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The Afghan War, the Afghan Tragedy
By Michael Boyajian
Let’s not even discuss how the Bush Administration let the Afghan War fester while they romped around Iraq or how Afghanistan is the graveyard of empires. Let’s not even speculate that General Petraeus will somehow pull off a heroic military miracle there. Let us talk about the current reality.
Republicans Want to Halt Spending on Elections
By Michael Boyajian
In perhaps the greatest challenge to democracy in the history of the United States of America Dutchess County Republicans want to halt spending on elections. A New York City Republican leader once made a similar statement and was unceremoniously drummed out of the party in that locale.
In my junk folder was mail I thought said "Make Your Pension Grow," and I eagerly opened it, but it turned out I'd misread.
You know you are getting old when your pension excites you more than your penis.
No, I don't buy most of it, but it is worth considering, especially given the conservative source.
Money quote: "The oil spill isn’t Katrina: The Bush administration’s terrible handling of Hurricane Katrina convinced many people—including many otherwise supportive of the administration’s stated policies—that it simply could not govern. Whatever the Obama administration’s errors in handling the oil spill, it isn’t Hurricane Katrina. The only deaths to have resulted from the spill were clearly the fault of BP and its subcontractors. Whatever additional human suffering results from the spill will accrue mostly to people who lose their jobs as a result and, since they’ll likely collect at least something from BP, most will probably be better off than those who lose their jobs for other reasons. The key images from the spill are oil-stained birds, not suffering people." Why the Dems May Be Celebrating in November | FrumForum www.frumforum.com
Jim Maisano: A Different Kind of Republican
By Michael Boyajian
When I first met Republican Jim Maisano it was before he had joined the Westchester County legislature. We got to talking about Ronald Reagan and that inevitably led to talk of the Iran Contra Affair. I pointed out the political symbolism of Oliver North standing before an investigative Congressional Committee in his Marine uniform with hand raised swearing to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Governor David Paterson deserves better than being called the “Accidental Governor.”
When it comes to the budget, Paterson is taking one for the team. He's biting the bullet on Andrew Cuomo’s behalf. Mr. Cuomo, the gov-in-waiting should thank Paterson immensely. Perhaps it explains why publicly Cuomo in general has been offering praise Paterson’s way.
Think about it.
Most governors in Paterson’s shoes with only a few months to go, would only be concerned about their legacy. In other words, Paterson could punt on the state’s horrible budget situation, simply passing on the enormous problem to the next guy.
More Woes for Town of Fishkill
By Michael Boyajian
The Senator Stephen Saland bill proposing that the Town of Fishkill be allowed to issue bonds to cure its $6.5 million deficit has been amended with a requirement that the Town’s bond hearing be open to the public.
I couldn't let this pass. The New York Post reports that most New Yorkers consider the state government to be dysfunctional. I've said in response that all levels of government, and corporations have been functioning very well for those siphoning money from them. Two kinds of people have been getting richer: the top executives that sit on each others' boards and vote each other compensation that even pro-business, pro-capitalist (but more or less honest) publications such as The Economist and the Financial Times call larcenous. And today's senior citizens, who have voted each other benefits they have refused to pay for, passing the cost to future generations who will be poorer. Especially retired public employees. Well guess who the Post's F. Dicker spoke to get man on the street complaints about dysfunctional government?
Odds on favorite for SC's Governor and 1st Congressional District are Republicans–one of South Asian origin; the other Black. A triumph of what I call The New Tolerant Intolerance”," Michael Steele's effort to wean the GOP off race hatred and direct its hatred elsewhere and thereby reach social conservatives across racial lines where they exist aplenty. Now this strategy appears on the way to victory in a State where some if its uglier antecedents were first brought to fruition by the likes of Lee Atwater.
One potential Achilles heal elsewhere: the most fertile area of potential growth for this strategy is among Latino immigrants, but asking adherents of the New Tolerant Intolerance on all sides of the racial divide to give up immigrant bashing may be asking them for more tolerance than they are ready to muster. FiveThirtyEight: Politics Done Right: SC Runoff Results www.fivethirtyeight.com
RICHARD HARRIS (or DONNA SUMMER): I will take my life into my hands and I will use it
I will win the worship in their eyes and I will lose it
I will have the things that I desire
And my passion flow like rivers through the sky…
…I'll be thinking of you
And wondering why.
MacArthur Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down…
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh, no!
Oh, no
No, no
Oh NO!!
Here is the link. I was asked once what the federal government should do about the upcoming institutional collapse. I suggested creating a time travel machine so we could go back in time and undo what Generation Greed has done, because I didn't have another idea. But now I do.
The federal government should think carefully about Chapter 9 of the bankrputcy code, and be prepared to set some standards. How bad does life have to be in a community before it is allowed to stop paying some of its burdens from the past, such as debts, pensions and retiree health care? Do those who are not of the executive and political class have to be left to starve in the street? Do public schools need to be eliminated? Does the tax burden need to be increased to a level current residents couldn't possibly pay, with storm troppers to be known as "pension collectors" sent in to toss them out as their homes are sold out from under them? Do the police need to stop protecting people from crime? There needs to be a standard, and it needs to be the same for all.