Republicans

Chastising rumsfeld

This entry was posted in bush Iraq Republicans US Foreign Policy US Politics on by

The culture of an american governing administration is ultimately set by the president.
bush’s appearance on Arab television and the public ackowledgement of his alleged displeasure with rumsfeld are fairly transparent attempts to deflect our eyes from where the buck stops.
It is long past time for bush to start publically acknowledging his responsibility.
Via The Rittenhouse Review.
Update: Jacob Levy argues:

If Bush genuinely thinks Rumsfeld failed him and failed to fulfill his own responsibilities, then surely the time has finally come to demand Rumsfeld’s resignation. If not, then an authorized public humiliation is unjustified. This looks like Bush attempting to deflect responsbility away from himself– “The buck stops with that guy”– while simultaneously refusing to demand that Rumsfeld take responsibility. It’s petulant and childish.

The Lakers and the Candidates

This entry was posted in bush Democrats Election 2004 kerry Republicans on by

Professor Bainbridge doesn’t like the Lakers:

The Lakers personify our People/ET celebrity culture in which superficiality reigns supreme. They aren’t a team – they’re the sports world equivalent of VH1 Divas – four prima donnas plus entourages.

Which leads the Libertarian Jackass to wonder whether the Professor’s future action will be consistent with his words:

I hope the good professor votes against Bush and Kerry for similar reasons.

But I don’t think that the Professor puts bushco in this category:

As far as the elites are concerned, Middle America and the Republican Party are synonmous.
….
Here we see the modern Democratic party – secular elites at the top using the levers of government to effect wealth transfers from Middle America to reliable Democrat constituencies and special interests.

Now I do not disagree with his evaluation of what a Democratic government will do. The wealth transfer, using the power of government, is the whole game.
A simple variation of Bainbridge’s last sentence describes the current state of affairs: Here we see the modern Republican party – religious elites at the top using the levers of government to effect wealth transfers from Middle America to reliable Republican constituencies and special interests.

Update: Kevin Drum and Steve Verdon have related posts.

Is Your Pop-up Blocker Working?

This entry was posted in Republicans on by

If not you might want to remedy the situation now (R):

The banner and pop-up ads placed by the Republican National Committee on about 1,400 sites starting March 19….

I’m not a democrat but I do concur with Charles Kuff’s sentiment:

Of course, as a good Democrat, I heartily cheer this effort. You go, guys! Spread those popups like kudzu!

It really is too bad they are not spending more of their money on this approach.
Via Sisyphus Shrugged.

Where Does the Buck Stop Now?

This entry was posted in bush Capitalism Constitution Democracy Democrats Economics Federal Government Libertarianism Regulation Republicans US Politics on by

Apparently it still stops in the Lincoln and other White House bedrooms:

Bush’s criticism of the Clinton fund-raising scandal is one of the reasons the White House identifies guests. In a debate with Vice President Al Gore in October 2000, Bush said: “I believe they’ve moved that sign, ‘The buck stops here,’ from the Oval Office desk to ‘The buck stops here’ on the Lincoln Bedroom. And that’s not good for the country.”
Bush’s overnight guest roster is virtually free of the famous � pro golfer Ben Crenshaw is the biggest name � but not of campaign supporters.
At least nine of Bush’s biggest fund-raisers appear on the latest list of White House overnight guests, covering June 2002 through December 2003, and-or on the Camp David list, which covers last year. They include:

Yes this bit of hypocrisy should be pointed out but no one should be surprised that bedsheets are traded for friendship or money.
First, you can pretty much count on the bush team either having done, doing or planning to do something they hammer the opposition about.
Second, and more important, the US government transfers huge amounts of money from the losers to the winners and the latter’s stripes change only modestly from administration to administration. Until we the people put a stop to the massive transfers we can expect politicians to seek favours votes and donations and reward those who give them with both bedsheets and favorable laws and regulations.
Via Calpundit who picked it up from It’s a Crock. The Apostropher also comments.
Update: John Cole and Mark Kleiman both argue that a Bush – Clinton comparison is off the mark and I acknowledge both their points which are different enough that you should go read their posts.
I will, though, stick to what I say in the two paragraphs above the ‘Via’ statement.

Move Over Democrats and Republicans

This entry was posted in Democrats Politics Republicans Sex on by

Though his campaign billboards could not be as attention grabbing as this perhaps Nader could form a US version of this new Australian political party for his current political run.
In a brief discussion of the new party’s founder The Curmdugeonly Clerk offers us a learning moment:

this is not the first time that Ms. Moore has stood for office. No doubt, portions of her film oeuvre are available online; however, I will leave finding such material as an exercise for the reader.

Via Dylan at The Slitherly D.