US Politics

bush’s Payback, or Influence Peddling Inflation

This entry was posted in bush Democracy Election 2004 US Politics on by

As reported here bush has doubled the cost of support in the last 4 years:

His stop at a $2,000-per-head fund-raiser in the Hunts Point home of Craig McCaw will be his second visit to the billionaire cell-phone magnate’s home. In July 1999, Bush attended a $1,000-a-plate fund-raiser there.

So far 600 folks have signed up to hear bush say things like:

I look forward to signing the economic recovery bill soon. The principle of the bill is pretty simple, that we believe the more money people have in their pockets, the more likely it is somebody is going to be able to find work in America. In other words, the more money somebody has, it means somebody is more likely to demand a good or a service, which means somebody will produce a good or a service, which means somebody is likely to find work. , Washington, D.C., May 22, 2003

It seems clear that the type of service bush expects these folks to buy has a lot to do with his campaign and the bush jobs program.

Investing in the Future?

This entry was posted in bush Culture Domestic Terrorism US Foreign Policy US Politics War on Terrorism on by

James Joyner, Outside the Beltway, thinks this “may be the strangest story of the year”:

The Pentagon is setting up a stock-market style system in which investors would bet on terror attacks, assassinations and other events in the Middle East. Defense officials hope to gain intelligence and useful predictions while investors who guessed right would win profits.

Maybe not so strange when you consider the folks behind this. Just imagine the opportunities to line the pockets of selected investors. Of course, the current administration would never consider something like that.
Hmmmm, how much would someone need to bet invest before they were incented to hire lobbyists; make campaign contributions; or perhaps hire a hit squad? Just imagine the possibilities….

Florida Voting Rights

This entry was posted in bush Constitution Election 2004 Politics US Politics on by

Good news from Florida:

Florida agreed to help restore voting rights to nearly 125,000 convicted felons who didn’t get enough advice on how to regain their rights when they walked free, officials said Thursday.
….
Florida is one of eight states that deny ex-felons the right to vote unless they take steps to have their civil rights restored by the state.
The Department of Corrections had acknowledged that offenders released between 1992 and 2001 did not get proper help on having their rights restored.
The system drew international attention during the bitter dispute over the 2000 presidential election, when some Florida voters claimed they weren’t allowed to cast ballots because they were mistaken for convicted felons.

Since Florida appears to have a long history of abusing the civil rights of ex felons this will have to be closely monitored to assure that Florida officials do not find another way to continue their historic practices.
Of course, none of this has an impact on the 2000 election…..
Via Daily Legal News Wire.

Felons Voting

This entry was posted in Constitution Democracy Election 2004 US Politics on by

Once their debt has been paid, once they have spent their time in jail x-felons must be allowed to vote. Talkleft suggests this and an issue that democrats should take up and Raise Your Hands asks:

where are the African American and Hispanic leaders on this issue, considering the skewed disenfranchisment of the poor and minorities.

And I propose going one step more and support no denial of voting rights for any citizen under any circumstances.

Total Government Information Awareness

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This looks like it might grow into an interesting site. Its mission:

To empower citizens by providing a single, comprehensive, easy-to-use repository of information on individuals, organizations, and corporations related to the government of the United States of America.
To allow citizens to submit intelligence about government-related issues, while maintaining their anonymity. To allow members of the government a chance to participate in the process.

Via Alex Knapp at Heretical Ideas.