago was the only error you feel you have made throughout our occupation in the Middle East. How about the lies and false information you and your administration used to justify the invasion of Iraq, the failure to secure weapons depots throughout Iraq, the inability to secure Iraq following the invasion, the lack of appropriate body armor and armored vehicles for the troops, your inadequate planning and administration of post-invasion Iraq, your torture and rendition practices (including at Abu Ghraib prison), your illegal detention of numerous suspects at Guantanamo Bay, your abuse of the USA PATRIOT Act, the mismanagement of the terrorist watch lists, the poor regulation of U.S. contractors in the Middle East, your failure to capture Osama bin Laden, the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan, etc.

Bush: "I've thought long and hard about Katrina -- you know, could I have done something differently, like land Air Force One either in New Orleans or Baton Rouge? The problem with that and -- is that law enforcement would have been pulled away from the mission. And then your questions, I suspect, would have been, how could you possibly have flown Air Force One into Baton Rouge and police officers that were needed to expedite traffic out of New Orleans were taken off the task to look after you?"
The Harrowdown Hill: YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! After "thinking" long and hard about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, all you can come up with is that you should have possibly landed your airplane in Louisiana instead of just flying over it on your way home. Take some time to think long and hard about these: (1) You named the former Judges and Stewards Commissioner for the International Arabian Horse Association as the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, (2) even before the hurricane made landfall, you received warnings about the size of the storm and the strong probability for levee breaches and you did nothing, (3) you abandoned thousands of U.S. citizens at the Louisiana Superdome and the New Orleans Morial Convention Center and then (4) you persisted in blaming state and local officials for the poor relief efforts. If you need more examples, trust me, I've got them.

Bush: "There have been disappointments. Abu Ghraib obviously was a huge disappointment during the presidency. Not having weapons of mass destruction was a significant disappointment. I don't know if you want to call those mistakes or not, but they were -- things didn't go according to plan, let's put it that way."
The Harrowdown Hill: Well, aw shucks. You're right--that whole weapons of mass destruction thing sure was a real pisser. However, I'm pretty sure that the families of the 4,229 Americans who have died in Iraq may not see it that way, especially since those weapons were supposedly your main reason for invading Iraq.

Bush: "I guess I could have been popular by accepting Kyoto, which I felt was a flawed treaty, and proposed something different and more constructive."
The Harrowdown Hill: Yeah but you didn't. And maybe not ratifying the Kyoto Protocol was a smart idea. I mean, only 183 other nations have done so. It's not like it is 184.

Bush: "In terms of the decisions that I had made to protect the homeland, I wouldn't worry about popularity. What I would worry about is the Constitution of the United States."
The Harrowdown Hill: I would have to say that the PATRIOT Act tends to differ with you a little bit.

Bush: "Even in the darkest moments of Iraq, you know, there was -- and every day when I was reading the reports about soldiers losing their lives, no question there was a lot of emotion but also there was times where we could be light hearted and support each other."
The Harrowdown Hill: How you even have the balls to make a comment like that is beyond me. Yes, let's have a party each day that an American loses his or her life in the Middle East. And the relatives of those who died get to choose the type of cake.

Bush: "Don't tell me the federal response [after Hurricane Katrina] was slow when there was thirty thousand people pulled off roofs right after the storm passed. I remember going to see those helicopter drivers, Coast Guard drivers, to thank them for their courageous efforts to rescue people off roofs. Thirty thousand people were pulled off roofs right after the storm moved through. It's a pretty quick response."
The Harrowdown Hill: The problem with that, you moron, is thousands and thousands of those rescued were taken to the convention center. And then those thousands and thousands of individuals were amazingly deserted for days by you and your administration. I am sure they appreciate being thrown from the frying pan into the fire.

Bush (in response to a question about his plans for the near future): "I'm a Type A personality, you know, I just -- I just can't envision myself, you know, the big straw hat and Hawaiian shirt sitting on some beach."
The Harrowdown Hill: No, that doesn't sound like you at all. Well, except for the fact that, as of August 2008, you had spent more than 915 vacation days at either Camp David or your ranch in Crawford, TX. As you can imagine, that 2.5+ years of vacation time is completely offensive to the twenty-five percent of the U.S workforce who do not receive holiday or vacation pay.

You Should Be Proud of Yourself

As part of their current farewell tour, the White House recently produced a list of potential "terrorist" attacks in the United States which were "prevented" by the Bush administration since September 11, 2001. That list includes:

• A plot to destroy fuel tanks and a fuel pipeline at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. NOTE: This particular plan by unimpressive suspects did not target any airplanes or passenger terminals or airplanes, only jet fuel. And, according to Richard Kuprewicz, an independent energy consultant with more than thirty years of experience in working with pipeline operators, destroying fuel tanks and pipelines would not cause the airport to be closed for days on end. To quote Kuprewicz, "Jet fuel is flammable and can be made to explode but it's difficult".
• A plan to destroy airplanes destined for the East Coast. NOTE: At the insistence of the Bush administration, British authorities arrested more than twenty individuals. However, numerous experts agreed that those arrested would have been unable to mix the planned liquid explosives on an airplane. Craig Murray, the former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan, summarized the situation: "None of the alleged terrorists had made a bomb. None had bought a plane ticket. Many did not even have passports."
• A plot to destroy the U.S. Bank Tower, the tallest building on the West Coast. NOTE: Officials in Los Angeles determined that various men had been selected and money had been designated for the mission. However, once al-Qaeda operatives were arrested in Indonesia and other parts of the world, this specific plot did not progress beyond the initial planning stages.
• An attempt to kill soldiers at Fort Dix in New Jersey. NOTE: One anonymous law enforcement officer informed CNN that that the six arrested suspects were "hardly hard core terrorists". Another source was quoted by CNN as saying that these individuals are "not the type that made the hair on the back of your neck stand up". Apparently these threats to the world as we know it took their video plan for attacking the base to a local electronics store in order to burn DVDs and one of the suspects asked a police officer in Philadelphia about obtaining maps of Fort Dix. The five-member group was fittingly described by "The Washington Post" as "bungling".
• A plan to attack a shopping mall in Rockford, IL by detonating grenades in garbage cans. NOTE: Sentenced to thirty-five years in prison, Derrick Shareef was acting alone, had no ties to any terrorist organization and, despite his supposed scheme, had not acquired any grenades.
• A plot to attack the Sears Tower in Chicago. NOTE: A senior federal law enforcement officer declared that the arrested suspects had "aspirations" but "no means" to attack the Sears Tower or any other buildings. A second senior officer asserted that "There was no threat at all".

As you can see, the Bush administration really had to go out of their way to stop these extremely dangerous and intelligent criminals. Ironically (but not surprisingly), the White House did not bother to mention the terrorist attack that they completely failed in preventing. Need a reminder? It was SEPTEMBER 11TH!!! On August 6th (just over a month before that fateful day), Mr. Bush receives a daily briefing titled "Bin Ladin Determined To Strike in US". Despite this obviously important information, the Bush administration essentially does nothing. The rest is history.

A White Hood Was Too Obvious?

On a March 2007 broadcast of "The Rush Limbaugh Show", Limbaugh aired a song called "Barack the Magic Negro", which was based on an editorial in the "Los Angeles Times" from an author of African American descent. Written and recorded by Paul Shanklin, a conservative political "comedian" and impressionist, Shanklin sings the parody to the tune of "Puff, the Magic Dragon". Shanklin impersonates Al Sharpton by using a megaphone to sing the lyrics, including "Barack the Magic Negro lives in D.C.; The L.A. Times, they called him that; 'Cause he's not authentic like me" and "See, real black men like Snoop Dog or me or Farrakhan; Have talked the talk and walked the walk; Not come in late and won".

When Limbaugh played the ridiculous song almost two years ago, unfortunately the media did not provide much coverage on the situation. However, what is even more pathetic is the lack of media coverage when the song resurfaced again at the end of December. Chip Saltsman, the manager of Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign and (believe it or not) a candidate for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee, sent a Christmas CD filled with satirical songs to numerous members of the RNC. As is common with the majority of the right wing, Saltsman did not see anything wrong with his actions: "Our party leaders should stand up against the media's double standards and refuse to pander to their desire for scandal." Former Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-GA) surprisingly served as the voice of reason by stating "This is so inappropriate that it should disqualify any Republican National Committee candidate who would use it".

Disgrace on the Left

Reporting today for the first day of the 111th Congress and his first day as a United States Senator, Roland Burris was denied entry into the Senate chambers: "I presented my credentials to the Secretary of the Senate and advised that my credentials were not in order and I would not be accepted and I would not be seated and I would not be permitted on the floor." Burris was nominated by embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to fill President-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat. Although Democratic leaders have promised to reject any candidate named by Blagojevich due to the controversies surrounding him, why those same people are so opposed to an individual as harmless as Burris is baffling.

There are numerous Democrats to blame for this debacle, including President-elect Obama. However, the largest finger should be pointed at Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). Aside from the fact that, by taking the reins of this situation, Reid has completely publicized this battle when we should be preparing for President-elect Obama's inauguration. On the other hand, for someone apparently so against any connections with Blagojevich, Reid could have fooled me. A spokesperson for Blagojevich has confirmed that Reid, who is obviously not from the State of Illinois, personally called the governor's campaign office in December of last year to discuss Reid's choices for the vacant Senate seat. Those candidates were Tammy Duckworth, the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, and Lisa Madigan, the Illinois Attorney General. At the same time, during that conversation, Reid also presented the names of individuals to which he objected: Rep. Daniel Davis; Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. and State Sen. Emil Jones. (It is extremely important to note that Davis; Jackson, Jr. and Jones are all African American, as is Burris.) Even with President-elect Obama's monumental election, Reid and his cohorts (See: Pelosi, Frank, Schumer, etc.) are ruining the Democratic Party.