Robert Willumstad, CEO of AIG, opted not to accept his $22 million severance package for all three months he was at AIG in light of the current economic crisis. That’s nice of him! Apparently, Willumstad was lured away from a “lucrative job in private equity” by AIG in June with this hefty severance package. A microscopic part of me feels bad for him, because by the time he joined AIG, the company was probably well on its way to the dumpster. But this part is quickly replaced by the remorse of the possibility that my tax dollars will be spent on this corporate recklessness, and not to mention the fact that $22 million is an obscene amount of money for three months worth of work.
The Palin-Drum
September 15, 2008 By 2 Comments
When asked what she thinks of the Bush Doctrine, Sarah Palin replied by talking about Bush’s worldview—clearly demonstrating she does not even know what the Bush Doctrine means. Charlie Gibson, an idiot in his own right, had to explain it to her.
When asked about women’s right to choose, Palin opposed it even in the case of rape or incest.
When asked about evolution, Palin advocated teaching creationism in school.
When asked about the war in Iraq, Palin touted it as God’s plan.
When asked about her foreign policy experience, she explained how close Alaska is to Russia. Never mind the Pacific Ocean.
When asked about the Bridge to Nowhere, she proudly exclaimed, “I said, ‘thanks, but no thanks,’” when she really said, “Thanks.” Then, “Seriously, thanks. Now I will keep the money in earmarks.”
When asked about nepotism and power abuse, she fell silent.
When asked about placing polar bears on the endangered animals list, she refused, and then went on to kill a moose (or a deer?) from a plane and skin it.
Palin walks to the beat of her own drum, alright. And this drum is one dissonant and deafening broken record of incompetence, corruption, and unrelenting ignorance and intolerance. Oh yes, I forgot to mention: George W. Bush owned the same drum.
Churchpaigning
August 16, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Am I the only person out there who thinks that Presidential candidates should not campaign in churches? Is it not enough that we had to tolerate CNN’s inane faith forums (or whatever they were called)? What issues could religious people possibly discuss that could not be shared in a non-religious setting or theme? Rick Warren, the pastor of Saddleback Church, mentioned he would ask “personal questions” at today’s forum. Should I start puking now? So the economy sucks, wars are breaking out, and gasoline prices make some of us want to cry, but Rick Warren wants to ask the candidates “personal questions”? So not only is this church event a dismissal of the principle of separation of Church and State, it will also probably be a complete waste of your time.
I understand why the candidates would participate in this event. After all, evangelical Christians are a voting bloc. If only they were voting for who Jesus’s best sidekick would be. Nevertheless, I am fully aware that many Americans are religious (and don’t read the Constitution). But I don’t recall what happened the last time voters elected a church man. Oh that’s right—he went on to become one of the worst presidents in American history. Keep your religions at home, people!
Judging A Book By Its Cover
August 5, 2008 By Leave a Comment
I have not read this book by journalist Robert Scheer yet, but I like its title. And from the Amazon.com Editorial Review, I would probably like its content. It seems intuitive. Here’s the Review:
From Publishers Weekly
Veteran journalist Scheer (With Enough Shovels: Reagan, Bush, and Nuclear War) takes aim at America’s defense policy and bloated military budget in this pugnacious and rigorously researched polemic. Tragedy can be opportunity, Scheer writes, and 9/11 provided the defense industry with the opportunity it had long been seeking. Unable to persuade the first Bush and Clinton administrations to invest in expensive, state-of-the-art weapons, the defense industry found fresh life as the current President Bush launched his war on terror and military expenditures swelled to the highest level in history. Scheer argues that war cannot defeat terrorism. What’s required is simple police work—dogged, boring and not terribly expensive—not trillion-dollar bombers, submarines and nuclear arsenal—expenditures he contends are unrelated to defeating terrorists and of little use in Iraq. He soberly reminds readers that Americans have never objected to wasteful defense budgets, and antiwar elected officials fight as viciously as neoconservatives to bring money to their district’s defense industries. Scheer’s prose is as clear as his evidence; readers will be galvanized by his incendiary account. (June 9)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
The Downward Spiral
August 5, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Since McCain brought Britney Spears into this election, I suppose this video made by Barely Political is fair game? Still, Britney never signed up to do politics, so we should probably leave her out of it. But if there is anything in common between John McCain and Britney Spears, it is that they are both on a rocky path of a downward spiral (not to be confused with the Nine Inch Nails album—also titled “Downward Spiral”).
Pander Orgy
July 24, 2008 By Leave a Comment
American politicians are so well trained—especially the ones who seek the Presidency. Thus, it was not surprising that when Obama visited Israel this week, he betrayed every rational bone in his body to pander to the mighty occupier that has a long record of war crimes and racism, but disguises as the victim. Perhaps out of fear of seeming remotely fair (who would want that?), Obama did not even bother to visit the devastated Occupied Territories. Though he managed to make time for the puppet Mahmoud Abbas for a whole hour—that is 15 minutes more than scheduled. How special!
This was not the first time Obama has made a terrible decision. After all, he did vote for the FISA telecom immunity bill. Then again, he pales in comparison with Mr. John “Iraq-Pakistan border” McCain. At least Obama has looked at a map before. Nonetheless, Obama is not entirely to blame for this pandering orgy to Israel. He is merely a reflection of a public opinion that is based on ignorance and/or pernicious bias. So really it is regular-everyday-people who suck the hope out of me.
To his credit, he married Michelle Obama—which was a great choice. She is my only ray of hope. Check out Ali Abunimah’s article in The Guardian on Obama’s visit for more depressing details.
On a closing note, George Carlin sums it up best when it comes to people and politics.
My Reproductive Rights vs. Your Job
July 18, 2008 By Leave a Comment
It comes as no surprise to hear that the Bush Administration is on a path to take away women’s reproductive rights. They have had it out for women since the beginning. Most recently, they are putting forth a proposal that deems contraception as abortion, thus when a woman attempts to obtain or a fill a prescription, a doctor or a pharmacist will be able to deny the request without losing his/her job insofar as abortion contradicts his/her beliefs. The proposal aims to protect medical professionals whose religious beliefs (fervor) tell them they are going to hell for playing a role in the “abortion” of maybe fertilized, maybe unfertilized eggs. This proposal is disturbing on so many levels. It not only uses a fanatical definition of when life begins, but it also attempts to slowly but surely criminalize abortion and methods of contraception like the pill and the morning-after pill. Last time I checked, abortion is still legal, the pill is just a prescription (an expensive one), and doctors/pharmacists go to medical/pharmacy schools to do their damn jobs. If you cannot handle it, or god is sending you little fairies to tell you that birth control and abortion are evil, then you probably should not have been a doctor or a pharmacist in the first place. In fact, I want your medical or pharmaceutical license revoked immediately because I question your mental capacity, reason, and general knowledge of science.
This reminds of me of a hilarious skit by George Carlin on pro-lifers.
Heidi Harris Is An Idiot
July 16, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Watch Amy Goodman and Chris Matthews uncover the idiocy of conservative radio talk show host Heidi Harris: [Read more...]
Club Harassment
July 14, 2008 By Leave a Comment
The “terrorist watch list” is one list that no one wants to be on. Nevertheless, the ACLU reports over one million names on the list. Some of these names include ACLU employees, college students, a Marine Staff Sergeant, an author of an anti-Bush book, Yusuf Islam (also known as the artist Cat Stevens), a 6 year old boy, and members of Congress like Loretta Sanchez, John Lewis, and Ted Kennedy. There’s also the president of Bolivian, Evo Morales, and even Nelson Mandela is on the list. In addition, there are the “usual suspects”: people of Middle Eastern decent like Akif Rahman—a US born businessman who was detained and interrogated for 5.5 hours. Mixed in this list are the names of the 9/11 hijackers and Saddam Hussein—perhaps to give it some legitimacy. However, it is evident the Bush-run government is both incompetent and dangerous. First of all, how serious is this list if it has a 6 year old boy on it? Secondly, harassment sanctioned by the government is not just a nuisance to the victims of this policy. It should concern every citizen now that civil rights are neither respected by the President nor his supposed rivals. Today, Americans are spied on with impunity, harassed and violated daily, and they no longer have control or accountability over their government. Not to mention Bush’s crimes outside America. Just take time this time to reflect on the last 8 depressing years.
Also, see the Huffington Post article on this topic.
FOX News vs. Michelle Obama
July 12, 2008 By 1 Comment
Sign this petition to send a message to FOX News that what they do for living is not OK.
