Mr. High Maintenance

In addition to being one evil son of a gun, Dick "other priorities" Cheney is high maintenance - really high maintenance. Name one other person in this country or any other for that matter, who has three no fly zones over his residences? And, get this, you can't fly near his new manison even when he isn't there. He's just that precious. Read for yourself: Pilots Complain About Cheney's Airspace.

Isn't this special?

From "Co-conspirators’ largesse extended to many" published in The Hill:

Republican Reps. Tom DeLay (Texas), John Doolittle (Calif.) and Jerry Lewis (Calif.) all received at least $30,000 in donations — either through their campaign committee or their leadership PACs — from Wade, Wilkes, their family members and their companies’ PACs over the past four years. These totals do not include individual contributions from employees of these firms. Early this year, Lewis became the chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee. Before that, he headed the defense appropriations subcommittee. Because of these high-profile roles, Lewis often receives more donations than most House members. Doolittle also sits on the Appropriations Committee.

I should be clear: Wade & Wilkes are two of the defense contractors associated with Duke Cunningham's corruption and bribery charges.

This photo of Mt. Saint Helens was taken by John Pallister/USGS - gorgeous!
[click on photo to view full size]

Once again, Bush is his own satirist

"Any member of congress, Republican or Democrat, must take their office seriously, the ethics seriously," Bush said Tuesday while traveling in Texas [raising money!]. The idea of a congressman taking money is outrageous and U.S. Rep. Cunningham is going to realize that he has broken the law and is going to pay a serious price, which he should."

From: AP Story on Cunningham's Resignation

Quotable

"Bye-bye, GOP

As Will Rogers said, "Patriotism means supporting your country always, and your politicians when they've earned it."

How dare Vice President Dick Cheney and the spokesman for the White House attack a career Marine combat veteran with two Purple Hearts whom Cheney called his best supporter when Cheney was secretary of defense? Add Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage to those who scream for support of the president's vague and dangerous plan, but never served themselves. Having pulled guys like Rep. John Murtha out of the jungle in Vietnam, I'm fed up with the GOP and cutting up the party membership card they sent me in 2003."

~ John B. McTasney, Colonel, USAF (Ret.) Carmichael, CA
LTE in today's Sac Bee

How can we be a watchdog for justice when we don't know what we don't know?

Hmm...I didn't know this about Congressman Doolittle:

Exerpt from Mark Schmitt's informative and thought provoking piece in the TPM Cafe "The Return of Doolittle and DeLay":

Back in the late-1990s, and for some time after, as the McCain-Feingold bill limiting soft monfey contributions gathered momentum, an alternative emerged that would have eliminated all restrictions on campaign contributions, and in return all contributions would be reported immediately on the Internet. Accompanied by the ritual quotation from Justice Brandeis that "sunlight is the best disinfectant," the proposal to replace regulation with disclosure was first introduced by Congressman Doolittle, with DeLay as his lead cosponsor of "Doolittle/DeLay." Ney did not cosponsor, but probably just because he ran the committee that the bill was referred to, where he supported it. Burns took the same position in the Senate, complete with the same quote from everyone's favorite Massachusetts liberal.

[...]

The fact that the principal advocates for the disclosure-only approach are now revealed to be (alleged) crooks does not in itself invalidate the idea or cancel out its merits as policy. But the specific case, even if none of the named legislators is provably guilty of a felony, shows starkly the limits of such an approach.

First, note that it has taken the FBI several years now to even begin to piece together the relationships between campaign contributions and official actions in this case, with indications that the investigation might take several more years. And that's with all of Abramoff's boastful e-mails as a roadmap. How would an ordinary citizen be expected to understand whether a campaign contribution from, say, the Tigua tribe, should be a matter of concern?

Be sure to read Schmitt's entire piece.

Substantial unraveling either way...

For the good of the Party: So long Sucka!

Here's a little blurb from Newsweek on the Abramobb scandal: Bob Ney: Will Ethics Scandals Hurt GOP Bids in 2006?

Not much to it except for an interesting quote from Grover Norquist (aka the GOP's Snidely Whiplash):

In a breakfast with reporters, Republican activist and key White House ally Grover Norquist, whose own dealings with Abramoff have come under scrutiny, suggested if Ney is facing a "serious legal problem," he "should step aside for the good of the team." While no Republican has publicly asked Ney to step down in '06, party officials privately admit worries over the investigation, which reportedly includes other lawmakers. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Justice Department is now probing Abramoff's dealings with DeLay, Rep. John Doolittle and Sen. Conrad Burns, all of whom are up for re-election in 2006.

Quotable

"The more we learn about the road to Iraq, the more we realize that it's a losing game to ask what lies the White House told along the way. A simpler question might be: What was not a lie?"

~ Frank Rich from his NYT column, "Dishonest, Reprehensible, Corrupt..."

Send Lawyers, Guns & Money

Guess who's in today's news big time? John Doolittle. Don't know the name or face? If you watched Fahrenheit 9/11 you saw him run away away from Michael Moore when asked if his children were serving in the Iraq War. Total chickenhawk among other things vile and currently in power in Congress. Seems his close ties to both DeLay and Abramoff are becoming exposed. Here's a sampling:

From the Washington Post:

The Justice Department's wide-ranging investigation of former lobbyist Jack Abramoff has entered a highly active phase as prosecutors are beginning to move on evidence pointing to possible corruption in Congress and executive branch agencies, lawyers involved in the case said.

[...]

Abramoff's connections to Doolittle are also of interest to investigators, sources said. Doolittle's former chief of staff, Kevin A. Ring, went to work with Abramoff. Doolittle's wife, Julie, owned a consulting firm that was hired by Abramoff and his firm, Greenberg Traurig, to do fundraising for a charity he founded. Two sources close to the investigation said that Ring, while working for Abramoff, was an intermediary in the hiring of Julie Doolittle's firm, Sierra Dominion Financial Solutions Inc., which last year received a subpoena from the grand jury investigating Abramoff.

Julie Doolittle's attorney, William L. Stauffer Jr., said Sierra Dominion Financial was hired by Greenberg Traurig to provide "event planning, marketing and related services, as requested by Mr. Abramoff" for Abramoff's Capital Athletic Foundation and his Signatures restaurant. Sierra Dominion received a monthly retainer from Greenberg Traurig from January 2003 until February 2004, at a rate similar to that paid by other Sierra Dominion clients, Stauffer said.

Abramoff frequently used the athletic foundation as a pass-through organization to run lobbying efforts and to pay for expenses, records show. Julie Doolittle was hired to put on a fundraiser for the foundation at the International Spy Museum, but the event was canceled because it had been scheduled to take place just at the Iraq war was commencing, Stauffer said.

"Sierra Dominion primarily performed public relations and other event planning services for the Spy Museum event," Stauffer said in an e-mail reply to questions. "This included responding to all individuals calling the Capital Athletic Foundation concerning the Spy Museum event, identifying (and contacting) possible attendees for the event, and assisting in fund raising strategy and letters."

Doolittle's office denied any connection between the firm's work and official acts.

"In no way did Sierra Dominion's business services work for Greenberg Traurig have any relationship to Congressman Doolittle's official duties as a member of the House of Representatives," said Doolittle spokeswoman Laura Blackmann.

"Congressman Doolittle has never received a subpoena regarding this matter, nor has he ever been contacted by the Justice Department to provide information or be questioned," she said.

And there's this from the LA Times:

WASHINGTON — His onetime friendship with super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff has come back to haunt Rep. John T. Doolittle of Northern California, a member of the House Republican leadership, as the Justice Department continues its probe into Abramoff's dealings with lawmakers.

Doolittle's name surfaced in the probe when the Washington Post reported late last year that the eight-term congressman from Roseville — a Mormon and staunch opponent of casino gambling — used Abramoff's luxury sports box in a Washington arena to host a fundraiser and then failed to report its value, as required by law.

[...]

Laura Blackann, a spokeswoman for Doolittle, denied that he had done anything wrong.

"Any suggestion that [Doolittle] may have had some improper involvement in matters recently disclosed about Mr. Abramoff and others comes as a complete surprise and is simply ridiculous," Blackann said in a statement. "Anyone who knows John Doolittle personally is well-aware of his character and high standard of ethics."

In an interview, Blackann said that the Justice Department had not contacted Doolittle or subpoenaed any documents from him.

It did, however, subpoena documents from Doolittle's wife, Julia Doolittle, who hosted a fundraising event for an Abramoff charity, the Capital Athletic Foundation.

A Senate investigation — separate from the Justice Department probe — has been looking into allegations that Abramoff and his business partner, Michael Scanlon, bilked tribal clients of money that sometimes was used to fund Abramoff's charitable interests through the Capital Athletic Foundation and other organizations.

Neither Julia Doolittle nor her attorney could be reached for comment Friday.

[...]

The lobbyists contributed heavily to lawmakers from both political parties, but particularly to powerful Republicans. Abramoff also hired former key Republican staffers — among them Kevin Ring, who worked on Doolittle's staff before joining Abramoff at the firm of Greenberg Traurig.

Ring was mentioned in testimony this month before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee by Fred Baggett, a senior manager of Greenberg Traurig. Baggett told the panel that the firm fired Abramoff, Ring and two other lobbyists after an internal investigation found that Abramoff and the other lobbyists had violated the firm's rules in their dealings with the tribes.

Ring did not respond to e-mails and phone messages on Friday seeking comment.

A Question...

Thinking about the band Queen and concerts from that time got me to thinking about albums. My best friend, Rudy and I had elaborate rituals around buying albums we had saved our meager money for and the first playing of the album. I remember the day we first listened to Queen's "A Night at the Opera" at his house and the time we listened to Dylan's "Desire" at mine. I was entranced with the song "Hurricane." Still am.

What was the first album, tape, CD you bought with your own money? Be honest...

Quotable

"I think that liberals should do what they’ve always done when they’re successful, which is to say they are the party that’s expanded ownership. That nothing has expanded ownership more than the GI bill, the student loans that gave people the opportunity to get higher paying jobs. So no one’s against ownership. The question is how do you spread it around? Seems to me the core difference is that liberals should argue that they are for the people who are trying to get up as opposed to the people who are already up."

~ E.J. Dionne (ThinkFast interview at Think Progress)

Thanksgiving Day

I wish that every human life might be pure transparent freedom.
~Simone de Beauvoir

Those who are willing to sacrifice their basic liberties
to assure their security deserve neither.
~ Benjamin Franklin

Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.
~Abraham Lincoln

Nations grown corrupt
Love bondage more than liberty;
Bondage with ease than strenuous liberty.
~John Milton

Ok, this is weird

CNN apologizes for X on Cheney's face

The Associated Press November 23, 2005

NEW YORK (AP) - CNN has apologized for a "technical malfunction" that briefly flashed a black "X" mark over the face of Vice President Dick Cheney during the network's coverage of a speech on Monday.

The "X" flashed twice, on the air for a total of one-seventh of a second, CNN said Wednesday.

The incident caused a brief sensation on the Web among people suspicious that it was a political commentary. But CNN said some of its machinery had a "momentary glitch" and no human operator was involved.

The "X" is something used by a computer to mark a space where one visual element is to segue into another, and is normally not seen by a viewer. The network likened its appearance to a computer that inexplicably freezes.

"We obviously regret that it happened and are working on the equipment to ensure it is not repeated," the network said in a statement.

I thought CNN owed an apology for airing Larry King's interview with Dick "other priorities" Cheney on Memorial Day. I was deeply offended by that and felt both an apology and restitution was in order. Flashing an "X" over Cheney's mug twice during one of his BS speeches is actually laudable.

We know why the about-to-be-caged bird sings

Photo by Monk accompained by interesting observation about the problem with Republican firewalls: Inflatable Dartboard. Another take on the Abramoff scandal at Salon:

Prosecutors are investigating the role of DeLay, who once described Abramoff as one of his closest friends, a fact that was revealed in a recent filing with the British government asking for information about a trip that Abramoff organized for DeLay in 2000. Dozens more senators and congressmen benefited from Abramoff's largess in recent years, and many of them later supported initiatives for Abramoff's clients. Rep. J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz., and Rep. John Doolittle, R-Calif., held fundraisers in Abramoff's skyboxes at sporting events without properly disclosing the in-kind contribution, a possible violation of campaign finance rules. Others, like Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., received $137,000 in campaign contributions from Abramoff and his tribal clients, and then helped one of Abramoff's clients obtain federal grant funding, a relationship that was first reported by the Washington Post.

"We know we have a number of members here, and that number may be more than two or three or four," says Ornstein, referring to the scope of the inquiry. "Right now I would be sweating bullets."

Update: from TPM

Now, six members of Congress -- not so many when you consider there are more than 500 hundred of them. But note the standard. Presumably, these are the ones FBI agents and federal prosecutors are looking to possibly charge with criminal offenses and send to prison.

Given how common a practice it is for big contributions to secure votes on key legislation in today's Washington (and yesterday's Washington too, for that matter), you've really got to cross the line in a big way to get into legal trouble for taking bribes, as already seems to have happened with Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH). The DOJ doesn't enforce House ethics rules (then again, nobody does anymore. but that's another story). Nor are there laws against general sleazeballery.

So how big a swath will the Abramoff scandal cut in the House? Six under scrutiny for actual charges? Figure there are ten times that many tarred with his brush, revealed to be deep in his web of corruption, on the freebie gravy train, even if they violated no specific laws which could land them in jail. How does the Abramoff scandal play in their districts?

Abramoff, Scanlon and ....?

The best place on-line to follow the scandal that is going to break up the most corrupt Congress in our time is at Talking Points Memo.

"The first thing to note is the political and legal fate of Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH). A few days ago a fellow blogger sent me a post in which he incorrectly stated that Ney was not running for reelection. I pointed out the error -- he'd confused him with retiring Ohio Rep. Mike Oxley (R). But I told him not to feel bad since he was right. Ney is retiring too; he just doesn't know it yet."

Get the scoop: here.

Quotable

"The guys in Congress are scared to death to say anything because they might be vilified. The soldiers can't speak for themselves. We sent them to war and, by God, we're the ones that have to speak out....You can't spin this. You've got to have a real solution. This is not a war of words, this is a war."

~ Rep. Jack Murtha (D-PA)

Rock On

Marie at the Right Left Story has an inspiring tribute to Freddy Mercury with great Mp3s and videos. Seems like we don't think about all the people we've lost to AIDS anymore. Mercury was truly one of a kind. I'm glad I was able to see him perform. Rock on, Freddy.

We will rock you mpg

Making Friends and Influencing People

The graphic is courtesy of Monk over at Inflatable Dartboard, one of my favorite blogs.

About Ms. Schmidt, check out this exerpt from an article, "Mean Jean" on AOL dot com no less about her hissy fit:

"We have said innumerable times that she would go to Washington and open her mouth and create an embarrassment," said Jim Schifrin, the newsletter's publisher. "She will say things that turn people off like nothing you've ever seen."

Among those seemingly turned off was Ms. Schmidt, who quickly asked that her words be withdrawn from the Congressional record, even as they made headlines worldwide.

Quotable

"I have never had a millionaire come to me and say: I need a tax break. I have had them come to me and say: “Frankly, the $100,000 I get a year is de minimis to me. It doesn't make a difference to me.”

So I wonder, when we are cutting Medicaid, when we are cutting virtually every domestic program we can cut, why millionaires get $100,000 in tax breaks a year. It does not make sense. They do not ask for them. They do not need them. It does not really make a difference to them."
~ Senator Diane Feinstein

Bush Approval Rating Reaches All-Time Low

"For the first time, more than half of the public thinks Bush is not honest and trustworthy -- 52 percent to 46 percent." CNN

Even with plumenting poll numbers for both Bush and Cheney, according to the long anticipated GAO report, if the election were held today, odds are that Chimpy McFlightsuit and Nasty McSneer would still pull out a 'win' in Ohio.

The Fighting Dem

I had the opportunity to meet Paul Hackett a couple nights ago. He was doing what many candidates from other states do: seeking the great ATM that is known as "blue California." My general impression of Hackett is that David Goodman's article "The Ohio Insurgency: the Democrat Who Fought" is an amazingly accurate portrayal of this man's intensity, charisma and intellect. I can understand why Republicans would be scared to death of him but the unfortunate thing is that some in the Democratic establishment appear to find Hackett threatening.

One of the things that struck me in his stump speech (and there were quite a few) was his proclaimation near the beginning: "I'm a Democrat and proud of it." If anyone might have some disappointments with the party at large, seems it would be Hackett. Instead, he has the character and wisdom to realize that many of us Dems are thrilled about his influence on our party's direction.

My only instance of disappointment with Hackett's appearance was his answer to a question about voting fraud in Ohio. He basically laughed it off saying he was often asked about this in CA but rarely in Ohio. He said he personally can't be involved in the movement to research and rectify Ohio voting irregularities but trusts that there are good people doing this. If I lived in Ohio, he would have my vote, but I'd be worried that it would not be counted correctly or counted at all. Paul said a couple times, "as things go in Ohio, so goes the nation." True. That's why step one in taking back this country from the most corrupt regime in our time, is to ensure fair voting exists in the state of Ohio.

What's the Deal with Bob Woodward?

What exactly is the deal with Bob Woodward and Plamegate? Monk at Inflatable Dartboard has a theory and a great graphic: Why Did Bob Woodward Sit on This Egg?

Quotable

"I think in our effort to be elected, we've become minimalists, tinkering around the edges--Our tax cut is better than yours, or, We'll give you smaller class sizes," he says. "That's not what the country wants. We've got to give the American people something big and important to be unified by. Republicans use big things to divide America. I think we can use big things to unite America."
~ former U.S. Senator John Edwards

Millionaire Politicians

There's an article in today's NY Times making the case that despite recent election experiences, millionaires don't have advantages when running for office. Hmmm....not sure I'm buying what's being sold.

Guess how many U.S. Senators are millionaires? 45.

From the article:

"The number of these candidates keeps getting a little bit greater, because the system is not particularly encouraging to people without money," said Benjamin L. Ginsberg, a campaign finance expert and lawyer."

It might also be worth remembering this example from the past when Arianna Huffington tries to self-identify as a populist:

"At worst, they can be seen as trying to buy an election, as some voters said about Michael Huffington, a United States representative who spent $28 million against Dianne Feinstein in the 1994 California Senate race."

According to the writer one of the main problems mega-millionaires face when they run for office is that they might come across as a phony. I'm sure there are instances when that has been the case but what choice do voters have if the only two candidates running are both self-financing moneybags? Based on marketing, you decide who is less phony?

I think this is a huge problem and wonder if there are any solutions. What are the chances of the millionaire Senators and Representatives already sitting in Congress voting for amendments to federal campaign fianance laws that would truly level the playing field?

Walking the Trail Today

I listened to my B-day present from Mr. Dem...an Ipod thing called a Zen Nano. I love it. A while back Viscount LeCarte posted his thoughts about the importance of compatible taste in music and its impact on relational satisfaction. Not only did Mr. Dem give me something to listen to and enjoy when walking 4 - 5 miles, since I've been so busy, he also loaded some music on it for me. I'm a very lucky girl.

The song I enjoyed the most this afternoon was "Things Have Changed" by Bob Dylan.

People are crazy and times are strange
I'm locked in tight, I'm outta range
I used to care, but things have changed.

Veterans' Day

I want to express my sincere gratitude to the men and women who have served our country and who are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. May the war end soon.

What a Day!

I was beginning to think I'd always be despondent after learning election results. California managed to stay "blue." The candidate I did some volunteer work for pulled out a win despite media favoritism toward her opponents. An aquiantance running for his first elected office (school board) won his race. All in all, things are shaping up nicely for the midterms. Less than a year...

Quotable

"Of course, the underlying issue this year is the use and abuse of the initiative process itself. Californians cherish their ability to decide directly on public policy, but they also want the governor and Legislature to take their responsibilities seriously. Many are dismayed at how warring factions have hijacked the ballot for the sole purpose of diminishing the political power of their enemies."

~ Sac Bee editorial, Why vote today?

Rove Caught Cheating in White House Ethics Class

Some election day humor from Andy Borowitz:

Just days after President George W. Bush ordered the White House staff to take what was called a "refresher" course on ethics, his top aide Karl Rove was caught cheating during the first pop quiz given in the course, the White House confirmed today.

According to Marisa Clomens, the teacher who taught the refresher course, Mr. Rove was clearly seen craning his neck to copy answers off Vice President Dick Cheney's paper during the pop quiz.

"Once I saw Mr. Rove looking at Vice President Cheney's paper, I told him to put down his pencil and asked him to stay after class," Ms. Clomens said. "I had him write 'I will not leak the name of CIA officers' one hundred times on the blackboard."

For President Bush, who clearly had hoped to send the message that he was serious about cleaning up the ethical mess at the White House, the news that his top aide had cheated off the vice president's paper during a pop quiz comes as a public relations setback.

"The president doesn't understand why Karl would go and do something like this," one source said on Sunday evening. "The pop quiz didn't even count that much towards his final grade."

But according to the same source, the cheating incident raises an even more perplexing question: "If you were trying to get a good grade in ethics, why would you copy off Cheney's paper?"

Elsewhere, billboards showing the rapper 50 Cent holding a gun were taken down amid fears that the image might set off Robert Blake.

[Photo: Reuters/Larry Downing]

Today's the Day...Remember to "Nix the First Six"

Doolittle Using Campaign Funds to Help Tom DeLay

He's not the only one but he is tied with another Republican congressman as a top contributor. If I had made a contribution to Doolittle's campaign fund I'd be furious that my money could be going to Tom DeLay's Legal Defense Fund. Here's the scoop from the Sac Bee's the Buzz:

DeLay tactics

Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Gold River, has joined the ranks of California GOP lawmakers kicking in cash to help Rep. Tom DeLay fight Texas charges of money laundering and conspiracy in connection with allegedly funneling corporate cash to state legislative candidates in 2002.

Lungren reported in his most recent campaign finance report that he had contributed $1,000 to the former House majority leader's legal defense fund.

But Lungren was outdone by Rep. Wally Herger, R-Marysville, who gave another $5,000 to DeLay during the cycle that ended Sept. 30. Herger is tied with Rep. John Doolittle, R-Roseville, in total giving to the DeLay fund. Each has contributed $11,000 from his campaign account.

In all, California Republicans are responsible for $105,000 of the $467,000 DeLay's fund has received. All but three of the state's GOP members have ponied up, according to PoliticalMoneyLine.

First Congressman Receives Subpoena in Abramoff Corruption Investigation

The subpoena of Rep. Robert W. Ney (R - OH) is most likely the first of many in the investigation of mega Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Abramoff and his friend Tom DeLay have built quite a network of corruption in Washington D.C. and we can only guess at this point in time where this investigation will lead. It doesn't bode well for Republicans in the midterm elections a year from now. I imagine there were many Republicans in DC last week with furrowed brows.

From the Washington Post:

Under House rules, members must announce subpoenas, and they are then reported in the Congressional Record. Ney received the subpoena earlier in the week, and it was announced to the House yesterday. Walsh [Ney's spokesman] said that "we do not believe that there would be any grounds" for Ney to be a target of the investigation.

[...]

Although no other lawmakers have been subpoenaed in the Abramoff investigation, Julie Doolittle, wife of Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-Calif.), and a company controlled by the husband of Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) have received subpoenas from the grand jury.

Stay tuned.

Added: Carl Hiaasen, a columnist at the Miami Herald provides a unique perspective on Abramoff: Adventures of Jack Abramoff -- an ugly story. [Thanks, Andrea.]

It's the Poor that Gets
the Blame

Editorial Published November 5, 2005
by the Guardian/UK

As President Bush's popularity ratings sink to a new low, his administration has decided to attack the ballooning US budget deficit in an attempt to win back credibility. At least that is what is happening if you believe John Snow, the US treasury secretary, who said this week that the clear priority of the administration now was to meet the president's objective of halving the deficit by the time he leaves office. It is about time too because, as Alan Greenspan, retiring head of the Federal Reserve noted earlier this week, unless the situation is reversed, the worsening budget deficit "will cause serious economic disruptions", which is Greenspanspeak for a recession with heavy unemployment.

This is not the easiest time to tackle the budget deficit when military spending in Iraq is very high and the Katrina hurricane has forced the administration into an enforced Keynesian reconstruction programme involving increased public spending. But beggars can't be choosers. It has to be done. Mr Bush inherited a healthy budget surplus from the outgoing Clinton administration and squandered it partly on tax cuts at a time when Mr Bush was infused with Reaganite notions that deficits don't really matter. They do, and the bigger they get, the harder the subsequent fall unless they are tackled very carefully. This week the government's advisory panel on federal taxation unanimously proposed, among other things, that mortgage interest relief (which disappeared in Britain years ago) should be cut and that the deduction of state and local taxes for federal income tax be eliminated. These are not particularly radical options. They steer well clear of calls to rescind the unfair and economically dubious tax cuts which mainly benefited rich people who didn't need to spend the cash dispensed to them.

If the budget cuts passed by the US senate on Thursday are anything to go by, the whole thing will end in tears. Republicans - disgracefully - targeted most of the cuts on the elderly and the poor through restructuring (ie cutting) some Medicare and Medicaid programmes. Worst of all, part of the cuts originally aimed (creditably) at cutting America's ludicrously high agriculture subsidies was amended so the brunt would be taken by chopping $844m from food stamps for the poor rather than from farm subsidies. Meanwhile, Republicans are hoping to pass yet more tax cuts for the wealthy. An administration that can tackle a serious budget problem in this way deserves all that may be coming to it.

Quotable

"If the Green Revolution is a bloody pulp today, it is not just because the environmental movement mugged itself. It is because the corporate, political, and religious right ganged up on it in the back alleys of power. Big companies fund a relentless assault on green values and policies. Political ideologues launch countless campaigns to strip from government all its functions except those that reward their rich benefactors."

~ Bill Moyers, from A Question for Journalists: How Do We Cover Penguins and the Politics of Denial?

It's my birthday

And, I'm going to have a good time today no matter what. Last year's birthday went south as we watched election returns. A year later, I feel optimistic and, as always, truly grateful to be alive.