Just the politics, please

In an attempt to manage between spamming my friends and going crazy with this administration, I am hoping to vent my rage in planned and measured outbursts rather than holding it in and taking it out on Streak's other friends.

So, a few news and notes.

First, it appears that one of the Republican fundraising and newspaper supporters is a traitor. That's right, the crazy and moronic Reverent Moon evidently helped North Korea obtain old nuclear submarines. Where is the outrage from George and his buddies? Why, oh why does the American people stand for this kind of stuff?

Second, speaking of FOB's (Friends of Bush), there is Katherine Harris, of Florida election fame. Now, a sterling Representative from that state (undoubtedly helping the mascara industry) Harris made a speech where she quoted a mayor from a town that had had uncovered a plot to blow up that town's power grid. Funny, but the mayor knew nothing of the sort. Then she said that it was still true, but was classified...not for her, of course.... Turns out it wasn't classified or correct.

Third? Yes, there is more. Our Veep, the estimable Richard "Dick" Cheney spoke in Albuquerque last week to a crowd of well-wishers. Not a dissenting voice to be heard. Well, actually, not a dissenting voice even allowed near. To get tickets, people had to sign a pledge that they supported the President and VP this fall. Add to that the free speech zones (no, the entire country is NOT a free speech zone) and this administration starts to take on a really bad vibe. I don't want to say goosestepping, but jeesh! Hell, if they can say I am unamerican, then I get to say they lean toward the fascist side of politics. Well? If you control the news, limit dissent, and make rulings in secret, what do you call that?

Fourth. After Tom Ridge's annoucement this week (as Letterman put it: "Hold on to your wigs and keys") we dealt with the whole fear that this administration has so politicized Homeland Security that these terror announcements are politically timed to discredit or distract the opposition. Truly disturbing allegations, and it should be noted, the former President Clinton said that the administration was playing it straight. But the administration has some credibility problems. Pandagon (damn fine blog, btw) noted this little gem:

Pandagon: Completely Divorced From Politics, You Betcha: "Administration sources tell TIME that employees at the Department of Homeland Security have been asked to keep their eyes open for opportunities to pose the President in settings that might highlight the Administration's efforts to make the nation safer. The goal, they are being told, is to provide Bush with one homeland-security photo-op a month."

See? No politics going on here. Just as they used the budget last February to publish campaign photos of Bush being "presidential" they are politicizing even our security. Add to this the Bush tactic of asking churches to provide their rosters to help the campaign, and I think we have a full folder called "Will do anything to get Elected!" That last thing made Richard Land mad. And his voice is usually muffled and hard to hear since he is speaking from inside the President's ass!

Ok, and now last something positive. Really. (At least for me.) Bruce Springsteen (yes, the Boss) is speaking out on the political election. And will be singing out in a tour with other lefties (or people just left of Bush). He argues, and I think this is a good argument, that people criticize artists and celebrities for speaking out on politics, but corporations also speak out and often for the conservative side. Artists have their own right to speak, and yes, to be criticized for it. But this is what Bruce wrote about America:

It is through the truthful exercising of the best of human qualities - respect for others, honesty about ourselves, faith in our ideals - that we come to life in God's eyes. It is how our soul, as a nation and as individuals, is revealed. Our American government has strayed too far from American values. It is time to move forward. The country we carry in our hearts is waiting. (Thanks to Obsidian Wings)

We really can do better. I don't know about the Dems recent campaign themes, but let me say that I "Hope" that "Help is on the way."