Friday Roundup

Let’s recap what this politically wounded president is doing to improve his standing with the American people, shall we?

This from yesterday's New York Times:
Mr. Bush was also asked about the impact of the many distractions now weighing on the administration, including the Iraq war, the C.I.A leak investigation, and the embattled nomination of Harriet E. Miers to the Supreme Court. .
"There's some background noise here, a lot of chatter, a lot of speculation and opining," he said, unsmiling. "But the American people expect me to do my job and I'm going to."
How freakin’ out of touch do you have to be to say something like that? Apparently the American people, namely the mother of a dead soldier who wants to know why her son was killed, are but “chatter” and “background noise” in George Bush’s empty, echoing skull. Either that or all the coke he’s snorting is making him hear voices…
But it gets better...

• New bankruptcy legislation took effect this week. This is Bush’s cruel joke on struggling American’s. It is also his “thanks for buying my re-election" gift to the corrupt banking lobby. Bank of America had double-digit profit growth last quarter but apparently that's not enough. They also require the legal right to financially enslave hardworking Americans who have the audacity to undergo an unaffordable illness or layoff.
• Bushies are also desperately trying to pass $50 billion in budget cuts for food stamps, veteran’s healthcare and other programs that benefit the neediest Americans (and which have surprisingly escaped being completely gutted already).
• In addition, as though the above bill is not cruel enough, arrogant republicans are attaching an amendment to the same bill that will allow drilling in our once federally protected Alaskan wilderness. One of the last remaining parcels of unspoiled land in America. This has been a top priority for Bush since becoming president.
• “Hey boys and girls, be the first kid on your block to own a handgun!” In a final parting gift to his bestest of friends (even better friends than bankers). Bush really went over the top in showering the gun industry and the NRA with early Christmas gifts. Now, we have rarely seen a more evil industry (and there are many). The gun group is second only to cigarette manufacturers as being the great purveyors of death in this country. Bush is getting ready to sign legislation that grants retroactive immunity to these murderers. Obviously pro-business conservadroids have learned their lesson from the plight of the poor darling cigarette conglomerates who have been subjected to paying out a fraction of their blood money just for marketing death sticks to children.

Finally and MOST disturbing, Condi Rice is dropping little hints that the Iraqi conflict may expand into Syria (at least). Clearly, Bush imperialism is going to continue unabated and like any good dictatorship it will do so regardless of public sentiment or political opinion. Lamo Ducko could care less. He has become the very Saddam he worked so hard to depose. How's that for painful irony?